19-year-old Irma Voth lives a solitary existence within an isolated Mennonite community in Mexico. After she married a Mexican man to her parents’ dismay and fury, she’s basically been cast out on her own. Now her husband Jorge left and Irma doesn’t quite know what she should do. When a well-known filmmaker and his crew arrive to make a narrative film about the Mennonites, curious Irma lands a position as interpreter [she speaks English, Old German and Spanish]. As time goes on we learn about Irma’s abusive father and difficult family life as well as her lack of choices. When her little sister Aggie runs away to Irma and the film crew everything changes. Irma must now look out for her 13-year-old sister. When their father disrupts the film, Irma and Aggie flee with their baby sister [at their mother’s urging] to Mexico City to begin anew.

Miriam Toews writes with splendid style and a sharp, humorous tone. She’s created a strong, independent, clever woman in Irma Voth. It’s both positive and negative that she leaves out information about the Mennonites and their community. It allows for an air of mystery and for Irma to stand out in a unique way. Irma Voth is a memorable, ideal novel about survival, choice and the search for identity.

Wonderful writing and characters. The highlight for me was the sister relationships that were at the heart of the book and the way even the baby sister was seen as a real very-loved but frustrating independent person. I wasn't as invested in the movie set story-line and relationships.

Refreshing minimalist style, but didn't get hooked by the characters.

I love Miriam Toews so I think everything she writes is great. This book is witty, moving, tender, and beautifully written.

This was a GoodReads First Read. Looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it. I wanted to love it but I didn't even like it. I know some people will it just wasn't for me.

I just couldn't care about Irma or her situation. Boring. The end.

My review of Irma Voth at the Washington Independent Review of Books.

Love the characters in this book and how the author brings them to life!