The Coventant through Chapter 4. discussion.

**heaven** · 02-13-2003, 09:56 PM

What do you think of the Amish life, no phones, no tv, no electricty.

were there some words you had to figure out waht they were saying. such as GUT, Perty, Dat, Ach, etc.

what do you think of Leah being her fathers "son" Abriah's Leah instead of just being Leah and doing all the outside work?

Do you think Leah missed out on things that happened at the quiltings?

what do you think of Darek and Sadies relationship do you think it could work out them being of two diffrent lifestyles.

do you feel there was enough/ to much information on the main charaters?

what about Lizzie, she is alone, what are your thoughts?

please if there is anything else you would like to post go ahead.

**SewCrafty** · 02-14-2003, 07:37 AM

What do you think of the Amish life, no phones, no tv, no electricty. Well, I know it is not the life for me. I could probably do without the phone and TV, but electricty is another thing.

were there some words you had to figure out waht they were saying. such as GUT, Perty, Dat, Ach, etc. No I was okay with most of the words. I think the author made it very easy to understand these words. I noticed that everytime she introduced an Amish word it was italized and used in a sentence that made it very easy to understand the meaning.

what do you think of Leah being her fathers "son" Abriah's Leah instead of just being Leah and doing all the outside work? This is a tough one, I understand her having to do some outside work, my sisters and I had to do the same. But by the same token, if they only had daughters, then I felt that indoor and outdoor work should have been shared by all the girls. She was doing some very physically demanding work for a young girl. On to being known as "Abram's Leah", I truly felt sorry for her. I know how this feels as I have been there. It is like she has no personal identity, and it is expected of her to be the "son".

Do you think Leah missed out on things that happened at the quiltings? Personally I do feel she missed out, but I don't think she feels the same way. I think she enjoys working outside instead of being cooped up in the house all day.

what do you think of Darek and Sadies relationship do you think it could work out them being of two diffrent lifestyles.
No, I don't feel it can work out. Thier lives are just too different. They have such different values, work ethics and religious beliefs that there doesn't seem to be a middle ground.

do you feel there was enough/ to much information on the main charaters? Not at first, but then I was looking at the dust cover on the book and at the very top it says "Abram's Daughters 1", that tells me that there will be more books to come and I think each one will tell us more. Definately makes me want to read the rest of them!

what about Lizzie, she is alone, what are your thoughts? Lizzie is another story. I get the sense there is something in her past but I think she is comfortable with who she is.

If this book was set in today instead of the 1940's, I may have a different out take on it. But you do have to remember that is was the 1940's after the war. Many rural families didn't have electricity back then so that wouldn't have been a problem at all. I was quite shocked that the other girls didn't have to do thier share of work outside, it seems to have all fallen on Leah to be the son her parents never had. As to Derek and Sadie, I am surprised that she would even contemplate dating him. I am ignorant of most of the Amish ways but I thought dealing with outsiders was usually left to the men of the family especially back then. I can't wait for the next book, to find out more about Lizzie.

**heaven** · 02-14-2003, 10:04 AM

Thanks Diana, wonderful answers. I really think that there is alot more to Lizzie than what is said also. I totally agree as soon as the next book is out i am gettting that one too. LOL

**homesteadmamma** · 02-17-2003, 08:04 PM

This is her best book yet in my opinion!!

What do you think of the Amish life, no phones, not tv, no electricity - There are many times I wish I could live like that and I know I could in a heartbeat. Its the kids and dh who would have the problem. We did a pioneer week last year for 5 days with no electricity (other than fridge & stove), no tv and no computer. I loved it, but dh was ready to quit after the second day. He couldn't do anything in his workshop.

Were there some words you had to figure out No because I had already read all of her books. I agree, she made it easy to understand.

What do you think of Leah being her father's son - Well to be quite honest, I didn't like it in the least. I have a feeling that Leah is more than her father's "son", but I won't say more right now. I also think it was wrong for her to be doing all the work - he could have gotten any boys that were in the community to help him.

Do you think Leah missed out on the things that happened in the quiltings - what a question to ask a quilter. Of course she did and you'll see that later in the book. She didn't realize it at first, but I certainly think she did later on. Besides, she missed out on all that wonderful quilting!!!

What do you think of Darek & Sadies relationship - not sure!!

Do you feel there was enough/too much on the main characters - All of Lewis's books are like that. She gives just enough to make you hunger for more, to keep you reading. She is excellant is doing this - most everyone I know who hasn't gotten her books can't put them down. Thats the sign of a great author. I think had she given too much information, you'd find yourself not wondering so much about the characters or even the story line. When I look at the title of her next book in this series The Betrayal coming out in Sept. I'm glad she didn't give us as much information as probably we would have liked.

What about Lizzie, she is alone, what are your thoughts - my thoughts on Lizzie is that she is hiding one big secret. Again, Lewis did the same thing in her previous series (hiding the adoption). I think though that Lizzie is content within herself and yet I think she also loves "someone" she shouldn't!!! (And I'm not saying who right now!!!)

I can't wait for the next book, to find out more about Lizzie, but also more about Leah!!!!

This book really gave me lots of questions which I still don't have answers for and in some ways a bit angry at the Amish ways of life for allowing their "teens" to do what they wanted. It just seems to go so against their way of living on a whole and quite frankly really sets them up for "trouble" where they have to pay the consequences - hidden lies and outright shunning at times!!!

**heaven** · 02-17-2003, 08:31 PM

I tried so hard with these questions not to go beyond these chapters. thanks for your thoughts Cj. There is alot hiding here. *even the end of the book which gets better and better.) didn't answer for me. In Sept. The next book will have to be in our discussion. LOL

**SewCrafty** · 02-18-2003, 08:11 AM

I agree about allowing thier "teens" to do as they will. I was quite frankly surprised at this (something I didn't know about the Amish). I think it is great they allow their teens to choose to live thier way of life, but in my opinion it seems they are "throwing" them into a world they know so little about. It seems to me that they are brought up in very strict (yet loving) homes and all of a sudden they can make huge decisions on thier own without any previous guidance. I think it is setting the kids up for a lot of shunning, predjudice and out right trouble.

**paelthom** · 02-18-2003, 12:43 PM

I really loved this book. I did not realize that the Amish vocabulary was different than ours but thought the author did a fine job blending the words. I think the characters are being brought out really good but there is still a lot of mystery there. Lizzie is hiding something for sure. I think the fact that the dad is using his daughter as a son is setting her up for future trouble and I do think she is missing the growth that women pick up spending time with one another. As for Derek and Sadie - that's headed for trouble. As for the amish lifestyle, this way of living has always fascinated me, maybe because I couldn't make it at all. I have always thought I would love to spend a few days with an amish family - but only a few days. It is a great book.
paelthom