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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Everything about Schmutz subverted my expectations (in a good way!) and here's why:
Schmutz is not at all what the easy assumption is, believing that it's a comedy about a young woman addicted to porn. Reading the blurb and seeing the pastel innuendo cover, I quickly imagined the situational comedy, dirty jokes, and generalized schmutz. But instead, Schmutz is a coming-of-age novel rife with honesty and denial, and filtered through the conscience of a young woman discovering and refining her sense of identity and sexuality through the internet and a porn addiction. It has so much heart and spirit in it, and is actually a portrayal of a bittersweet initiation into "true" adulthood, i.e. handling college and feeling overwhelmed, juggling a job and an abusive boss, navigating complex relationships, finding your purpose as a young adult, and exploring personal identity.
The power of the book is that it is not exploitative or written to court attention through scandalous and/or morally objectionable content, due to the Orthodox religious overtones and setting of the book. To Berliner's credit and writerly gravitas, this is written with grace and respect to the Hasidic community and their religious and cultural practices, and with a thoughtful depiction of porn and addiction.
It isn't sexless, it isn't a melodrama centered around nothing but female objectification. It isn't crass without reason, but it isn't purely virginal and guileless. It doesn't ask the young woman to choose either her love of God or sex, employing a fatalistic Madonna-whore complex. It doesn't focus on male or female pleasure, but the space in between and what pleasure asks and gives to either participant. It asks questions of honoring your family and trying to choose what path you want to take, and Raizl is faced with those questions and decisions throughout the book.
The only qualms I have with the book is that the end felt a little too quick and that we didn't see enough of the mental and emotional ramifications on Raizl from her addiction. All addictions are harmful, and I was curious to see how much porn had warped Raizl's expectations of sex and body image, which was explored somewhat but not fully.
I would have liked more development, a bit more soul-searching from Raizl to determine whether she should marry or not. I wouldn't call a book that ends with a wedding a comedy, but the beginning of a drama. Ultimately the end felt "wrong" because on a personal level I don't really approve of Raizl's decision to marry, but the end is realistic and that is probably more important than my personal fulfillment. That is what happens all the time, whether the young woman chooses marriage or is pushed into it by overzealous parents. Raizl wants to and ultimately chooses to, but she is asked to sacrifice much of her autonomous, non-Hasidic identity to marry.
This was a lovely book, and in conclusion, I'm very happy that it was nothing like what I imagined Schmutz would be like.
Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Schmutz is not at all what the easy assumption is, believing that it's a comedy about a young woman addicted to porn. Reading the blurb and seeing the pastel innuendo cover, I quickly imagined the situational comedy, dirty jokes, and generalized schmutz. But instead, Schmutz is a coming-of-age novel rife with honesty and denial, and filtered through the conscience of a young woman discovering and refining her sense of identity and sexuality through the internet and a porn addiction. It has so much heart and spirit in it, and is actually a portrayal of a bittersweet initiation into "true" adulthood, i.e. handling college and feeling overwhelmed, juggling a job and an abusive boss, navigating complex relationships, finding your purpose as a young adult, and exploring personal identity.
The power of the book is that it is not exploitative or written to court attention through scandalous and/or morally objectionable content, due to the Orthodox religious overtones and setting of the book. To Berliner's credit and writerly gravitas, this is written with grace and respect to the Hasidic community and their religious and cultural practices, and with a thoughtful depiction of porn and addiction.
It isn't sexless, it isn't a melodrama centered around nothing but female objectification. It isn't crass without reason, but it isn't purely virginal and guileless. It doesn't ask the young woman to choose either her love of God or sex, employing a fatalistic Madonna-whore complex. It doesn't focus on male or female pleasure, but the space in between and what pleasure asks and gives to either participant. It asks questions of honoring your family and trying to choose what path you want to take, and Raizl is faced with those questions and decisions throughout the book.
The only qualms I have with the book is that the end felt a little too quick and that we didn't see enough of the mental and emotional ramifications on Raizl from her addiction. All addictions are harmful, and I was curious to see how much porn had warped Raizl's expectations of sex and body image, which was explored somewhat but not fully.
I would have liked more development, a bit more soul-searching from Raizl to determine whether she should marry or not. I wouldn't call a book that ends with a wedding a comedy, but the beginning of a drama. Ultimately the end felt "wrong" because on a personal level I don't really approve of Raizl's decision to marry, but the end is realistic and that is probably more important than my personal fulfillment. That is what happens all the time, whether the young woman chooses marriage or is pushed into it by overzealous parents. Raizl wants to and ultimately chooses to, but she is asked to sacrifice much of her autonomous, non-Hasidic identity to marry.
This was a lovely book, and in conclusion, I'm very happy that it was nothing like what I imagined Schmutz would be like.
Thanks to Atria and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the eARC.
