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Amish Books and Information

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Amish Books and Information

Amish Fiction | Amish Recipes

Requests for information about the Amish is a popular question at just about any library Reference Desk. People want to know about Amish fiction books and stories, Amish nonfiction books, Amish recipes, the Amish community, Amish lifestyle, Amish furniture, and much more. This web page makes an attempt at presenting the books, information, and resources to help you find answers to your questions about the Amish.

The Amish have always been seen as a fascinating culture to the non-Amish population, known as “The English” by the Amish. When so many people (Englishers) are desperate to get their hands on the latest technological product, like a smart phone, it is ASTONISHING that there is a group of people who have no desire for such technology. It is simply unimaginable to many of the non-Amish population.

However, the interest in the Amish goes beyond witnessing a culture that is different. With the economy being as terrible as it is and so many people suffering, it is only natural for people to seek escape or look for hope. Compared to an unstable future, the Amish lifestyle offers some degree of security. The Amish environment seems SO serene when compared to the very busy lives that many of the “English” face.

The Amish community is seen as a different place and time where a person can find peace. It offers a simpler life in a “community” where spirituality and order reigns. It is a world that brings back fond memories of a time long gone. It is a nostalgic world of the smells of freshly baked bread, the warmth of grandma’s handmade quilt, and other such pleasures. The colorful green pastures and sounds of a gently, bubbling stream seems a whole lot better than seeing the gray color of concrete office buildings and the sounds of urban traffic.

The following is a list of popular authors of Amish Christian fiction books including a list of their books featuring Amish characters. This includes adult, young adult, and childrens’ fiction as well as nonfiction Amish books. Although a few of these authors are known to be more “authentic” in their depiction of Amish life within their books, you need to remember that these are FICTION stories. The setting is the desired Amish community, BUT many of the authors take some liberty with the storyline in the interest of presenting an interesting or inspirational story. Having said that, the following authors provide a variety of stories that are very popular with readers.

Some of the books, listed below can be found in your local library. If they do not have the books, then please feel free to ask the library staff if they have a free interlibrary loan service. Some of the books may be out-of-print. If you would like to see a review or purchase any of these books then please visit Amazon.com and its used-bookstore associates. Some of the older books can be obtained for a pretty fair price at some of Amazon.com's used-bookstore affiliations.

Amish Fiction Books / Stories

Carrie Bender writes adult Amish fiction, Amish young adult, and Amish children’s / juvenile literature. Many people see Carrie Bender as one of the more accurate storytellers of Amish everyday life. It is understandable why Carrie Bender can write with such authority because what little literature that can be found about Carrie is that the name Carrie Bender is the pseudonym for the daughter of an Old Order Mennonite Bishop. Carrie writes for adult AND youth audiences.  For those readers who are looking for Amish Christian fiction stories/books with attention to accurate depiction of everyday Amish life and the Amish community, then you may want to read some of Carrie Bender’s Amish books, starting with the very popular Miriam’s Journal series.

Wanda Brunstetter writes adult Amish fiction, Amish children’s literature, and nonfiction books such as books featuring Amish recipes. All of Wanda's novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Many of her books are well-read and trusted by the Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs. "Wanda's fascination with the Amish culture developed when she met her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church, and whose family has a Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Meeting her new Mennonite sister-in-laws caused Wanda to yearn for the simpler life. In their travels, she and her husband have become close friends with many Amish people across America. Wanda's desire to explore their culture increased when she discovered that her great-great grandparents were part of the Anabaptist faith." Wanda provides valuable facts and insight into the Amish lifestyle at her website:http://www.wandabrunstetter.com.


Vanetta Chapman writes adult Amish mysteries.

Amy Clipston writes adult Amish fiction.

Lori Copeland writes mostly Christian fiction that features historical romance, mysteries, and westerns.  However, Lori Copeland offers the “Amish Apple Grove Series.”

