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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Shmutz often had me at the edge of my seat, almost as if I also had something to hide myself. I was thoroughly entertained for most of the book and had developed a love for Raizl, but was ultimately let down by the lack of character development and an unsatisfying resolution.
I found it interesting that Raizl's sessions with her therapist were woven into nearly every chapter, yet it felt like nothing really came of them. Raizl did not appear to have any deeper of an understanding of her porn addiction by the end of the book, nor did it feel like she overcame anything.
*Trigger Warning / Possible Spoiler*
Additionally, Raizl was sexually assaulted by a peer in one short chapter and then the incident was never brought up again. I was disappointed that Berliner decided to include such a violent incident in such a careless way. In the same vein, Raizl's boss had full-on predatory behavior toward Raizl whenever they were alone, which made me feel icky. While not as explicit as the incident between her and her "friend," I felt it completely unnecessary.
I found it interesting that Raizl's sessions with her therapist were woven into nearly every chapter, yet it felt like nothing really came of them. Raizl did not appear to have any deeper of an understanding of her porn addiction by the end of the book, nor did it feel like she overcame anything.
*Trigger Warning / Possible Spoiler*
Additionally, Raizl was sexually assaulted by a peer in one short chapter and then the incident was never brought up again. I was disappointed that Berliner decided to include such a violent incident in such a careless way. In the same vein, Raizl's boss had full-on predatory behavior toward Raizl whenever they were alone, which made me feel icky. While not as explicit as the incident between her and her "friend," I felt it completely unnecessary.
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars
I was so hyped to read this after I heard A Sunny Book Nook talk about it and it finally became available on World of Books a few weeks ago.
I was pretty engrossed by this book, I loved how empathetically Raizl was portrayed and her relationships with her family felt really real. I was a bit more suspect about the goths she became friends with... they seemed so one-dimensional and predictable, as well as a bit old-fashioned (do people really share earphones anymore??)
I know next to nothing about Judaism as a whole, so learning about the particular sect that Raizl belonged to was interesting.
The ending was pretty disappointing to me. I would've loved to hear how the rest of Raizl's journey went.
I was so hyped to read this after I heard A Sunny Book Nook talk about it and it finally became available on World of Books a few weeks ago.
I was pretty engrossed by this book, I loved how empathetically Raizl was portrayed and her relationships with her family felt really real. I was a bit more suspect about the goths she became friends with... they seemed so one-dimensional and predictable, as well as a bit old-fashioned (do people really share earphones anymore??)
I know next to nothing about Judaism as a whole, so learning about the particular sect that Raizl belonged to was interesting.
The ending was pretty disappointing to me. I would've loved to hear how the rest of Raizl's journey went.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A coming of age story (of a young Hassidic woman with a porn addiction).
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
how is such a provocative book such a drag?! the litany of clinically described pornographic scenes is unbearable; the main character is dull; the various ways she is mistreated are not resolved in any satisfactory way. i have no problem with critiquing highly controlling religious societies, but considering the ending , i was disappointed that berliner didn't demonstrate more of the aspects of chasidic culture/religion raizl loves. was also deeply troubled by the scene with her group project: having a Black character who never appears previously or again say "jews are racist" is not an acceptable way to point out racism within jewish communities. would not recommend.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes