News, Press & Reviews

Plain and Fancy -A Romance the Cuts Across Cultural Barriers
by Marijane Troyer of the Budget
November 22, 2006

Suspense, romance, heartbreak and joy! All are included in Wanda Brunstetter’s latest novel, “Plain and Fancy”, the third in the expanded “Lancaster Brides” series.

Ponder the complications of a love, which causes two different worlds to collide. Sympathize with an Amish woman who cannot get over her lost love.

“Plain and Fancy” is the story of an English woman who has become fascinated by the Amish culture in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Laura Meade loves her modern lifestyle. Yet, upon meeting Eli Yoder, an Amish man, she is immediately attracted to him. Readers will be quickly turning the novel’s pages to learn if it was good for two people – one Plain, the other Fancy – to fall in love.

Brunstetter revealed the reason why she wrote the book, “Like so many of my readers, I often have asked myself what it would be like to leave the modern world I’ve grown up in and accept the Amish way of life as my own. That is why I wrote ‘Plain and Fancy,’ so others would get a feel for what it would be like to make the change from being ‘Fancy.’ As the readers discoverer about all the changes required of Laura, they can each decide if they could make such a sacrifice for love.”

Brunstetter also revealed a second reason for the book, “Then, too, I wanted to show the importance of putting an emphasis on spiritual things rather than material things. A dear friend of mine had a little girl with Down’s syndrome, and I wanted to show what a blessing raising a special child could be.” Readers can also question if they would be able to care of a child with Down’s syndrome. Both hard questions with no easy answers! As a plus, on the lighter side, readers will enjoy Laura’s struggle to cat pickled beets. It ought to come as no surprise then to see Laura’s recipe for pickled beets included at the end of the novel.

In writing this expanded version of “Plain and Fancy,” Brunstetter explained, “I added quite a few scenes in Pauline’s point of view, (Eli’s old girl friend), and also Mary Ellen’s. (Eli’s mother) I even included some scenes of Laura’s father’s point of view, so the reader would see how he and Laura’s mother were dealing with Laura’s decision to go Amish.”

Readers can see how Laura changes after she joins the Amish faith and what impact, if any, did Laura’s father wishing for a simpler lifestyle himself have on his daughter. “Plain and Fancy” presents some of the repercussions of cross-cultural marriage. Is love enough? Or does the newlywed couple need something more to survive?

This novel certainly provides an in-depth look into Amish (or plain) way of living. Brunstetter is an accomplished and award-winning author who enjoys writing about the Amish way of life. Brunstetter has written 25 novels, as well as several stories, articles, poems, puppet scripts, gift books and a devotional book. She lives in Washington State, where her husband pastors, but takes every opportunity to visit Amish settlements throughout the country.
“Plain and Fancy” is now available for purchase at Christian bookstores. There are some discussions questions posted on www.christianbooks.com

Reprinted with permission of Sugarcreek Budget Publishers, Inc.
www.thebudgetnewspaper.com

Related Authors

• Wanda E. Brunstetter

Related Books

• Plain And Fancy (Trade Paper)