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Never enough #1
Never Enough Flamingos
It’s the Depression and it’s rural Kansas. For good measure, nature decides to throw in a Dust Bowl. It’s not the life Cat Peters would have chosen, but the young Mennonite girl doesn’t have much say in it.
Driven to the edge of bankruptcy by the relentless winds of the Dust Bowl, Cat's family is desperate. Fortunately, wealthy Simon Yoder generously saves them with a loan. Everyone gets something more out of the arrangement than what they bargain for. Cat's father gains a start back from the edge and the shame that he can't provide for his family. Cat’s older brother goes to work for Simon to pay off the family debt and learns lots of new ideas. And Simon gets the debt repaid and casts a sticky net over the Peters family.
So in the end, everyone loses.
Still the rains don’t come. Without rain, there is no wheat. So Cat, too, goes to the Yoder’s to clean and cook and do whatever the hired girls do. It turns out the hired girls at the Yoder house do a lot more than cook and clean, for Simon Yoder is a man who steals the souls of young girls.
And now Cat has slipped into his hands.
Driven to the edge of bankruptcy by the relentless winds of the Dust Bowl, Cat's family is desperate. Fortunately, wealthy Simon Yoder generously saves them with a loan. Everyone gets something more out of the arrangement than what they bargain for. Cat's father gains a start back from the edge and the shame that he can't provide for his family. Cat’s older brother goes to work for Simon to pay off the family debt and learns lots of new ideas. And Simon gets the debt repaid and casts a sticky net over the Peters family.
So in the end, everyone loses.
Still the rains don’t come. Without rain, there is no wheat. So Cat, too, goes to the Yoder’s to clean and cook and do whatever the hired girls do. It turns out the hired girls at the Yoder house do a lot more than cook and clean, for Simon Yoder is a man who steals the souls of young girls.
And now Cat has slipped into his hands.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2016
30 people are currently reading
648 people want to read
About the author
Janelle Diller
34 books79 followersJanelle Diller has always had a passion for writing. Early on, she polished her writing skills by passing notes to her friends instead of paying attention in math class. Her resulting time in detention gave her lots of time to write more notes. As a young child, she wouldn’t leave home without a pad and pencil just in case her novel hit her and she had to scribble it down quickly. Sadly, she eventually lost this naiveté. However, as a result of her love of writing, she has an unusual variety of books published. The list includes books for the construction industry, grammar textbooks, and books for early and middle readers. Her latest writing adventure is with Pack~n~Go Girls, which has launched a line of travel and adventure books for young girls.
Janelle loves to travel and is lucky enough to have a job that takes her to fun places. She and her husband divide the rest of their time between living on a sailboat in Mexico and on land (in a house) in Colorado.
Janelle loves to travel and is lucky enough to have a job that takes her to fun places. She and her husband divide the rest of their time between living on a sailboat in Mexico and on land (in a house) in Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 19, 2016
Encompassing the historical arc from the Dust Bowl to the to the years of Hitler’s rise to power in Europe, Janelle Diller tells the story of a community of Kansas Mennonites from the perspective of one of its youngest members, Cat Peters (perhaps named “Catherine” for the Russian Empress, Catherine the Great, a hero for Russian Mennonites). Through Cat’s eyes, from ages 6 to twelve, we see the daily struggles of her impoverished farm family and the similar lives of others in their rural church family. The story focuses not only on the hard physical and financial struggles of the farmers and their families but also on the clashing worldviews and moral choices they confront in their community.
For her non-Mennonite readers, Diller provides an excellent short introductory history of the Anabaptists from which the Mennonites emerged. However, since Mennonites, like Baptists or other denominations, come in many varieties, primarily based on immigration patterns and region, Diller’s description of this Kansas community is not accurate for all Mennonites. For example, as a Mennonite of Swiss-German background myself, I grew up in a congregation that did not have the members of different origins the Sweethome Mennonite Church had. While we had Yoders, Bontragers, Benders, and Millers, we had no Peters, Schmidts, or Friesens. But, these are only details of the setting, which are secondary to the heart of this story.
