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

[Rora]

C.Ann- thanks for posting this thread!!

I truly appreciate your PM back to be about the fiction books. I'm off to the library today to pick up a Beverly Lewis book but can't decide what series to start!!

Have a good day everyone!

 

[linda0706]

and also two Amish stories by Cindy Woodsmall, When the Heart Cries and When the Morning Comes from the Sisters of the Quilt series.

Sorry, I can't resist name-dropping here...Cindy Woodsmall is my across-the-street neighbor. She & her husband are great people. Plus they always buy a boat-load of Girl Scout cookies from my daughter every year.

 

[mickeylove2]

This is a really great thread! I love reading about the Amish, Beverly Lewis writes really good fiction, I have read all (I think) of her books. I'm constantly going to "Amish country" where I live, as a matter of fact I was just in Lancaster, PA last night!

Anyway, I was wondering if you happened to rememeber the name of the Lifetime movie about the Amish schoolhouse killings from a couple of years ago. Is there a book written about it? I really wanted to watch the movie but missed it when it first aired and was hoping to be able to find it online or at the library, and if there is a book out there, I would love to read it. TIA

 

[C.Ann]

Sorry, I can't resist name-dropping here...Cindy Woodsmall is my across-the-street neighbor. She & her husband are great people. Plus they always buy a boat-load of Girl Scout cookies from my daughter every year.

Oooooo! I'm jealous! I love her writing - awesome author.. Feel free to pass my compliment on to her..

This is a really great thread! I love reading about the Amish, Beverly Lewis writes really good fiction, I have read all (I think) of her books. I'm constantly going to "Amish country" where I live, as a matter of fact I was just in Lancaster, PA last night!

Anyway, I was wondering if you happened to rememeber the name of the Lifetime movie about the Amish schoolhouse killings from a couple of years ago. Is there a book written about it? I really wanted to watch the movie but missed it when it first aired and was hoping to be able to find it online or at the library, and if there is a book out there, I would love to read it. TIA

I don't remember the name of the movie - but - go to Amazon.com Select "books" (or movies) and in the search field type in Nickel Mines School or West Nickel Mines School.. I think something will come up that will help you..

I just read a book this past weekend about that incident - "Forgiveness - A Legacy of the West Nickel Mines Amish School" - by John L. Ruth ( a Mennonite minister).. This particular book doesn't go into a lot of detail about the incident, but rather explains the how's and why's of the Amish being able to forgive so easily.. It also sheds quite a bit of light on how their religious beliefs come into play with what many non-Amish consider hypocritical actions on their part.. If you read the book, you will see where their actions are not hypocritical at all.. Certainly cleared up a bunch of questions I had..

Good news! Yesterday my book arrived "New York Amish".. First thing I learned? They are now one of the fastest growing populations in New York state as more and more Amish move here from Lancaster County, PA; Maryland; Ohio; and northern Indiana.. Who would have thought??

 

[Luvchefmic]

NY amish? Who knew? I have to find out where to go in FL eventually I will be able to afford a day trip until then in the past week I have read:

3 books by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Bygones, Blessings, and Fields of Grace

and am in the middle of Shadows of Lancaster County

by Mindy Starns Clark

Love them all, the only problem is our little library has such limited open times/days and not too many books. They are great about getting books that are requested from another library so I will have to bring in a request list from what everyone is posting when I go tomorrow

 

[C.Ann]

NY amish? Who knew? I have to find out where to go in FL eventually I will be able to afford a day trip until then in the past week I have read:

3 books by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Bygones, Blessings, and Fields of Grace

and am in the middle of Shadows of Lancaster County

by Mindy Starns Clark

Love them all, the only problem is our little library has such limited open times/days and not too many books. They are great about getting books that are requested from another library so I will have to bring in a request list from what everyone is posting when I go tomorrow

Read them all.. Great books!

 

[Luvchefmic]

I just found this tread... Thanks Carol Ann.

Well finally I have a name I never knew it


Ruthie

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

This is a really great thread! I love reading about the Amish, Beverly Lewis writes really good fiction, I have read all (I think) of her books. I'm constantly going to "Amish country" where I live, as a matter of fact I was just in Lancaster, PA last night!

Anyway, I was wondering if you happened to rememeber the name of the Lifetime movie about the Amish schoolhouse killings from a couple of years ago. Is there a book written about it? I really wanted to watch the movie but missed it when it first aired and was hoping to be able to find it online or at the library, and if there is a book out there, I would love to read it. TIA

I saw a copy of Amish Grace at either the library or Borders recently.