I was first drawn to Shmutz by the cover and plot, which was unlike any other book I have read. It did not disappoint! It’s hard to believe this is Felicia Berliner’s first novel, as the world that was built through Raizl’s eyes and inner dialogue was both complex and compelling. At no point did I predict what would happen next; even when Raizl made surprising choices, I ultimately understood her reasons and, by the end of the book, felt I had a more complete understanding of her as a person.
I didn’t realize there was a glossary of Yiddish words at the end of the book, so I definitely missed some context but was still able to understand the plot and dialogue. Overall, I recommend this thoughtful and smart read — I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for Berliner’s future novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Raizl is a young, Hasidic woman living in Brooklyn with her family. She expects an arranged marriage and follows strict behaviors emphasized by her religion and father. She already is a bit of an anomaly in that she is attending college for accounting and has a part-time job which helps support her family. But she understands what is expected of her in her community. Even so- she has a secret. She is addicted to pornography. Because of her job and her university work she has a laptop (not normally allowed) and becomes more and more engrossed in watching videos, which affects her schoolwork and relationships. On the other hand, it brings about an exploration of her sexuality and questioning of rules in her culture.
Berliner has written a intriguing debut novel- one that combines the two themes of strict religious communities and sexuality that are not portrayed together a lot. It is quite provocative- the sex acts are described quite frankly (though with a lot of yiddish definitions of anatomical parts), but I so enjoyed reading about Raizl's unexpected journey.
On a side note, the cover for this book is inspired and truly perfection.
Thank you to Atria Books via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.
Berliner has written a intriguing debut novel- one that combines the two themes of strict religious communities and sexuality that are not portrayed together a lot. It is quite provocative- the sex acts are described quite frankly (though with a lot of yiddish definitions of anatomical parts), but I so enjoyed reading about Raizl's unexpected journey.
On a side note, the cover for this book is inspired and truly perfection.
Thank you to Atria Books via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a great book to read. Raizl is both innocent and curious and she's a great heroine to root for.
Raizl has a porn addiction. She sees a therapist to get help with this but doesn't really have any friends or family she can discuss it with. And she is at the age where a marriage will be arranged for her soon. At home Raizl must hide not only her porn addiction but also the computer she uses to access adult videos.
This book is funny and interesting. There is a lot of Yiddish throughout but it's not hard to follow along even if you don't know any Yiddish. There's a handy glossary at the end to translate any unknown words.
I would definitely recommend this book. It's a great coming-of-age story with a look into one Hassidic family. It definitely has adult content and isn't for young readers.
Raizl has a porn addiction. She sees a therapist to get help with this but doesn't really have any friends or family she can discuss it with. And she is at the age where a marriage will be arranged for her soon. At home Raizl must hide not only her porn addiction but also the computer she uses to access adult videos.
This book is funny and interesting. There is a lot of Yiddish throughout but it's not hard to follow along even if you don't know any Yiddish. There's a handy glossary at the end to translate any unknown words.
I would definitely recommend this book. It's a great coming-of-age story with a look into one Hassidic family. It definitely has adult content and isn't for young readers.
emotional
reflective
medium-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
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
The cover alone drew me in, but when I read the description of a woman in her Hasidic community working through her addiction to porn, I was sold as intrigued.
Let me be clear — if you're one who is uncomfortable with graphic sexual imagery, this is not the book for you. However, it's fascinating to read about the porn Raizl is watching from her point of view — the choice to make it analytical worked really well. I also loved the Yiddish that was interspersed in the prose — it fleshed the novel out more and even if I didn't fully get the exact meaning (glossary at the end and I didn't even think to check on my e-book), you got enough of the meaning to get along.
The plot itself was less dynamic than I expected. While it was interesting, I kept wanting more. It's more introspective, which is fine, but not fully what I was expecting, I suppose. Reading Raizl work through her sexuality, her religion, and even role as a woman in an Hasidic community was handled with care — you can tell that Berliner was thoughtful in her words.
I think part of my reservation for the book is that I never fell in love with any of the characters. Not in the romantic/overly attached sense, but I didn't even feel like I got that attached. And it's not about likability, but just instead the investment I felt towards them. I was intrigued and wanted to finish but the characters didn't grip be as intensely as I would have hoped.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but didn't love it. I do think it's a really important and interesting new book, I just wanted to attach to the characters more and feel a little bit more of a fleshed out plot.
3/5 stars.
The cover alone drew me in, but when I read the description of a woman in her Hasidic community working through her addiction to porn, I was sold as intrigued.
Let me be clear — if you're one who is uncomfortable with graphic sexual imagery, this is not the book for you. However, it's fascinating to read about the porn Raizl is watching from her point of view — the choice to make it analytical worked really well. I also loved the Yiddish that was interspersed in the prose — it fleshed the novel out more and even if I didn't fully get the exact meaning (glossary at the end and I didn't even think to check on my e-book), you got enough of the meaning to get along.
