Some of you may remember my review of WHY I LEFT THE AMISH by Saloma Furlong, reprinted below. When I reviewed the advance reader copy of Ms. Furlong's poignant memoir on October 28, 2010, I never expected to meet Saloma and her husband David, nor did I expect that we would become friends.
But we have become friends, and she and her husband have stayed with us both in NJ and CT when she has book readings in the area. During the Furlongs first visit to our home, long after our husbands were asleep, like teenagers, we stayed up till the middle of the night just talking and laughing!
Saloma has been busy since her book was published in January, 2011. At home in Massachusetts, she's continued to work on the second installment of her memoir, while travelling extensively, giving talks at libraries and bookstores. She appeared in the documentary THE AMISH, as part of THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, which aired on PBS this past March.
Continuing her busy schedule, Ms. Furlong is currently visiting libraries and bookstores throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. You can read more about Saloma Furlong and the places she'll be visiting on her blog, ABOUT AMISH.
My review of WHY I LEFT THE AMISH, October 28, 2010:
Ms. Furlong's memoir takes us inside the rural life of the Amish in Ohio; a life ruled by the men of the community. Growing up in an abusive and dysfunctional family, the author suffered many indignities before summoning the courage to embark on a new life in Vermont, a place she had only visited in magazines and in her own imagination.
As an outsider, or someone considered "English", I didn't know much about the Amish culture before reading this book. I always considered them to be peaceful religious people who worked the land and didn't participate in wars or use modern technology. Their sense of community seemed to be the cornerstone of their peaceful existence. And let's not forget those beautiful quilts we all covet.
It never occurred to me that even within this group there could exist a caste system and tolerance for abuse -- emotional, physical and sexual -- with little or no protection for the young women of the community. Every facet of the author's life as a young Amish woman was training for subservient community life with no concern for individual pursuits. As her anger at her situation grew, so did her desire to create a life of her own.
How wonderful for Ms. Furlong that she was able to meet so many people that would assist her in finding her way in the world. As she became more mature and confident, she was able to return to the Amish community for her father's funeral with far less trepidation than one would expect.
If you'd like to learn more about the Amish life, Ms. Furlong's book raises the curtain for a peek inside this culture and religion in her fascinating and heartfelt memoir. The author's courage is uplifting and I look forward to reading the next installment of her journey.
ISBN 9780870139949
Pub. Date: January 2011
190 pages
Paperback and eBook
I treasure Saloma's "Why I left the Amish" and look forward to her next book.
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