Book Review - I Am Hutterite

Today I am reviewing I Am Hutterite: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage by Mary-Ann Kirkby



From the Publisher:

A fascinating journey into the heart and culture of a reclusive religious community.

I Am Hutterite takes readers into the hidden heart of the little-known Hutterite colony where author Mary-Ann Kirkby spent her childhood. When she was ten, her parents packed up their seven children and a handful of possessions and left the colony to start a new life. Overnight they were thrust into a world they didn't understand, a world that did not understand them.
With great humor, Kirkby describes how she adapted to popular culture, and with raw honesty she describes her family's deep sense of loss for their community. More than a history lesson, I Am Hutterite is a powerful tale of retracing steps and understanding how our beginnings often define us.


My Review: I read this book in one sitting because I couldn't put it down... knowing that it was a true story propelled me to read it, the author's gift for sharing of herself and her life kept me riveted.  I have always been fascinated by cultures that exist in modern times under different rules - I lived in Southwestern Ontario not far from several Mennonite communities and watched their ability to integrate into the modern world without embracing it and love to read stories about Amish and other societies, so when I got an opportunity to read I Am Hutterite: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage I jumped at the chance and wasn't disappointed.

I love that she was able to find and integrate photographs of herself and her family to illustrate her life and her journey and that she was brave enough to share personal glimpses of herself and her best friend through original letters and recollections.  My only two criticisms are that I want a sequel delving more into how she is reclaiming her roots and integrating the Hutterite teachings into her modern world and that she didn't include more yummy recipes... this book talked quite a bit about the wonderful food that was eaten by the Hutterite collective and my mouth watered for days...

I highly recommend that you check out I Am Hutterite: The Fascinating True Story of a Young Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage if you are interested in biographies of women, or even if you are just drawn to the subject like me.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255  : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review - Everyone Communicates, Few Connect

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect: What The Most Effective People Do Differently. By: John C. Maxwell

Book Description:

The world's most respected leadership expert gives five principles and five practices for breaking the invisible barrier to leadership and personal success.
You have a good idea but can't convince your peers of its merit. You crafted a groundbreaking strategy, but the team trudges on in the same old way. Certain people move forward in their career while you seem to be stuck. If this describes you or someone you know, the problem is not the quality of what you have to offer. The problem is how you connect with people to create the results you desire.
In Everyone Communicates, Few Connect, John Maxwell takes readers through the Five Connecting Principles and the Five Connecting Practices of top-notch achievers. He believes that a person’s ability to create change and results in any organization—be it a company, church, nonprofit, or even a family—is directly tied to the ability to use the teachings of this book.


Review:

As a result of our information society, it should be noted that communication skills are not getting better but rather regressing.  Email, texting and other forms of electronic communications are hurting our ability to create deeper, meaningful relationships.  This is where this book comes in.  This purpose of this book is to put the personal back into personal communications.  The method John C. Maxwell advocates for doing this is what he refers to as ‘connecting.’  Connecting at its core according to Mr. Maxwell is creating a personal beneficial relationship between you and the people to which you are communicating with.  My favorite aspect of the text is the reminder that communication and relationships are indeed two way streets.  Those who are consistently selfish in their approach do not create positive long term relationships.  There is a strong need for empathy, active listening skills and creating a caring environment.  The other aspect of the text I truly enjoyed was the chapter entitled, ‘Connectors Live What They Communicate.’  The emphasis on ethics in that chapter is really a newer contribution that you often do not find in these texts.  This is a message that good managers really need to receive in order to be effective.  The old saying, ‘practice what you preach’ is critical for establishing credibility and trustworthiness which has unfortunately not been emphasized enough in the current related literature.  Overall, the text is a nice, easy read.  The message is strong and sent with conviction.  The quotes used in the text are well chosen and do emphasize the importance of the message.  I would recommend Everyone Communicates, Few Connect to any manager who needs a reminder/refresher on how to be successful.


I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: the clouds roll away

When I chose this book from BookSneeze I had no idea it was the third book in a series, but I read the book jacket notes and thought this would be a fabulous book - it has everything; intrigue, suspense, mystery and a little romance thrown in for good measure.

The Clouds Roll Away (Raleigh Harmon) by Sibrella Giorello finds Raleigh returning to her hometown of Richmond, VA hoping to be hailed a hero, but instead finds herself distrusted and just dissed at work and forced to not only investigate an ugly cross burning incident at a celebrity's mansion, but also to spend hours listening to wiretapped cell phone calls of local gang members.  This is the third book in a series which also features: The Stones Cry Out: A Novel (Raleigh Harmon's first appearance and Giorello's debut novel) and The Rivers Run Dry.

What did I like about this book?  I loved the intricacies and the way that the novelist was able to hint at connections but not allow the reader to guess all of the twists and turns before the final chapters.  Even the coincidences which can sometimes ruin a good suspense book are formulated so that the reader can enjoy the adventure.   Unlike other times when I pick up a book mid-series, this author creates a stand alone book that, while it draws from the character's previous experience, does not make the reader have all of that background to appreciate a well written tale.  I have to say though, that I am definitely planning to go back and read book one and two!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”