Other Side of the River

...a gentle read enriched with deep historical background.

I was captivated by this story from the beginning. The setting seemed real, the events dramatic yet believable. The history of the struggles the Mennonite people went through came to life as the story unfolded. Well worth the time to read.

Janice eloquently brings to life not only the characters of her novel, but also the cruelty of situation and urgency of time. This is my grandparents' story, peace-loving people forced to flee, leaving their successful farms behind, in search of a land where they may live their lives as they choose - working and worshipping in freedom. The noises of revolution are loud, the consequences of decisions are harsh, and the love of family is strong. Even if this time in history does not strike a personal chord, it is a great read!

This Mennonite historical is a story through which we experience the day-to-day life of Luise, Daniel and their community of God-fearing, peace-loving and industrious people during a time in Russian history when expressions of faith were not allowed, personal initiative was frowned on, and even speaking German could be cause for arrest. Lovable and hated characters populate the pages with Luise's great-aunt Tante Manya taking the prize as my favorite, Senior Major Leonard Dubrowsky and Ivan Mironenko tied for the ones I most disliked and feared. The way Dick portrays the everyday circumstances, struggles, and growth of main characters is realistic and kept me right there, experiencing their challenges with them. The period and setting are depicted in satisfying detail. I loved all the homey touches—the roasted zwieback and other home baking, the Germanisms like "Nah jah," and Luise's and Daniel's close-knit, intergenerational families. The story, though lengthy, had enough nail-biting twists and turns that it rarely sagged. The only time it felt a bit draggy was very near the end, but then it picked up again to the harrowing finish. All in all, I really enjoyed this book—both the day-to-day life of its characters and the big story aspect of it—for I too am descended from them, a Mennonite, not from those that stayed in Russia, but from forbears that emigrated to North America before Communism and the era of the Soviet Union. Witnessing the faith of these people through testing was an inspiration. This book left me with a great appreciation of the fire-proved faith of my ancestors.

Other Side of the River traces the little-known history of Mennonites seeking peace and freedom away from the centers of power in Soviet Russia, to the far east. Readers feel the ever-encroaching coercion and oppression of the growing police state as it affects these people who only seek to work their land, raise their families and worship God. Of course, even among the faithful there are those "bitter roots" who cause strife, stress and struggle, and true to life, the author doesn't whitewash them, nor does the book falsely tie up all the loose ends with an unrealistic, across-the-board happy ending. How Luise and Daniel withstand separation, suffering and loss is an inspiring read.

An excellent book, well written and hard to put down. I read it in one day because it was so interesting.

Janice L. Dick's 'Other Side of the River' is masterfully written, has excellent pacing (had me dreading what was up ahead more times than I can count), and does a good job of creating a sense of place through fine descriptive writing about an astonishingly beautiful part of the world. The book has a sound plot, made even better by learning it is based on actual fact. A huge plus for me is finding the novel to be typo-free, something unprecedented in most of the other e-books I've read. Can't wait for Dick's sequel.

Author Janice L. Dick immerses readers in the world of Russian Mennonites, a persecuted people wherever they try to settle in the Soviet regime of 1926. As the story opens, Luise is determined to remain optimistic and to see the bright side in everything, but sorrow brings change. In some ways this was a heavy book because of the people's struggles, but the way they dig deeper into faith and find the resources they need to carry on in the face of oppression is an example and an encouragement to readers today in whatever stresses we find ourselves. It's not a traumatic read. These are resilient people and although some break, the community bond is strong and supportive. Luise, her gentle father Abram, her acidic stepmother Anna, Luise's step-brother and step-sister, Tante Manya and Daniel are all real characters with individual struggles, weaknesses and strengths. Janice L. Dick is a Canadian author of Mennonite heritage. Her Storm series (Calm Before the Storm, Eye of the Storm and Out of the Storm) also traces the lives of Russian Mennonites. I hope we'll see another novel to follow Other Side of the River.