Book Review - I Am Hutterite

I was so excited to begin reading this first person narrative of life in a Hutterite colony and of the transition the author faced when her parents decided to leave the colony for the English world. This is an amazingly honest and heartfelt accounting of both the positive and negative aspects of communal religious life. Although Mary-Anne Kirkby left the Fairholme Hutterite Colony when she was a young girl the book is rich in detail about colony life. Some of the stories made me laugh while others, one in particular, made me want to cry because it seems that the rigid rules of the colony may have cost her young brother his life.

The transition that Mary-Ann Kirkby lived through after leaving Fairholme was also touching. Although it is told without remorse or bitterness, the reader can certainly feel the heartache of a young child as she attempted to fit into a society that was completely foreign to her. Again, some of the stories she tells of trying to fit into the English world are amusing (for example her first experience with dish washing detergent) while others are difficult to read because you can clearly see the intolerance of children who do not see the person beneath the unusual manner of dress.

This story is very well written and engaging from the first chapter. The book reads very quickly and I especially enjoyed the photos at the beginning of each chapter and at the end of the book. This is an excellent book for anyone who wants a glimpse into the life of the Hutterite community.

As a daughter of the Appalachian Mountains, I was reminded that each of us has a unique heritage and while the world at large may not appreciate our roots those of us with less tolerated or understood backgrounds should be proud of where we come from, because our heritage plays a significant role in who we are today.

While I received a copy of this book from the publisher, the views expressed here are entirely my own.

Book Review - Plan B

Pete Wilson's book Plan B is an excellent resource for all Christians because we've all been faced with difficult circumstances in life. On the cover of the book the question is posed, "What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought He would?" I don't know anyone who hasn't at some point prayed and gotten a response of "No" , "Not now", or "That's not part of My plan for you". This book is an excellent reminder that God's ways are not our ways and that just because He doesn't answer your prayers the way you thought He would He still loves you very much and has a plan and purpose to draw you closer to Him through whatever trial you face.

This book offers no easy, pat answers. It isn't a "feel-good" book - if you do items A,B, and C God will always answer the way you want Him to. But we all know that isn't how God works anyway. As Wilson says in his book, "God does His best work in hopeless situations."

There are several biblical examples of how God worked in the lives of His people - often in unexpected ways. There are also many excellent examples of situations faced by believers in recent times. Many of these examples do not have a "happily ever after" ending. But in every one you can see the transforming power of God working in an individual's life to bring that person closer to Him. There are many types of "plan B" situations - sickness, relationship issues, the death of personal dreams such as marriage or family, financial trouble to name a few. These situation are very different from each other. Some we bring on ourselves and some just seem to randomly happen to us. No matter what the situation, God is with His children but His focus is on our growth, not just making our lives easy.

This book will make you reevaluate your relationship with God, especially when you're in the middle of one of life's Plan B's

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.