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tessypie's review
2.0
After her husband leaves her for a man he met on Gay.com, Rhoda takes a sabbatical to spend some time with the Mennonite family she had broken away from. It's not that she's anti-Menno, she is just an academic who doesn't live and breathe the Mennonite lifestyle like the rest of her family. However, she has spent her whole life at least somewhat connected to the community and can therefore provide some interesting insight into their practices and quirks.
As a memoir, it was cute but not spectacular. She really hammers in the fact that her husband was a bipolar, violent man who left her for a dude. What I don't get is why she let the marriage continue for 15 years. She also talks about all the frowned upon actions in the Mennonite culture (dancing - gasp!) but doesn't explain why the religion forbids such activity. Instead of being a religious choice, it ends up sounding like she just had kinda strict parents. I picked up the book because I thought I was getting a peek into a religion I knew nothing about, but I ended up feeling a little let down. Thankfully, she includes a Mennonite handbook of sorts in the appendix. It was a big help, but the information should have been incorporated into the book.
Rhoda Janzen's brash voice is fun - "ooh such a rebel Mennonite," I thought. But that voice doesn't help the fact that she never explains what she learned from any of the experiences she shares with us readers. It was a fine book that will take you no time to read, but it's not truly special.
2.5 out of 5 stars.
As a memoir, it was cute but not spectacular. She really hammers in the fact that her husband was a bipolar, violent man who left her for a dude. What I don't get is why she let the marriage continue for 15 years. She also talks about all the frowned upon actions in the Mennonite culture (dancing - gasp!) but doesn't explain why the religion forbids such activity. Instead of being a religious choice, it ends up sounding like she just had kinda strict parents. I picked up the book because I thought I was getting a peek into a religion I knew nothing about, but I ended up feeling a little let down. Thankfully, she includes a Mennonite handbook of sorts in the appendix. It was a big help, but the information should have been incorporated into the book.
Rhoda Janzen's brash voice is fun - "ooh such a rebel Mennonite," I thought. But that voice doesn't help the fact that she never explains what she learned from any of the experiences she shares with us readers. It was a fine book that will take you no time to read, but it's not truly special.
2.5 out of 5 stars.
bethanyam's review
I didn’t love the tone of this early on, but kept trying to finish for some reason. There were some funny parts, but I think this just isn’t the type of memoir that appeals to me.
sigigraph's review
4.0
i read this book because i was supposed to choose an (auto)biography for a book report and my mom really enjoyed it. i had no idea it would be this good!!!!! i laughed through practically all of it! such as when she wondered about the possibility of a sequel to 'the cat that dropped a bombshell' and when her mom suggested (after her husband had left her for a man named bob he met on gay.com) that rhoda marry her first cousin wally! lots of laughs and will make you think a lot about religion. highly recommended.
kmrose's review
4.0
This book had me laughing out loud more than a few times. The chapters are almost their own little stories, so it made it east to read while I was also reading a couple other books. A quick, cute read - especially if you like quirky families.
katehyde's review
4.0
Such a great/funny book. I'm planning on giving this book as a Christmas gift to a couple of people. Highly recommended!
caledonia's review
4.0
some parts I could relate too, I almost peed myself laughing whenever borscht came up.
tsunanisaurus's review
3.0
The first half of the book and a chapter or so of the last half were 4 star reads. Funny, honest, informational, quirky.
The rest of the book was a drab, I don't know exactly why.
Also, the author really loves using the word "tardy/tardily" as often as she can.
It's a quick read and mostly entertaining. My only question was if she ended up staying with Soren or not? Curiosity!
The rest of the book was a drab, I don't know exactly why.
Also, the author really loves using the word "tardy/tardily" as often as she can.
It's a quick read and mostly entertaining. My only question was if she ended up staying with Soren or not? Curiosity!
the_naptime_reader's review
5.0
What an enjoyable memoir. I found this funny, insightful, honest, and perceptive. There are many moments that have you laughing out loud. I enjoyed that Janzen while having moved away from her conservative Mennonite upbringing, comes to see the many benefits and blessings. While her family and friends are quirky and odd you love them, and can see why she does too! Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
mrstomato1018's review
3.0
I wasn't sure what to think of this book before I started reading it. It's another book that I found on my shelves from a few years ago, and I had heard mixed reviews of it, but once I finished it, I really liked it. Is it worth a reread? Probably not, but it was a pleasant and lighthearted read, which was a surprise considering that the author's husband left her for a man in the same week that she was in a bad car accident, so with that knowledge, you would think that this book would be a bit of a downer, but it really wasn't. It's really good if you have any knowledge at all of Mennonites, or even just religion in general.
thejpearson's review
3.0
This book started out great. I was laughing out loud every few pages. Towards the middle the story changed tone and wasn't nearly as lighthearted. It just got boring. The stories are really fun and the characters are fantastic.