As I began to read Anything But Simple I saw so many similarities between the author Lucinda J. Miller and me that I found myself glued to the pages. Our life similarities include her ideas about writing, her experiences with her family, her view of her father, and her many questions and doubts about her faith, though she never left her faith and neither have I. I found those similarities despite the fact I did not grow up as a Mennonite and Lucinda did.

When I was reading this book, I saw another review for it where the reader said they were bothered the book didn’t offer any explanations of what the difference between the Amish and Mennonites was. I was baffled by this review because the book’s subtitle is “My life as a Mennonite.” I bring this up not to criticize the reviewer, who may have sure misunderstood the goal of the book, but to bridge into the issues Miller herself dealt with while writing the book.

When she was writing this book, she had a friend suggest she write about how Mennonites are “different from everyone else.” Miller doesn’t feel different from everyone else, other than how her faith shapes how she looks at life. In many ways, her family is the same as every other family, so her goal in this book is not to show how Mennonites are different from others but how they are the same.

This book does a very good job of showing how similar humans are no matter what faith they are a part of. The human condition isn’t something limited by the faith we were brought up in.
Miller tells us her personal story in an entertaining way that delicately balances triumph and heartache. There are times I can’t help but feel heartbreak for the internal struggles she faced during her teen and early adult years, probably because they so closely mirrored mine. These struggles — the feeling she didn’t fit in and how she often felt shy and withdrawn — though tough, was what helped shape her foundation for a fulfilling adulthood.
Seeing her spread her wings and step into a future as a writer, one she wasn’t sure she could have with the background she was brought up in, was very satisfying, again because I could relate so viscerally to what writing represents to her.

“Writers did not have to be pretty,” she writes. “They were very often odd-looking, according to their pictures. And the odder the writer, the better the writing. Reclusiveness, for a writer, was expected. Unhappiness was just a bonus that gave you something to write about and opened up the wells of passion within your being. If you were miserable, ugly, hated, alone, still you were okay. Because you still had the Dream. No one could take it from you.”

Some memoirs turn into a negative look back at their childhood, but Miller’s book doesn’t do that, or at least not often. For the most part, she looks back at her life as a Mennonite as a positive experience, not as something to be spurned or mocked. She writes about her journey through life, and how being a Mennonite affected that journey, but also about Mennonites in general and how they look at life and relate to others.

Miller’s prose is poetic, making what could have been a mundane retelling of a life feel more like a majestic journey into the mind of an intellectualist who has finally allowed herself to be an intellectual and not feel guilty about it.

This is a memoir of an Amish Christian girl named Lucinda. Lucinda is from the Mennonite family and tells her story of what it is like. She is not the usual one of faith and her story is an interesting one of how different she is. She dresses like her faith, but uses modern technology that this faith would not usually use. Why does she have her faith, but not follow all of the beliefs? What does all of this mean?

If you want to read a book about the Mennonite's community and one lady that was willing to tell her story of her living by her faith and society. It is a good afternoon read that will give you a new perspective of how this faith lives in today's world that is anything but simple.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, "Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.

I love learning about different cultures and peoples and within our Unites States, we have very interesting people. In fact, there are Amish and Mennonites near us. I’m always interested in how they do things and the why behind everything.

Amish fiction is some of my favorite. Especially when you throw in some suspense and mystery. This isn’t Amish. It’s Mennonite. And it’s not fiction either. It’s about one woman and her journey in her life and her culture. I think this is the best way to learn about a culture. Through a first-hand account.

You’re going to love the wit and wisdom this author has to offer. If you’ve not read this book you definitely should. You should also check out her other book which was just as wonderfully written and tackled some hard topics as well.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Wonder what it's like to be Mennonite?

Like many people I would suspect, my interest in the Plain people, specifically Amish and Mennonite stemmed from one too many Beverly Lewis novels devoured from the public library shelves. Since then my interest has shifted more towards what they themselves have to say. When I picked up a book from the library about Hutterites in my home state, written by a Hutterite woman, it was one of the most fascinating books that I read that year. So when I saw the title Anything But Simple: My Life As A Mennonite and read the back cover blurb it went right up my TBR stack.

