Customer Reviews

The Other Side of the Middle: A Pennsylvania Dutch Story of Family Love

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I really enjoyed this book, written by a former, much appreciated, professor of mine. It described a loving family, deeply rooted in Pennsylvania Dutch farmland traditions, yet with modern sensibilities. The descriptions of that homestead with its aged, sturdy buildings, and its very traditional practices, were also vivid and fascinating. I almost hated finishing the book since I could no longer keep company with that family and hear their conversations about life and its circumstances.

I just completed reading this book in full and must say the author
did a wonderful job. It sure brought back a lot of memories of my
youth in Pennsylvania Dutch country. I never read a book that brought
tears to my eyes like this one did. It was sad but warm and uplifting.
There's a section describing an underground cave, and I could just see
myself doing that and not being able to turn around. WOW! What a good
book. It sure made my day reading it. I can't wait till the author
comes out with another one.

A hi fidelity picture of a culture few would really know about except by name. Definitely a feel-good story, about gentle looking-for-love-and-finding-it.I loved the nostalgic details of post World War 2 rural Pennsylvania, including the mouth-watering detail of the cooking. An America that alas hardly exists any more, except perhaps in the Amish communities, which this one wasn't. The one jarring detail: so many names beginning with R: Ronald Ray, then Regan, Ricky, Ruby, Rosa and Randy.