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.