Non-fiction Amish book suggestions.. Fiction too..NEW Add-on's 9/20!!

[C.Ann]

Seems more appropriate to start an individual thread on this topic rather than include it in the J&K thread where the initial request was made, so here it is..

Amish Ways by Ruth Hoover Seitz

Rumspringa by Tom Schachtman

A Midwife's Story by Penny Armstrong and Sheryl Feldman

Living Without Electricity by Stephen Scott and Kenneth Pellman

The Amish Wedding & Other Special Occasions of the Old Order Communities by Stephen Scott

The Amish by John A. Hostetler

Dr. Frau
Detour both by Grace H. Kaiser

Amish Society by John A. Hostetler

The Riddle Of Amish Culture by Donald B. Kraybill

House Calls & Hitching Posts as told to Dorcas Sharp Hoover

------------------------------

These are all excellent books to get started with.. I would suggest looking them up on Amazon first - so you can read a little excerpt from each one to decide which books you might like to purchase..

I would then try to find them on half.com (sometimes you may have to go by the author, rather than the book - their "search" isn't the best in the world - LOL) - and then try to order as many of them as you can from the same seller.. By doing so, each additional book from the same seller is usually only $1.89 s&h each (except if it's a very large book) - which is a considerable savings over Amazon..

I always buy used and often get books that have been library copies as they tend to be in pretty decent shape and are usually hard cover..

Whatever the case may be, these are just a few of the many non-fiction books I have read about the Amish and have found them to be very educational and extremely interesting!

Enjoy..

 

[Heidict]

Well, I'm not the one who asked for the suggestions, but thanks anyway. I will add them to my list. If you think of anymore I would love to hear about them.

 

[C.Ann]

Well, I'm not the one who asked for the suggestions, but thanks anyway. I will add them to my list. If you think of anymore I would love to hear about them.

I'll keep that in mind.. I'm not sure if I have the list here at the lake of the books I read last year (those books are back at my DD's house), but if I come across it I'll be sure to post it..

Right now I have a running list of additional Amish books I want to purchase myself (both non-fiction and fiction), but I'm trying to hold off on buying them until I read the 62 books I still have sitting here right now - LOL...

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Nevermind!

 

[C.Ann]

Nevermind!

Thanks for the PM with the info..

 

[powellrj]

Marcia Adams has a beautiful series of cookbooks called Cooking From Quilt Country. I think there are 2. She is a fascinating writer and when she was healthy use to do an Amish Cooking show and do book/cooking demo tours.

The pictures alone make the books worth the purchase.

 

[busyshrew]

I recently watched a documentary called "The Devil's Playground". About a group of Amish teenagers during Rumspringa. It was fascinating and I'd recommend it as well.

 

[Tinkermommy]

Thanks C. Ann.

My mother is fascinated by the Amish. I may get some of these for her for Christmas (yes, I am already thinking about it). I think I will crochet her a shawl too. So she may be set!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I read some Beverly Lewis books years ago - The Shunning, The Confession and The Reckoning, all Heritage of Lancaster County Series. I just picked up The Postcard from the Amish Country Crossroads series at the library and also two Amish stories by Cindy Woodsmall, When the Heart Cries and When the Morning Comes from the Sisters of the Quilt series.

Thanks for the recommendations C.Ann. I've just started getting back in to reading again and will refer to this list when I'm ready to make an exchange at the library.

 

[C.Ann]

Marcia Adams has a beautiful series of cookbooks called Cooking From Quilt Country. I think there are 2. She is a fascinating writer and when she was healthy use to do an Amish Cooking show and do book/cooking demo tours.

The pictures alone make the books worth the purchase.

Thanks for that info.. I'll have to check out that book..

I recently watched a documentary called "The Devil's Playground". About a group of Amish teenagers during Rumspringa. It was fascinating and I'd recommend it as well.

Believe it or not, I have the tape of that show - bought it last fall - but haven't watched it yet because I'm having a problem with my VCR and I'm afraid it will "eat" it.. However, I believe (not 100% sure) that the "Rumspringa" book is what led to that documentary - although the book goes into much more detail..

I read some Beverly Lewis books years ago - The Shunning, The Confession and The Reckoning, all Heritage of Lancaster County Series. I just picked up The Postcard from the Amish Country Crossroads series at the library and also two Amish stories by Cindy Woodsmall, When the Heart Cries and When the Morning Comes from the Sisters of the Quilt series.

Thanks for the recommendations C.Ann. I've just started getting back in to reading again and will refer to this list when I'm ready to make an exchange at the library.

I've read all of the books by Beverly Lewis except her most recent series as I still have to purchase the final book.. I won't start reading the series until I have all 3 books because I like to read them one right after the other..

Cindy Woodsmall is great!! I'm not 100% sure - I read so many Amish books last year - but I think the Sisters of the Quilt Series is 3 books.. I really enjoy her writing style..

