Almost Amish Book Review

Almost Amish: A Novel by Kathryn Cushman is my second book from Bethany House for review.  I thought that I would pick another one that was a little different than what I read last time and this was it!!  This was a page turner from start to finish. 

The story is about a family who decides to pick up their life for a summer and live almost like Amish people for a reality television show.  Julie, the overworked mom, was enjoying the summer "relaxation" without the phone ringing and the kids fighting.  Susan, the perfectionist mom, was worrying that her daughter wasn't getting enough schooling and wasn't going to be ready for college.  Julie thought Susan was missing the point of taking this opportunity to step back from the busy California lifestyle to enjoy the slower Tennessee countryside.  The challenges of country life and interacting with the family had me interested throughout. 

My favorite non-family character was the quilting instructor who taught the women to sew beautiful quilts and told great stories (including many stories from the bible).  This character helped Julie to see that she had skills that she could use in life through many of her stories and the quilting.

If you want to be grateful for the things that you have in life- air conditioning, electricity, refrigeration, and washing machine, this is the perfect read.  If you are looking for a book about being Amish, this isn't it because the family doesn't talk to or spend time with the Amish but rather a reality TV show decides what is "Amish."  As long as you know what the book is about, I think that it is a great book.

I thought the author did a great job developing the characters through the book and the storyline.  The book involves a lot of religious discussion but it really fit into the theme of the book and didn't seemed forced in (like the last book that I read).  I hope that you all check it out at your local library or bookstore!!

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Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Almost Amish from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions expressed here are my own.