The Other Side of the Middle [signed]

A story about an aging Pennsylvania Dutch couple and their extended family. Situated in the Oley Hills around Reading, Pennsylvania, this book portrays the spirit of the "fancy Dutch," the ones with the hex signs on their barns and the painted furniture in their kitchens. The descriptions of Pennsylvania Dutch traditional farming practices and the love for nature illustrated by this extremely well-written novel will make you wish that the United States Congress was packed with good old-fashioned Pennsylvania Dutch men and women. The warmth and love portrayed will make you hesitate to loan this book to a friend, because you will want to reread it at those times when you are feeling low and need a lift. The values and culture of these people should serve as a model for our entire society, especially in these troubled times. This book is filled with descriptions of farming and nature that will take you to another place, a place you will want to revisit often.