Sorry, I can't resist name-dropping here...Cindy Woodsmall is my across-the-street neighbor. She & her husband are great people. Plus they always buy a boat-load of Girl Scout cookies from my daughter every year.

She seems very sweet. I "friended" her on Facebook to share my comments on her first series. She seems really sweet and adores her fans.

C.Ann- thanks for posting this thread!!

I truly appreciate your PM back to be about the fiction books. I'm off to the library today to pick up a Beverly Lewis book but can't decide what series to start!!

Have a good day everyone!

The first Beverly Lewis book I read was The Shunning, from The Heritage of Lancaster series. When I saw the cover of that book for the first time I just had to buy it and read it. My interest in her books has taken off from there. I haven't gone back and read the first five from Abrams' Daughters, but I've read all but The Sunroom, The Missing and The Telling. I'm currently reading Sanctuary, which she co-wrote with her husband. A complete list of her works is on her website, www.beverlylewis.com.

 

[C.Ann]

Adding on a few fiction that I just finished:

"SummerHill Secrets - Volume 1" - Beverly Lewis (geared towards teens, but a good read - over 500 pages - Volume 2 is out as well, but I haven't started mine yet)

3 books series:

"The Key"
"The Document"
"The Decision" - all by Gayle Roper (mystery set in Amish country while an "Englisher" is living with the Zook family)

Enjoy!

 

[C.Ann]

Heavy reading the past three days.. Here's the new list:

Fiction

"Dear To Me" - Wanda Brunstetter (Not one of her best, but okay..)

"Rebecca's Choice" - Jerry Eicher (Last book of "Rebecca" trilogy.. Very good!)

"A Cousin's Prayer"
"A Cousin's Challenge" - Wanda Brunstetter (Last 2 books of the "Indiana Cousin's" series.. Very good!)

"The Secret"
"The Missing"
"The Telling" - Beverly Lewis ("Seasons of Grace" series.. Good, but not her best.. She's becoming somewhat predictable with her story lines and this is very, very similar to one of her earlier series.. Worth reading though..)

"Plain Truth" - Jodi Picoult (I read this before - a couple of years ago - but couldn't remember much about it, so I read it again while waiting for new books to be delivered by the mailman.. Didn't care for the ending at all - but not sorry I read it again..)

Non-Fiction

"Samuel - The Inspiring Story of How an Amish Boy's Tragedy Brought Two Worlds Together" - Robert J. Hastings (VERY good!!! )

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I'll be reading all week, so I'll have more to add in a few days..
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Enjoy!!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I recently read The Secret and just finished The Telling last week. You're right about the predictablility. I could be reading any Beverly Lewis series, only the names are changed. Do I dare read the The Missing? Of couse I will.

Cindy Woodsmall's latest novel was released yesteday. The Bridge of Peace is the follow-up to The Hope of Refuge, which I have not yet read. Once I learned the new book was coming soon I held off on looking for it. I Can't wait to read them both, as I really enjoyed her first series.

 

[C.Ann]

I recently read The Secret and just finished The Telling last week. You're right about the predictablility. I could be reading any Beverly Lewis series, only the names are changed. Do I dare read the The Missing? Of couse I will.

Cindy Woodsmall's latest novel was released yesteday. The Bridge of Peace is the follow-up to The Hope of Refuge, which I have not yet read. Once I learned the new book was coming soon I held off on looking for it. I Can't wait to read them both, as I really enjoyed her first series.

Read Cindy Woodsmall's "The Hope Of Refuge" last night and ordered "The Bridge Of Peace" tonight - it's available on Amazon.com right now..

CW is coming in at one of my top 3 Amish authors now - her books are awesome!! You're going to love "The Hope Of Refuge".. I just wish she could crank out her books faster.. She's really, really good!

One of my other top 3 is Beth Wiseman.. Great storylines - without "predictability"..

 

[C.Ann]

Latest list I've read in the past 9 days - all fiction..

"Lydia's Charm" - Wanda Brunstetter (very good)

"A Widow's Hope"
"Never Far From Home"
"The Way To A Man's Heart" - all by Mary Ellis - "The Miller Series" (good)

"Plain Promise"
"Plain Paradise" - last 2 books of the "Daughter's of Promise" series by Beth Wiseman (Excellent books!!! She's becoming a favorite of mine - always lots of twists and turns in her books..)

"Sarah's Sin" - by Tami Hoag (Horrible!! She should stick to her traditional contemporary mysteries.. She basically knows nothing about the Amish - not even the proper clothing; values; morals; etc. I would be very surprised if she did one ounce of research before writing this book.. Very disappointed - total waste of money..)

