THE BLENDED QUILT

The Amish community of Middlebury, Indiana, rolls out in cozy fashion through the voice of narrator Rebecca Gallagher. Courting couple Sadie Kuhns and Wyman Kauffman face challenges as Wyman seeks satisfying employment and Sadie receives a financial windfall. Gallagher uses a style respectful to the Amish culture and vocabulary. Her voice brims with empathy and wonder as she recounts the joys and sorrows of the community. Her slight Midwestern accent and genuine manner reinforce the small-town connections that Brunstetter builds. Sadie and Wyman's friends and relations, both in Indiana and Hawaii, are well distinguished in conversation. Gallagher changes intonation to indicate sadness, despair, and inconsiderate behavior while eschewing judgment, a good match for the story's gentle lessons. Gallagher opens an appealing window onto Sadie and Wyman's unique courtship. C.A. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2021]