Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

The Shunning
The Shunning
The Shunning
Audiobook8 hours

The Shunning

Written by Beverly Lewis

Narrated by Barbara Caruso

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

()

About this audiobook

Popular inspirational novelist Beverly Lewis transports you to the quiet Amish community in Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania where time has stood still. In The Shunning, beautiful 22-year-old Katie Lapp longs to experience the forbidden things of the outside world, even while she is making plans to forever embrace the traditions of her people. In a few days, Katie will marry Bishop John, a widower with five young children. She should be excited, but instead she feels trapped. Her thoughts in turmoil, she heads to the attic to be alone. As she explores a dusty trunk, she discovers a satin infant gown, much too fancy for an Amish baby. From that moment, Katie is determined to learn the truth behind the garment, even if it destroys the only life she has known. Beverly Lewis creates a refreshingly clean tale of poignant secrets, shattered dreams-and new hope for the future. All the joys and troubles of the busy Amish society burst from the pages with Barbara Caruso's superb performance.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateAug 22, 2008
ISBN9781436169615
The Shunning
Author

Beverly Lewis

Beverly Lewis (beverlylewis.com), born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, has more than 19 million books in print. Her stories have been published in 12 languages and have regularly appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today. Beverly and her husband, David, live in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, making music, and spending time with their family.

More audiobooks from Beverly Lewis

Related to The Shunning

Titles in the series (3)

