Running Around (And Such) (Lizzie Searches for Love, #1) by Linda Byler

Sep 06, 2012 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Running Around and Such by Linda Byler
4 STARS

Running Around and Such is supposed to be written by someone who is Amish. So with that knowledge it makes it seem more real.
Lizzie Glick is the main character and its her telling the story. I had a real hard time caring about her. She is overweight,lazy and wants fancier stuff than the simple plain ways. Lizzie also talks back to her parents. She reminds me of me at times.
Lizzie is 15 at start and her older sister is almost 16 and can start dating a...more

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Mar 06, 2011 Bookworm rated it 2 of 5 stars

Running Around (and Such): Lizzie Searches for Love is the first book in a three book series by author Linda Byler. The story is centered around fifteen year old Lizzie Glick and her Amish family. The family is about to move from their home in Jefferson County to a new home in Cameron County. The reason for the move being that Lizzie's Dad is giving up his business and becoming a cow farmer instead.
Lizzie lives with her 'Mam' and 'Dat', her twin baby sisters and her sisters Emma and Mandy. She...more Running Around (and Such): Lizzie Searches for Love is the first book in a three book series by author Linda Byler. The story is centered around fifteen year old Lizzie Glick and her Amish family. The family is about to move from their home in Jefferson County to a new home in Cameron County. The reason for the move being that Lizzie's Dad is giving up his business and becoming a cow farmer instead.
Lizzie lives with her 'Mam' and 'Dat', her twin baby sisters and her sisters Emma and Mandy. She is outspoken and dislikes housework and farming.
This book is mainly a coming of age story. Strong willed Lizzie struggles to fit in and she has views and ideas that differ from her parents and her Amish upbringing. She doesn't want to marry a farmer and she wants to wear nice clothes and high heeled shoes. Lizzie is self conscious like any teenage girl her age. She feels like she's not pretty enough and not thin enough and won't fit in at her new hometown and school.

When Lizzie finally turns 16 she begins what the Amish call 'running around', or going out to social gatherings on weekends with other Amish teens. Once she starts running around, Lizzie meets some interesting boys and wonders who will be her husband one day.

Running Around was an okay read. I'd say it is good for readers ages 11-14.
I think teens any older than that would not be able to relate to Lizzie, unless they are Amish themselves.

You get a view into the Amish lifestyle as the girls bake with their mother and sew their own clothes. Included at the end of the book are Lizzie's favorite recipes from the story, like Apple Pie with Crumb Topping and Chicken Stew, which I thought was a nice touch.
This was a light, fluffy read. It was definitely 'cheesy', but I expected that. I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it either.
The title 'Running Around' doesn't really suit the book too well, since Lizzie doesn't actually start to run around until towards the end of the book. The ending leaves the book open for the next installment in the series.

read my full review here
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/201...
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Nov 06, 2010 Brenda Casto rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lizzie Glick is the second oldest of five children in her family. Her family lives in Jefferson County and her datt owns a pallet shop, but her datt has decided to sell the business and become a farmer. None of the family really want to move to the country, because there aren't very many Amish families living there, Lizzie's biggest worry is how her and her sister Emma will find any Amish boys to date if there aren't any, but soon Lizzie has more to worry about than boys because her mamm becomes...more Lizzie Glick is the second oldest of five children in her family. Her family lives in Jefferson County and her datt owns a pallet shop, but her datt has decided to sell the business and become a farmer. None of the family really want to move to the country, because there aren't very many Amish families living there, Lizzie's biggest worry is how her and her sister Emma will find any Amish boys to date if there aren't any, but soon Lizzie has more to worry about than boys because her mamm becomes sick and needs to be admitted to the hospital, so it falls on Lizzie and her sister Emma to take care of the house, something Lizzie hates.

When Lizzie is forced to work outside the home, she hates it, but her mam is determined to prepare Lizzie for what she will need to know when she marries. When Lizzie turns sixteen and starts "running around" she soon realizes its not as easy as it seems.

