Are you looking for some light, laugh-out-loud, back-porch reading for the long days of this summer? Look no more!
I don't recommend books very often. In fact, I don't think I ever have before. But these were hilarious. I recommend them mostly for the female folk, though if a male would partake, he would definitely learn, well... a lot.
After a few random folks suggested that I read Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen, I was quick on the uptake. I mean, how often does a Mennonite write about themselves? Let me reiterate: How often does a very modern day Mennonite woman make fun of herself in a book? So I bought it, and its counterpart, Does This Church Make Me Look Fat?, through Amazon for $0.01 and $0.80 respectively. Within just a few days of receiving them, I was already finished reading.
I won't reveal too much because I believe that the titles, themselves, are descriptively enticing, but these books are about the very interesting life of the author: she grows up Mennonite, she purposely marries a non-Mennonite, after a very long time her husband leaves her for another man, she is forced to move back in with her still-very-Mennonite parents, etc., etc.
The biggest thing that I enjoyed about it was comparing our Mennonite backgrounds. Admittedly it was therapeutic for me. And while her childhood was much more distinctively Mennonite than mine, it allowed me to realize how unique mine was (and still is). Growing up with Amish friends, routinely passing horse and buggies on the road, and not being able to wear jewelry in highschool (because it was considered too worldly) may seem pretty normal for those of us who grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania-- but let's be honest, its pretty weird.
Many times throughout the books my mouth would fly open, my eyes would bulge, and I would literally say to myself Did she really just say that? Did that really just happen? She's open. She's honest. She funny. And for a bonus, she's included some recipes in the back! How dear. I think I'll make some vegetarian Borscht tonight. Thanks, Rhoda.
When you read these, promise me that you will let me know!
xoxo
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