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Mennonite in a Little Black Dress
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home | Rhoda Janzen
A poet describes how, after her husband of fifteen years left her for a relationship with a man and she subsequently was seriously injured in a car crash, she returned home to her close-knit Mennonite family and came to terms with her failed marriage and the choices that both freed and entrapped her. 50,000 first printing.
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LaurenAsh
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Mehso-so

I needed a light, entertaining book like this to read right now. Hit that spot!

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elisebarker
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Panpan

Meh. I had high hopes for this one and it really fell flat for me. It didn‘t flow very well-I Never knew if she was talking about her past or in the current tense.

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Barrettck
Bailedbailed

I bailed 🤷🏼‍♀️ If I had time to read the book in one sitting, I probably would have enjoyed it more… but this book just didn‘t feel like the kind I could put down & pick up again later.

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Nebklvr
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Mehso-so

Funny in parts, pretentious and off-putting in others.

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LitStephanie
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Pickpick

I love this book. Janzen makes tragedies she has endured so funny!

1. Since turning 18, I missed one opportunity to vote, which was mostly for local levies, and felt like a real jerk. Voting gives one the right to complain.

2. I am deeply grateful to the women and men who help homeless or neglected cats. Some volunteer at shelters, some are vets who offer cheap spays/neuters, some are foster parents. All amazing.

Cosmos_Moon 👏👏👏 for voting! Thanks for joining in and great thing to be thankful for 🥰 3y
TheNeverendingTBR @LitStephanie Thanks for the tag Steph! 💫 3y
LitStephanie @TheNeverendingTBR you are most welcome! 3y
8 likes1 stack add5 comments
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brandybear22
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Faith 🤷‍♂️

7 likes1 stack add
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brandybear22
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Knowledge causing shame, taking back shame, it‘s a good middle life book where the author understands where she is and starts to shift away.

At the end the book has recipes, shame-based recipes, and the concept of that really resonates with me, reclaiming that which holds us down.

@kgriffith you got me this for different reasons, but beyond religion, family, relationships, putting yourself back together

kgriffith I‘m glad it turned out to be more substantive than its relegation to the 50¢ bin implied. ? 5y
brandybear22 @kgriffith Did you know the author is also a poet, who wrote a memoir. I‘m feeling something akin to the perpendicular, but after the lines crossed, on this and several things 5y
kgriffith @brandybear22 I didn‘t know that, no. I‘d love to hear more if/when/how you‘d like to share 5y
3 likes3 comments
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brandybear22
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I disagree entirely! Cool Ranch Doritos only up the ambiance. 😋

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brandybear22
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Pretty much how my Gan shares recipes. I‘ll never really be able to make it taste the same. ‘cook it until it‘s ready‘ or ‘add enough pepper‘ - how‘m I supposed to...

“Oma assumed that ingredients would vary according to season and budget. She also assumed that knowledge of the correct quantities would miraculously come to my mother in the night. “take some milk or some water and warm it and then add it to some flour,” she advised helpfully.”

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Bookishlie
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Complete heaven!

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Bookishlie
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The third bookstore I visited in San Diego. My favorite as well. This store had the most books and the nicest clerk ever!!!

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TheHeartlandBookFairy
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Pickpick

Mostly, I enjoyed this book. It was funny and honest and real. listening to the audiobook and, I discovered a couple of things. 7 discs is about 2 discs too long for me & the last few audiobooks I listened to were read at a faster pace. I found it initially difficult to adjust to the slower reading. Overall, I did enjoy this book and I may even listen to another of her books in the future but just not right now 😉

4 likes3 stack adds
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Marni
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I have this book on a shelf in my guest room where my in laws are currently sleeping. It's been on my TBR list for 5+ years. #dressesoncovers #readjanuary

Laura317 It is hilarious. I hope you get around to reading it. 7y
lynneamch Read this for book club a few years back. Enjoyed it, learned some things, and had a good discussion. 7y
20 likes2 comments
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EnidBiteEm
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Pickpick

Um, if I was seriously injured in a car crash, my husband left me for another man, and I had to return to my loving but hardcore Mennonite family who made very different lifestyle choices to me ... well, I would want this woman's attitude and wit. What a FABULOUS woman. #booktober #memorablememoirs #ilovedit

britt_brooke Great book! 7y
GirlMeetsBook This has been on my to-read list for years! I may have to finally break it out soon. 7y
EnidBiteEm @britt_brooke @GirlMeetsBook but the best part is ... I've heard Jansen has written another 😀 7y
See All 9 Comments
britt_brooke @EnidBiteEm I had no idea, thanks! #stacked 7y
EnidBiteEm @britt_brooke me neither, until I went to search for this and they both showed up. The wonders of Litsy 😍 7y
GirlMeetsBook @EnidBiteEm omg then I HAVE to! Does anyone know if it makes a good audio listen? 7y
EnidBiteEm @GirlMeetsBook Maybe you will have to be the first to try 😀 7y
GirlMeetsBook @EnidBiteEm Look forward to my review when I'm through! 👌🏼 7y
Victorialeanna Follow for a free copy of my memoirs 7y
39 likes5 stack adds9 comments
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sj_connor
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Panpan

So I think I'm just not going to read any more books, fiction or non, where somebody's spouse leaves them to be in a same gender relationship. That seems like a good policy for my mental health. It's a well-written book, but I can't really recommend it because as a gay person it bummed me out.

MrBook They can't all be winners 😕. 8y
2 likes1 comment
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rachelm
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Pickpick

A story of transformation from what Rhoda was to what she would be next. After a devastating turn of events (husband leaving her for Bob from gay.com + car crash) she returns to her roots. Despite the heavy stuff, a lot of humor here. Reads like a collection of short stories.

4 likes1 stack add