Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman
Do you ever find yourself longing for an easier and simpler life? A life where you don’t have to rush around with your children, shuttling them from one club or activity to the next? If that sounds appealing to you, you might enjoy the book Almost Amish! In this story, two modern mothers spend a summer living like the Amish.
Almost Amish: the story
In Almost Amish, Julie and her sister-in-law Susan take part in a reality show where they live like the Amish for an entire summer. They bring their children along. Julie’s husband stays home because he has to work, while Susan was recently left by her husband for a younger woman.
The reason they join the reality show?
Susan hopes that participating will help her start a successful business—she needs money now that she’s a single mother. Julie, on the other hand, wants to support her sister-in-law but secretly longs for some peace and quiet in her own life. For her, the timing of the reality show couldn’t be better. Susan is the practical one—good at cooking and household chores—but it’s Julie who captures the hearts of the viewers.
A simpler life
Not much happens in the book, really. It’s mostly about Julie and Susan navigating daily life and how they and the children adjust to living without smartphones, computers, and modern conveniences. Personally, I really enjoyed reading that! I think many of us wonder what our lives would be like without all the technology we’ve gotten used to. One interesting observation in the book is that living simply doesn’t mean it’s easy. Doing the laundry may be simpler, but it’s definitely harder work!
A touch of religion
Every now and then, the book includes religious elements—for example, a Bible story that’s related to everyday life. Even if you’re not religious, these comparisons are still interesting to reflect on.
Summing up Almost Amish
I found the concept of Almost Amish very interesting, but the execution felt a bit shallow. I think the book could have gone deeper in exploring the idea. Still, it’s a pleasant read, and you can’t help but feel a little calmer after reading it!
Wanna read Almost Amish?
You can get your copy at amazon.com or your local bookstore.
Mijn Nederlandse review van Bijna Amish vind je hier.
Would you want to live like the Amish for one Summer?
I’ve never considered being Amish. I love the ease technology brings to my life. I spend so much time on my computer that I couldn’t imagine being without it. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
I’m not one to jump on all technology – I don’t have a smartphone, a smartwatch or a robot vacuum cleaner, for example – but I also can’t imagine living without my washing machine or dishwasher.
Such a reality show would definitely not be for me 😉
This sounds like an interesting read! I’ve unfortunately gotten pretty dependent on technology, but if it’s just for a summer, I like to think I might be able to do it! (I definitely couldn’t do my current job without it though.)