New Releases by Rhoda Janzen

Rhoda Janzen had reconnected with her family and her roots, though her future felt uncertain. But when she starts dating a churchgoer, the skeptic begins a surprising journey to faith and love. Rhoda doesn''t slide back into the dignified simplicity of the Mennonite church. Instead she finds herself hanging with the Pentecostals, who really know how to get down with sparkler pom-poms. Amid the hand waving and hallelujahs, Rhoda finds a faith richly practical for life.

At the end of her bestselling memoir Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, Rhoda Janzen had reconnected with her family roots, though her future felt uncertain. When this overeducated professor starts dating the most unlikely of men-a weight-liftin'', church-goin'', truck-drivin'' rocker named Mitch-she begins a surprising journey to faith and love. Nothing says, "Let''s get to know each other!" like lady problems on an epic scale, but Mitch vows to stay by her side. Convinced that his bedrock character has something to do with his Pentecostal church, Rhoda suits up for a brave new world of sparkler pom-poms and hand-clappin'' hallelujahs. Written with her trademark "uproarious, bawdy sense of humor" (Minneapolis Star-Tribune), MENNONITE MEETS MR. RIGHT is witty and moving, perfect for anyone who has taken an unexpected detour only to find that new roads lead to rich destinations.

“Hilarious . . . musings on Janzen’s childhood, marriage, and eccentric family. . . . mines Mennonite culture for comic effect, but . . . does so with love.” —Entertainment Weekly Not long after Rhoda Janzen turned forty, her world turned upside down. Her brilliant husband of fifteen years left her for Bob, a guy he met on Gay.com, and the same week a car accident left her with serious injuries. What was a gal to do? Rhoda packed her bags and went home. This wasn’t just any home, though. This was a Mennonite home. While Rhoda had long ventured out on her own spiritual path, the conservative community welcomed her back with open arms and offbeat advice. (Rhoda’s good-natured mother suggested she date her first cousin—he owned a tractor, see.) It is in this safe place that Rhoda can come to terms with her failed marriage; her desire, as a young woman, to leave her sheltered world behind; and the choices that both freed and entrapped her. Tackling faith, love, family, and aging, Mennonite in a Little Black Dress is an immensely moving memoir of healing. “Funny, breezy yet profound, and poetic . . . [Janzen’s] tone reminds me of Garrison Keillor’s.” —Kate Christensen, New York Times Book Review “Hilarious and touching.” —People “Women will immediately warm to [Jantzen’s] self-deprecating honesty.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review “[A] spirited, fascinating memoir.” —Hannah Sampson, Miami Herald “In the tradition of David Sedaris. . . . family . . . is the source of the book’s biggest laughs, and its heart.” —Marisa Meltzer, The Daily Beast “The most delightful memoir I’ve read in ages.” —Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times–bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love