Dichotomy: Amish Justice

by Stan Jolley, Beverley Jolley, Beverly Jolley

Long considered by many to be one of the most misunderstood and impenetrable cultures in America, the Amish community has continued to persevere in the 300-year-old tradition of their ancestors. They are universally perceived as a simple, deeply pious people who shut the technological advancements and conveniences of the modern age, embracing a vastly simpler and modest existence. Given the cloak of privacy in which this culture is enveloped, there have been numerous concerted attempts made by the outside world to unveil the inner-workings of this pristine microcosm, often with relatively limited success until now. Author Stan Jolley is a descendant of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage and the Academy Award nominated Production Designer for the blockbuster motion picture Witness. Drawing upon his rich and colorful memories of his childhood in the Amish country of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as well as his on-set experiences working along side the Amish, Stan Jolley and co-author Beverley Jolley grant readers the extraordinary opportunity to delve into the picturesque yet introverted world of the Amish with their gripping now work, DICHOTOMY - AMISH JUSTICE! DICHOTOMY - AMISH JUSTICE! provides candid insight into this most genteel, and mysterious society, and how its reluctant convergence with the sometimes unfeeling "English" world can often produce dire consequences. When Matthew Ammann, a comely young Amish man ventures into the seductive world of Philadelphia nightlife for an evening with his boyhood friends, he could riot possibly foresee the far-reaching ramifications of his choice. Enter James Royer, the socially ascending, politically-connected Chief of Police for Philadelphia, who knows only too well the uncompromising mores of the Amish life, having been ostracized from the community as a young main when his insatiable thirst for knowledge forced him to leave behind the woman lie loved. Through a dramatic sequence of events, he is united with his onetime love and the son he never knew, The unpredictable yet powerful forces that lure these kindred spirits together produces repercussions that will ultimately encompass the lives of many others! A stunning testimonial to strength of the human spirit, Dichotomy illuminates the internal struggle between following tradition and fulfilling one's destiny.

197 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Shelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was passed on to me by a friend so I felt compelled to read it. Thankfully it was short, as it was awful. It's a novel by a guy who was supposedly nominated for an Oscar on the film Witness. It seems this book is just an outline for another film. The plot is flimsy and cliché and the characters have no depth. In an afterword, he even asks the reader to play casting director and recommend actors to play the various characters!

[LWF · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amish teenage boys from Lancaster County, PA get a car, change clothes and drive into the City of Philadelphia. They get into a fight which results in death and are placed in jail. What will happen? Will they be convicted or freed? Didn't like the way this ended.

Amish do not want to get involved with the "English" (us) and do not believe in hiring lawyers.

I would not recommend this nor would I read it again.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of the lives of 5 people who are linked together in ways the are not aware of until tragedy strikes and their paths cross.

Is it possible for the independent Amish to accept the helping hand of the "English World" at a time of need? Can the outside world come into the Amish culture and try to enlighten their rules and doctrines?

This was a book I could not put down until I got to the last page. It was a very good read.

[Amandalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of my dollar store finds...not too disappointed and not too excited. It peaked my interest because of the Amish story to it and all the time Jeremy spent in PA on business he saw it often there. I like to learn about other cultures and way of life so it was fun to read and it was a fast read.

[Laurie Stoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this very short book at the dollar store. With that being said, I did not have high expectations of this being more than an "average" book. Happily surprised, I enjoyed this book very much. A lot of story is packed into a short book.

[Amanda B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was better than I thought it would be. Definitely a good quick read.

[Maddy Carr · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would work better as the movie it was written to be. It would still be bad, but it might reach the level of "enjoyably cheesy" or "something to watch on an airplane."