• Home
  • Blog
  • Me. Me. Me.
  • Publications
  • That 1st Novel
  • More!
  • Contact
AMY SMITH LINTON

Summer Reading: Two Memoirs

7/29/2016

0 Comments

 
It wasn't intentional, but I read two memoirs back-to-back last summer. Each was written by a clever youngish white American woman, each describing the choices that set her on an unusual path, each was thoughtful and entertaining –– but how different one from the other!

But books are not like friends –– where I might weigh the quirks in one against the charms of another when planning a night on the town or a weekend road-trip. Nope, books will just wait peaceably until you have time to get together. And they rarely squabble.
 
The Dirty Life is a memoir that dives right into the hard choices that bring a person to discover her life's work. 

A New York writer, Kristin Kimball went to interview a pioneering young farmer in Pennsylvania for a magazine story.

At the forefront of a movement in local, organically sourced food, the young farmer captivated her. In a few short months, she is ready to give up her tiny Manhattan apartment for the "dirty life" of working a small farm in Northern New York.

This story about life in sustainable agriculture is not without its moments of humor, but it's a serious story about someone finding her purpose.  

​If this book were a friend, it would be that smart one who is passionate about topic you don't know, but who is open-hearted and more than willing to teach you.

The one who's not always comfortable to be around, but who is inspiring and just plain interesting.

​
The Dirty Life by Kristn Kimball
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, however, would be the kind of friend who makes you laugh even as your life is falling apart around you. The sort of pal you want others to love, even though you also –– a little –– want to keep her all to yourself.  

Rhoda Janzen starts the story with a series of really dreadful disasters including a terrible car wreck and the desertion of her husband for "a guy named Bob from Gay.com." An English professor and poet in Michigan, she ends up back with her parents in California.

But these aren't just parents, these are Mennonite parents. Don't know Mennonites? Well, Janzen, who had long since left the church and community, is glad to tell you. 

And you will be glad she does. Just be careful about –– as my actual friend Lois says –– snotting coffee all over yourself. The book is that funny.  And pity the person sitting next to you calmly watching Sports Center, because he is going to have to listen to you read aloud some of these wonderful paragraphs as you chuckle and wipe up spilled coffee. 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About the Blog

    A lot of ground gets covered on this blog -- from sailboat racing to book suggestions to plain old piffle. 

    To narrow the focus, select one of the  Categories below.

    Follow

    Trying to keep track? Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or if you use an aggregator, click the RSS option below.

    RSS Feed

    Old school? Sign up for the newsletter and I'll shoot you a short e-mail when there's something new.

      Newsletter

    Subscribe to Newsletter

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Categories

    All
    Beauty Products
    Big Parks Trip
    Birds
    Boatbuilding
    Books
    Brains
    Contest & Prize
    Dogs
    Everglades Challenge
    Family Stories
    Farming
    Fashion
    Feminism
    Fiction
    Fish
    Flowers
    Flying Scot Sailboat
    Food
    Genealogy
    Handwork
    Health
    History
    Horses
    I
    International Lightning Class
    Mechanical Toys
    Migraine
    Movie References
    Music
    Piffle
    Pigs And Pork
    Poems
    Sailboat Racing
    Sculpture
    Social Media
    Song
    Subconscious Messages And Dream
    Travel
    Wildlife
    Writing

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Me. Me. Me.
  • Publications
  • That 1st Novel
  • More!
  • Contact