Relatively short and easy to read, Lucinda J. Miller's words are refreshingly honest. And what I found amazing was how easy it was to relate to her. Even though I'm a jeans wearing girl who only covers her hair when winter is at its coldest I could understand many of her struggles. Trust me, no matter the denomination, if you were raised in church you will totally get it. The struggle to measure up to what seems to be impossibly high standards and still be yourself, the internal battle when new ideas and new perspectives are introduced, the questions and doubts, the feeling of not always fitting in, and the journey to find your place and your own faith and not just that of your parents and the people who have always surrounded you. I doubt there is a single person who was raised in church who hasn't been confronted by someone they like or trust with questions, sometimes quite hostile, that challenge your beliefs and leave you feeling jangled and grasping for an answer. What it all boils down to is exactly as Lucinda J. Miller says in the title of the book, it's Anything But Simple.

While I haven't dealt with all of the same doubts, insecurities, and pressures that Lucinda J. Miller has, her words still resonated with me. Maybe it's one Millennial to another or just one girl raised in a quirky faith-filled home to another girl also raised in a quirky family of faith. Whatever it is, Anything But Simple: My Life As A Mennonite was interesting, eye-opening, and most definitely worth the time taken to read...

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

Author Lucinda Miller shares stories of her life growing up plain, as a conservative Mennonite woman. Speaking from her heart, Miller’s anecdotes are heartwarming, often humorous, and always simply written.

The author was very honest about the hard things in life, both hers and those of her loved ones. She was also honest about the difficult things in her church; splits etc. She talked about sneaking romance books home from the library, the differences in communities, and the way Christians are often viewed by those who aren’t believers. All told in a friendly, conversational way. If you enjoy memoirs I can recommend this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

There are some books you read for the story and the information they can give you. Other books are just for fun, but this one was one I’ve been wanting to read for years because I had “met” the author through her blog, and I was intrigued by her story. Some people lead wildly adventurous lives, and that’s always interesting to read about because their lives are so different from our own. But most people lead fairly normal lives, and I’m always intrigued when someone can take their “normal” life (that often feels quite ABNORMAL to most of us!) and share it in a way that is both interesting and inspiring.

Somehow, through sharing her life story here, Lucinda does just that. She takes what was her normal and shares it as it was, but in a way that drew me in and made me want to keep reading—to understand more clearly WHO she was as a person and WHY she did things the way she did. From growing up in her large, loving family to her struggles with her faith, she paints a picture of a woman any of us could call a friend.

Hearing her story—and seeing her honesty in sharing some of her and her family’s struggles over the years—was a great encouragement to me. I came away from this book with a lot to mull over, and a greater appreciation for Christians in many different parts of the world and their different ways of seeking to follow the Lord wholeheartedly.

I was given a review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

Anything But Simple is Lucinda J. Miller Kinsinger’s memoir. We learn about her family history and her growing up years. The author wrote an open and honest story. Lucinda Miller was insecure growing up. She wonders who she will become and what she will do. We get to know her family and her ancestry. The author tells us quite a bit about her preacher father. Lucinda came from a large family where she never felt that she fit in. We follow Lucinda through her early years as she grows up and blossoms into the woman she is today. We learn about her insecurities with herself and with her faith. Lucinda was an avid reader. I thought it was funny how she and her sisters would sneak Christian romances up to their rooms after visiting the library. She was able to travel the world through books. She explains about the differences between Mennonites and Amish. We also learn about the different Mennonites (just like Amish there are different types of Mennonites). I wish there had been more about her day-to-day life. I enjoyed the frequently asked question section at the end. We get to see that Mennonites are regular people who have the same dreams, wishes, and doubts as the rest of us. I enjoyed getting to know Lucinda and the rest of the Miller family. Anything But Simple is one woman’s honest account of her growing up years and what she learned.

”Anything But Simple” by author Lucinda J. Miller is the account of her life as a Mennonite. It is her memoir and not a novel. The author provides readers with an open and honest view of life inside a Mennonite family.

This is the story of author Lucinda J. Miller (now Kinsinger) and her life as a Mennonite. It is a poignant look at her struggles and joys. Through her openness and words, I began to know this Conservative Mennonite lady. She actually did not seem that different from me in some ways. Both of us have questioned our lives at times, we enjoy writing, and we both love and serve Jesus Christ.

I did learn a lot from this book. It seems like most novels are written about Amish and not Mennonite communities. They are not the same and have many differences.

This is an interesting, well written book. I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. It was welcoming and relatable. At times it felt like chatting with a friend. A surprising thing for me was Lucinda’s friendship with an older, atheist woman. That account was captivating. For me, I found the last chapter, the author’s day, and the FAQ gave a more in-depth look into the everyday life of a Mennonite.

