Review: Inadequate for an Amish story
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 06 16, 2013
I'm struck by how little these characters were fleshed out compared to the amount of dialogue that transpires between the sister's, and I'm also shocked by how contentious those sisterly relationships were - definitely not in keeping with the Amish beliefs regarding familial love.Grace is not really likable, and neither is Elizabeth. They never show compassion towards one another, and their waring individuality are so in contrast to the Amish Way that I never once felt I was reading realistic characters or even an Amish story.This finalizes so abruptly that I felt disappointed by the emptiness of the ending. The pettiness, the arguing and the lack of love or support between the sisters gave me little to cheer for and yet I continued on with the hope that the story would grow some roots into the thinnish flesh of the plot (as an example, I would've appreciated a deeper look into the brother's relationship with his new wife while they were courting, or more of the parent's reactions to the various budding romances of their children, who they seem so concerned about initially but are never fleshed out). It doesn't, and that's very disappointing. Very.I give this two stars for effort and for the happy endings of the various family members who were looking for mates. At least, as a reader, I felt good about something at the end, despite the contentious journey.