Lizzie comes off as a whiny, unhappy Amish girl and thinks that no one really likes her, but in truth she actually has self esteem issues. Her sisters are thin and pretty, while she is a bit overweight, and is also dealing with pimples! She is going thru a rebellious faze in this book, and actually I was pretty surprised at how disrespectful she was to her mamm, not something I normally read in an Amish story. Just when you think she is growing up some she reverts to her whiny ways.

The writing style of this book took a bit of getting used to, for me it took reading half of the story before I actually became interested. The way the author jumps from past to present had me re reading parts of the story just to get it! I also found a few areas where there was a few inconsistencies, for instance when Lizzie and her sister was painting at the King house, one page said the walls were old and cracked the next page said it was a new house, or when Lizzie was hanging clothes on the line, in one sentence and then in the next sentence it mentions Emma hanging them.

While we didn't get to experience alot of Lizzie running around in this book, overall it was a nice getting a glimpse of Lizzie and her family, and since I read alot of Amish stories I normally don't run into any new Amish words but I did in this book, and having the Amish glossary in the back was very helpful. The author also includes several yumtastic Amish recipes for us to try out as well.

Reading this story really reminded me of the series of books that Carrie Bender wrote a few years back.

This book is the first in the Lizzie Searches for Love Series, and while this book is written for the teen to pre-teen audience I really enjoyed reading it. I look forward to reading more of Lizzie's antics in the next book
When Strawberries Bloom, which was released in October 2010.

Even though I was provided a copy for review by FSB media (thanks Julie) it in no way alters my opinion of this book.(less)

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Nov 05, 2010 Jodie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, fsb-media, linda-byler, amish-fiction

Running Around (and Such) by Linda Byler is the first in the Lizzie Searches for Love Series. Lizzie Glick is coming to her "running around" years and like many teenagers there is a lot to deal with. Not enjoying the many Amish chores around the house, like sewing, cooking, babies, milking cows, etc. makes her feel like she doesn't fit in. Along with that, she feels her mom and dad like her older and younger sister more. Lizzie also is self conscience about her weight. Lizzie just wants to wear...more Running Around (and Such) by Linda Byler is the first in the Lizzie Searches for Love Series. Lizzie Glick is coming to her "running around" years and like many teenagers there is a lot to deal with. Not enjoying the many Amish chores around the house, like sewing, cooking, babies, milking cows, etc. makes her feel like she doesn't fit in. Along with that, she feels her mom and dad like her older and younger sister more. Lizzie also is self conscience about her weight. Lizzie just wants to wear her hair fancy and wear shoes with heels, but it's not proper amongst the Amish. Moving to a house that is over 50 miles from her old house, in an entirely different county, not knowing anyone, and there's just not that many Amish boys in the new county sets Lizzie's mind in a whirl! Does God really have everything worked out?

"Jesus first, others next, and yourself last spells J-O-Y." I love that line! Running Around (and Such) is the first book by Linda Byler that I have read. The book does say juvenile fiction, so this first book is a bit different than what I am used to reading. What I liked was all the Amish "extras" it had. Knowing the author is Amish herself, I felt while I was reading the book, I could actually picture an Amish household and their daily chores. I also enjoyed the honesty of Lizzie not enjoying everything Amish. I honestly never thought about it before, but remembering back to my teenage years, I could easily relate to Lizzie as she was trying to branch out and find her place in the world. What I also liked was that it jumped back a few years and explained a family event that in turn gave depth to Lizzie and understanding to her feelings. At the same time, some of the flashbacks were a little confusing. The other thing that was a little confusing for me was the tense used throughout the book. I kept going back to look to see who was "talking." Most of the Amish books I have read focus on one character for a few pages, then focus on another character's thoughts for a few pages, and so on. However, Mrs. Byler wrote mainly from Lizzie's point of view and what she though others were thinking. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading Where Strawberries Bloom, the next one in the series. (less)

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Sep 23, 2010 Myckyee rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was the first time I've read an Amish book and I wasn't sure what to expect. I was surprised to find that except for scattered cultural references the story follows much the same path as any other book of its genre - that being a coming of age story of an adolescent girl.

