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What Appeals to Me in Amish Fiction
And what does not
Between the years of 2007–2013, I binge read Amish fiction like it was going to be the end of my Rumspringa. I’m not even sure why I read them so much, but I have a pretty good idea where it started.
You ever come across a book cover that just catches your eye and your heart thumps wildly as if you’ve met the most sinfully attractive person in the world and they just eyeballed you on the spot?
That was me in 2007. The book was The Englisher by the queen of Amish fiction, Beverly Lewis. I was at Barnes and Noble, and the book’s serene cover overshadowed the other ones on the stand.
At the time I was reading all kinds of books: sexy romances, hood novels, science fiction — just anything. However, this one book on the table on a beautiful morning, caught my eye.
I was looking to read something new.
I was redefining my faith in God.
The guy on the cover looked like someone from a contemporary show and I knew it had to be romance in it. I did not know it was an Amish fiction.
I can look back now and see that I was looking for simplicity.
So we’ll start there.