State by State, Where the Heart Is, Rumspringa, My Life in Orange
Whew. Another dry spell. I think it's because I was trying to read 'Great Expectations' and it was taking me forever, and I finally gave myself permission to take a break.
State by State edited by Wilsey and Weiland
This collection of essays got a lot of local press, and it sounded like something I would enjoy, so I put it on hold at the library before it was released. Essays by writers who live in the state or are native to the state, it offers a variety of perspectives. Of course, like with any book of assorted writers, there were some I cared for, and some I did not. I thought one of the most interesting was the writer who was originally from Africa, who came to study in Michigan (or was it Minnesota...? No, I think it was Michigan), and lived there and came to consider it his American home. Anyway, I liked it, even though I didn't make it completely through before it had to be returned.
Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
I've been meaning to read this book forever. So much so, that when offered a copy by my mom, I promptly took it, brought it home, and realized I had the same exact copy and printing on my shelf that I apparently bought at the Goodwill. It was cute, and it was a good, short, fluffy distraction from Great Expectations.
Rumpsringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman
A little obsessive right now about the Amish, the most captivating aspect of the Rumpsringa is their time of rebellion. Rumpspringa, generally between the end of their schooling and the time they decide to come back and join the church, allows the teenage Amish to do all of the things that the church blatantly forbids. Alcohol, drugs, premarital sex, cars, "English" clothes, etc. Eventually the teen or young adult makes that life altering decision whether to return to the familiar of the Amish, join the church, be baptized, and settle down into marriage, or whether to leave the church and their family behind. Shactman does a great job of intertwining the personal stories of Amish teens, along with the history and culture of the Amish, and gives a great synopsis of the whole state of affairs. This book was written after the movie "Devil's Playground" came out, a documentary about the same subject, which follows many of the same Amish teens.
My Life in Orange: Growing Up With the Guru by Tim Guest
I always heard about the Rajneeshies. Well, maybe not always. It seems to be a part of Oregon legend now, how a large group of orange-robed people descended on Central Oregon and took over the land, the government, and even poisoned local salad bars. When the religious group went defunct in the 80s, the large land and buildings on their "ranch" were left abandoned, and umpteen years later they were bought by Young Life, an Evangelical Christian outreach to teenagers. In college I went on a retreat to the "ranch" (now called Wildhorse Canyon), and thought it was rather eery.
Had I known then what I know now, from reading Guest's book, I would have been a little more creeped out. Guest's mother joined the group when he was around 5, and Guest was unwillingly a member of the Rajneeshies. Guest does a great job at explaining his feelings, and combining his own personal experience with the historical facts of the group's expansion and demise. His own mother was a teacher within the group, and her absence in his upbringing left a resounding mark on his life. This is a great retelling of the Rajneesh story, with a personal touch to convey the atrocities and puzzling questions left over after it all ended.
State by State edited by Wilsey and Weiland
This collection of essays got a lot of local press, and it sounded like something I would enjoy, so I put it on hold at the library before it was released. Essays by writers who live in the state or are native to the state, it offers a variety of perspectives. Of course, like with any book of assorted writers, there were some I cared for, and some I did not. I thought one of the most interesting was the writer who was originally from Africa, who came to study in Michigan (or was it Minnesota...? No, I think it was Michigan), and lived there and came to consider it his American home. Anyway, I liked it, even though I didn't make it completely through before it had to be returned.
Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
I've been meaning to read this book forever. So much so, that when offered a copy by my mom, I promptly took it, brought it home, and realized I had the same exact copy and printing on my shelf that I apparently bought at the Goodwill. It was cute, and it was a good, short, fluffy distraction from Great Expectations.
Rumpsringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish by Tom Shachtman
A little obsessive right now about the Amish, the most captivating aspect of the Rumpsringa is their time of rebellion. Rumpspringa, generally between the end of their schooling and the time they decide to come back and join the church, allows the teenage Amish to do all of the things that the church blatantly forbids. Alcohol, drugs, premarital sex, cars, "English" clothes, etc. Eventually the teen or young adult makes that life altering decision whether to return to the familiar of the Amish, join the church, be baptized, and settle down into marriage, or whether to leave the church and their family behind. Shactman does a great job of intertwining the personal stories of Amish teens, along with the history and culture of the Amish, and gives a great synopsis of the whole state of affairs. This book was written after the movie "Devil's Playground" came out, a documentary about the same subject, which follows many of the same Amish teens.
My Life in Orange: Growing Up With the Guru by Tim Guest
I always heard about the Rajneeshies. Well, maybe not always. It seems to be a part of Oregon legend now, how a large group of orange-robed people descended on Central Oregon and took over the land, the government, and even poisoned local salad bars. When the religious group went defunct in the 80s, the large land and buildings on their "ranch" were left abandoned, and umpteen years later they were bought by Young Life, an Evangelical Christian outreach to teenagers. In college I went on a retreat to the "ranch" (now called Wildhorse Canyon), and thought it was rather eery.
Had I known then what I know now, from reading Guest's book, I would have been a little more creeped out. Guest's mother joined the group when he was around 5, and Guest was unwillingly a member of the Rajneeshies. Guest does a great job at explaining his feelings, and combining his own personal experience with the historical facts of the group's expansion and demise. His own mother was a teacher within the group, and her absence in his upbringing left a resounding mark on his life. This is a great retelling of the Rajneesh story, with a personal touch to convey the atrocities and puzzling questions left over after it all ended.
posted by Meghan at 10:32 AM
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