Lizzie is fifteen and filled with all the same sorts of feelings any teenager would have, but added to that she's rebellious and willful - something that by definition goes against the Amish belief system. She runs into tro...more This was the first time I've read an Amish book and I wasn't sure what to expect. I was surprised to find that except for scattered cultural references the story follows much the same path as any other book of its genre - that being a coming of age story of an adolescent girl.

Lizzie is fifteen and filled with all the same sorts of feelings any teenager would have, but added to that she's rebellious and willful - something that by definition goes against the Amish belief system. She runs into trouble with family and friends and it's usually of her own (however unintended) making. Some of the situations she gets into are funny and some not so much. But it is usually caused by Lizzie's belief that she is somehow not as loved as her older sister. I found the feeling expressed by this character to be pretty honest and insightful. What I didn't expect was this girl's food issues. Her mother was always making something sweet and rich and while her sisters showed constraint, Lizzie was usually eating too much of it. Food disorders are a serious problem and I don't feel I know enough about them to give an educated opinion about the presentation of this characters problems with food, but I had a gut reaction that her mother did not deal with it in the best possible way. Not sure though. Lizzie's self-image is that she is overweight and not very pretty. I thought it a bit odd that on the cover of the book there is a picture of a very pretty and slim-looking girl with a wide smile. I'm assuming that's Lizzie at a happy and self-confident moment!

Linda Byler has a simple, to-the-point writing style. In each chapter there is a flashback to a related current and in this way the reader is taken through the character's growing pains. I found the Amish lifestyle interesting (so very far removed from my own) and found the glossary at the back of the book useful. I think this would be a good book for any one who enjoys the coming-of-age genre and is tired of those that are the profane, serious mental health issue type books. (less)

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Sep 18, 2010 Cheryl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Lizzie Glick is the youngest in the family. It seems she can never do anything right. She is always getting yelled at. Lizzie just wants to make friends and not be in rush to grow up like her two sisters, Emma and Mandy.

Lizzie’s Dat informs his family that they are moving. They are going to move to a farm and become farmers. Lizzie’s Ma is not thrilled and worries how this move with affect Emma and Mandy. Lizzie is forced to help work when her Ma gets sick and ends up in the hospital. How will...more

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Aug 29, 2010 Ruth rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'm a Catholic who reads a lot of Christian fiction. Christian fiction, for the most part, is written for and by Evangelical Protestants, and reflects their faith experiences and life view. Sometimes these books contain Catholic characters, and often when they do, I roll my eyes and say "The author just doesn't get Catholicism". They may get the externals right (and sometimes not) but the meanings fly right past them, whether its because we aren't good at explaining then or because the author do...more I'm a Catholic who reads a lot of Christian fiction. Christian fiction, for the most part, is written for and by Evangelical Protestants, and reflects their faith experiences and life view. Sometimes these books contain Catholic characters, and often when they do, I roll my eyes and say "The author just doesn't get Catholicism". They may get the externals right (and sometimes not) but the meanings fly right past them, whether its because we aren't good at explaining then or because the author doesn't want to give up pre-conceived notions about us.

So, why am I talking about Catholicism when I show a photo of a book with an Amish girl on the cover? Amish fiction is a popular sub-genre of Christian fiction, but most of the authors are not Amish and hold a very different world view than do the Amish. I've often wondered if their depictions of Amish life and faith were as flawed as the depictions of Catholicism that I've read. With Running Around (And Such) (Lizzie Searches for Love, Book 1) I'm pretty confident that the depictions of Amish life and beliefs are accurate because the author, Linda Byler, is Amish. One thing I've found interesting is that she made it clear that the Amish are not one monolithic group who are all the same. The family at the center of the story moves a couple of counties away and the women have to change their hairstyles and are allowed to wear sweaters. I'd say the strength of this book is the depiction of Amish life--the clothes, the hairstyles, the houses, the schools and the fact that just like "English" girls, Amish teens want to look nice.

