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A review by sunnid
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home by Rhoda Janzen
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.