Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Bethany House Publishers (2012), 336 pages
Description
Fiction. Romance. Christian Fiction. As reality TV show participants, two women learn unexpected lessons about their families and livesâ??and that 'going Amish' isn't as simple as it loo
User reviews
LibraryThing member ReviewsFromTheHeart
If you've ever read anything about the Amish lifestyles, you know that they live a much simpler life, no electricity, no technology, no cars and just a whole lot less stress. So when the Lisa Lee show gets an idea for a new reality show called Almost Amish, a modern family from California is going
Susan Reynolds is a Martha Steward in training. She's a bit of what most would call overly assertive, a bit of a perfectionist, and willing to do whatever it takes to make sure not only she's on top of her game but also her young daughter, Angie as well. Since being divorced from her husband James, Susan's working harder than ever to make sure she provides the type of life she believes her daughter deserves even if it means pushing her a bit harder than most parents. So when an opportunity becomes available not only to sell her cookbooks, but also to star in a reality series based on a simple lifestyle, she jumps at the chance. Since the program is revolving around the Amish lifestyle, she manages to convince her sister in law, Julie Charlton, to join her with her kids for the summer shooting the series.
Julie Charlton has never been good at anything except the ability to overschedule and over commit herself to virtually everything happening in her families lives, from helping her husband Thomas out with work, attending to committees for her son Brian and her daughter Whitney, including all those after school sports events they are both committed to. Still Julie feels she is less than perfect. Even the cupcakes that she makes for the semi-formal, eight grade, parent- child dance come out wrong. They are lumpy and lean to the left or right, sometimes both, and even the frosting looks like a huge mess. So when Susan's offer for a simple lifestyle challenge is presented, she literally jumps at the chance to slow it down.
However what they all fail to realize is that this is a reality show based on ratings, the higher the ratings, the better the show, and the only way sometimes to generate that is to create the chaos going on with the family that now finds itself dropped off, on a dirt road, with only a mail box on the edge of a field as their only guide to the home they will be staying at. Not only that, they only have 60 seconds to retrieve their belongings before the driver takes off with them.
Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman is such a breath of fresh air from your standard Amish fiction books. There is something in this novel for everyone. Think of it like the show Survivor but geared to how a modern family can make it living like the Amish. It is both funny, emotional and there is a lesson in it for all of us, who simply wonder if there is a better way at life, than the busy ones we find ourselves in. So what about you? If you had the opportunity to spend three months living a simple life like the Amish, would you do it? You may just want to pick this book up first to see just how "simple" it really is!
I received Almost Amish compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. I LOVED this one, such profound wisdom can be found throughout the pages, mostly in the words of Rosemary Foil, who comes to teach the women how to quilt but instead imparts such sage advice on thirsty soil in the hearts of them women who listen to her stories. She encourages, inspires and teaches them to look deep inside themselves to see why they have some to participate in this show. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and once again, Kathryn Cushman takes her readers to an unexpected place of pure enjoyment and speaks to the heart of a book lovers everywhere.
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to get a lot more lessons in life than simply learning how to be Amish.Susan Reynolds is a Martha Steward in training. She's a bit of what most would call overly assertive, a bit of a perfectionist, and willing to do whatever it takes to make sure not only she's on top of her game but also her young daughter, Angie as well. Since being divorced from her husband James, Susan's working harder than ever to make sure she provides the type of life she believes her daughter deserves even if it means pushing her a bit harder than most parents. So when an opportunity becomes available not only to sell her cookbooks, but also to star in a reality series based on a simple lifestyle, she jumps at the chance. Since the program is revolving around the Amish lifestyle, she manages to convince her sister in law, Julie Charlton, to join her with her kids for the summer shooting the series.
Julie Charlton has never been good at anything except the ability to overschedule and over commit herself to virtually everything happening in her families lives, from helping her husband Thomas out with work, attending to committees for her son Brian and her daughter Whitney, including all those after school sports events they are both committed to. Still Julie feels she is less than perfect. Even the cupcakes that she makes for the semi-formal, eight grade, parent- child dance come out wrong. They are lumpy and lean to the left or right, sometimes both, and even the frosting looks like a huge mess. So when Susan's offer for a simple lifestyle challenge is presented, she literally jumps at the chance to slow it down.
However what they all fail to realize is that this is a reality show based on ratings, the higher the ratings, the better the show, and the only way sometimes to generate that is to create the chaos going on with the family that now finds itself dropped off, on a dirt road, with only a mail box on the edge of a field as their only guide to the home they will be staying at. Not only that, they only have 60 seconds to retrieve their belongings before the driver takes off with them.
Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman is such a breath of fresh air from your standard Amish fiction books. There is something in this novel for everyone. Think of it like the show Survivor but geared to how a modern family can make it living like the Amish. It is both funny, emotional and there is a lesson in it for all of us, who simply wonder if there is a better way at life, than the busy ones we find ourselves in. So what about you? If you had the opportunity to spend three months living a simple life like the Amish, would you do it? You may just want to pick this book up first to see just how "simple" it really is!