Unfortunately, the weakness of this book is the plot--there really isn't one. Lizzie, the main character, is coming of age. She is looking forward to being of dating age when one day her father announces they are moving to another county to buy a farm. She doesn't like farming, but Amish kids who live on farms work on farms. Also, we follow her as she works for other families in the area, and starts looking for a husband. Still, the book lacks the typical plot arc of introduction, problem, rising action and resolution. It doesn't end as much as it stops. The only conflict is between Lizzie and her parents, and there is no real resolution, but then the conflict isn't that much different than many teens and parents.

If you enjoy Amish fiction and want to read a book written by an Amish woman, you may like this one, but in the overall world of books, Running Around (And Such) (Lizzie Searches for Love, Book 1) leaves a lot to be desired. Grade: C.(less)

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Aug 08, 2010 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Title: RUNNING AROUND (AND SUCH)
Author: Linda Byler
Publisher: Good Books
May 2010
ISBN: 978-1-56148-688-5
Genre: Inspirational/Amish

Lizzie Glick is growing up Amish, and is unhappy when her father decides to give up his successful business and become a cow farmer. In spite of his family’s wishes, he sells their farm and moves to a community with few other Amish, and Lizzie wonders how she and her sisters will ever meet boys if there aren’t any.

But other things need their attention before boys. Whe...more Title: RUNNING AROUND (AND SUCH)
Author: Linda Byler
Publisher: Good Books
May 2010
ISBN: 978-1-56148-688-5
Genre: Inspirational/Amish

Lizzie Glick is growing up Amish, and is unhappy when her father decides to give up his successful business and become a cow farmer. In spite of his family’s wishes, he sells their farm and moves to a community with few other Amish, and Lizzie wonders how she and her sisters will ever meet boys if there aren’t any.

But other things need their attention before boys. When Mam comes down with a terrible sickness and goes to the hospital, Lizzie is forced to help out to keep the house running. And when Emma (Lizzie’s big sister) is old enough to start running around, Lizzie is forced to get a job to help save money to start Emma’s hope chest.

When Lizzie turns sixteen, she learns that running around is more confusing than she thought it would be. How does she tell which boy likes her? And even more confusing, which does she like back?

RUNNING AROUND (AND SUCH) is the first book by this real-life Amish writer. I picked this book up, thinking that since I am writing about the Amish it might be beneficial for me to read. And there are some good parts, informative, mostly about the running around (toward the end of the book.)

Otherwise, all I can say is Oh, the drama! Lizzie, though in her mid-teens, is whiney, prone to crying and wailing, and selfish beyond belief. She tends to over-react to almost every situation. Since there are two other teen girls in the family there are several moments with more than one teen girls sporting attitudes. The writing isn’t exactly top-notch, there is a lot of telling, weak writing, and jumping around in time (going from current day to backstory without warning) which was quite jarring.

However, the book did get exciting toward the end, and I will be looking for book 2 (coming in October 2010) When Strawberries Bloom to learn more about Lizzie as she looks for her potential husband. Several Amish recipes and a glossary are included at the end of the book. $13.99. 343 pages.
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Mar 05, 2012 Gail rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 28, 2010 Lindsay Chung rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Running Around (and Such). The story itself is lacking here and there, but the thoughts that run through a young Amish girl’s head was fascinating to me. This book is written by an Amish writer, so I cannot question the authenticity of the story or the characters. Lizzie Glick is a girl who I sometimes liked, sometimes disliked, but always adored. She has such a sweet innocence and rebellion in her that makes her so endearing. Even her rebellious tendencies involved wearing her hair or...more

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Aug 22, 2010 Edna Tollison rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lizzie Glick is growing up Amish, and is unhappy when her father decides to give up his building pallet business and become a farmer. In spite of his family's wishes, he sells their business and house and buys a run down farm and house in a different county. Lizzy wonders how she and her sisters will ever meet boys if there aren't any living in that county.

