5/6/10

I am Hutterite, by Mary Ann Kirkby


Thank you Book Sneeze for sending me this great book to review! This was the second book about the Hutterite Community that I have read. I thought this was a great look into their lives and into the life of a family who left the colony and their adjustment to the outside world. 4 stars.

About the book: 
A fascinating journey into the heart and culture of a reclusive religious community.
I Am Hutterite takes readers into the hidden heart of the little-known Hutterite colony where author Mary-Ann Kirkby spent her childhood. When she was ten, her parents packed up their seven children and a handful of possessions and left the colony to start a new life. Overnight they were thrust into a world they didn't understand, a world that did not understand them.
With great humor, Kirkby describes how she adapted to popular culture, and with raw honesty she describes her family's deep sense of loss for their community. More than a history lesson, I Am Hutterite is a powerful tale of retracing steps and understanding how our beginnings often define us.

My Review:  I thought this was a very interesting book! I love reading about different life styles. Mary Ann tell about her family history, her parents, her grandparents, and how they met and got married. She tells of everyday life, the ups and downs.She gives a very good description about their life. She paints a good picture so I knew exactly what the colony looked. There were a lot of characters in this book, being a memoir. So it was sometimes hard to keep everyone straight, but you did get to know her immediate family pretty well. Once Mary Ann tells of her own personal life, you really get to know her and her parents. I really felt bad for Mary Ann when she starts the "English" school. It was a very hard adjustment for her. They were very poor and still wearing the Hutterite clothes. All Mary Ann wanted was to go back to her safe Hutterite colony.
I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys memoirs, and books about alternate lifestyles.

6 comments:

  1. I love books like that because I think they give a more accurate view of history even if it is from a POV. Great Review!

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  2. Very nice review....

    My word verification is "MATEL"
    as in TOYS!!! I just thought that is was different.

    Mom

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  3. Nice review - sounds like an interesting read. I'm always fascinated by other lifestyles. (One of my faves is the Amish!)
    P.S. You will have to come visit me one day! Seriously!

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  4. 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!

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  5. That's does sound like an excellent book. Great Review ! thanks for the recommendation :)

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  6. I love to read books about other communities and lifestyles, thanks for the review
    hing
    ****Also, you had entered a giveaway I was having -- you did not win but I still need your email and snail mail because I still have something for you****

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