Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

A few days ago I finished reading Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, a memoir written by Rhoda Janzen. It's nothing like the books I normally choose to read. However, it sucked me in, entertained me, made me think, and introduced me to a whole new genre that I think I'm going to love. Long story short, I'm so glad I picked it up.

I first noticed this book because the cover draws your eye with it's bright turquoise color and oxymoron-esque title :) Then I started to notice a lot of people looking at it and talking about it. I became curious, so I did what anyone would do and read the back. Rhoda, a professor of Literature at Hope college here in Michigan, was left by her husband at the age of 43. Here's the kicker... he left her for a man named Bob whom he met on Gay.com. And in the days following she was involved in a bad car accident that left her in very rough shape. Broken-hearted and broken-boned, she takes a sabbatical and travels back to her Mennonite family to recover.

I decided I would buy it for my mom for Christmas. Then I decided I couldn't wait that long and I would just buy it for her for the heck of it. Then I picked it up to scan the first few pages. Next thing I knew I was 2 chapters in and dying to read some more. Rhoda is hilarious. The spin she manages to put on the horrible events in her life is admirable and extremely entertaining. The way she describes her matter-of-fact, straight-laced Mennonite mother makes you want to be a part of the family. And her raw vulnerability and honesty trick you into feeling like her closest friend at times.

While the book was entertaining and very funny, I did find that it was hard for me at times. But maybe that is the reason why I liked it so much. I felt challenged by Rhoda.I often say that learning from the people and things you disagree with is healthy and necessary to developing your own views and opinions; but I find that I don't take the time to challenge myself as much as I should. I did not read this book expecting to be challenged, but I was, and I appreciate that. Rhoda was raised in such an extremely conservative environment that once she was on her own she completely rebelled. She is a very liberal and very skeptical person. She is very intellectual, career minded, and maybe a bit feminist. There were times I found myself annoyed with her, along with times that I admired her. I was able to agree wholeheartedly with her in one paragraph, and totally disagree in the next. But at the end of the book I found that I really respect this woman. Instead of hating her ex-husband and blaming him for what he "did to her", she reflects on what she did and what she can do to improve herself and her future relationships. She casts out negativity and clings to her optimism. Way to go Rhoda!

On top of all that, she gives her audience a history lesson on Mennonites and an intimate peek into their personal lives, and their recipes!

Read it, its very good.

Buy Mennonite in a Little Black Dress