Mam comes down with a pneumonia and has to go to the hospital. Lizzie is forced to help out, but she is a whiney teenager that never wants to...more

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Oct 08, 2010 Staci rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-reads

Why I wanted to read this book:

* It's no secret that I love books that feature the Amish way of life, so when I was offered the chance to read Amish fiction written by an ACTUAL Amish woman I immediately said yes!

What worked for me:

* The promise of a great story about a strong-willed young girl who wonders if being Amish is what she wants out of life.
*

What didn't work for me:

* Pretty much everything...the story was boring and very unimaginative.
* The author used the technique of flashback w...more

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Dec 25, 2010 Molly rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: all amish lovers

Recommended to Molly by: FSB Media

Shelves: book-review

Linda Byler is Amish, so I was super excited to review this Amish debut novel by her. I thought that it would be interesting to read a fiction novel by someone who is actually Amish and who has all the "inside" knowledge of being Amish. I must admit, while not my absolute favorite, Running Around (And Such!) was a good read. This is book 1 in Byler's Lizzie Searches For Love series and it's definitely a good start.

In Running Around(And Such!), we meet Lizzie and her family, as they are preparing...more

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Nov 02, 2010 Camille rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: amish-fiction, christian-fiction, religion, teen, women, 3-stars

I wish to thank FSB Media again for this opportunity to review books for them. I am grateful for any opportunity to get to read and be exposed to more literature.

I immediately jumped into the first book in the Lizzie Searches For Love series.

I have to admit, I was sadly disappointed.

While I believe the book was probably very true in its depictions of Amish life, the plot left everything to be desired.

Running Around (And Such) follows the main character, Lizzie, who progress from age 15-16 during...more

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Jun 22, 2011 Sharon rated it 2 of 5 stars

I am a big fan of young adult and Christian fiction and was excited about reading Ms. Byler’s debut novel. However, I found the book to be choppy and slow to get to the meaning of the book title, running around. It wasn’t until most of the way through the book that the main character, Lizzie, spoke about the concept.

Personally, I did not like the main character, Lizzie, one of five Amish children, who seemed much more immature than her younger siblings. Her whining and “whoa is me” tones about h...more

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Nov 05, 2010 Diane U rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: amish

Lizzie is the second of six children in an Amish family. Her older sister, Emma, is the perfect Amish child. She loves to cook, clean, sew and do anything domestic that Mam wishes. Lizzie longs for "fancy" things such as high heel shoes and shorter dresses with ruffles. She is always feeling that Emma is her parent's favorite. She is a typical teenager dealing with her appearance and her weight while her sisters do not. Once Lizzie turns 16, she starts going to Sunday signings with Emma and meet...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Danielle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, reviews

I am about as confused as Lizzie is. I am gonna share what another wrote since I agree and my adds to it
"the story was boring and very unimaginative" it was like a preteen book no real story.
"The story never really progressed. I felt like I had read forever,but I didn't go anywhere!" I felt as if I read it for 2 weeks and it had only been 2 days it just dragged on and on
" Lizzie obsessed over being heavier than her sisters and the reader had to hear about her obsession in every single chapter....more

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Dec 26, 2012 Leah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-for-review, christian-fiction, e-books

Lizzie questions a lot of things about her Amish life like why can't she wear higher heels and a looser hairstyle? And most of all, why does her family have to move to a new house to become farmers? What is she going to do in a new town without a lot of kids her age? Who will she and her two sisters pair up with if there are not enough boys to go around?

Unlike many Amish stories I have read this one has a very distinct modern feel to it. Lizzie puts Clearasil on her acne that her sisters, Mandy...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Cathy Breit rated it 3 of 5 stars

Very accurate detail of Amish life. There isn't a riveting plot here, but since it's (literally) based on the author's own growing up years, that's to be expected.