I received Almost Amish compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. I LOVED this one, such profound wisdom can be found throughout the pages, mostly in the words of Rosemary Foil, who comes to teach the women how to quilt but instead imparts such sage advice on thirsty soil in the hearts of them women who listen to her stories. She encourages, inspires and teaches them to look deep inside themselves to see why they have some to participate in this show. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and once again, Kathryn Cushman takes her readers to an unexpected place of pure enjoyment and speaks to the heart of a book lovers everywhere.
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LibraryThing member alekee
I loved reading this book...we live in such a fast pace rat race. We seem to forget what is important, and this book helps bring things into reality.
We begin with Julie Charlton who doesn't seem to know the name "NO". She is always running from one thing to another, and sometimes has to be two
Susan Reynolds is in a fight to support herself and her daughter Angie, and the producers offer her an opportunity to advance, she has to do it! They want to do a reality show featuring the "Lisa Lee" show, and have Susan and Julie and their children going to Tennessee to live Amish style lives.
When they arrived they have all of 60 seconds to get their belongings out of the Limo...as quick as they can Julia, her daughter Whitney, and son Brian grab their stuff. They begin their long journey down the drive, and finally arrive at a picturesque house....more on the outside than inside. They are met by Susan and her daughter Angie. Thus begins their new adventure!
Julie wants desperately to find her God Gifts...even though she has always had them. You will watch them struggle and and in some ways envy them! They need to learn how to use a wood stove, and regulate it to cook with. Learn to wash clothes with a ringer washer...a real step back in time.
I loved the ways the kids adjusted from their hectic lives back in CA to enjoy the simpler things. Checker tournaments!
Do not miss this really heartwarming read. At times you won't like Susan, but travel along with them for a better look!
I received this book from Bethany House Publishers, and was not required to give a positive review.
We begin with Julie Charlton who doesn't seem to know the name "NO". She is always running from one thing to another, and sometimes has to be two
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places at once. When her husband Thomas's sister begs her to help her...of course Julie does what she always does "Yes"!Susan Reynolds is in a fight to support herself and her daughter Angie, and the producers offer her an opportunity to advance, she has to do it! They want to do a reality show featuring the "Lisa Lee" show, and have Susan and Julie and their children going to Tennessee to live Amish style lives.
When they arrived they have all of 60 seconds to get their belongings out of the Limo...as quick as they can Julia, her daughter Whitney, and son Brian grab their stuff. They begin their long journey down the drive, and finally arrive at a picturesque house....more on the outside than inside. They are met by Susan and her daughter Angie. Thus begins their new adventure!
Julie wants desperately to find her God Gifts...even though she has always had them. You will watch them struggle and and in some ways envy them! They need to learn how to use a wood stove, and regulate it to cook with. Learn to wash clothes with a ringer washer...a real step back in time.
I loved the ways the kids adjusted from their hectic lives back in CA to enjoy the simpler things. Checker tournaments!
Do not miss this really heartwarming read. At times you won't like Susan, but travel along with them for a better look!
I received this book from Bethany House Publishers, and was not required to give a positive review.
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LibraryThing member Maydacat
It’s an interesting concept: live simply, as do the Amish. Forsaking modern conveniences, Julie and her sister-in-law Susan and their kids embark on this adventure. Julie just wants to get away from the demands of her hectic life. Susan wants to promote her talents as a cook and a home decorator,
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hoping to secure a means to provide for her daughter and herself. Now, throw in the added challenges of a reality TV show, and you will understand what these people will face. Simple most definitely does not mean easy. And while most Amish have grown up learning to compensate for the lack of appliances and the electricity to run them, these folks have not. They also lack the support of community that the Amish have, and most importantly, the Amish don’t have cameras following them 24/7 in their living space. There is much more to the Amish way of life than what this author brings to this story. But perhaps we shouldn’t expect it to be of a religious nature, because it is just “almost” Amish. The family members do reconnect with each other, and each person discovers his and her own strengths. Overall, it was an interesting and satisfying read. Show Less
LibraryThing member jnut1
Really enjoyed this book. I love Amish fiction and this was a different spin in it.
As part of a TV series a family goes Amish for the summer. They learn what it is like without electricity, a oven, and the on goings of life on a Amish farm - canning, chickens. Now I don't want to give it away but
A book I would suggest to all.
Goodreads writes:
Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She's overwhelmed and burned out, and in today's unrelenting society, her kids are, too. When her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series promoting simple living, and needs another family to join her, it seems like the perfect opportunity.
The location is an idyllic farm outside an Amish community in Tennessee. Julie, with her two children, joins Susan and her teenage daughter for a summer adventure. Susan needs to succeed in order to become self-sufficient after an ugly divorce, Julie needs to slow down long enough to remember what her priorities are and regain a sense of purpose and meaning. It becomes clear from the start that "living simple" is no simple matter. With the camera watching every move, Susan's drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. With each new challenge, their season of "going Amish" gets more and more complicated, as each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family
As part of a TV series a family goes Amish for the summer. They learn what it is like without electricity, a oven, and the on goings of life on a Amish farm - canning, chickens. Now I don't want to give it away but
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there was a point that was a stretch for me but maybe it is just me and I don't stretch that way. A book I would suggest to all.