The heart of this story is dark. It’s the story of avoiding conflict and ignoring evil in order to keep a community’s peace and order. There is the theme of poor farmers, dependent on the wealth of Simon Yoder, the richest man in town, who demands far more than a monetary repayment of their debts. Also, in the character of Cat’s mother we see the embryonic feminism of a woman speaking her mind against the patriarchal structure which bind both her and her daughter’s lives. It is the mother “who lived her life a flamingo in a sea of turkeys” (p.60) Additionally, in the background is Hitler’s march to power and invasion of European neighboring countries. This brings in the broader but parallel case study of whether it is best to stand up and confront evil or lie low and hope life will continue on as always.
The heated discussions that Cat’s father, Ezra,—is the mother ever named?—and brother, Ben, have show very clearly the moral dilemma pacifist Mennonites faced in WWII. While the U.S. entry in this war has not yet arrived in this book, it is sure to be part of the future books Diller hopes to write as a series. It is still the same question that not only Mennonites but all of us face today: Do we openly take action against evil, or do we wait and hope that somehow it will not disrupt our lives though it destroys the lives of others?
This is not the type of book I normally read, and at first I thought it was a young adult novel. Yet, while I found the writing style simplistic and at times a bit cliched, the richness of details, the depth of moral questioning, and the realistic portrayal of the agony families can face when caught in a communal web of denial, won me over. I still am unsure why there was no background explanation of what a flamingo symbolized in this story, and passing references to flamingos appeared only three times in the book. I have my own idea of what the title means, but the author gives us no reason to believe that Cat would know anything about flamingos, and so the title seems anachronistic to me. Yet, the literary quibbles I may have with this book are out weighed by the complexity of its historical context and the moral questions it raises. Never Enough Flamingos would definitely be a great choice for many book clubs.
October 23, 2016
Absolutely LOVED this book! It's told through the eyes of a young girl during the depression, and what her family had to do to survive. It's a wonderful perspective, clever witty and enduring. You feel her sweet innocence and vulnerability as she encounters the realities of life. You'll find yourself caught up in her endearing character, cheering her on, as well as laughing and crying with her. The book also addresses some very real and sometimes difficult to talk about topics that will hopefully facilitate further conversations among us today. The characters are well developed, strong and emotionally charged. They will both stimulate and provoke your inner flamingo! This book is hard to put down and I'm looking forward to the sequel. A great read for book clubs as the author includes great, interesting and thought provoking questions at the end of the book! Janelle Diller is so talented and definitely an author to follow.
December 7, 2024
#1 in the Never Enough series
I have mixed feelings about this book. It started out agonizingly slowly, I thought, until I really got into the characters and their connections. The setting is (very) rural Kansas in the 1930's, when everyone is poor, having just survived the Dust Bowl. It seems as though the small town of quiet Mennonites would be uneventful, but there are undercurrents and secrets. I liked the way the author described the setting. Even though I've never been to this area and never lived in this time period, it seemed very real and easy to picture. Cat is an appealing character--self-deprecating, confident in her own space, within a loving family, basically an ordinary girl. I found it interesting that the author seemed to equate the happenings in the town alongside the activities of Hitler in WWII. Ben (Cat's brother) is on the more modern side of the argument--wanting to fight violence with violence, anxious to "give Hitler a taste of his own medicine" while his father (Ezra) is pure Mennonite--peaceable, believing strongly in non-violent resistance. This suggests a parallel to the problems that Cat and her friends are dealing with in associating with Simon Yoder, the richest man in town. I enjoyed this book and would probably rate it 3.5 stars, if I could. But overall, I'll improve my grade to 4 stars because it provides a lot of food for thought, and I loved that the slowness of the prose seemed to match the slowness of the rural village setting.