I enjoyed this book mostly because I'm acquainted with the characters in it. (My mother is the author's first cousin. While my mother's side of the family left the Amish over 35 years ago, Linda Byler's family is all still Old-Order) So to be given a peek back into their lives, and to read of all these cousins and great-aunts/uncles i...more

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Sep 04, 2010 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars

"Running Around" is sweet story about an Amish girl coming of age. The story gives an adequate snapshot of life in an Amish community. Also interesting is the contrast between Amish and Mennonite and how they interact and differentiate from one another.

Although different in many aspects, the author has created a character with many of the same concerns as many teenagers outside the Amish community. Like most 16 year old girls, Lizzie worries about her hair, her fashions, weight gain, and boys....more

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Jun 25, 2012 Rachel Brand rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amish, christian, borrowed-from-lynne, 2012, teen-ya, linda-byler

Before reading this book, I'd read a lot of very mixed reviews. Some people loved it, some thought it was okay, while others outright hated it. Thus I approached this novel with trepidation, not entirely sure what to expect, other than the fact that it was written by an Amish woman and didn't conform to the standard style of "typical" Amish novels.

Perhaps it was because I knew this book wasn't entirely standard that I was able to enjoy it, as I wasn't disappointed to find this book was aimed mo...more Before reading this book, I'd read a lot of very mixed reviews. Some people loved it, some thought it was okay, while others outright hated it. Thus I approached this novel with trepidation, not entirely sure what to expect, other than the fact that it was written by an Amish woman and didn't conform to the standard style of "typical" Amish novels.

Perhaps it was because I knew this book wasn't entirely standard that I was able to enjoy it, as I wasn't disappointed to find this book was aimed more at young teens than adults, and that its format and style was more in keeping with that of Laura Ingalls Wilder than Beverly Lewis. Either way, I ended up quite enjoying Linda Byler's first novel. When I started this book, I was needing something light and unchallenging as I was feeling quite stressed out about my impending wedding, so this hit all the right spots. Perhaps the lack of an overarching plot will irritate some, but I liked the fact that I could dip into this book easily and not have to concentrate too much. As well as being incredibly informative about the day-to-day aspects of Amish life, there were also some good depictions of relationships between sisters and some fun childhood stories. I never got bored with this book, even if there wasn't a suspenseful plot, and it was pretty entertaining.

But this book does have a few downsides, which stop me from rating it any higher. To start with the nit-picky stuff, this book just ended far too abruptly. I turned the page expecting a few more concluding chapters only to find a page of recipes. I know that there are two more books in the series, but even a paragraph summing up what Lizzie had learned over the course of the book would have been more satisfying than the way this book ended.

And as other reviewers have mentioned, Lizzie's whining could get on my nerves after a while, particularly about her weight and her family liking Emma more than her. It seemed a bit overdone and sometimes a little unfounded. She did eventually overcome both of these issues, and they did make her sympathetic, but sometimes I just wanted her to have some actual conflict that wasn't all inside her head. Sometimes she also seemed a bit young for her age, although at times I found myself thinking "Hmm, maybe I did act like that when I was 15", but this could be because of her Amish upbringing.

My other issue was more do with my personal feelings about the way certain characters were portrayed and how this can be construed by the reading audience. While I was able to enjoy this novel as a nearly-married twenty-year-old university student, I think it's more suited for a twelve-year-old girl. Considering my love of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Jo March and Anne Shirley, plus anything historical or old-fashioned, as a preteen, this probably would have been right up my alley. But that also makes me wonder about how I would have perceived Lizzie's parents at that age. Perhaps I'm sympathising with Lizzie too much, but I found her mother incredibly harsh. There were times when she told Lizzie off and admitted that she shouldn't have trusted her with such a responsibility at such a young age, like using the washing machine unsupervised. Even though she knew it was her fault for leaving her daughter unattended, she still criticised her daughter, and never apologised for her harsh words. There were other times when her parents seemed too quick to judge and lacking in trust for their daughter. For example, they decide that Lizzie is old enough to work outside the home and let her work at an egg plant, but then make her stop working there when she inadvertently attracts the attention of an English man. If they think she's mature enough to work outside the home, she's also mature enough to know how to deal with men. It seemed a bit bizarre to teach your daughter to work but not to warn her against attracting unwanted attention. So Lizzie is seen as being at fault here, because she didn't know that her behaviour was inappropriate and bordered on flirting. At times, I just got so frustrated with Lizzie's parents, especially her mum, for wanting her to grow up and take on new responsibilities, but not teaching her about moral issues such as how to act around men. I'm sure not all Amish families are like this, but if I'd read this book as a young teenager I might have got a bad impression of Amish parenting.

