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Satisfying conclusion to Ada's House series

by Kate Maloney

February 21, 2012

@Gwenelle

I really enjoyed reading a contemporary Amish fiction novel, since I'm more familiar with historical Amish fiction (á la Beverly Lewis), and getting an idea of how the Amish community manages in an increasingly techno-centric world (who would have thought you'd see iPods mentioned in a book about the Plain folk?). Cindy Woodsmall's friendships within the Amish community have given her an insider's perspective of the Plain lifestyle, making her characters all the more authentic and intriguing.

I liked how the differences between Amish and "Englischer" were explored in terms of Cara's transition from the outside world into this an Amish community. It's easy to feel her frustration as she struggles to learn the language and live a simpler life.

I was also intrigued by the contrasts in several father/daughter relationships. For example, Sylvia and her father get along well enough but he doesn't really treat her as an adult who can make her own decisions. The relationship between Cara and her father, Trevor, is even more strained - a good basis for exploring the main themes of grace and forgiveness. And in contrast we have the strong, affectionate bond between Lena and her father Israel.

The one thing I didn't like about Harvest of Grace was, as a result of having so many characters and so many subplots to tie together, it's sometimes to keep track of everything. The author transitioned smoothly between chapters and viewpoints, but I couldn't help feeling a little ostracized for not having read the previous books. It also ended somewhat abruptly, but all the plot threads tied up neatly and left me with a happy, satisfied feeling.