Customer Reviews

As the World Churns (Thorndike Mystery)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sometimes I laughed out loud,sometimes, I groaned. As the World Churns is an entertaining romp in the gentle hills of Pennsylvania led by Mennonite innkeeper Magdalena Yoder and a herd of Holsteins. Magdalena's new husband, Gabriel Rosen, MD, temporarily lives with his "yenta" mother across the road. In this farce, everything is exaggerated. One of Magdalena's guests calls her "absolutely delightful," while another describes her as "loony-tunes." In my opinion, both are correct.

There is not much of a mystery in this Gilbert & Sullivan drama, but there are bad guys and gals and good guys and gals. Toss in a defiant teenager, a Jewish mother-in-law from New York, a randy octogenarian, various Holsteins, and you have a recipe for a romp. The recipes in this, the 16th in the series, are for homemade ice cream such as avocado, honey, cheesecake and, of course, chocolate.

When Maggs isn't being holier than thou in her traditional garb or arguing theology with herself, she pokes some fun at current national politics. Sometimes (rather often, actually) she engages in flights of fancy sparked by an ordinary conversation. Folks often have to call her back from outer space. An example is her speculation on how all those animals could fit in Noah's ark. I like her flights of fancy, but I can understand how they could be disconcerting for those with whom she is conversing..

"Delightful" or "loony-tunes," take your pick. As the World Churns will be fun for some readers, outlandish for others.

by Judith Helburn

for Story Circle Book Reviews

reviewing books by, for, and about women

Magdalena Yoder is balancing her new marriage to mama's boy, Gabe Rosen, with entertaining a bed-and-breakfast full of guests who have come with their cows to complete in the Hernia Holstein Competition. Complications arise when one of Magdalena's friends is badly beaten and she herself ends up in the hospital. Eventually Magdalena's husband and daughter disappear and she, her friends, and her mother-in-law are in hot pursuit of some kidnappers. This book is full of puns, plot twists, and downright silliness at times, but it's a quick and easy read and will probably please fans of this series.

I was expecting anything written about Magdalena to be as good as all the others that have been published up to now, but this is mostly just corny puns. There is little action, and an unbelievable ending concerning a confusing family matter. I'll only read the next one if I can find it in a library instead of spending a possible waste of money.

I received the book as a gift. I'm a fan of other culinary cozy murder mystery series (Diane Mott Davidson, Joanne Fluke, etc.), so I was excited to read it. I found Mag's quirkiness is a bit much and many times distracting to the story line.

Normally if recipes are provided they somehow relate to the story, but these did not. I may be a generation or two removed from my own Mennonite roots, but I'm pretty sure avacado ice cream is not a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch (or Deutch as my grandma would say)recipe and was not even served in the story.

This was my first Tamar Myers book and, more than likely, my last.

My daughter and I both love this series! After a hectic day at work it is nice to relax and have a good laugh.

I was so excited to read the newest book in the series. I had grown fond of the characters. I ordered it within days of finishing the last book and Amazon delivered! I was a little disappointed with this book. It was almost as if the author was bored with the characters and wanted to end it as quickly as possible. Oh well!.

I had read all the Pennsylvania Dutch mysteries several years ago, and upon re-reading this one, remembered why I didn't really care for them. The main character, Magdalena Yoder, is confusing to 'listen' to. She goes 'round robin hood's barn' to say the simplest thing, and is condescending to people. I will probably not be buying any more of these books.

Having read Tamar Myers other Pennsylvania Dutch mysteries, and remembering that I haven't really cared for the past two or three, I picked this one up and decided to give it another go. Bad idea--I didn't even finish "As the World Churns", remembering all the reasons and then some, why the others have left me cold. There is far too much silliness in these past few books by Myers. Magdalena comes off as obnoxious, ridiculous, and if the truth be told, absolutely unlikable. The plotting is also unfortunate and seems to take far too many side tracks which make no sense. I actually liked the books when Magdalena was physically unattractive and quirky but smart in her own way. She seems to have lost all that now and along with unrealistic plot lines, she seems absolutely insane. If I met this woman on the street, I would high tale it to the other side! This will be my last attempt reading this series.

Glad I got it at the library - I would have been really annoyed if I had paid for it.

Tamar Myers churns out a great one with this page-turner. Penn-Dutch Inn owner, Magdalena Yoder, is finally married to her 'Babester', Dr. Gabe Rosen. But trouble in the form of his mother, Ida, is already an early warning sign. Ida wants her son to herself and her son seems to take his mother's side more than not.

At the heart of this story is a cow contest. The winners win by false pretenses and kidnap two of Magdalena's loved ones.

At the same time, mantis-like Melvin Stoltzfus has escaped from prison and may be coming back to Hernia to get revenge on Magdalena. Some huge family secrets come out. And the ending - well, I just hope I have the next book in the series on my shelf so I can dig right into it.

Ms. Myers is in top form with her wonderful sense of humor. She is fresh as cow's milk and keeps that freshness all thru the book. She didn't use her usual 'make a sandwich and I have my own family picnic' line. And she pokes fun at readers' comments of her over-usage of Magdalena "wailing". Gotta read it.