No Strange Fire

Rating:
Summary: A Page-Turner that happens to have Amish Characters
Review: I won't deny that the list of noted Amish and Mennonite reviewers listed on the back cover did give me pause when I first picked up this novel, but after the Chapter 1, I was hooked. Wojtasik's elaborate, post-modern rendering of an Amish youth venturing out into the "englische world," exploring his identity, values, and faith, captivated my imagination. I found his use of a young Amish boy to carry what is clearly a traditional American tale as masterful. Rather than turning to what have become the stock characters of the "other" in the final decades of the twentieth century, Wojtasik turns to a well established community of the past, if you will, to reinvent and retell the American mythical experience or journey. The motifs suggesting Dante, Scripture, and a host of American literary texts (such Melville's _Moby Dick_ or Poe's _Arthur Gordon Pym_) aid the author in creating a multi-leveled tapestry, forcing the reader to experience this simple tale in a most sophisticated manner. And beneath all of this is the tale of the American--Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" or Potok's Danny of _The Chosen_--trying desperately to break the chains of the past, reinvent himself, and find his own personal paradise. What is perhaps the most fulfilling part of this text is the fact that unlike so many American protagonists, Jacob finds redemption, learns to balance both his individual desires (his suggested future friendship with Paul V.) and is able to return home.
Finally I would argue that although this novel can be instructive in elucidating the ways of the Amish, it is mainly an excellent read that happens to have characters from the Amish community.

Rating:
Summary: A Page-Turner that happens to have Amish Characters
Review: I won't deny that the list of noted Amish and Mennonite reviewers listed on the back cover did give me pause when I first picked up this novel, but after the Chapter 1, I was hooked. Wojtasik's elaborate, post-modern rendering of an Amish youth venturing out into the "englische world," exploring his identity, values, and faith, captivated my imagination. I found his use of a young Amish boy to carry what is clearly a traditional American tale as masterful. Rather than turning to what have become the stock characters of the "other" in the final decades of the twentieth century, Wojtasik turns to a well established community of the past, if you will, to reinvent and retell the American mythical experience or journey. The motifs suggesting Dante, Scripture, and a host of American literary texts (such Melville's _Moby Dick_ or Poe's _Arthur Gordon Pym_) aid the author in creating a multi-leveled tapestry, forcing the reader to experience this simple tale in a most sophisticated manner. And beneath all of this is the tale of the American--Irving's "Rip Van Winkle" or Potok's Danny of _The Chosen_--trying desperately to break the chains of the past, reinvent himself, and find his own personal paradise. What is perhaps the most fulfilling part of this text is the fact that unlike so many American protagonists, Jacob finds redemption, learns to balance both his individual desires (his suggested future friendship with Paul V.) and is able to return home.
Finally I would argue that although this novel can be instructive in elucidating the ways of the Amish, it is mainly an excellent read that happens to have characters from the Amish community.

Rating:
Summary: NO STRANGE FIRE is an incredible novel.
Review: Mr. Wojtasik has managed to create an incredibly evocative work interweaving biblical narrative, Dante's INFERNO, and literary allusions as well as present the Amish culture all within the framework of a mystery novel--that is the true achievement. NO STRANGE FIRE is an accomplished and powerful first work of fiction. Everyone should buy it and read it. This is money NOT WASTED.

Rating:
Summary: NO STRANGE FIRE is an incredible novel.
Review: OK... Let's start with what this book ISN'T... It ISN'T a first rate mystery. The ending is predictable, the surprises are nowhere to be seen, and the dialogue between the characters is wooden and highly unrealistic. BUT... what this book IS is an interesting format to learn about the Amish. It's all presented here in a tale-like (if pedestrian paced) story. So, if you've always wanted to learn about the Amish, but were unsure of a "fun" way to go about it, this may be for you, but if you want a spine-tingling, page turning tale, I'd suggest you spend your money elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: A great way to learn about the Amish lifestyle
Review: OK... Let's start with what this book ISN'T... It ISN'T a first rate mystery. The ending is predictable, the surprises are nowhere to be seen, and the dialogue between the characters is wooden and highly unrealistic. BUT... what this book IS is an interesting format to learn about the Amish. It's all presented here in a tale-like (if pedestrian paced) story. So, if you've always wanted to learn about the Amish, but were unsure of a "fun" way to go about it, this may be for you, but if you want a spine-tingling, page turning tale, I'd suggest you spend your money elsewhere.