Reviewing: I Am Hutterite by Mary-Ann Kirksby
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"I am Hutterite" is a touching memoir written from the viewpoint of a young girl growing up in a Canadian Hutterite community. For those like me who have never heard of "Hutterites" before, they are very similar to the Amish. Mary-Ann never knew any other life until her parents moved the entire family away from the colony into the "English" world. Mary-Ann was forced to conform to a completely different lifestyle.
What I Liked-
I've always been curious about the Amish/Hutterite communities. Mary-Ann Kirksby gave readers a rare look into her childhood and culture. She was descriptive and eloquent in her writing skills and she provided beautiful stories. Kirksby's moments of comic relief are funny and well-placed. Kirksby also showed that it was possible to keep her faith even while transitioning between religious beliefs.
What I Didn't Like-
The description on the back of the book is a little deceiving. It appears that the book begins with Kirksby leaving her Hutterite colony and adjusting to a new life. However, the majority of the book talks about Kirksby's family history and only the last few chapters involves Kirkby living in the "English" world at all. I would have liked to see a little more about Mary-Ann's difficult transition into her new life. There are times when Kirksby is too descriptive and her paragraphs get a little lengthy and slow, but she manages to re-attract the reader's attention fairly quickly.
I recommend this book for-
Solid readers, probably over the age of fifteen. This isn't an incredibly difficult read, but it isn't a sit-down easy read either. Anyone curious about the way of life in Hutterite and Amish communities should check out this book, as well as those who enjoy coming-of-age autobiographies and memoirs.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <https://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
What I Liked-
I've always been curious about the Amish/Hutterite communities. Mary-Ann Kirksby gave readers a rare look into her childhood and culture. She was descriptive and eloquent in her writing skills and she provided beautiful stories. Kirksby's moments of comic relief are funny and well-placed. Kirksby also showed that it was possible to keep her faith even while transitioning between religious beliefs.
What I Didn't Like-
The description on the back of the book is a little deceiving. It appears that the book begins with Kirksby leaving her Hutterite colony and adjusting to a new life. However, the majority of the book talks about Kirksby's family history and only the last few chapters involves Kirkby living in the "English" world at all. I would have liked to see a little more about Mary-Ann's difficult transition into her new life. There are times when Kirksby is too descriptive and her paragraphs get a little lengthy and slow, but she manages to re-attract the reader's attention fairly quickly.
I recommend this book for-
Solid readers, probably over the age of fifteen. This isn't an incredibly difficult read, but it isn't a sit-down easy read either. Anyone curious about the way of life in Hutterite and Amish communities should check out this book, as well as those who enjoy coming-of-age autobiographies and memoirs.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <https://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Tags: book review program, book sneeze, i am hutterite, i am hutterite review, mary-ann kirksby, thomas nelson publishers
Excellent review. Thank you! I'm about a quarter into this book and it's a bit boring so far. She is an excellent author though...I'm was born and raised, and still live, in a Hutterite colony so I'll keep reading it...check out my blog if you can find the time!