Book Review

 

This is my latest read. I just finished it up. The back reads:

As the rest of the nation is embroiled in the civil war, the Amana Colonies have remained at peace-until now. Amalie Wiese arrives in the newly built village of Amana in 1863 only to find that her fiance, Friedrich, has left to fight with the Union army. Amalie fears for his safety even as she struggles with his decision to abandon the colony's peace-loving beliefs. She hopes that working alongside Friedrich's best friend will provide some comfort, but Matthias himself leaves for the battlefront to deliver supplies to the soldiers, war rages in Amalie's own heart. Will love claim victory?

I would give this book an eight out of ten stars (and that's only because I reserve the higher awards for only the best of the best of the best!)

 

The part that sticks out in my mind is:

     "I'm on my way to Iowa," she told him. "Our new community is separated from the rest of the world."

     " No matter how hard you try, you and your people will never be able to completely separate yourself from the world."

It struck me as odd because all my life those who have been placed above me in authority have pounded in my head that "we are to not be conformed to this world" and "be separate and different from the world" etc. I know that we are supposed to live our lives differently than those who do not have a relationship with Christ, but I believe that some people that i know actually feel that they can be completely separated from the world and that is just not possible. I think God just wants us to live life differently as an influence to those around us, that hopefully they will feel God's love for them through us. It makes me really stop and think about some of the choices that I make and although I still have a long way to go, I think I am doing better than I was. And after all, isn't that the point? To be constantly changing and trying to be more like Christ? Even if it is baby steps?

This book (by Melanie Dobson) was cute, grabbed my attention almost right away. It is well written, the story is believable, the characters are like able. It was actually a very good book. Thanks for listening to my ramblings. Thanks for reading.

 

-erin-