Something Old

June 13, 2011
Barbour taps into the Amish fiction fan base by offering an Anabaptist series, the Plain City Bridesmaids. Christner, raised in the Ohio Mennonite Church, introduces Katy Yoderâwho's not Amish despite the nameâa young woman seeking to follow God as she interacts with the "outsiders" for whom she works. Katy's heart remains closed to Jake Byler, the young man she once loved but who has returned home as "spoiled goods." Her rigid world begins to waver as she faces temptations from the outside world, her feelings for Jake revive, and she confronts issues such as head coverings, cellphones, and the Internet. But it isn't until Jake accuses her of "living your self-righteous life" that she begins to see her life as more than a set of rules. The book offers an interesting look at Mennonite struggles, with cleaning tips and home remedies included, but the plot plods and the writing stutters through stilted dialogue..