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Patchwork: A Story Of The Plain People
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
344 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1920
70 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Anna Balmer Myers
23 books3 followersAnna Balmer Myers was an American author of romantic novels featuring the local colour of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Her most well known work is Amanda: A Daughter of the Mennonites (1921). Myers' work is frequently viewed as a gentle corrective to the harsh misrepresentations of the novelist Helen Reimensnyder Martin. Her other works include Patchwork: A Story of "the Plain People" (1920), Madonna of the Curb (1922), I Lift My Lamp, and a collection of poetry entitled Rain on the Roof (1931).
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 22, 2015
This book was written in 1920. I chose to read "The Plain People" because I wanted learn about Dunkards. My Great Great Grandfather was a Dunkard preacher. It was an easy read and not very exciting, but it did give me a glimpse into the life of Plain People.
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March 30, 2018Te story of plain people or actually the story of upgrowing wonderful Phoebe!
A story told(written) in a glad and optimistic way!
The main character ,Phoebe being most of the time so glad and full of happiness in her environment(community) ,but also far away in the strange and crowded city!
overall reading with a bigsmile and really such a peasure to rrading from thne very beggining up till the end!
A book which has a lot of value especial in christian way! and really all worth to read and ejoy the story up to the most!
for me worth a 4.5star
(the next book amanda .I am going to read as well and iam sure it will be as good as this one)
A story told(written) in a glad and optimistic way!
The main character ,Phoebe being most of the time so glad and full of happiness in her environment(community) ,but also far away in the strange and crowded city!
overall reading with a bigsmile and really such a peasure to rrading from thne very beggining up till the end!
A book which has a lot of value especial in christian way! and really all worth to read and ejoy the story up to the most!
for me worth a 4.5star
(the next book amanda .I am going to read as well and iam sure it will be as good as this one)
January 10, 2012
Phoebe was brought up as one of the Plain People - they seem to be not Amish but some other religious persusion that dresses plainly. She grows up longing to see the world, but finds out it isn't as great out in the world as she thought it would be, comes back home as a school teacher.
Copyright is 1920 and it takes place in Lancaster County PA, so maybe this is either about the Amish or about what was perceived as Amish living at the time. Probably a typical 1920 era romance novel.
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Copyright is 1920 and it takes place in Lancaster County PA, so maybe this is either about the Amish or about what was perceived as Amish living at the time. Probably a typical 1920 era romance novel.
Free Kindle download
June 6, 2015
Fame and Fortune
I gave this book about the "Plain People" 5 stars,because it is a precious story of love, heroic military servitude, Phoebe's learning the importance of simple life vs. a famed life of singing and so much more! It is a story that shows true love in many shapes and forms and the reality that quality time, lifelong friendships and constant showing of love is most important to those we hold dear to our hearts.
I gave this book about the "Plain People" 5 stars,because it is a precious story of love, heroic military servitude, Phoebe's learning the importance of simple life vs. a famed life of singing and so much more! It is a story that shows true love in many shapes and forms and the reality that quality time, lifelong friendships and constant showing of love is most important to those we hold dear to our hearts.
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February 4, 2014Touching ending
I liked the book but had a hard time following the story sometimes. it had very tender moments and I enjoyed the trip Phoebe took to realize what is really important in life.
I liked the book but had a hard time following the story sometimes. it had very tender moments and I enjoyed the trip Phoebe took to realize what is really important in life.
April 19, 2015
Sweet old-fashioned romance
I loved the quaint way with words-- from 1920, and the simplicity of life. The characters are not Quakers, but Pennsylvania Dutch, Brethren. Very well written.
I loved the quaint way with words-- from 1920, and the simplicity of life. The characters are not Quakers, but Pennsylvania Dutch, Brethren. Very well written.
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October 27, 2016Great book....
I have to say that this story made me laugh, made me cry, made me very happy that I read it. The author, Anna Balmer Myers, did a outstanding job of telling this story.
I have to say that this story made me laugh, made me cry, made me very happy that I read it. The author, Anna Balmer Myers, did a outstanding job of telling this story.
May 16, 2019
A sweet story of the plain people
A little rough to keep in the early adolescent years, but then that is the way of it. An accurate piece of the time. Glad I came back and finished it.
A little rough to keep in the early adolescent years, but then that is the way of it. An accurate piece of the time. Glad I came back and finished it.
May 15, 2013
Pretty good, clean book. I great look into the life of the "Plain People" Not a thriller by any means but still a great story.
July 27, 2014
Very educational about the plain people, though sometimes the storylines dragged. not really abou the Amish
September 6, 2016
Love it!
If you are looking for a delightful tale to read, you will enjoy thus. It is a wonderful tale of childhood and live.
