Hope in The Land by Olivia Newport

In Lancaster County, it is the time of the Depression during the Thirties. Hope in The Land by Olivia Newport is mainly about two Amish families: the Grabills and the Swains. The Grabills are the biggest family of the two. What makes the novel interesting is the relationship between Minerva Swain and Gloria Grabill, how people lived through the Depression and the values of the Amish in their community. Growing up, I lived only a couple hours from Lancaster County. So I felt a bit homesick remembering my father's visits to the farmer's market when the Amish came to town.

In the novel, it's surprising to see two women acting out against one another especially since one woman is Amish. Gloria is Amish. Minerva is English. They have known and disliked each other since school age. Still, it is hard for each to come together in one room together. I felt that Minerva came across as the coldest and the grumpiest and the one who seemed very sensitive. Gloria seemed more easy going. I felt this portrayal was unfair. I suppose when there are relationship problems one person is worse than the other person? I couldn't help but think that Olivia Newport might have prejudicial feelings towards Gloria's character. Because Gloria is Amish and Minerva is English. . Ironically, the daughters of these two women, Rose and Polly get along fine together. Every decision Minerva makes seems wrong. She seems sneaky and cantankerous. I think Minerva deserved some understanding. No one is totally made up of a bad attitude.

I especially enjoyed reading about the neighborliness in the Amish community. For one dinner night, there are about eighteen people at the table. Henry, a guy who is going to ask the farmer wives questions, is included in the meal. He has just met the family and Gloria says their is plenty of room. All the neighbors and family need to do is scooch over. I laughed. There is a willingness to help one another when problems happen. When Polly hurts her foot in the field and Sylvia becomes ill, Rose offers to help with the farm work. While thinking of Sylvia, I would have liked to know more about the fever.

I felt very sad to learn about how farmers suffered during the Depression. Family names are posted in store windows and other areas. To let the farmers know they had indeed lost their land. There is always plenty going on with these people whom we only see as horse and buggy riders.Their desires and relationships are not much different from ours. However, we do like electricity.olivianewport.com/about-me/
 (Barbour Publishing)

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