NOTE: About the title: Cat very much admires her mother. I agree--she's a strong and solid secondary character. She's astute, opinionated (as much as could be in that time period), and she influences those around her in a positive way. As Cat describes her: "My mother, who lived her life a flamigo in a sea of turkeys..."
I have mixed feelings about this book. It started out agonizingly slowly, I thought, until I really got into the characters and their connections. The setting is (very) rural Kansas in the 1930's, when everyone is poor, having just survived the Dust Bowl. It seems as though the small town of quiet Mennonites would be uneventful, but there are undercurrents and secrets. I liked the way the author described the setting. Even though I've never been to this area and never lived in this time period, it seemed very real and easy to picture. Cat is an appealing character--self-deprecating, confident in her own space, within a loving family, basically an ordinary girl. I found it interesting that the author seemed to equate the happenings in the town alongside the activities of Hitler in WWII. Ben (Cat's brother) is on the more modern side of the argument--wanting to fight violence with violence, anxious to "give Hitler a taste of his own medicine" while his father (Ezra) is pure Mennonite--peaceable, believing strongly in non-violent resistance. This suggests a parallel to the problems that Cat and her friends are dealing with in associating with Simon Yoder, the richest man in town. I enjoyed this book and would probably rate it 3.5 stars, if I could. But overall, I'll improve my grade to 4 stars because it provides a lot of food for thought, and I loved that the slowness of the prose seemed to match the slowness of the rural village setting.
NOTE: About the title: Cat very much admires her mother. I agree--she's a strong and solid secondary character. She's astute, opinionated (as much as could be in that time period), and she influences those around her in a positive way. As Cat describes her: "My mother, who lived her life a flamigo in a sea of turkeys..."
December 2, 2016
I really liked this book! It required considerable research into several threads (the Great Depression, the buildup of world tensions regarding Nazi Germany, Kansas Mennonite church history, and the mental health effects of the abuse of power, sex, and money) which are skillfully woven together with Janelle Diller's trademark wit to make an interesting read. I recommend this book, especially to anyone who has reasons to connect with any of the threads I listed above.
Abuse of power, sex, money; challenges to traditional religious beliefs; the rise of an authoritarian strongman during a time of economic hardship and nationalism--the novel is eerily relevant today.
As a reader who appreciates figures of speech and colloquialisms, I was delighted again and again by the dialogue among the 1930s, rural poor, non-college-educated characters.
As a reader whose own childhood was somewhat similar to that of narrator Cat and her family, I was pleased by the authenticity of the story’s depiction of the worship services of the Mennonites of the novel’s time and place. I remember visiting my grandparents’ church where, at that time, women sat on one side of the center aisle and men on the other, and elderly men sat in front in the “amen corner,” all singing the hymns sung by Cat’s church in unaccompanied four-part harmony. The emotional tone of Cat’s community, too, felt authentic: the quiet reserve, conflict avoidance, lack of affection, and conformity of the many, in contrast to the provocative color and boldness of the few.
As a mental health professional, I am impressed by how well the novel replays memories of abuse many females recall: being shocked, confused and overpowered by the abuser, and then disbelieved, blamed, and shamed by those from whom they needed support and understanding; and then the desperate desire to escape the settings of abuse and abandonment, both of which do damage. This novel’s ability to capture this sense of abandonment and powerlessness is one of its most important attributes.
Yet the story does not end in victimhood. I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say I celebrated as well as grieved some of the outcomes. The story also features the assistance which female characters ultimately provided each other. This might be the most important aspect of this 1930s tale.
I would have liked to know more about when and why the narrator retrospectively told the story. I would have liked the flamingo image to be more developed. I would have preferred a different story ending for the bad guy.
The final line of the book promises a sequel. I look forward to it.
Abuse of power, sex, money; challenges to traditional religious beliefs; the rise of an authoritarian strongman during a time of economic hardship and nationalism--the novel is eerily relevant today.
