Customer Reviews

Plain and Fancy: Brides of Lancaster County #3 (Heartsong Presents #478)

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I finished this little novel in all of two hours (a record I'm sure "Harriet Klausner" could top), but it was more a matter of my wanting to finish it than I couldn't put it down. I know Ms. Brunstetter re-released this book in an expanded edition, though I am sure this review could apply to that version as well. I had never heard of Heartsong Presents, so I looked up their company on the Internet, and found their writing guidelines ridiculous (even more so than Steeple Hill, which allows divorce if one or the other spouse is unfaithful), like no divorce under any circumstances. Even the Bible cites adultery as a permissible reason for divorce, for Heaven's sake!

I liked the title (I think it's also the title of an off-Broadway play about the Plain People, if I'm not mistaken), and the cover was appealing (in a simple way, of course). The premise was promising, and presented a challenge for the author (which she totally copped out on), for either Laura has to give up her lifestyle or Eli has to give up his religion (which is his life), and if you've read any of this author's other novels, you'll know which she thinks is more important. Ms. Brunstetter tends to romanticize the Amish, to the point that she believes everyone would be happier if they would live like the Amish! But one does not have to baptized into it to live in simplicity, but is the Amish life really that simple? It is in some ways, but not in many others--women having to cook and clean all the time (always the women serve the men, never the other way around, though the women do always have help from other women, so they don't usually have to shoulder their burdens alone), and have as many babies as they can, an idea which didn't appeal to Laura (because she was worried about losing her figure of all things!--I am beginning to think the author believes as the Mormons do, that the desire not to have children is always rooted in selfishness and vanity, and that's not always the case).

I was disappointed in Laura that she considered having an abortion, enough to actually go to a clinic, and was relieved when she let her love for Eli (if nothing else) kept her from going through with it. I would have lost respect for her had she done so, for whether she wanted the baby or not, he was Eli's child, too, and she had no right to take his life, even if neither of them wanted the child. Though I know Eli wouldn't have went for using love gloves (to put it delicately), how did Laura think she was going to keep from having a baby if she and Eli didn't use any protection? I mean, she was twenty-two years old, she wasn't that naive, even though I am assuming she was a virgin (even though she had never really been very religious) when she married Eli.

Though Amish are more Christian than most "fancy" believers are in many ways, especially when it comes to forgiveness (not to mention they take care of their elderly and retarded--they don`t put them away in some home to be cared for by strangers), they are not so much when it comes to other areas of their lives, like the way they treated Laura in this book before she became "one of them" was atrocious, and even after Laura became one of the family (and in the family way), Eli's mother was still distant towards her. Maybe if they had been kinder and more understanding, she would have adjusted to their way of life quicker, I mean, talk about a huge life change, and all because she was so in love with their son (though her falling in love with him seemed more forced than flowed naturally out of her character).

I also found Laura's transition from a fancy rich girl to a plain hausfrau who'll probably pop a kid out every year or every other year a bit unbelievable, but not impossible. I just think such an adjustment would take much longer than a mere year or two.

When Pauline (who fancied herself as Eli's girlfriend before Laura came along) tells Laura that Eli could get an annulment, isn't that the same thing as a divorce, except called by a different name? This was the first I had ever heard of "Catholic divorces" (which is what I call annulments) being allowed in the Amish church, not to mention that getting saved business at the end. Though I've become jaded what with all the Amish-themed literature, I am into that sort of thing, and have found Beverly Lewis to be the only author who gives a fair and balanced portrayal of the Amish.

I was annoyed that Laura gave up everything to be with Eli, but what did he give up for her? Nothing. I think this book sent the wrong message, for you can be anywhere (you don't have to live in an Amish settlement) to worship God and live a godly life.

I don't understand how Ms. Brunstetter can portray the Amish church as a Christian one when they shun their members for believing in the gift of salvation. Either she's wrong or Ms. Lewis is wrong (and I tend to believe Ms. Lewis, not to mention the stories she writes tend to be more uplifting).

As for living a simple life, I prefer the European way--shorter workdays and sit-down meals, though I do think I would enjoy one of those less-than-simple Amish dinners.

Just read this abridged version of the later publication, for I don't think you will be missing anything by not reading the latter.