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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Raizl is navigating her fear of being forever alone with her faith and porn addiction. Raizl is intelligent and curious and she pushes her family’s strict boundaries re: education / career trajectories for women.
As someone who was (and I’m sure still is) ignorant of Hasidic tradition, it was difficult to read and understand the weight of some of the family’s interactions. Another layer of difficulty was the amount of Yiddish used - it would have been better if the glossary was moved to the front of the book so the reader is aware that it’s available.
Overall, I I liked the /idea/ of the plot, but the execution wasn’t it for me. I ended up skimming through the middle of the book so I wouldn’t put it on my DNF list. Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc!
As someone who was (and I’m sure still is) ignorant of Hasidic tradition, it was difficult to read and understand the weight of some of the family’s interactions. Another layer of difficulty was the amount of Yiddish used - it would have been better if the glossary was moved to the front of the book so the reader is aware that it’s available.
Overall, I I liked the /idea/ of the plot, but the execution wasn’t it for me. I ended up skimming through the middle of the book so I wouldn’t put it on my DNF list. Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc!
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
challenging
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nearly DNF. The first 3/4 of this book were incredibly challenging to read. Graphic descriptions of porn, shame so heavy you can feel it on your shoulders, and a slow moving plot. After the beach scene, the book turns a corner, moving much more quickly, with less introspection, less description, a sudden change of heart for the main character. The very end is hopeful, and I found myself hopeful for Raizl, that it would all work out. The hope feels empty, though, echoing my own religious trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Antisemitism
Minor: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry
Purity culture, shame, high demand religion
took a long time to get into but then very interesting