Kingdom of Simplicity

The message of forgiveness in this book is strong and moving. But story of what beauty is, how the perception of it can be damaged, and what it takes to heal from those wounds and truly see beauty again--in others as well as oneself--are what made this story so extraordinary for me. The characters are engaging and wonderfully drawn, and the plot twists and turns in ways you won't always expect. It's a fabulous and entertaining read, as well. The book is full of laughter, pain, healing and beauty. I just spent most of my Sunday reading the last half of the book because I had to see how it ended (which is rare for me).

The Amish life is a harsh one, but a simple one, and there is a certain joy in simplicity. "Kingdom of Simplicity" is a novel of the Amish life. Eli, a young Amish man still grappling with the tragedy that struck his family when he was nine years old, embarks on the Amish tradition of rumspringa, the tradition where young Amish adults are unleashed on the world to experience it for themselves. Looking for a place to belong to, Eli finds that friendship can do much to heal wounds. Written in response to her own tragedies, "Kingdom of Simplicity" is an intriguing read all the way through.

Admittedly I am biased having had the distinct privilege and pleasure of teaching Holly her senior year in high school in AP Government. Now, as then, Holly has the gift to weave a story with detail, facts, and allure. This may well be a seminal work for Holly because the student becomes the teacher in this masterfully crafted tale. With meticulous literary precision, Holly delivers a provocative, reflective, restorative, and captivating tale of forgiveness and redemption in "Kingdom of Simplicity". It is a beautiful revelation of maturation, compassion and the dynamics of human relations. Absolutely an A+, Holly!

Kingdom of Simplicity is a story as lovingly crafted and beautiful as an Amish quilt. Holly Payne's fine writing is better than ever, yet spare in a way that matches the daily world of the Amish family she so ably creates. It is easy to relate to the main character, Eli Yoder, as he struggles to understand life, love and the unpredictable events life brings. Kingdom of Simplicity is a universal story of growing, living, and learning how to forgive; it is a book well worth reading and giving to friends and family.

Holly Payne's new book is an extremely readable tale. Only a few stories have the ability to pull you in and make you neglect what you should be doing in order to spend more time reading, and Kingdom of Simplicity does that. The story revolves around a young Amish boy growing to manhood, and facing the challenge of forgiving himself. No spoilers here; but... in Olde English, the prefix "for" (as in forgive) means, very simply, before. To for-give is to give as before. Not to give grudgingly, or agree to overlook, but to give. Eli, the novel's protagonist, must come to grips with this, and discover what he truly needs to give. It's a Romance, in the truest sense of that term. Emma loves Eli, but he cannot see it, much less accept it, until he can forgive, and learn to love himself in all his human frailty. Few if any of the folks who read this review are Amish, but do not think that the experiences of this young man don't relate to "modern" life. All life, at all times, is "modern" to those to whom it happens, and this is a novel for all time. I had the pleasure of buying a copy at one of the author's readings, and to hear her read it is remarkable. Rarely have I been so drawn into the world of a novel - too often one feels one is watching from a distance, but Ms Payne will draw you into Eli's world completely. Such a wonderful love story! Buy it, read it, and grow from the experience.