This is a lovely book. I highly recommend it. If you enjoy memoirs, Amish or Mennonite books, or would like to read about a different lifestyle, you will want to get this book. Reading Groups would be able to have much material to discuss in this thought provoking offering. It gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by NetGalley but these are my honest words.

Not always the easiest to follow with the way it's written, this is still a unique account. I enjoyed the book overall.

I enjoy reading about someone’s life and how they grew up, but was expecting more insight. It was interesting, but was hoping the author would go in more detail regarding the difference/similarities between the Amish and Mennonites. For someone who enjoys reading about a persons day to day life, you will probably enjoy this.

I was given a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit and the publisher for my honest opinion and review.

I really liked reading this book.
In part, it is true, because I am a Mennonite myself and so much of what she says resonates deeply within me. I’ve felt my entire life that most people do not understand that we are ‘normal’ everyday people, just like everyone else. Lucinda Miller does an excellent job at portraying this, and showing peeks at what it is like being a Mennonite.
This book is also about her dream of writing and publishing a book. This is also a dream of mine…but unlike her, I’m not sure I have what it takes. ;)
This is about the doubts and uncertainties that are a part of life.

This book has a feeling of depth, authenticity, and real character. The beautiful betrayal, peeking into the very soul of the author.
For anyone who has ever wanted to know about life as a Mennonite, here you go!

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

I enjoyed the first half of this book, learning about the author's childhood and family. The latter half was a little more confused and wandering and seemed like it fit a different book.

I've always been intrigued by the Mennonites and the Amish. This book was very informative about the author's life. I loved all the background information about the religion and their way of life.

I also liked the Author's Q&A at the end of the book.

I picked up this one because I was curious. I enjoy the glimpses that memoirs give me into lives different from my own and I always worry that I'm breaking some unknown rule when we're shopping at the local grocery stores owned by Mennonites. Maybe, I thought, this book would help me figure out some of those rules. I came away from reading it with the thought that maybe I've been worrying about nothing. The author's life was interesting to read about and not nearly as different from my own as I would have imagined. She's open about her thought and feelings, but I never felt like she was sharing too many intimate details.

This book is honest and interesting, exploring the life of a fairly regular Mennonite woman. She talks about her family and her childhood for a good chunk of the book, and explores what keeps her attached to the Mennonite faith when others her age leave it (including it seems some of her siblings). As she grows into adulthood, she talks more and more about her desire to write and her friendships with those who are not Mennonite. The book was supposed to be fairly short, but I wish she had talked more about any struggles she had with the Mennonite rules, traditions, or the way that her family grapples with the increase of technology in the world since she was a child. She mentions her siblings having smartphones and herself having a laptop, but not how that impacts her life or community. I would definitely recommend the book to others though, I found it very enjoyable and hope to read others in the series as well.

This was an eye opening read for me. I knew that there were differences between the Amish and Mennonites, but did not realize just how many differences there are. I would have like to see more examples of daily living but overall, I was satisfied with this read. I found it difficult to put down and look forward to reading more from Lucinda Miller.

Today there are many books about the Amish; they seem to be a trend in literature, but this one is different. Starting with childhood, the author relates her experience of growing up in the Amish community through the experiences of her parents, converts to the Amish way. Its an insightful reflective text which gifts the reader with a deeper appreciation for and understanding of the complexities and nuances of Amish life.

Book 5 in the series exploring both the Amish and Mennonite lifestyle. This is the first book of this series that I have reviewed. It is written in a light and easy to read style. At times Ms. Miller struggles to find her voice and rather than a journal some portions are more like a diary meant to be written for her alone. Enjoy! NetGalley and Herald Press provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Putting it plainly - no pun intended - I loved this book. I felt it provided a much more nuanced view of the world it describes, rather than a prurient or too curious presentation of an extremely different way of living. I'll definitely be using this in class as a superb example of how contemporary non-fiction can lift the lid on the world very different to your own whilst allowing you to recognise a lot of the common humanity that links us at the same time. a fantastic presentation of a closed world that makes us think of our own limitations rather than theirs. I loved it.

The author of Anything but simple has written about her life and what led her to where she is now.

This is an honest view of being a Mennonite. The writer gave a good in depth background of her life growing up and what made her become a writer. The friendships she builds and in particular one of them are very interesting but i wont give too much away. If you enjoy learning about different cultures and religions then this is the book for you.

Anything but simple is a short read but it does not have to be any longer because the writer has managed to tell her story beautifully without having to extend the length of the book.