Litfuse Review- Called to be Amish by Marlene C. Miller

I'm back everyone!! Today I have a book a LITTLE different from the rest. Okay, a lot different.

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*Summary*

Fewer than one hundred outsiders have joined the Old–Order Amish—and stayed—since 1950. Marlene C. Miller is one of them.

In this rare memoir, Marlene recounts her unhappy and abusive childhood, how she throws herself into cheerleading and marching band, and how she falls in love with Johnny, the gentle young Amish man who helps her lace her ice skates.

Against the wishes of both sets of parents, Marlene and Johnny get married and begin a family. Follow the author on this unusual journey to find out how God’s love called her out of bitterness and depression and into the warm embrace of her new Amish community.

Accompany her as she dons an Amish dress and prayer covering and gets baptized. Learn how she endures the strain of ten children, a hundred-acre farm, and accidents and tragedy, and find out how she comes close to walking away from it all. Turning Amish has proven to be anything but plain and simple for this former majorette. But nearly fifty years later, Marlene is still living out God’s call as an Old Order Amish woman.

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*My Thoughts*

Wow, this book was different!! Not in a bad way, just unexpected. I chose the book originally thinking it was fiction when it was, in fact, a memoir on Marlene Miller. 

When I read the numbers, I was shocked. One hundred people in 65 years?! Are you kidding me? Alas, I continued on with a clear head knowing just how hard Old Order Amish living could be from everything I'd seen and read. Okay, scratch that. I DIDN'T have a CLUE how hard it is. Marlene did a wonderful job telling us all about her life as an "Englischer" turned Amish.

I loved the feel of the memoir. While a memoir wouldn't be my normal choice of reading material, this one had a story feel to it. You know, the stories that you tell your grandchildren as they sit at your feet waiting anxiously to hear what's next? Even though at some points, the story could drag or confuse, I found that I wanted to know what's next.

If you're interested in the Amish and the connection they have to the English, this book is a must read!

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*My overall thoughts*

Called to be Amish by Marlene Miller is a memoir on her lifestyle changes from Head Majorette to Older Amish. She tells us in the story format of a dear grandmother by the fire and the setting feels cozy and inviting. Unlike any memoirs I've ever read!

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*My Rating*

I give Called to be Amish by Marlene Miller...

                                     

4 stars!! 

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 *Where to get it*

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

*I received this book from Litfuse and the publisher in exchange for an honest review, which I have given. All thoughts were my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

Thanks for reading!! Come back tomorrow for some Lynette Eason suspense!!

Happy Reading,

Nicki