Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

A Memoir of Going Home

By: Rhoda Janzen

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

Length: 8 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

A hilarious and moving memoir in the spirit of Anne Lamott and Nora Ephron about a woman who returns home to her Mennonite family after a personal crisis.

The same week her husband of 15 years ditches her for a guy he met on Gay.com, a partially inebriated teenage driver smacks her VW Beetle head-on. Marriage over, body bruised, life upside-down, Rhoda does what any sensible 43-year-old would do: She goes home.

But hers is not just any home. It's a Mennonite home, the scene of her painfully uncool childhood and the bosom of her family: handsome but grouchy Dad, plain but cheerful Mom. Drinking, smoking, and slumber parties are nixed; potlucks, prune soup, and public prayer are embraced. Having long ago left the faith behind, Rhoda is surprised when the conservative community welcomes her back with open arms and offbeat advice. She discovers that this safe, sheltered world is the perfect place to come to terms with her failed marriage and the choices that both freed and entrapped her.

©2009 Rhoda Janzen (P)2009 Highbridge

Drags

There were some humorous points, but all-in-all this book DRAGS. I grew up with lots of Amish and Mennonite so it was interesting to hear this point of view, but I was so often frustrated with the author I couldn't find much entertainment in the story. It's ok, and like the author I rarely leave a book unfinished, but...

Annoying to listen to

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

While I normally enjoy this genre of book, I just could not get into it. I gave it about 6 hours of listening time and gave up.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Happy Ali After

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Yes, could not stand her voice.

Too self-consciously funny

Unfortunately, the serious points Janzen makes later are overshadowed by the, at times forced, humor. Not a waste of a credit, but I wouldn't fault readers who felt disappointed either.

Great book, grating narration

I read the book years ago and laughed out loud and enjoyed the story tremendously.

Listening to it for a book club this year, I barely managed to finish it going 1.4 speed to avoid the incredibly grating voice of the narrator.

I feel sad that it ruined the memory of such a book I otherwise highly recommend.

I was so bored

The only reason I made myself finish this book was because it was the book for my book club
I found the attempts at wit falling flat and did not find any real value in the story itself

Tender and Touching

This is a sweet tender book. Janzen Reflects back on her Mennonite upbringing with great humor and intelligence. She is kind to her parents and siblings. If you are looking for dirt, go elsewhere. This is a book of love and hope.

Unexpected and funny

I am not sure what I expected but this was a fun listen and at times laugh out loud unexpectedly funny. The narration added a great deal to what otherwise might have been a disjointed "memoir". Somehow her voice and tempo made the transitions easier. I always enjoy hearing words that I know I don't know how to pronouce...half of the food consumed in this book met that definition.

A fun ride!

This is a fast-paced, charming, smart memoir! GOOD FUN and the narrator easily brings across the irony and humor in the author's story. Great job.

Disappointing

I've finally given up on this book. I just kept hoping it would grab me and beg to be finished, but I can't finish it. I'm tired of hearing her drone on about nothing. I don't feel like this is ever going anywhere. The story is very choppy and goes off on bunny trails. I've had to rewind several times just to make sure I hadn't just missed something. I'm also insulted at her attitude about Christians and Christianity, which is another reason I don't care to listen to the rest.

The narrator attempts different voices for different characters, but several, especially the main character seem bipolar. I'd just as soon have the other characters be read by others.

Wanted to Love It

I also grew up in and out of an isolating religion, and thought I would relate to Ms. Janzen's book. However, her memoir does not succeed, at least for me.

The first problem is structural. This book had its genesis in e-mail messages to friends and colleagues during her sabbatical, and its structure betrays this: it's discursive, disconnected and uneven. Lots of space is taken up when she's bored (the pointless board game story), and not enough space given when she's busy/involved (the encounter with Mitch is dropped with virtually no development, even though I've read that they in fact became a couple).The narrative pools and repeats, but does not get anywhere: she has no more real insight at the end than she does at the beginning and the closing uplift feels tacked-on.

The second problem is one of tone. She insists that she is genuinely fond of and interested in the people and practices she describes, but she sure scores a lot of cheap shots off them before professing her affection. While it's clear that her upbringing launched an intelligent, hard-working woman into the world, it is also obvious that it left her so naive and unworldly that she was dangerously vulnerable to exactly the kind of disastrous marriage she made. She never expresses anger or regret toward her religion or community for this. Instead, she engages in relentless mockery of the "they don't even know what Prada is!" variety. When there is more serious criticism to be made, the fashion-label snark is a bit jarring. It makes Janzen appear more superficial and slight than she can possibly be. I understand she does not want to engage in self-pity, but she's turned it inside out with a coat of brittle barbs. What's hilarious over wine with girlfriends doesn't come off well on the page.