I personally liked the book, but overall the group’s reviews were lukewarm.

The book, a memoir by Rhoda Janzen, is about her returning to her Mennonite family after her husband leaves her for a man he met on gay.com.  If that wasn’t enough, she can’t afford the mortgage on her house and she ends up with a nice collection of broken bones from a pretty bad car wreck.

We all agreed that the premise was good, but generally the feeling was that Rhoda didn’t really give us the truth.  Either that or she somehow doesn’t feel pain.  We enjoyed her humor and loved her Mom, but wondered how she really felt.

She generally seemed pretty nonplussed by things that would’ve sent most women into years of therapy or to the bottom of big box of wine.

And as for the title, though she did go back to her Mennonite family – her Mennonite-ness wasn’t really an issue.  Going back didn’t seem to bother her and no one really seemed bothered that she had left the fold in the first place.  Janzen did include a really good primer on the religion at the end of the book but we would have liked to have seen more of that woven throughout.  And while we’re talking about the title, I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a black dress at all.  I know I’m being literal here, but I think the point is that what could’ve and maybe should’ve been something like a clash of cultures was more like a dull thud of cultures.

Alas Rhoda really does have impeccable comic timing in her writing along with a biting wit and I really did enjoy getting to know her through the book.

Have you read it?  What did you think?

Wondering what the heck the Better World Book Club is?  Check it out at http://www.betterworldbooks.com/bookclub.    Join us.  Next month we’re reading SOUTH OF BROAD by Pat Conroy.  (Want 10% off and free shipping, use the code BOOKCLUB10 at checkout and save!)

Our Latest Pick

THE SHADOW OF THE WIND by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

If your book club has ever read a book where you struggled to find something to talk about, you will really appreciate THE SHADOW OF THE WIND.  There is so much to talk about with this book, I barely know where to begin.

From its Russian doll  – book within a book style to its use of religious imagery to the often parallel lives of two seemingly unconnected characters you will not run out of conversation.  I promise.

Our book, THE SHADOW OF THE WIND is about a book that Daniel Sempere finds in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books which is also called THE SHADOW OF THE WIND.  Uncovering the mystery surrounding the life and death of that book’s author Julian Carax becomes Daniel’s quest and is what our book is all about.

This one has been on my list for several years now, so I’m glad it finally made it to the top.   If you haven’t read it yet, give it a go for your book club.  If you have, feel free to leave a comment, and let me know what you thought.

Be sure to check our our Book Club Page for the synopsis, some interesting discussion questions and a delicious recipe for Baked Goat Cheese in Tomato Sauce from Whole Foods!