View More

Related audiobooks

Christian Fiction For You

View More

Related articles

Related categories

Reviews for The Shunning

Rating: 3.727272829004329 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

231 ratings12 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Amish teenager Katie is one of the more headstrong, passionate women of her family. She lives a normal female Amish life with her loving, close-knit parents and brothers in Hickory Hollow, taking care of her people, the house and preparing for the next great step in her life - marrying Bishop John, a 40-year-old widower with ready-made children of his own to be cared for. Katie knows she should be grateful. But she can't help but dream of her first love and loss, Dan Fisher, who taught her to play the guitar and sing songs she would never hear in church (gasp!). Katie struggles with the constant longing for something else in life - and that something else includes music, guitars, boys ... and a family secret she discovers in the attic one day, in search of her mother's wedding dress. What is this secret, and will it bring Katie closer to the life she has always dreamed of? Will it tear her family apart and destoy every semblance of peace in the community of Hickory Hollow?This book was alright. I really kept reading because of the author's firsthand knowledge of Amish life. Lewis describes the daily lives of typical "Plain" families, except not all Plain families can be described as "typical' - and this is where my problem comes in. Katie has been depressed ever since she lost her boyfriend who drowned, on a fishing trip I believe, and she still longs for the English ways he taught her to appreciate - catchy music, bible discussion (as if the bible were up for discussion on the Plain!) and the fancy things that she will never get to experience herself. How Dan Fisher ever came to these realizations himself is never explained. So I wonder how Katie can yearn so deeply for something that neither she nor Dan as Plain people should be familiar with. That and the fact that Dan's past was never really discussed in detail took away from the novel, in my opinion. He is such a part of Katie's life, although absent, that I wish we had at least an inkling of who he was in order to understand his impact on Katie's life - and also to understand how the Plain people dealt with Dan and his bible-questioning ways. Unfortunately, this becomes the whole novel and I'm sorry to say I won't be reading further in this series, although I hear Lewis' Abraham's daughters series is very good so I may pick the first one up at some point.readerswell.blogspot.com
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The Shunning (The Heritage of Lancaster County, #1) by Beverly LewisSet in an Amish community of Hickory Hollow Pennsylvania, twenty-two year old Katie Lapp wants a good life. She is set to marry the Bishop who is widowed, much older than her with children. She feels a bit disconnected (and is) still longing for her true love, who suffered a tragic death. Then she discovers a family secret which sets in motion events that will drastically change her life.A fascinating story of one young woman, who just wants happiness. I was able to connect with Katie on her thoughts, emotions and feelings, I truly wanted her happy. I did enjoy reading of a different culture/religion/society than my own. This is my first Amish story, at times I was a bit angry with the community. Overall I enjoyed The Shunning and recommend to those that like Amish stories. I look forward to reading more by Beverly Lewis.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Katie has tried to embrace her Amish faith and the ways of the ordnung, but it has always been a struggle for her. Just before her marriage to the bishop, she discovers some upsetting news that explains why, at least to her way of thinking. But others don’t agree, and she has been shunned for her behavior. Distraught by losing everything she knows yet still unable to fully commit to the Amish ways, she leaves her family and the only home she ever knew. Author Beverly Lewis has penned an interesting conundrum in this first book of the trilogy. The characters are quite well developed, and the problems they face because of a decades-old secret illustrates just how impossible it is to keep past actions buried.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I could not get into this book. I didn't really like the characters. And I guess I was hoping to read about Amish people who love being Amish. Also the ending was a bit bizarre.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I had never read a book in this genre before, and The Shunning caught my attention for some reason...I have to admit, I was expecting to feel proselytized, but I was pleasantly surprised that 90% of the book can be read by the most secular of us as a gentle and entertaining piece of anthropological fiction. I, like many, saw the "surprise" at the end a mile away, but I was still very excited to see that I was right all along! I don't think I will spend any time reading the rest of the series, but this was a fun easy read, so I finally understand why it (and its counterparts) are so popular at my library.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The ShunningBeverly LewisThis is the first book by Beverly Lewis I read. I enjoyed this story and was able to read all of the series quickly since I was a late comer to the series. It started me reading all of her series. I enjoyed the series and found it well written and highlights the best in a people. It is definitely written by someone who has a great love for these people. I have to say that it is a simpler lifestyle that resonates with me most and I acknowledge that I prefer a slower pace. I will keep going back to this simpler life in books.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I love reading the stories of the Amish. Their lifestyle is so simple and less complicated. Being shunned however would be very difficult to go through. I've read several of these series but I think my most favorite is Abrams daughters.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    You know Amish novels are my guilty pleasure and this was one of the best Beverly Lewis novels I've read. I wanted to read it soon because Hallmark made a movie from the novel that's premiering on April 16th and I wanted to have read the book before seeing the movie.Katie Lapp has struggled with her Amish heritage for as long as she can remember, often wanting to just indulge in a simple song. After her beau dies tragically, she struggles even more despite the fact that she's engaged to the bishop in her town. The bishop! It's a big deal. Life gets even more complicated when she finds a fancy baby gown in her parents' attic, too fancy to be from an Amish child. Soon she must come to terms with her past and figure out what to do with her future.The novel was a very good and quick read, I read it in an afternoon. Things really got interesting about halfway through and I just plowed through the end. I can't wait to see what Hallmark does with the story in their movie.Of course, the whole thing ended with a cliffhanger and thus the potential for Katie, who suffered with herself so much in this novel, to find happiness. I was hoping just this once I could get away with reading just the first book in a series, but no, now I have to get the second book, The Confession.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was a good book, and I'm glad I read it. I find Amish culture fascinating, so this book offered insight into a topic I've always wanted to read and learn about. Was this the best work of literature I've ever read? No. Frankly, I thought this book was pretty predictable. I saw the *surprise* ending coming from a mile away. However, I thought this was a nice, leisurely read, and I enjoyed the emphasis on the simple pleasures of the lives of the Plain people. At first, I was a little frustrated with the fact that it's not very fast-paced, which I've come to expect from books I enjoy. After some thought, I realized that the story of an Amish community shouldn't be fast-paced because, in all reality, the lives of Amish people aren't fast-paced. I think the amount of time and care Beverly Lewis has put into this story and its research is very evident, which makes the story all the more charming. I loved that she created characters that I ended up caring about. I was pulling for Katie the entire time. Although I wasn't sure at first, I can definitely say that I'm going to read the other two books in the trilogy.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    If you are planning to visit Lancaster or anywhere the Amish live, I highly recommned you read a Beverly Lewis book and this is a great place to start. She has many series and this first book in the Heritage of Lancaster County series is a sweet wholesome romance as well as a coming of age story. The shunning refers to what happens when someone in the Amish community doesn't abide by the "rules"of the communit and refuses to confess. A young Amish woman must try to decide if following the rules and expectations of her family and everyone she knows and values is worth giving up her dreams (music) and marrying a man she respects but does not love.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Shunning tells the story of Katie, a young Amish girl about to be married. But shortly before she makes a discovery that changes everything. The story seems to take a look at nature vs. nurture as the truth about Katie's birth is revealed. Not sure I agree 100% with what Beverly Lewis seems to be portraying in the debate, Katie's actions don't necessarily sit well with me. But it is an interesting read nonetheless.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    UGGGHHHH!!! Getting through this was torture! But it was the only audio book that I had at work so....A little science first...there are 2 types of traits; inherited & learned or nature vs nuture. Those we inherite through the genes from our parents (hair color, eye color) & those we learn from the people around us (manners, ethics, skills). Dear Mrs. Lewis...Religion is not inherited. If a Ukranian born baby is adopted & raised in the United States, they will not automatically speak with the accent of their motherland. A Jewish baby adopted by Aborigines will not automatically know that it was supposed to be Jewish. The same goes for Amish people. A child adopted into the Plain way of life cannot blame the fascination that she has for fancy things & music on the fact that she was born to an Englisher. If she has those yearnings it has nothing to do with her birth parents but rather a general liking for these things & being unsure about the relgion that she was raised in.Sorry, but I didn't buy into anything this author was selling in this story. It was a shame too. There's a whole series & as I love reading about other cultures (& know some Amish & Dunkard families) I was very much looking forward to reading them all.Funny thing though...I saw 4 books in another series by the same author today at a garage sale. The lady said she read the first one & was so dissappointed never read the others. She too had wanted to read the whole series.I'll give you 1/2 star for writing it & finding someone to publish it & another 1/2 star for finding another publisher to put it on audio.