A few other authors to look into for Amish fiction would be:

Wanda Brunstetter
Beth Wiseman
Carrie Bender
Amy Clipston
Marta Perry
Karen Harper (Amish set mysteries)
Jerry Eicher

All good reads - and many have series available..

Enjoy your reading!

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Thanks for being understanding C.Ann!

You might also want to learn about the other descendants of the German Anabaptist groups and offshoots that still follow "old ways" like the Mennonites and the Brethern. They're every bit as fascinating (at least to me).

After all, it was the anabaptist movement that gave the impetutus to Roger Williams to found Rhode Island with the peculiar law that all religions would be welcome and unmolested and that no single sect, creed, denomination or faith would be favored over another by the local government.

And I'll stop now before I begin discussing religion on the DIS board. (I love the study of religion. It's really hard for me not to share information about roots of various faiths and theologocal similarities and scholarly stuff even if no one wants to hear it!)

 

[C.Ann]

Thanks for being understanding C.Ann!

You might also want to learn about the other descendants of the German Anabaptist groups and offshoots that still follow "old ways" like the Mennonites and the Brethern. They're every bit as fascinating (at least to me).

After all, it was the anabaptist movement that gave the impetutus to Roger Williams to found Rhode Island with the peculiar law that all religions would be welcome and unmolested and that no single sect, creed, denomination or faith would be favored over another by the local government.

And I'll stop now before I begin discussing religion on the DIS board. (I love the study of religion. It's really hard for me not to share information about roots of various faiths and theologocal similarities and scholarly stuff even if no one wants to hear it!)

Sounds like you and I have some common interests!

Fascinating stuff - hope to learn more about the Amish and then move on from there..

 

[Luvchefmic]

Sounds like you and I have some common interests!

Fascinating stuff - hope to learn more about the Amish and then move on from there..

I remember the thread you and I had both responded and someone had requested info...I have nothing to add to your list and even picked up a few others from yours so put me in the category of thanking you for this thread Beverly Lewis and Wanda B are also faves of mine ! Do you ever feel like when you have a particularly hard or stressful day it just gets better when you curl up with a book & disappear into that world?

Ruthie

 

[C.Ann]

Do you ever feel like when you have a particularly hard or stressful day it just gets better when you curl up with a book & disappear into that world?

Ruthie

Yes - especially the world of the Amish.. It's soooooooo peaceful and relaxing.. What I find even more helpful though is their outlook on life - so simple - so calm - so appreciative.. It really makes you stop and think why "our" society tends to get so overly anxious and irritated about even the smallest of things.. So much to be learned from these people.. Makes me wish I was born into an Amish family..

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult is heavily centered around an Amish girl and her family. That's a fiction book, though.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Yes - especially the world of the Amish.. It's soooooooo peaceful and relaxing.. What I find even more helpful though is their outlook on life - so simple - so calm - so appreciative.. It really makes you stop and think why "our" society tends to get so overly anxious and irritated about even the smallest of things.. So much to be learned from these people.. Makes me wish I was born into an Amish family..

EXACTLY ! I had the pleasure of staying at a B & B off the regular path in the Lancaster PA area once (wish I could remember the name off the top of my head) they weren't Amish but were next door to an Amish family...at first I thought I couldn't get to sleep without the usual TV....I had the best nights sleep in my life, a cool breeze through the curtains and the only sound the occasional Clip Clop of horse hooves......

 

[C.Ann]

EXACTLY ! I had the pleasure of staying at a B & B off the regular path in the Lancaster PA area once (wish I could remember the name off the top of my head) they weren't Amish but were next door to an Amish family...at first I thought I couldn't get to sleep without the usual TV....I had the best nights sleep in my life, a cool breeze through the curtains and the only sound the occasional Clip Clop of horse hooves......

Oooooo.. I'm so jealous!!! That must have been heaven..

 

[Luvchefmic]

Oooooo.. I'm so jealous!!! That must have been heaven..

It truly was...don't know where you live (and I'm no where near PA anymore) but highly recommend it...an experience you will never forget...

 

[princessmom29]

I am both fascinated and disturbed by Amish culture at once. It is on one hand a peaceful, simmple way of life, where hard work is valued and family is paramount, but on the other some of their beliefs about women, the idea of shunning, and many of the more repressive restrictions on dress and behavior bother me immensely. I don't think I could live in a culture where laughing too much gets you into trouble. So I guess I find things to admire and things I would never condone in thier lifestyle. They are a paradox of sorts to me.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I am both fascinated and disturbed by Amish culture at once. It is on one hand a peaceful, simmple way of life, where hard work is valued and family is paramount, but on the other some of their beliefs about women, the idea of shunning, and many of the more repressive restrictions on dress and behavior bother me immensely. I don't think I could live in a culture where laughing too much gets you into trouble. So I guess I find things to admire and things I would never condone in thier lifestyle. They are a paradox of sorts to me.

Agree but I think the main things I admire are the religious foundation, the family, the hard work ethic, the whole "less is more" I have raised an eyebrow many times re-the things you state too.