As a reader who appreciates figures of speech and colloquialisms, I was delighted again and again by the dialogue among the 1930s, rural poor, non-college-educated characters.
As a reader whose own childhood was somewhat similar to that of narrator Cat and her family, I was pleased by the authenticity of the story’s depiction of the worship services of the Mennonites of the novel’s time and place. I remember visiting my grandparents’ church where, at that time, women sat on one side of the center aisle and men on the other, and elderly men sat in front in the “amen corner,” all singing the hymns sung by Cat’s church in unaccompanied four-part harmony. The emotional tone of Cat’s community, too, felt authentic: the quiet reserve, conflict avoidance, lack of affection, and conformity of the many, in contrast to the provocative color and boldness of the few.
As a mental health professional, I am impressed by how well the novel replays memories of abuse many females recall: being shocked, confused and overpowered by the abuser, and then disbelieved, blamed, and shamed by those from whom they needed support and understanding; and then the desperate desire to escape the settings of abuse and abandonment, both of which do damage. This novel’s ability to capture this sense of abandonment and powerlessness is one of its most important attributes.
Yet the story does not end in victimhood. I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say I celebrated as well as grieved some of the outcomes. The story also features the assistance which female characters ultimately provided each other. This might be the most important aspect of this 1930s tale.
I would have liked to know more about when and why the narrator retrospectively told the story. I would have liked the flamingo image to be more developed. I would have preferred a different story ending for the bad guy.
The final line of the book promises a sequel. I look forward to it.
October 11, 2017
The second of the 2017 CIPA Evvy award winning novels I chose to read is Never Enough Flamingos by Janelle Diller. It shared the first place award in historical fiction with The Other Side of Him. (My book, Hopatcong Vision Quest won a merit award in the same competition.)
Never Enough Flamingos is a fascinating, well-written novel, set in a Mennonite community in Kansas during the Depression. In the introduction Diller describes Mennonites in the following way:
In a manner of speaking, Mennonites and Amish are kissing cousins, but even that's a risky description since Amish tend not to kiss anyone but other Amish.
The introduction is interesting, especially for readers like me, who know very little about the history of Mennonites. Don't skip it.
Since the Mennonites are a highly religious group, I expected they would be less susceptible to the temptations of day to day life, but this is the depression, there hasn't been rain for way too long, and these are farmers. It's a hard time to live through and hard times not only lead people to make questionable decisions, but they also present other people with opportunities to take advantage.
The title Never Enough Flamingos seemed strange at first, until Cat (the narrator) described her mom as ...a flamingo in a sea of turkeys... and it became clear that flamingos are the people who rise above the failings of the general population, even in hard times. The story is about those people as well as the people who give in to temptation.
Steve Lindahl – author of Hopatcong Vision Quest, White Horse Regressions, and Motherless Soul
Never Enough Flamingos is a fascinating, well-written novel, set in a Mennonite community in Kansas during the Depression. In the introduction Diller describes Mennonites in the following way:
In a manner of speaking, Mennonites and Amish are kissing cousins, but even that's a risky description since Amish tend not to kiss anyone but other Amish.
The introduction is interesting, especially for readers like me, who know very little about the history of Mennonites. Don't skip it.
Since the Mennonites are a highly religious group, I expected they would be less susceptible to the temptations of day to day life, but this is the depression, there hasn't been rain for way too long, and these are farmers. It's a hard time to live through and hard times not only lead people to make questionable decisions, but they also present other people with opportunities to take advantage.
The title Never Enough Flamingos seemed strange at first, until Cat (the narrator) described her mom as ...a flamingo in a sea of turkeys... and it became clear that flamingos are the people who rise above the failings of the general population, even in hard times. The story is about those people as well as the people who give in to temptation.
