The Parting (The Courtship of Nellie Fisher, Book 1)

Like the rest of her books I could not put this book down! Love how there are other stories among the main one happening.

I must say the cover of this book pulled me in. My parents came from NE PA and I grew up eating chicken & waffles, chicken pot pie (made in a pressure cooker of all things) and shoo-fly pie. While my roots aren't linked directly with Lancaster County, I have always been very interested in the Amish. I am also a proud New Yorker with a lovely hex sign displayed on my home!
Please take the time to read this book. I am sure you will enjoy it every bit as much as I did. Is it a "youth fiction", well maybe, but does everything always have to be thrown in our faces? It is a lovely book and very suitable for the teen in your life who enjoys reading and learning.

As someone who does not believe in the simplistic concept of "being saved", I found this book obnoxious. I just wanted a light summer read, and instead this book was a preachy tome about an Amish family finally seeing the light and being "born again." Fundamental Christians will most likely love it. Those of who believe that salvation is by grace and good works (sorry, you can't buy yourself into heaven by good works, but you also can't talk yourself in, either...) will probably find it insufferable, like I did.

I enjoy Lewis's books for the most part, mainly for the interesting characters, simple way of life, and storylines that are palpable for their emotions and challenges that the characters face. But this book really was a turkey. All I found was Lewis's overwhelming urge to convert all her readers to be born-again Christians. I am a happy Catholic, thank you, and I just want to read a good story, not be bombarded with the "right" way to live my life.

The part that upset me the most was when the father never cried when his daughter Suzy died, yet once he discovers "the good word," he is constantly weeping. And it's not because this means his daughter has been saved and is now in heaven (as other characters start to believe); it's only for himself and knowing that's he's better than everyone else because he knows "the truth." I just can't swallow that.

But, of course, I'll have to read the rest of the books in this series because they're like potato chips: once you read one, you can't stop! But if you're looking to read some of Lewis's series, I would forget this one and go for any of her other novels (esp. Abram's Daughters).

Though not as rich and detailed as some of her previous works (particularly the Abram's Daughters series), The Parting is still a token of Beverly Lewis's sweet and meaningful stories. Nellie Mae Fisher and her family are grieving the accidental death of Nellie's younger sister, Suzy. Meanwhile, their Old Order Amish community is experiencing a radical change in its members' beliefs. And Nellie Mae is falling in love with Caleb Yoder.

The way those factors interplay in Nellie's life does make for a good story. The interest level came at intervals for me; some sections of the novel are engaging and intriguing, while others are slow and almost overly detailed. Still, The Parting is an enjoyable read, particularly as it deals with faith issues in the Amish community.