Book Review: Hutterite Diaries by Linda Maendel

Hutterites, Mennonites and Amish are three branches of the Anabaptist faith.  In Christian fiction I tend to notice many books about othe Amish, a decent selection about traditional Mennonites, but very few written about the Hutterites.  Hutterite Diaries by Linda Maendel is a nonfiction account of what life is really like in a Hutterite Colony.

My Thoughts:
At first glance I was really excited about the opportunity to read and review this book.  My ancestors are Hutterties and I love reading about my family's history. (One chapter refers to the story's of my ancestor

If you know nothing of the Hutterities, their style of living, the struggles they faced before coming to America then this book might be one you would enjoy.

Linda shares about fellowship, celebrations, and values along with a bit of the Hutterite heritage story.

This book was a quick read which I appreciated.  While describing the book to someone I realized I needed to look at it as a series of short stories.  When approached that way it flows a little better on the whole, but the individual pieces were still a bit choppy.

Would I Recommend This Book?
The honest glimpse into Hutterite culture is worth the quick read, especially if the Anabaptist faiths are of interest to you. I didn't love the writing style but appreciated the insight Linda's book provided.

My Rating:  3/5 stars

(Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  I am under no obligation to provide a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.)

A Description from the Publisher:

What would it be like to share all your possessions and live in Christian community?

In Hutterite Diaries, Linda Maendel offers a rare glimpse into the daily routines and communal faith of her people, the Hutterian Brethren. From stories of working together to bring in the fall potato harvest to laugh-out-loud tales of sisterly love laced with revenge, Maendel invites readers into her Bruderhof, or colony, nestled on the prairie of western Canada. Here children and adults work, play, eat, and worship together, crafting a community of goods and living out an alternative to the individualism and consumerism of mainstream society.

Few outsiders know anything about the Hutterites, a Plain Christian group related to the Amish and Mennonites. Maendel’s story invites readers into deeper understanding of this community of faith, calling us to take seriously the example of Jesus and the early church in our daily living.

How do I rate books?
 5 stars= A definite favorite, will be re-read again and again, and permanently placed on my bookshelf.
 4 stars= A pretty good book, one that will be re-read eventually, placed on the bookshelf.
 3 stars= An average to good book, that may or may not be read again, probably has a place in my library.
 2 stars= A not liked book, I wouldn't read it again, and wouldn't have a place in my library.
 1 star = A book I really didn't enjoy, wouldn't read again, would not keep in my library.)