Book Review and Giveaway: I Am Hutterite

I am Hutterite
By Mary-Ann Kirkby
Thomas Nelson publisher, 2010
ISBN 978 0 8499 4810 7

Ann-Marie Dornn had an idyllic childhood – treasured friends, a close family, strong community bonds, and adventures on the plains of Manitoba, in a Hutterite colony. Descended from Austrian immigrants, the Hutterite communities were based on sharing of goods and labor in common, a simple yet deep faith, and customs and fashions followed by sixteenth century Austrian peasants. However, personality conflicts, and squabbles over community management, among the adults in the community ripped it apart, and when Ann-Marie was ten, her family left the colony to forge their own way.

Ann-Marie’s adjustment to “English” life was difficult, to say the least. Shunned as strange outcasts by their schoolmates, each of the seven Dornn children suffered through a long adjustment period. Although the Dornn family returned often to the Hutterite community to visit family and friends, their daily life was marked by loneliness and poverty. Still, the family persevered, together, and slowly grew, to acceptance by others, to economic stability, and to embracing their own heritage.

Although this was a book that I would not have customarily chosen for leisure reading (I received a copy of this book to review from www.booksneeze.com), it was a fascinating glimpse into a new culture for me, and it was extremely well written.

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A copy of I Am Hutterite was provided by www.booksneeze.com for this review, but no other compensation was received. The opinions expressed are solely my own (and if you don’t like them, comment below!