Goodreads writes:
Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She's overwhelmed and burned out, and in today's unrelenting society, her kids are, too. When her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series promoting simple living, and needs another family to join her, it seems like the perfect opportunity.
The location is an idyllic farm outside an Amish community in Tennessee. Julie, with her two children, joins Susan and her teenage daughter for a summer adventure. Susan needs to succeed in order to become self-sufficient after an ugly divorce, Julie needs to slow down long enough to remember what her priorities are and regain a sense of purpose and meaning. It becomes clear from the start that "living simple" is no simple matter. With the camera watching every move, Susan's drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. With each new challenge, their season of "going Amish" gets more and more complicated, as each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family
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LibraryThing member cclpad
I have to admit, I had a few trepidations about reading Almost Amish by Katie Cushman: I'm over Amish fiction. I'm tired of bonnets and buggies.
With great relief I can say my fears were unfounded.
Cushman's books are always about two sides of an issue. She writes characters who are passionate about
Almost Amish is her best book so far.
Susan is a Type A perfectionistic Martha Stewart wannabe. Her sister-in-law Julie is more laid back. But Julie's easy going nature makes it hard for her to say no and draw boundaries and she's often overstressed and overwhelmed by her commitments.
Susan and her daughter have the opportunity to be part of a reality television project and Julie joins with her own two children. They agree to live on a farm for the summer, doing things "almost Amish," meaning as simply as possible, while being filmed.
Susan about kills herself and everyone else doing things perfectly. Her pie has to be perfect, even if it's baked in a wood-burning stove. The bathroom floor has to sparkle, even though it's made of fifty year old tile. Her breakfasts have to be garnished as if the pancakes were getting their own close-ups.
Julie discovers that she enjoys the slower pace of life on the farm and being able to focus solely on her family and providing for them.
The television crew throw various challenges at the two families, all while the cameras are rolling.
I thought the author did a fabulous job showing each woman's feelings about the project and how it affected them. Susan could have been a hard character to care about since she's abrupt and abrasive and impossible to please. But she has a compelling reason for doing this project and it drives her to succeed.
As Julie slows down, she learns some lessons about herself and the life she's been living. As a wife and mother who often felt overwhelmed by the demands of home, school, work, and life, I sympathized with Julie and could apply her lessons to my own life.
Almost Amish is not "almost good." It's wonderful and I highly recommend it.
I received a copy from the publisher for review purposes, but that did not influence the good things I have to say about this book.
With great relief I can say my fears were unfounded.
Cushman's books are always about two sides of an issue. She writes characters who are passionate about
Show More
their positions and she writes each so well that it's impossible not to see their side. Whether it's vaccinations, doing the right thing in a difficult situation, or making little compromises, the characters are real people grappling with real decisions that have real consequences.Almost Amish is her best book so far.
Susan is a Type A perfectionistic Martha Stewart wannabe. Her sister-in-law Julie is more laid back. But Julie's easy going nature makes it hard for her to say no and draw boundaries and she's often overstressed and overwhelmed by her commitments.
Susan and her daughter have the opportunity to be part of a reality television project and Julie joins with her own two children. They agree to live on a farm for the summer, doing things "almost Amish," meaning as simply as possible, while being filmed.
Susan about kills herself and everyone else doing things perfectly. Her pie has to be perfect, even if it's baked in a wood-burning stove. The bathroom floor has to sparkle, even though it's made of fifty year old tile. Her breakfasts have to be garnished as if the pancakes were getting their own close-ups.
Julie discovers that she enjoys the slower pace of life on the farm and being able to focus solely on her family and providing for them.
The television crew throw various challenges at the two families, all while the cameras are rolling.
I thought the author did a fabulous job showing each woman's feelings about the project and how it affected them. Susan could have been a hard character to care about since she's abrupt and abrasive and impossible to please. But she has a compelling reason for doing this project and it drives her to succeed.
As Julie slows down, she learns some lessons about herself and the life she's been living. As a wife and mother who often felt overwhelmed by the demands of home, school, work, and life, I sympathized with Julie and could apply her lessons to my own life.
Almost Amish is not "almost good." It's wonderful and I highly recommend it.
I received a copy from the publisher for review purposes, but that did not influence the good things I have to say about this book.
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LibraryThing member wrightja2000
Not a typical "Amish" or even Christian novel, this is actually more about how we all need to focus on the gifts God has given us and how He wants us to use those gifts to bless others. It is a lesson I've been learning over the last few years as I've stopped trying to do everything expertly but do
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a few things well and with joy, leaving time to serve my family and others. I'd like to reread this. Also it wasn't preachy and had an entertaining plot. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
8.5 inches
ISBN
0764208268 / 9780764208263