Steve Lindahl – author of Hopatcong Vision Quest, White Horse Regressions, and Motherless Soul
December 19, 2016
When I first picked up this book, I didn't expect the narrator (Cat Peters) to be so, well, spunky. But I suppose sassy kids weren't invented yesterday, and moreover, my expectation was clouded by the fact that I had mistaken Mennonites for the Amish, a very significant difference indeed.
This is a beautifully rich book, with extremely relatable characters, believable older brothers, and a flamingo raising a flamingo to be strong. Every person in town has well developed personal lives, and demonstrates their realness by acting just as one would expect real people to act. It is so lifelike that it boggles the mind to realize that _this is fiction._
Among heart-breakingly gorgeous depictions of Kansas are illuminating cultural examinations and a strong sense of family. Just as your stomach ties up in knots from a knuckle-clenching interaction with the slimy Simon Yoder, a clever childlike sense of humor cuts through the tension.
A story about the rich town creep preying on girls would be heavy enough. Add a small town, an epic depression, wheat- and soul-crushing hails, and a coming world war, and you have a very complicated book that feels completely personal because you become so invested in the lives of these families. I am anxiously anticipating the fallout that awaits in Never Enough Sisters.
This is a beautifully rich book, with extremely relatable characters, believable older brothers, and a flamingo raising a flamingo to be strong. Every person in town has well developed personal lives, and demonstrates their realness by acting just as one would expect real people to act. It is so lifelike that it boggles the mind to realize that _this is fiction._
Among heart-breakingly gorgeous depictions of Kansas are illuminating cultural examinations and a strong sense of family. Just as your stomach ties up in knots from a knuckle-clenching interaction with the slimy Simon Yoder, a clever childlike sense of humor cuts through the tension.
A story about the rich town creep preying on girls would be heavy enough. Add a small town, an epic depression, wheat- and soul-crushing hails, and a coming world war, and you have a very complicated book that feels completely personal because you become so invested in the lives of these families. I am anxiously anticipating the fallout that awaits in Never Enough Sisters.
November 8, 2016
Never Enough Flamingos had me from the first page. Growing up Mennonite with grandparents who lived in Kiowa County, Kansas, this book felt familiar but also very different from my family. Told from the perspective of Cat Peters, the story draws you right in. Depression times in Kansas and a Dust Bowl that affects every family, families on the brink of bankruptcy, and a ruthless & powerful Simon Yoder, Never Enough Flamingos draws you in from the first page to the last and leaves you wanting more. What will happen to Cat and her family? What about Suzanne and the Schmidt girls? And what about Simon & his family? You find yourself rooting for good over evil and realizing how easily evil can be glossed over and accepted. Janelle's descriptive writing makes you feel like you are right there along with Cat. Janelle is one of my favorite authors -- I've read all her books. I'm looking forward to the release of the next book in this series, Never Enough Sisters.
November 7, 2016
I loved this historical novel about rural communities in the Midwest united by religious belief. The author captures the social and religious "rules" that governs the behavior of the inhabitants. Using Cat as her voice, she accurately describes the behavior colorfully through conversations and narratives. The characters are well-defined. Cat is the young innocent girl forced to mature. Her brother is the rebel of the family. Her father is the stalwart who must always provide. Simon is, well, Simon; the wealthy "I can do anything!" person. But, her mother is the "Flamingo". I chuckled many times as I read the conversations that occurred at the dining table, on the farm, and, yes, at the funeral. Throughout the book, I felt as if I had gone back in time to my youth. This is a great book for both book clubs and the individual reader. Thank you Janelle for another great novel!
October 24, 2016
Though this book is worlds apart from Diller's first novel, "The Virus", it is just as suspenseful. The author succeeds in making you care deeply for the main character, Cat Peters, and all the trials she experiences. Cat must work for the most powerful man in their Mennonite community to keep her family financially afloat. The fact that her new employer is a sexual predator is something her community seems blissfully unaware of. Or are they? The questions raised in this book will, unfortunately, forever be relevant and most likely haunt the reader long after finishing the book.
