The Plain Choice: A True Story of Choosing to Live an Amish Life

Gore (Me, Myself and Pie), a writer for the Amish newspaper The Budget, follows a conventional story arc in her latest book, depicting herself as a hurt, empty party animal who finds Jesus, redemption, and then a new life. Gore talks about her days of hardship with extra gusto, showing herself to be one of those remarkable people who can weather any number of crises, each of which alone would sink a lesser soul%E2%80%94dysfunctional parents, dropping out of high school, homelessness, two divorces, three children, and a child with a life-threatening illness. After converting to Christianity, Gore adds another twist by joining the Amish. While her energy never flags, Gore's sometimes glib writing style and down-home clich%C3%A9s%E2%80%94"Brother Lester's heart was as big as an ocean," "a sun-kissed Amish community"%E2%80%94can create distance from her pain and redemption. At her strongest, however, Gore conveys the texture of hard realities, be it her marriage to a dangerous man or the challenges of day-to-day life in an Amish community. Gore's penchant for dancing on the edge of the volcano, and her impressive ability to live to tell the tale, will keep the pages turning and leave readers eager for her next memoir. (Aug.)