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eleneariel's review
3.0
The parts that are funny are laugh-out-loud so, and while Janzen is from the Russian Mennonite tradition (I hail from a long line of German Mennonites), I recognize so much of the food and cultural idiosyncrasies that she weaves into her narrative. But there is an undercurrent of meanness in her sarcasm that makes me uncomfortable; I may not be a Mennonite myself, but it is my background, and I don't like seeing that put down, no matter how amusingly.
lizakessler's review
2.0
I read this on the recommendation of a friend's mother after she learned I grew up surrounded by Mennonites and Brethrens. She wanted someone to about the book with.
I didn't particularly agree with most of the author's life choices and couldn't relate to her much at all. Her anecdotes about her Mennonite community and her irreverant historical accounts of Menninites were entertaining, though.
I got the impression writing this book was theraputic for the author, as much of it read like a rambling therapy session. There was no cohesive structure tying it all together, even on the chapter level.
I didn't particularly agree with most of the author's life choices and couldn't relate to her much at all. Her anecdotes about her Mennonite community and her irreverant historical accounts of Menninites were entertaining, though.
I got the impression writing this book was theraputic for the author, as much of it read like a rambling therapy session. There was no cohesive structure tying it all together, even on the chapter level.
tara3117's review
4.0
This was a really fun book to read. Janzen delivers her story in a funny and entertaining way. She's pretty much got the bad end of the stick when her abusive husband leaves her for a man, throwing her into financial ruin, and she is seriously injured in a car accident. Talk about a bad week! She returns home to her Mennonite family to heal both her physical and emotional wounds.
Could Janzen have written this story without an ounce of religion? Probably. But it wouldn't have been as much fun. There's enough humor in this book to cushion the sobering details of Janzen's divorce and what she learns about herself. It's not your typical transformation story. There's a lot of heart in here.
Could Janzen have written this story without an ounce of religion? Probably. But it wouldn't have been as much fun. There's enough humor in this book to cushion the sobering details of Janzen's divorce and what she learns about herself. It's not your typical transformation story. There's a lot of heart in here.
meli65's review
3.0
Definitely funny but a little uneven I thought -- a mix of memoir of an unusual upbringing, funny observations about same, soul-searching after the end of an abusive marriage, and reflections on faith.
Enjoyable reading, although I could have done without the occasional sentence like: "Sure, from a ratiocinative point of view, the invention of angels on the wall seems an unlikely way to achieve virtue in praxis." I have NO idea what this means ... do you?
Enjoyable reading, although I could have done without the occasional sentence like: "Sure, from a ratiocinative point of view, the invention of angels on the wall seems an unlikely way to achieve virtue in praxis." I have NO idea what this means ... do you?
keatynbergsten's review
4.0
Very light read and extremely funny at parts. Would definitely recommend if your looking for a quick book that's not too serious.
emmyrandomreport's review
2.0
This book is all over the place. It seems very spiteful. First, off it makes fun of everybody she encounters. Second, she makes fun of her looks when she could pass as Kirsten Dunst's older sister. Look at how ugly I am...sure. Third, I am so sorry an Armenian ran off with your imaginary Mennonite Husband but we are not all have mustaches and are hairy. So...no.
geohiker's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book!
While my family is not Mennonite, they live nearby many Mennonites and it was really interesting to see how many things my grandparents do that were just like the Mennonite culture Rhoda described here. Reading this was kind of like visiting family I haven't seen in a while - very nice!
While my family is not Mennonite, they live nearby many Mennonites and it was really interesting to see how many things my grandparents do that were just like the Mennonite culture Rhoda described here. Reading this was kind of like visiting family I haven't seen in a while - very nice!
rachel_b_824's review
4.0
I wasn't sure I'd like this, since I'm not always into "How I Dealt with My Emotional Trauma" type memoirs. Janzen is smart and funny, and - perhaps best of all - completely respectful of her family's traditions while still seeing the humor in them.
aliceburton's review against another edition
3.0
This book was really weird in that I didn't really like it, but it was very readable. The author seemed somewhat on a quest to prove her own intelligence, which makes sense with some things she says in the book about her ex-husband deriding it all the time, but nothing should make someone write a sentence like "Sure, from a rationcinative point of view, the invention of angels on the walls seems an unlikely way to achieve virtue in praxis." What? No. No, madam. That was sentence fail for your poplit book.
The last chapter is called A Mennonite History Primer, which really should be first. She either assumes you know a decent amount about Mennonites, or she thinks it's not necessary. But her childhood kept sounding pretty normal until she'd inject something like her church having an outhouse. I know nothing about Mennonites except I THINK they have beards as a requirement. This didn't go too far towards expanding that knowledge.
I did, however, like this section: "After Nick left, I eventually began dating a man I liked but didn't love, and I finally have firsthand experience in those little sparks of irritation that ignite impatience. I'd never minded the little things in Nick's behavior; I'd never even noticed them. It was after Nick had left me that I learned the lesson: it's when you don't love somebody that you do notice the little things. Then you mind them."
I just got out of a relationship and yeah, lots and lots of things had bugged me. But I also know that towards the end I didn't love him. So that kinda hit home, and that and a few poignant moments she managed to grab bumped this from 2/5 to 3/5.
The last chapter is called A Mennonite History Primer, which really should be first. She either assumes you know a decent amount about Mennonites, or she thinks it's not necessary. But her childhood kept sounding pretty normal until she'd inject something like her church having an outhouse. I know nothing about Mennonites except I THINK they have beards as a requirement. This didn't go too far towards expanding that knowledge.
I did, however, like this section: "After Nick left, I eventually began dating a man I liked but didn't love, and I finally have firsthand experience in those little sparks of irritation that ignite impatience. I'd never minded the little things in Nick's behavior; I'd never even noticed them. It was after Nick had left me that I learned the lesson: it's when you don't love somebody that you do notice the little things. Then you mind them."
I just got out of a relationship and yeah, lots and lots of things had bugged me. But I also know that towards the end I didn't love him. So that kinda hit home, and that and a few poignant moments she managed to grab bumped this from 2/5 to 3/5.
meglynw's review against another edition
3.0
This lady is hilarious. I laughed out loud a number of times. She's witty and sarcastic, Gilmore Girls style, except maybe with a little more jadedness sprinkled in.
I obviously didn't read the blurb before I opened the book. I was expecting a story about a young woman venturing out from her Amish family. Not at all what this is. She did, however, provide an excellent explanation about the difference between Mennonite and Amish. I am far better educated, now.
I obviously didn't read the blurb before I opened the book. I was expecting a story about a young woman venturing out from her Amish family. Not at all what this is. She did, however, provide an excellent explanation about the difference between Mennonite and Amish. I am far better educated, now.