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ldv's review against another edition
3.0
It could have ended a few chapters earlier (gets a little tedious at the end) but generally a good, healthy perspective on any upbringing that was stifled by religious legalism. An interesting contrast to Miriam Toews books which are also stemming from Mennonite rigidity. Different sects, perhaps. Comical and honest without being too heavy. A good read and plenty of connections with a Dutch Calvinist upbringing!
After a second read:
The first couple of chapters a re chick full of humour and witticism. They are the best. The book gets more "normal" after that, like a collection of short stories that puts the best ones first. There is a weird gimmick of polling the reader in the beginning pages that starts off like it will be a thing, but only happens a couple of times and then is picked up once near the very end (as if writer or editor wanted it throughout and the other didn't, and this was the compromise). All three polls could have been cut because they offer nothing to the story. Also the repetition of why her husband left her gets old. He left; in the end it doesn't matter why or for whom.
The question is, should I read the follow-up book?
After a second read:
The first couple of chapters a re chick full of humour and witticism. They are the best. The book gets more "normal" after that, like a collection of short stories that puts the best ones first. There is a weird gimmick of polling the reader in the beginning pages that starts off like it will be a thing, but only happens a couple of times and then is picked up once near the very end (as if writer or editor wanted it throughout and the other didn't, and this was the compromise). All three polls could have been cut because they offer nothing to the story. Also the repetition of why her husband left her gets old. He left; in the end it doesn't matter why or for whom.
The question is, should I read the follow-up book?
kiora's review against another edition
2.0
I was actually really disappointed with this book. I don't read many memoirs so this may be what they are all like. At first I loved it and was interested and amused. When she and her friend were deciding the best way to go shopping with the pee bag I thought I was going to die laughing. But as the story went on it just felt like random anecdotes loosely strung together with remorse about her divorce and marriage. I was also super interested in why she left the Mennonite church but that was never touched on. Its almost like she doesn't know who she is or where she stands if you're just looking at her through this book.
celiaedf12's review against another edition
3.0
This memoir was hilarious - I really like Janzen's sense of humour. But apart from having to violently suppress my laughter while on public transport, there's also some really moving reflections (after the break up of Janzen's marriage) on love and family and the choices people make with their lives. The thread of this book is a little scattered, but it probably would have been hard to make it more coherent (given that it's a bit of a hodge podge of recollections and anecdotes).
canadianbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
This memoir covers a time period in Janzen's life that began with a week in which her husband of 15 years left her for Bob from Gay.com and teenage driver caused a head-on car accident that gave her broken bones and bruises. As she deals with trying to sell the large house she can no longer afford on her own, and recovering from her emotional and physical injuries, she retreats to her parent's home in California. While brought up Mennonite, Janzen has strayed far from this beginning. She finds that the Mennonite community still welcomes her, and supports her in ways she hadn't expected. A combination of tales from her time spent recovering there, and reminiscences from earlier times (both growing up and her marriage), this is a humourous look at the Mennonite way of life and how it helps to deal with what life gives you.
Being of partial Mennonite heritage on my mother's side, I've been exposed to some of the traditions surrounding this way of life (I've made pluma moos, the plum soup she mentions, and have my grandma's recipe for zweibach). So that part of it was very interesting to me. I liked most of her humour, but did wonder about some of her family's reactions to being portrayed in the book. The narrative moves around a lot in time and I found it difficult to say exactly what order things happened in and where on the timeline. It did keep me entertained though and I'll be passing it on to my mother to see what she thinks of it.
