by Chris Burkholder. I found it chilling and terribly disturbing. It certainly was nothing like the Beverly Lewis novels.  I think I actually preferred to live with my illusions (delusions?) about Amish life. If it is indeed an accurate depiction of Amish life, I'm sickened by it. I have other Amish life books on my wish list and I think that I'm going to delete them, although I'm tempted to leave them on to see if I can get a little better perspecitive. Any thoughts?

No I haven't but it sounds good.  For some reason I am fascinated by the Amish.  Where I live there are a lot of Amish people and one of my good friends is very involved with one family.  One bothersome thing she did tell me was that all the Amish she is in contact with are extremely racist.  I thought that was strange & not very Christian like.

I have never read Amish Confidential but enjoyed Sue Bender's memoir of living with an Amish family entitled Plain and Simple.  I have always been fascinated by the Amish as well, and Sue Bender's book was eye-opening.  Just like every other group, individuals live very differently from each other.

Well, Wendy, a long time ago I read Crossing Over, by Ruth Irene Garret.  Found it fascinating at first, then just completely boring, questionable, and a way for her and her husband to possibly make some money.  I later saw that he had also written an expose'.  She is Amish, he isn't.

*sigh*  No, but now I want to.

I read this book about the Amish and I totally enjoyed it!

House Calls and Hitching Posts: Stories from Dr. Elton Lehman's Career Among the Amish
Author: Dorcas Sharp Hoover

Hi Wendy, I haven't read that book either, but I just read a wonderful memoir type book called "A Midwife's Tale" by Penny Armstrong.  Penny is a trained nurse and midwife and decided to become a midwife to the Amish-this was in the 70's and 80's.  I absolutely loved this book and was sad when it ended.  As well as talking about working among the Amish, she shares her opinions and what she observes among the hospitals and doctors concerning their attitudes towards midwifery, at least what she encountered.  Also writes a bit of her personal life and how she came to make the choice to work among and stay with the Amish. 

Highly recommend!

<<I just read a wonderful memoir type book called "A Midwife's Tale" by Penny Armstrong>>

In case anyone else is trying to find this, as I was, the title is actually A Midwife's Story.

Cheers,

Catt

I've read just about every book there is to read on the Amish over the years and I thought Amish Confidential was written by a bitter person. Not being Amish I can't say for sure what's true and what isn't but I've spent some time with the Amish and have studied them for many years and have never heard of the things like what were in that book. I don't think it's an accurate portrayal at all personally.