Thursday, January 10, 2008

A Complicated Kindness


A Complicated Kindness is a beautifully sad story. Nomi goes through so much in her life and she’s only 16. I would never have though that a novel about a Mennonite girl could be so captivating. Miriam Toews is brilliant.

Nomi’s story is so emotional, so tangible; it breaks my heart a little. I think that’s why it took me so long to finish; the emotions reached out and grabbed me. The only way to make them let go was to put the book down. Then, of course, you are left with the longing of wanting to know what happens to Nomi.

A Complicated Kindness also gives you an interesting look at Mennonite life. You get to know a little about their history and the kind of society they’ve become. Some Mennonites truly love their community, others dream of being free from it. Behavioral rules are complex and often contradictory. It’s difficult to know what to do. This is where Nomi and her family struggle. It is a struggle between love, faith and freedom.

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