Skip "Sarah's Sin" - LOL - otherwise, enjoy!

 

[dispor]

Good news! Yesterday my book arrived "New York Amish".. First thing I learned? They are now one of the fastest growing populations in New York state as more and more Amish move here from Lancaster County, PA; Maryland; Ohio; and northern Indiana.. Who would have thought?? [/B]

So, you live in New York. I wondered if you lived near a large Amish population or not. Guess not (yet). I live in Ohio and went to the Air Show in Cleveland last weekend. I could not believe how many Amish were there!! LOL! What a strange place to see them!! There are always large numbers of them at the Home and Flower Show, but it just seemed odd that they would be at an Air Show of all places! Saw several of them buying/eating French Fries. Had to chuckle at that, because Amish food is so darn GOOD!!!

Did you watch Amish in the City when it was on a few years ago? I remember thinking what a TERRIBLE idea for a show it was, then ended up watching it and found it really interesting!!

 

[C.Ann]

So, you live in New York. I wondered if you lived near a large Amish population or not. Guess not (yet). I live in Ohio and went to the Air Show in Cleveland last weekend. I could not believe how many Amish were there!! LOL! What a strange place to see them!! There are always large numbers of them at the Home and Flower Show, but it just seemed odd that they would be at an Air Show of all places! Saw several of them buying/eating French Fries. Had to chuckle at that, because Amish food is so darn GOOD!!!

Did you watch Amish in the City when it was on a few years ago? I remember thinking what a TERRIBLE idea for a show it was, then ended up watching it and found it really interesting!!

LOL.. You would be surprised the places they go - things they try - "English" foods they enjoy.. There are just so many misconceptions floating around about them out there.. They enjoy having fun just like anyone else.. The only difference in terms of some of their fun is that they also consider all of their very hard work "fun" as well - something not a lot of us "English" do..

Never heard of "Amish in the City".. Was it a movie? A series? Was it on PBS? I wonder if I could track it down somewhere.. If it's Amish, I'm interested in it..

 

[dispor]

Never heard of "Amish in the City".. Was it a movie? A series? Was it on PBS? I wonder if I could track it down somewhere.. If it's Amish, I'm interested in it..

It was - believe it or not - a reality TV show series. Sorry, can't remember which network, but I think it was one of the big three. It was on several years back. It was a group of "regular" (English) young adults who were forced to live (in the city) with a group of Amish during their Rumspringa.

There was a BIG uproar prior to it being aired. I think it was due to the fact that there were concerns that the Amish were going to just be made fun of, which didn't happen. In fact, the English kids came off looking very immature compared to them! It was interestng at the end when they showed which of the Amish decided to stay Amish and which decided to leave.

 

[C.Ann]

A few more additions I've read..

Non-Fiction:

"Think No Evil" - by Jonas Beiler with Shawn Smucker

This is an excellent book about the tragic shooting of those 10 little Amish girls at the Nickel Mines Schoolhouse back in October of 2006 - an insider account.. I have already read several other books on this tragic event and I have to say this is by far the best one of all - in terms of the actual happenings that day; conversations with both the Amish and the rescue people involved; the aftermath; etc.. There are also a number of black and white photos (nothing gruesome and no faces of the Amish).. The author (Jonas Beiler) grew up in a traditional Old Order Amish family in the 1950's and still associates with many Amish friends and Amish family members in that area..

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Fiction:

"The Bridge of Peace" - by Cindy Woodsmall (2nd book in the Ada Series).. Very good - can't wait for the 3rd next spring!!

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"Winter's Awakening"
"Spring's Renewal"
"Autumn's Promise" - by Shelley Shepard Gray (Seasons of Sugarcreek Series)

Very good!
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"Leah's Choice"
"Rachel's Garden"
"Anna's Return" - by Marta Perry

Excellent book series!! Lots of twists and turns - mysteries to keep you guessing.. Loved all 3 of them.. She's becoming a very, very good writer of Amish novels - with a twist of mystery thrown in..

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I'll have read more within the next few days and will add them to the list as time permits..

Enjoy!

 

[MizTink]

sorry, i'm too lazy to read all the pages. did anyone mention Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy?

 

[linda0706]

C.Ann,

There was an article in our local paper about Cindy Woodsmall visiting the high school. I remembered how much you liked her books and I thought you might like to read it...

http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/60036/

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

C.Ann,

There was an article in our local paper about Cindy Woodsmall visiting the high school. I remembered how much you liked her books and I thought you might like to read it...

http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/60036/

I haven't seen C.Ann lately. Does anyone know if she is OK?