If you are looking for a delightful tale to read, you will enjoy thus. It is a wonderful tale of childhood and live.
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March 6, 2017Hood
Wonderful, great love story, to l many words for review. It was just a good book, would recommend to a friend
Wonderful, great love story, to l many words for review. It was just a good book, would recommend to a friend
November 3, 2014
'Patchwork: A Story of the Plain People' by Anna Blamer Myers is an enchanting story of a ten year girl in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She was raised as a United Brethren or as some people knew them, the Dunkards. The Dunkards are one of three Plain People religious groups who believed in pacifism and simplicity.
Phoebe, the main character hasn’t decided on whether or not to be “plain” when she becomes a woman. She lives with her father and her Aunt Maria in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Her mother had died when she was an infant. Aunt Maria has a tendency to be quite stern. She seems to be uncomfortable with mothering. She teaches Phoebe church doctrine, chores, and sewing but doesn’t show her love for her with hugs or kisses. Phoebe craves the tenderness and sweetness that she sees her friends’ mothers.
Phoebe has a real appreciation for nature. She gets so thrilled with the native flowers and bird song. She also has a love of bright colors, patterns and decorations. She can’t imagine being plain when she grows up. She has visions of being a fine lady in Philadelphia who wears beautiful clothes. It is not that she thinks she is too good to be a Dunkards, not all. She just craves color, and can’t understand why she can’t wear something prettier when birds outside do. She says; just look at the red wing blackbird, the tanager, and the cardinal wear beautiful colors. Her love of nature connects later with her decision of whether or not to be plain when she grows up.
Phoebe is so charming, intelligent and inquisitive. She is a character with faults but you love her anyway. She seems like she is talking to you right out of the story. The author gradually changes her voice as she get older. Even though the author wrote this book the writing is so vivid and clear. I often forget what time period the story was set in.
This story tells of how Phoebe took initiative to get a mother, how she managed to get to Philadelphia. It is a coming of age story in the sense of growing up and reaching maturity and deciding what is best for her.
I enjoyed this book very much and learned about the Dunkards doctrines and way of life. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the different kinds of plain people.
Phoebe, the main character hasn’t decided on whether or not to be “plain” when she becomes a woman. She lives with her father and her Aunt Maria in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Her mother had died when she was an infant. Aunt Maria has a tendency to be quite stern. She seems to be uncomfortable with mothering. She teaches Phoebe church doctrine, chores, and sewing but doesn’t show her love for her with hugs or kisses. Phoebe craves the tenderness and sweetness that she sees her friends’ mothers.
Phoebe has a real appreciation for nature. She gets so thrilled with the native flowers and bird song. She also has a love of bright colors, patterns and decorations. She can’t imagine being plain when she grows up. She has visions of being a fine lady in Philadelphia who wears beautiful clothes. It is not that she thinks she is too good to be a Dunkards, not all. She just craves color, and can’t understand why she can’t wear something prettier when birds outside do. She says; just look at the red wing blackbird, the tanager, and the cardinal wear beautiful colors. Her love of nature connects later with her decision of whether or not to be plain when she grows up.
Phoebe is so charming, intelligent and inquisitive. She is a character with faults but you love her anyway. She seems like she is talking to you right out of the story. The author gradually changes her voice as she get older. Even though the author wrote this book the writing is so vivid and clear. I often forget what time period the story was set in.
This story tells of how Phoebe took initiative to get a mother, how she managed to get to Philadelphia. It is a coming of age story in the sense of growing up and reaching maturity and deciding what is best for her.
I enjoyed this book very much and learned about the Dunkards doctrines and way of life. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the different kinds of plain people.
October 31, 2020
Nice read, but could've been better. (Contains Spoiler Alerts)
Something about the simplicity of the Amish always keeps me turning pages. It also helps me overlook a fairly uneventful storyline. As far as this particular book, it was written well enough. I appreciate innocent Phoebe, the main character, and following her bit of horizon expansion as she samples life outside Lancaster County. I found overall dialogue between characters to be lackluster. The climax and resolution were very hurried after so much build up. For example: Mother Bab's loss of sight came on and was repaired all in a matter of maybe one or two quick chapters. I would think something of that magnitude would have made for more storyline.
Something about the simplicity of the Amish always keeps me turning pages. It also helps me overlook a fairly uneventful storyline. As far as this particular book, it was written well enough. I appreciate innocent Phoebe, the main character, and following her bit of horizon expansion as she samples life outside Lancaster County. I found overall dialogue between characters to be lackluster. The climax and resolution were very hurried after so much build up. For example: Mother Bab's loss of sight came on and was repaired all in a matter of maybe one or two quick chapters. I would think something of that magnitude would have made for more storyline.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews