Ever wonder what really goes on behind the scenes of conservative religious communities? A Complicated Kindness has the answers.
A Complicated Kindness is a novel by Canadian author Miriam Toews published in 2004. the book is narrated by Nomi Nickel, a 16-year-old girl living in a Mennonite community who recounts her daily life and past experiences in a distinctively nonlinear and conversational tone.
Tropes:
- New Media Are Evil: Various members of the community disapprove of such things as movies and rock music.
- No Dress Code: An odd example. The school staff object to Nomi's excessive make-up and jewelry, but not her skimpy clothing.
- Stripperific: Towards the end of the book, Nomi shaves her head, dons excessive amounts of makeup, and forgoes traditional clothing in favour of a bikini top and cut-offs. This is implied to be one of the reasons behind her excommunication.
