W. Dale Cramer

If you're looking for a good book to read, but are turned off by the fact that this features Amish characters, don't be! Instead of the usual bland-as-bread romances, this is a fresh take on a tired story. Will runs away at 19 from his father's Amish community and creates a new life for himself, eventually marrying and having two children. Eventually, the two halves of his life intersect and it forces him to come clean about it.

This is a captivating story unlike anything else. It takes show more tired cliches: illegitimate children, rebellion from an Amish lifestyle, the resultant banishment, reconciliation with family, etc. and presents them in a new way that is excellently written.

The book flips back and forth between 1985 (written in present-tense) and different points in Will's life (written in past-tense) and that's the only part that is a bit confusing. Otherwise, it's amazing. show less

About a week ago, Carole over at The Power of Words recommended a book by Dale Cramer (Summer of Light). Because she has excellent insight and I trust her recommendations, I immediately downloaded that book. Upon perusal of my bookshelves, I discovered another of Cramer’s earlier books that I had not read. I’m not sure where I picked it up, maybe a Friends of The Library sale, but it was even signed! Having won a Christy Award in 2004, and since the awards for this year will be announced show more tonight, I decided it would be my next just-for-fun read. Wow! I can’t believe what an excellent read Bad Ground turned out to be. Not currently available directly from Amazon, you can still order it from third parties. It is worth the little bit of work it might to take to find it — it is excellent and very highly recommended.

Jeremy Prine’s mother has died from cancer. The seventeen year old has only a handful of possessions and memories and a letter from his mother telling him to find his Uncle Aiden. Aiden disappeared from his family’s life some ten years previous following the the accident that left Jeremy’s father dead and Aiden horribly scarred. With just a duffel bag and a determination to find out what his mother’s mysterious letter might mean, Jeremy hitchhikes from his home in the Tennessee hills to the south side of Atlanta in search of answers.

Bad Ground is a gritty novel unlike most of the offerings in the Christian market. The characters are not rich or beautiful — these men live hard and work hard, carrying the physical and emotional scars of lives lived on the edge. But although the life of hard-rock mining is far removed from my everyday life, I could identify with these men and their struggles to survive in a dangerous world. Cramer does an excellent job of making the people and locale in the novel come to life. It is amazing that the setting of the novel, a mining site at a waste treatment plant, becomes so real and so right. Cramer has a way of describing things that makes even this bleak setting beautiful. His insights on people and their wounds makes this novel a must read for those looking for a rich reading experience. And I think you are going to love the worship scenes at the very unconventional church that Jeremy attends. God’s grace as expressed through the forgiveness offered by His people is a powerful theme.

If you want a novel that will take you into a very different world and leave you longing for more, then definitely pick up Bad Ground. You won’t be disappointed. Thanks Carole!

Very Highly Recommended. show less

Wish I could give this book double the number of stars I was allowed to give it! This is a great read about a dad who has become aware of the disconnect with his children and about the time he spent reconnecting (not always happily!). At times you will laugh and at times you will actually tear up, but you will not ever be bored. The story of a dad just trying to be the best dad he can be and the bumbling way he sometimes goes about it is awesome. The back story of how all this affects his show more wife, including her ambivilence of him being a stay-at-home dad after a while, just adds another layer to the story. show less

I have been facinated with the Amish and their way of life for many years now, so I was delighted to win an advance copy of this book. I was pleasantly surprised that it was based on the author's own family history. The change of location, from the typical Pennsylvania or Ohio setting to Mexico, was very welcome and it opened my eyes to a piece of Amish history that I had never learned much about. The book drew me in from page one; Dale Cramer writes very successfully from the female point show more of view. The relationships that are developed, both between family members and potential future partners are true, genuine and intriguing. The only downside to having received the book as an Early Reviewer is that there will be a wait for the next book in the series! show less