Jerry S. Eicher and his wife Tina Eicher have an Amish background. Jerry writes Amish stories. Tina is known for her Amish cooking and translated that into a popular book featuring Amish recipes.

Susanne Woods Fisher writes mostly adult Amish fiction. Suzanne has written historical romance and a couple of Amish children’s books.

B. J. Hoff writes Christian historical romance and historical suspense. However, B.J. has written the Riverhaven Series which is historical Amish.

Beverly Lewis is one of the more well-known authors of Amish fiction. She has written a number of young adult and juvenile books, also. Beverly Lewis knows well the ways of the Amish from being the daughter of a minister and growing up in Amish country in Lancaster.  As she has said in one of her interviews “My mother’s people are Old Order Mennonite-horse and buggy Mennonite, very close cousins to the Amish.” The Shunning, The Confession, and The Reckoning make up one her more popular series The Heritage of Lancaster County Series.

Kim Vogel Sawyer  writes more stories that involve Mennonites than Amish.

Cindy Woodsmall is an author of a number of Amish books. 


Amish Cookbooks with Recipes (Nonfiction)

The Amish Family Cookbook. 2012. Jerry Eicher is a popular author of Amish fiction stories. Jerry's wife Tina is famous for her Amish cooking. The Eichers have an Amish background that helps them provide readers with an authentic look into the Amish community. Tina's Amish Family Cookbook features Amish recipes as well as a warm, welcomed peek into the Amish kitchen and lifestyle. "Readers will laugh, pray, and eat robustly with The Amish Family Cookbook at their side."

Wanda E. Brunstetter is a well-known author of Amish fiction. Wanda has a strong connection to the Amish community and lifestyle. She shares some of the authentic Amish community by providing a few Amish cookbooks with recipes based on the Amish:

Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends’ Cookbook : 200 hearty recipes from Amish Country. 2007. Features Amish and Mennonite recipes.

Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Cookbook. Volume 2 : 200 hearty recipes from Amish Country. 2009. Book one and this book 2 feature authentic Amish and Mennonite recipes through the United States. This book not only presents recipes, but also, information about the Amish communities and photographs.

Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Cookbook : desserts. 2011. Presents over 125 authentic Amish recipes for a variety of desserts.

The Beverly Lewis Amish Heritage Cookbook is a homespun, authentic collection of Amish recipes collected over the years by Beverly Lewis. Many are from her grandmother and other family members as well as dear friends from the Amish world she writes about with such power and authenticity. Now she lovingly shares these with her millions of readers who have come to treasure her insights into Amish life. The additional Amish sayings and line drawings make for an appealing gift. 2004 book.

Lancaster County Cookbook by Louise Stoltzfus. Louise is a native of Lancaster County, and lives in the Seventh Ward neighborhood of Lancaster City. She grew up in an Amish family near Strasburg, Pennsylvania, from whom she inherited her cooking tastes. "The residents of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, are famous for their cooking. Cooks from every corner of Lancaster county and the various neighborhoods of Lancaster City submitted their favorite family recipes to be included in this timeless collection. From their kitchens come these more than 500 recipes which are easy to prepare and pleasant to the palate. A wonderful treasure for people everywhere." 1993 book.

Treasured Amish and Mennonite Recipes: 600 Delicious, Down-to-Earth Recipes from Authentic Country Kitchens is presented by the Mennonite Central Committee. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) works alongside local churches and communities in more than 50 countries, including Canada and the United States, to carry out disaster relief, sustainable community development and justice and peace-building work in the name of Christ. MCC also seeks to build bridges to connect people and ideas across cultural, political and economic divides. 2011 book.


 

Some of the items listed above, can be found in your local library. If they do not have the items, then please feel free to ask the library staff if they have a free interlibrary loan service. Some of the books may be out-of-print. If you would like to see a review or purchase any of these books then please visit Amazon.com and its used-bookstore associates. Some of the older books can be obtained for a pretty fair price at some of Amazon.com's used-bookstore affiliations.


 

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