The plot itself was less dynamic than I expected. While it was interesting, I kept wanting more. It's more introspective, which is fine, but not fully what I was expecting, I suppose. Reading Raizl work through her sexuality, her religion, and even role as a woman in an Hasidic community was handled with care — you can tell that Berliner was thoughtful in her words.
I think part of my reservation for the book is that I never fell in love with any of the characters. Not in the romantic/overly attached sense, but I didn't even feel like I got that attached. And it's not about likability, but just instead the investment I felt towards them. I was intrigued and wanted to finish but the characters didn't grip be as intensely as I would have hoped.
Overall, I enjoyed this book but didn't love it. I do think it's a really important and interesting new book, I just wanted to attach to the characters more and feel a little bit more of a fleshed out plot.
3/5 stars.
reflective
sad
medium-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
I received an Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. The cover of this book caught my eye, and I still think it is an excellent cover for the story inside. I am Jewish and was raised Jewish, but any Jew knows how different being Hasidic is from modern Judaism. Berliner does an excellent job of bringing you into the mind of a young, sheltered, Hasidic woman struggling to discover herself under the oppressive eye of her parents, boss, therapist, and God. I only wish the story ended with more of the future of the MC outlined, but that’s personal preference and not at all the fault of the author. I would recommend this book to anyone curious about strict upbringings in women in the modern age and how it can affect their minds.
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
funny
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Raizl is an eighteen-year-old, Yiddish-speaking Chasidic Jew who defies custom by going to college, allowing for her first taste of the unfiltered internet. School-sanctioned laptop in hand, curiosity leads her into the world of online porn, and her blunt observation, her made-up language for that which is forbidden, is certainly amusing. But video after video, night after sleepless night, Raizl finds herself addicted and unimmune to the dangers of sexual naivety. Struggling beneath the pressures of work, school, and her family’s expectations—namely, that she marry soon—Raizl must perform a balancing act between exploring her sexual desires and honoring religious values. Shmutz is a deviant coming-of-age story for readers of Milk Fed and Unorthodox.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexism, Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Miscarriage, Racism, Antisemitism, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
As a late bloomer to my own sexuality, I really enjoyed this coming of age tale of a Hasidic woman in Brooklyn with a secret addition to porn. Unlike most in her community, Raizl attended college and was given a laptop by the school for her assignments. Having this gave her access to the forbidden world of the internet, and she developed an addiction to porn, in addition to a curiosity for the world outside her traditional upbringing.
Unlike the popular representations of Hasidic women from the past several years, I really valued the rejection of the "enlightened woman is liberated from the terrors of Orthodoxy" trope. Raizl is smart, curious, and determined, but also loves Hashem, is devoted to her family, and desires to get married. The journey she undertakes is not to leave her community, but to reconcile her unconventional self with her traditions and beliefs. While I am not Hasidic, I am Jewish, and I loved the Yiddish and Jewish holidays and traditions included. The author obviously writes from a place of loving being Jewish, and that shone through the story. I wasn't sure how the story would be wrapped up as we neared the ending, but I am truly satisfied and feel Raizl made the choices that she wanted.
As a side note, I loved the emphasis Raizl put on the idea that Hashem is not the hegemonic Christian ideal of a man in the sky, but rather an unknown, nonhuman force, a Creator of which you cannot conceive an image. I wish this point was made more in Jewish lit and texts! I know that's a very Hasidic idea but it also accepted in other communities and it's something I really love about Judaism.
Overall, loved this book. You will learn a lot, and hopefully some readers will understand that not everyone feels hopelessly oppressed within a religious community. Sometimes, that community is where someone chooses to be.
Unlike the popular representations of Hasidic women from the past several years, I really valued the rejection of the "enlightened woman is liberated from the terrors of Orthodoxy" trope. Raizl is smart, curious, and determined, but also loves Hashem, is devoted to her family, and desires to get married. The journey she undertakes is not to leave her community, but to reconcile her unconventional self with her traditions and beliefs. While I am not Hasidic, I am Jewish, and I loved the Yiddish and Jewish holidays and traditions included. The author obviously writes from a place of loving being Jewish, and that shone through the story. I wasn't sure how the story would be wrapped up as we neared the ending, but I am truly satisfied and feel Raizl made the choices that she wanted.
As a side note, I loved the emphasis Raizl put on the idea that Hashem is not the hegemonic Christian ideal of a man in the sky, but rather an unknown, nonhuman force, a Creator of which you cannot conceive an image. I wish this point was made more in Jewish lit and texts! I know that's a very Hasidic idea but it also accepted in other communities and it's something I really love about Judaism.
Overall, loved this book. You will learn a lot, and hopefully some readers will understand that not everyone feels hopelessly oppressed within a religious community. Sometimes, that community is where someone chooses to be.