August 30, 2017
The title of this book intrigued me. However, the story had nothing to do with birds. It dealt with a Mennonite community in Kansas during the depression. It showed how someone that was respected by many because of his philanthropy could be evil incarnate.
January 1, 2018
A harrowing tale of poverty and one family's indebtiness to another wealthy family.
The story draws you in and gives you a great sense of place...and one young woman's desperation to find a way out of a horrible life.
The story draws you in and gives you a great sense of place...and one young woman's desperation to find a way out of a horrible life.
October 19, 2016
Great book - written with wit and humor and yet a story that moves through a difficult topic!
January 10, 2017
I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. This book gave great insight into what happens when a trusted leader does despicable acts behind closed doors. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.
July 11, 2017
Can't Wait for the next one! Awesome read!
October 16, 2020
I absolutely loved this novel! Of course, my opinion of the novel was somewhat influenced by the fact that it is set in Kansas where I live and that it focuses on a Mennonite community. Although I am not a Mennonite, I am very familiar with Mennonite beliefs, have had Mennonite friends, and am familiar with Mennonite communities in our state. It is also set in the 1930's Depression and Dust Bowl era which is a favorite time period of mine to read about. It is always interesting to see how people lived and endured during that extremely difficult time.
The narrator of Never Enough Flamingos is a young girl, Cat Peters, who is 12 at the beginning of the novel and 14 years old at the end. At the beginning of the novel, the reader is introduced to another major character in the novel, Simon Yoder. He is the wealthiest man in town and probably in the entire county and is seen as a benevolent man who helps others in need---usually through taking over part of that family's business or life in return for helping the family get out of stay our of debt. When all 4 of the cows on the Peters farm die at one time, Cat's dad is forced to go to Simon for help because the milk produced by the cows was the only thing keeping them afloat financially afloat. This leads to Cat's brother Ben being sent to work on the Yoder farm as payment for 4 cows Yoder gives to the Peters. However, eventually Cat is sent to work in the Yoder household as well doing all the housework and cooking. There have been several girls in the community, most of them from one large family, who have worked at the Yoder household and all of them have had problems related to working there. After a few weeks, Cat finds out why.
I won't go any further to avoid spoiling the plot for others.
There is also a sub-theme in the book relating to the Mennonite belief in pacifism. Cat's father, who is totally opposed to violence and Cat's brother, Ben, who has been heavily influenced by his involvement with Simon, have many discussions in the book about the position of the United States toward WWII in the years before the US got involved. This was not my favorite part of the book but it might be more of interest to others. Anyway, I think it probably does portray the Mennonite beliefs about war.
I loved the author's tongue-in-cheek writing style in which she inserts humor into so much of the story in spite of its very serious plot. She uses expressions so commonly heard among people that I often found myself chuckling. Her writing is so down to earth but well done.
Once I started reading this novel, I did not want to put it down. It completely captured my attention and held it to the end. When I reached the end, though, I was terrbily disappointed because while reading it I did not realize it is part of a series. I felt it ended with loose ends and once I found out there was another book in the series, I was very relieved. Although one situation in the novel had reached a resolution, the ending left the reader knowing there was more to come. I have already obtained the next book Never Enough Sisters through Kindle and can't wait to begin it.
The narrator of Never Enough Flamingos is a young girl, Cat Peters, who is 12 at the beginning of the novel and 14 years old at the end. At the beginning of the novel, the reader is introduced to another major character in the novel, Simon Yoder. He is the wealthiest man in town and probably in the entire county and is seen as a benevolent man who helps others in need---usually through taking over part of that family's business or life in return for helping the family get out of stay our of debt. When all 4 of the cows on the Peters farm die at one time, Cat's dad is forced to go to Simon for help because the milk produced by the cows was the only thing keeping them afloat financially afloat. This leads to Cat's brother Ben being sent to work on the Yoder farm as payment for 4 cows Yoder gives to the Peters. However, eventually Cat is sent to work in the Yoder household as well doing all the housework and cooking. There have been several girls in the community, most of them from one large family, who have worked at the Yoder household and all of them have had problems related to working there. After a few weeks, Cat finds out why.