Although I had my personal issues with certain parts of the story, I would probably recommend it to girls between the ages of 11 and 13, maybe younger or older, depending in maturity and reading abilities. It would be nice to see what Lizzie gets up to in the later books, but I'm probably not going to rush out and buy them. It was relaxing and mildly entertaining to read about Lizzie's coming of age, but it wasn't exactly a gripping read, so if you're not a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan and need structure to your books, this probably isn't for you. That said, I did learn a lot about life in a very rural Amish community, running a farm and dress-making, even if I had wished this book had a more solid conclusion. 3.5*(less)

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Apr 02, 2011 Anna rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Doesn't a young adult book about Amish people written by an Amish person sound right up my alley? Too bad the book was so painful to read... The glimpse into the Amish lifestyle was interesting, but I could feel myself getting an eating disorder just reading this book. And then there's the lack of plot, and the fact that our main character was whiny and generally unpleasant for most of the book.

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Aug 20, 2010 Holly (2 Kids and Tired) rated it 2 of 5 stars

The Amish family portrayed here isn't perfect. They have their issues, which is refreshing. However, Lizzie was a completely unlikeable, whiny, annoying teenage girl. She hates everything and she doesn't like to work. She eats too much and complains that she's fat. Perhaps that's typical of teenage girls. At any rate, she just annoyed me and I didn't care about her at all. Honestly, I ended up skimming a lot of it and I can pretty much guarantee that I didn't miss much.

Running Around (and Such)...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Desiree rated it 5 of 5 stars

Running around and such is a great book . At first I was not sure if I liked it or not , then the more I read the more I became hooked. Lizzie is so real and so much like me I could very easily identify with her. If you are into Amish fiction you definately want to read this book !

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Sep 05, 2012 Britta rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed

I enjoyed this easy read about an Amish girl's family and life as she comes to the age of dating and choosing a boy to marry. Lizzie is a most entertaining, say what she thinks, hot head. Not what I would expect out of an Amish girl but I enjoyed her cheekiness.

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Jan 09, 2011 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love trying new authors of Amish Christian Fiction books. And especially if they turn out to be wonderful writers! I'm impatiently waiting for the next one in the series to be returned to my library so I can dive right into it and read what happens next!

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Oct 10, 2012 Anna Todd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

It seems Byler really sets the tone in this novel (first in series of three) about a struggling Amish teen-ager who is trying to figure out what life is all about. Byler, herself has always been Amish and writes from a real point of reference.

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Sep 27, 2010 Nancy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

My enjoyment of this book was dampened by the poor consistency of detail. For example, in one place it describes a wall that was being painted as being old and cracked--a couple pages later, it says the house is new. Multiple other examples abound, which was very distracting.

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Mar 22, 2012 Krista rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, and how it was written. I was excited when I saw the author was Amish as well, since I had grown up around the Amish and adore them. I will definitely be reading the next book, I'm hooked!

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Jul 16, 2011 Anna Murdock rated it 2 of 5 stars

I would probably give it a 2 1/2 if I could, it was interesting reading about the amish, but the story itself was just okay. I havent decided if I will read the rest of the series.

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title link	preview: Running Around (And Such)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8295419-running-around-and-such?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348600915l/8295419.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8295419-running-around-and-such?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Running Around (And Such) by Linda Byler[/url]

Running Around (And Such) (Lizzie Searches For Love #1)

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