Being of partial Mennonite heritage on my mother's side, I've been exposed to some of the traditions surrounding this way of life (I've made pluma moos, the plum soup she mentions, and have my grandma's recipe for zweibach). So that part of it was very interesting to me. I liked most of her humour, but did wonder about some of her family's reactions to being portrayed in the book. The narrative moves around a lot in time and I found it difficult to say exactly what order things happened in and where on the timeline. It did keep me entertained though and I'll be passing it on to my mother to see what she thinks of it.
emscji's review against another edition
5.0
1/22/10: I had low expectations for a book with this title--but Janzen is such a wonderful and funny writer, and her story is so poignant, and she processes her experiences so thoughtfully and generously, that all I want now is to meet her and hear more! Hilarious depictions of herself growing up in a strict Mennonite family; loving yet funny depictions of her mother and siblings; and wry, regretful, and yet amazingly open depiction of her 15-year marriage to a bipolar and emotionally abusive husband. No, it doesn't sound all that inviting, does it? But I seriously didn't want this book to end. I laughed out loud, mostly; but there are quiet, reflective sections that are worth a reread. As she learned from her feng shui book--"And that's okay!"
aimsreads's review against another edition
3.0
See my review here: http://novelmeanderings.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/first-memoir-about-mennonites-book-1-of-in-book-hoarding-purge/
sunnid's review against another edition
3.0
This book was not exactly what I was expecting in that it didn't flow like a story, but felt like scattered short stories loosely strung together. It wasn't until after I read the book that I heard the author interviewed and it turns out the book originated from a series of email she had sent a friend. Then it made sense...that is exactly what it felt like. Really great email from a friend who is a gifted writer.
To me this book was three things:
1. The best is that it is laugh out loud funny, which is a rarity in books! Her turn of phrase, hilarious observations, sharp wit, resilience...just great.
2. It gave me more insight into the Mennonite culture, which is wonderful since I've been living in an area where there are so many of them for the last 14 years. My knowledge of their lifestyle really was fairly superficial until this book...which opens it up their world with great humor and insight.
3. Then there was the heavy, disturbing and frustrating part of this book. How on earth did such a brilliant woman put up with such an emotionally abusive husband? I've come to realize (and be angered, frightened and shocked by...) that so many well-educated, professional, successful women go home to be abused by men who can't hold a candle to them. This is so much harder for me to understand than those women who stay in abusive relationships because they have no education, no money, and feel they have no options. I found this part of the book gave me emotional whiplash. His leaving because he was gay, while devastating and painful, was the EASY part to understand...but his temper and meanness, unforgivable.
To me this book was three things:
1. The best is that it is laugh out loud funny, which is a rarity in books! Her turn of phrase, hilarious observations, sharp wit, resilience...just great.
2. It gave me more insight into the Mennonite culture, which is wonderful since I've been living in an area where there are so many of them for the last 14 years. My knowledge of their lifestyle really was fairly superficial until this book...which opens it up their world with great humor and insight.
3. Then there was the heavy, disturbing and frustrating part of this book. How on earth did such a brilliant woman put up with such an emotionally abusive husband? I've come to realize (and be angered, frightened and shocked by...) that so many well-educated, professional, successful women go home to be abused by men who can't hold a candle to them. This is so much harder for me to understand than those women who stay in abusive relationships because they have no education, no money, and feel they have no options. I found this part of the book gave me emotional whiplash. His leaving because he was gay, while devastating and painful, was the EASY part to understand...but his temper and meanness, unforgivable.
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
I have been seeing this book around since it was published. It seems to have stayed popular at least at my public library. I was looking for books to take with me for the weekend and decided to add this to my pile. I am glad I did.
I have known about the Mennonites for most of my life, but had never read anything about them. Janzen has an interesting story to tell because her father is well known in this community, but she has been living outside of it for awhile.
That combined with her divorce from her bi-polar husband makes for an interesting story. Fortunately, she is a good writer (has published several poetry books) and so not only is this interesting but well-written.
I enjoy reading memoirs when I learned new things about the world, when they include humor and when the author is not whining about her life. Janzen gave me all three parts of this equation and so I had a fun time reading about her life.
I have known about the Mennonites for most of my life, but had never read anything about them. Janzen has an interesting story to tell because her father is well known in this community, but she has been living outside of it for awhile.
That combined with her divorce from her bi-polar husband makes for an interesting story. Fortunately, she is a good writer (has published several poetry books) and so not only is this interesting but well-written.
I enjoy reading memoirs when I learned new things about the world, when they include humor and when the author is not whining about her life. Janzen gave me all three parts of this equation and so I had a fun time reading about her life.