I won't go any further to avoid spoiling the plot for others.
There is also a sub-theme in the book relating to the Mennonite belief in pacifism. Cat's father, who is totally opposed to violence and Cat's brother, Ben, who has been heavily influenced by his involvement with Simon, have many discussions in the book about the position of the United States toward WWII in the years before the US got involved. This was not my favorite part of the book but it might be more of interest to others. Anyway, I think it probably does portray the Mennonite beliefs about war.
I loved the author's tongue-in-cheek writing style in which she inserts humor into so much of the story in spite of its very serious plot. She uses expressions so commonly heard among people that I often found myself chuckling. Her writing is so down to earth but well done.
Once I started reading this novel, I did not want to put it down. It completely captured my attention and held it to the end. When I reached the end, though, I was terrbily disappointed because while reading it I did not realize it is part of a series. I felt it ended with loose ends and once I found out there was another book in the series, I was very relieved. Although one situation in the novel had reached a resolution, the ending left the reader knowing there was more to come. I have already obtained the next book Never Enough Sisters through Kindle and can't wait to begin it.
May 31, 2018
I checked out this book because I noticed that it is a Kansas Notable Book, and hey...I'm a Kansan. What I didn't expect was that I would laugh out loud (twice) while I was reading the introduction, that I would recognize many of the characters from my own life and my own family, and that I wouldn't be able to put it down. Perhaps it won't appeal to people who aren't descendants of the brave Mennonite (or Lutheran or Catholic) families who settled this state, but for those of us who are...this is like listening to my mom, my uncle and my aunt tell stories about their childhoods. The characters are true and brilliant. It's not a preachy romance novel (which is what I expected); it's a real page turner that dares to tell the truth about hypocrisy and the dangers of inaction.
November 1, 2018
Wow! I couldn’t decide if I should stop reading it or stop because of the issue of the plot. So glad I kept reading
I loved this book. It was uncomfortable because I could imagine it happening to our family. I grew up on a Kansas wheat farm. Everything rang true. Loved the wonderful turn of phases. We were Germans Lutherans who lived in Russia then moved to USA. I will remember this book for a long time. Now I want to have my girl cousins read it. Want to read more of her books. By the way where does the phrase. “She’s the girl for me”. My dad always would say that about the first time he saw my mom.
I loved this book. It was uncomfortable because I could imagine it happening to our family. I grew up on a Kansas wheat farm. Everything rang true. Loved the wonderful turn of phases. We were Germans Lutherans who lived in Russia then moved to USA. I will remember this book for a long time. Now I want to have my girl cousins read it. Want to read more of her books. By the way where does the phrase. “She’s the girl for me”. My dad always would say that about the first time he saw my mom.
December 28, 2020
As a fantasy reader this book is not what I'd usually have picked up, but I'm so glad I did! I love the book's discussions around people's inevitable choices between bad and worse in a very difficult time, in a surprisingly humorous language. I got quite a few unexpected good laughs despite an uncomfortable main story around the time of the Depression. That the uncomfortable story is told thru the eyes of a child reminds me of To Kill a Mocking Bird.
What I love most about this book is how well it crafts characters that are distinct, believable, and understandable (not necessarily likable). I love the dialogues when Cat confronted Dad, Mom, and Ben re: what happened at Simon's and forced them to react, and their reactions made each person's character and struggle come to life.
So to sum it up, I love the main idea, the story, and the characters - what else can you possibly ask for in a novel?
What I love most about this book is how well it crafts characters that are distinct, believable, and understandable (not necessarily likable). I love the dialogues when Cat confronted Dad, Mom, and Ben re: what happened at Simon's and forced them to react, and their reactions made each person's character and struggle come to life.
