Hutterite Diaries

A well-written and interesting collection of memories, which give an unprecedented look at the lives of Hutterites in Western Canada.

Living in Alberta, I have seen Hutterites, driven by the colonies, and even purchased food at Farmer's Markets, but I still didn't know anything about everyday life. Linda Maendel gave me a glimpse of ordinary daily life, customs, beliefs, celebrations and disasters. I very much appreciated reading this book.

Hutterite Diaries Wisdom From My Prairie Community By Linda Maendel Published May 18th 2015 by Herald Press

If you mention the word Anabaptist to most people, they will generally say "Amish". Few will say "Mennonite" and fewer still will say "Hutterite", which is a shame as the Hutterite philosophy and culture is absolutely fascinating.

The Hutterites believe in living communally in a Biblical fashion, eating together, working together, praying together and holding many things in common. No-one is rich or poor; everyone works, depending on their skills, aptitudes and ultimately the needs of their particular community. They take the concept of Christian living and caring for each other very seriously indeed. The community farms, rises livestock and makes wooden items for individuals and businesses; they are happy to use modern technology when beneficial to them, but still keep to their traditional dress and the women wear headcoverings.

Linda Maendel is a school teacher at her Elm River colony near Oakville, Manitoba, Canada, and this is a vivid and entrancing depiction of life there. It is often very hard work, but the blessings and happiness shine through in each and every vignette, illustrating aspects of the philosophy, customs, religious beliefs and organisation of her particular colony and an introduction to the history of the Hutterite movement in general. The chapter about Hutterites who were enslaved is particularly intriguing!

I enjoyed reading this book very much! I love to read about ways of life other than my own. I find it fascinating. I love the idea of living in a "community", my friend and I actually tried to start one when my daughter was a baby but we never got it off the ground.
This is the third book about the Hutterties I have read. The other others were - I am Hutteriute, by Mary Ann Kirkby and My Hutterite Life, by Lisa M Stahl - both of these were very good as well.

I loved this author's style of writing. It was very descriptive, nice, kind of what you would see in older literature.

"I walk leisurely to the communal kitchen for breakfast, soaking up the morning air and the surrounding splendor. Autumn has painted trees and shrubs in shades of orange, yellow, and red; and some leaves have escaped onto the neatly trimmed, stillgreen lawns. Dew-kissed grass blades sparkle as if somebody shattered crystals." I love this - beautiful!

Each chapter is like a different short story explaining a different aspect of their life.
This book really goes in depth about the Hutterites' ways and their customs, as well as a lot of history! That actually was one of my favorite parts - the history, where they came from and why.
If you are the least bit curious about other ways of life - you will enjoy this one!

The Hutterite Diaries reads as a collection of thoughts and stories, that jumps from one time period to another. While at first confusing, this works to the advantage of the reader as you are able to see the whole picture of a very faith oriented and dedicated community. Linda shares her own stories for the most part with some of those in the community.

I love learning about new religions and different cultures around the world. For me, this book was something new as I was never aware of the Hutterite colony in Western Canada. Here was a faith-based community in my own country that I was clueless about. I love how they work together as a community and share the material items between themselves (even though I know this is something hard for me to understand and picture). They share chores and meals as a large family would (except in this case an extremely large family!). Linda does an excellent job in sharing her communal lifestyle and fostering understanding and respect.

A great read for all Canadians, young and old to foster respect and understanding for all faith groups that have travelled to Canada. In the Hutterite case, it was heart breaking to read of the persecution they faced and how many lost their lives because others did not understand their faith and communal living.

Very nice. Made me feel really calm while reading it, plus it taught me a lot about a religion I didn't know much about.

I've always been fascinated with 'simpler' ways of life - from Amish to Mennonite to Shaker to the Hutterites. While I consider myself well versed in the ways of the Amish and Mennonites, I knew comparatively of the Hutterites. This book provides a fascinating look into the daily lives of a colony of Hutterian Brethren on the prairies of western Canada.

We learn both the deep intricacies of their faith and the minutiae of everyday life in the colony. The book is written as if the author is sitting in front of us, just chatting away. This is a book to savor, one chapter at a time. Each chapter is a gift, a retelling of a simpler life, one like our great-grandparents lived. This life isn't for everyone, indeed, their numbers are dwindling, but with this remarkable book, perhaps the Hutterite way of life will be remembered for years to come.