So to sum it up, I love the main idea, the story, and the characters - what else can you possibly ask for in a novel?
March 19, 2022
I love Janelle's voice in this book! I was quickly drawn in and I don't feel like it's just because I am a Mennonite who grew up in rural Kansas (but I'm sure that doesn't hurt). There is so much more to this story than what I expected. I look forward to reading more of her books.
March 24, 2018
Coming of age story of Kansas Mennonite daughter during the depression. First of a trilogy. Complex relationships, growing pains, overall a good read.
October 5, 2023
The narrator's voice was so well done that o felt as if I knew her.
May 3, 2018
#ReadICT category 6: A book with an animal on the cover
August 10, 2018
POPSUGAR 2018 Reading Challenge: A book with an animal in the title
This is definitely a book with a lot of good messages and it addressed some major issues going on in society even today, although it takes place during the dust bowl era. I appreciate that the issues examined here were approached with tact and discretion.
There were some bits of our main character's thought processes that I felt were not realistic, though I'm assuming this book is actually supposed to be targeting a younger audience. If that is the case, it would make sense that the point of the book and its lessons are more important than its details. In general, though, I felt the events were well thought out and very deliberate.
I also loved the WWII time period setting, which is one of the most fascinating to read about, in my opinion. Some of my very favorite parts were the discussions between Ben and his father about whether the United States should get involved in the war with Germany. It was an interesting perspective on WWII and honestly the debates between them were just entertaining!
Though it deals with very mature issues, they are addressed in such a way that I would not worry about my 12 year old niece reading it. In fact, it could be important for young people to read this and learn from it. The small issues I have with some of the technical aspects are certainly overshadowed by the many great things! Overall, I really enjoyed it. I was going to give it fewer stars but the more I've thought about it since I've finished it, the more I like it! I'm not sure if that's a testament to the quality of the book or my memory... But either way it's one that I didn't just forget about as soon as I finished it, so I consider that a good thing!
4.5*
This is definitely a book with a lot of good messages and it addressed some major issues going on in society even today, although it takes place during the dust bowl era. I appreciate that the issues examined here were approached with tact and discretion.
There were some bits of our main character's thought processes that I felt were not realistic, though I'm assuming this book is actually supposed to be targeting a younger audience. If that is the case, it would make sense that the point of the book and its lessons are more important than its details. In general, though, I felt the events were well thought out and very deliberate.
I also loved the WWII time period setting, which is one of the most fascinating to read about, in my opinion. Some of my very favorite parts were the discussions between Ben and his father about whether the United States should get involved in the war with Germany. It was an interesting perspective on WWII and honestly the debates between them were just entertaining!
Though it deals with very mature issues, they are addressed in such a way that I would not worry about my 12 year old niece reading it. In fact, it could be important for young people to read this and learn from it. The small issues I have with some of the technical aspects are certainly overshadowed by the many great things! Overall, I really enjoyed it. I was going to give it fewer stars but the more I've thought about it since I've finished it, the more I like it! I'm not sure if that's a testament to the quality of the book or my memory... But either way it's one that I didn't just forget about as soon as I finished it, so I consider that a good thing!
4.5*
March 5, 2017
Never Enough Flamingos is a story about a Mennonite family in Kansas during the 30's. The story is told through the eyes of Cat, a young girl growing up during hard times in a strict and sometimes rigid society. Through her observations we are given a sense of the Mennonite life and a sense of how the depression and war affected the farmers of that area. There is hardship far beyond just the poverty and drought. There is hardship that is unexpected in this tightly knit community. The strengths and the weaknesses of the characters are well written, well understood and well conveyed by author.
Be a flamingo.....
Be a flamingo.....
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May 23, 2018Great read.. Love the way the author writes. Super book. Being from KS, I was interested in the way of life in a religious community during the depression.
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