Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.56 AVERAGE
2.56 AVERAGE
qtpieash3's review against another edition
2.0
It took me awhile to get into this one, with all the Yiddish words being tossed around and references to Jewish culture. Graff included a handy "Yiddish glossary" in the back that I felt like I was flipping to every couple of paragraphs. This is nit-picky, but I didn't think there were enough pages separating the last few pages of the story and the glossary. While I'd be flipping to the glossary, I'd inadverently catch a few words in the last pages and had pretty much figured out how the ending was going to do down.
"The Shiksa Syndrome" tells the story of Jewish New Yorker, Aimee. As the story opens, she's breaking up with Peter, her non-Jewish boyfriend due to their religious differences. Aimee feels as if she is under pressure to find a Jewish guy and is frustrated that they all seem to be more interested in "shiksas" or non-Jewish women. After an impromptu makeover, she meets Josh, who is seems to be the perfect Jewish guy. Due to her appearance and the way they initally meet, Josh thinks Aimee is a shiksa, a charade she knowingly keeps up. The story continues from there.
The book started dragging for me about halfway through. I thought the charade with Peter went on way too long. Aimee makes some important realizations about herself and her relationship with her religion as the story progresses, but they really lost a lot of their weight because while she knew what she should do, it took her forever to do it. I found her charade a bit off-putting as the story progressed; it escalated from a lies of omission to flat out whoppers when Josh surprises her with a trip to her "hometown" of Scranton. It also seemed like she enjoyed playing someone else too much, but was too selfish to stop.
I particularly liked the relationship between Aimee and her real shiksa friend, Krista. The juxtaposition of their situations was an interesting contrast and their relationship felt very real and natural to me. Krista's reactions to Aimee's situation were very plausible given their relationship and ones I could see happening in real life. I especially liked a twist late in the book regarding the two of them.
Overall though, this one was just ok. I feel like Graff could have delved deeper into the heavier themes of the book without taking away the overall lighthearted feel of the book. As it is, though, 2 stars.
"The Shiksa Syndrome" tells the story of Jewish New Yorker, Aimee. As the story opens, she's breaking up with Peter, her non-Jewish boyfriend due to their religious differences. Aimee feels as if she is under pressure to find a Jewish guy and is frustrated that they all seem to be more interested in "shiksas" or non-Jewish women. After an impromptu makeover, she meets Josh, who is seems to be the perfect Jewish guy. Due to her appearance and the way they initally meet, Josh thinks Aimee is a shiksa, a charade she knowingly keeps up. The story continues from there.
The book started dragging for me about halfway through. I thought the charade with Peter went on way too long. Aimee makes some important realizations about herself and her relationship with her religion as the story progresses, but they really lost a lot of their weight because while she knew what she should do, it took her forever to do it. I found her charade a bit off-putting as the story progressed; it escalated from a lies of omission to flat out whoppers when Josh surprises her with a trip to her "hometown" of Scranton. It also seemed like she enjoyed playing someone else too much, but was too selfish to stop.
I particularly liked the relationship between Aimee and her real shiksa friend, Krista. The juxtaposition of their situations was an interesting contrast and their relationship felt very real and natural to me. Krista's reactions to Aimee's situation were very plausible given their relationship and ones I could see happening in real life. I especially liked a twist late in the book regarding the two of them.
Overall though, this one was just ok. I feel like Graff could have delved deeper into the heavier themes of the book without taking away the overall lighthearted feel of the book. As it is, though, 2 stars.
kellybelleb's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a quick read and was a nice palette cleanser. And see Becca and Nora-- my ratings are NOT always a 5!
tyra_b's review against another edition
2.0
If this book had been a lot shorter it would have been a lot better. Nice Jewish girl can't meet nice Jewish boy. Looks like everybody is intermarrying. Maybe I can pass as a non-Jew and meet man that way. Aimee makes up an entire past history and complications occur. But it all works out in the end.
sensiblysassy's review against another edition
3.0
12th book of 2011
This book was a really quick read and pretty fun! I also enjoyed learning more yiddish!
This book was a really quick read and pretty fun! I also enjoyed learning more yiddish!
beastreader's review against another edition
2.0
Aimee Albert works as a publicist in Manhattan. She also is very faithful to her religion as a nice Jewish woman. She and her boyfriend, Peter have been dating for a while. Yet Aimee is ready to start a family and doesn’t know if Peter is the one. One… he is a Presbyterian and two…he isn’t ready to settle down like Aimee is. Peter can’t take the pressure and he ends things between them.
Krista is Aimee’s friend and also a shiksa. A shiska is a non Jewish person. Krista and Aimee go to a party at Down. Aimee observes Krista getting all the attention and coming away with phone numbers and dates. Aimee meets a guy at Down. His name is Josh. He seems nice and someone Aimee would like to get to know but he seems to be only interested in non Jewish women.
For Aimee’s birthday, Krista gives her a make over. Aimee couldn’t look any more opposite from a Jewish girl. Krista also shares with Aimee how to act and talk like a non Jewish person. Krista and Aimee head out again to Down and this time Josh shows an interest in Aimee. They go out, all the time Josh under the impression that Aimee is non Jewish. The thing is that Josh, himself is Jewish. Oh what is a girl to do?
I liked the concept of this book and thought it sounded like a fun chick lit but unfortunately I found it middle of the road just ok. While I thought Aimee seemed like a nice person, I was a little disappointed that for someone who believed in her religion so strongly would give it up for a guy. I was really turned off by Josh. I found him to be very judgmental, considering the fact that he was Jewish and he didn’t want to date girls that were. The rest of the characters were kind of boring. Overall, I liked the concept but could have been better and funnier.
Krista is Aimee’s friend and also a shiksa. A shiska is a non Jewish person. Krista and Aimee go to a party at Down. Aimee observes Krista getting all the attention and coming away with phone numbers and dates. Aimee meets a guy at Down. His name is Josh. He seems nice and someone Aimee would like to get to know but he seems to be only interested in non Jewish women.
For Aimee’s birthday, Krista gives her a make over. Aimee couldn’t look any more opposite from a Jewish girl. Krista also shares with Aimee how to act and talk like a non Jewish person. Krista and Aimee head out again to Down and this time Josh shows an interest in Aimee. They go out, all the time Josh under the impression that Aimee is non Jewish. The thing is that Josh, himself is Jewish. Oh what is a girl to do?
I liked the concept of this book and thought it sounded like a fun chick lit but unfortunately I found it middle of the road just ok. While I thought Aimee seemed like a nice person, I was a little disappointed that for someone who believed in her religion so strongly would give it up for a guy. I was really turned off by Josh. I found him to be very judgmental, considering the fact that he was Jewish and he didn’t want to date girls that were. The rest of the characters were kind of boring. Overall, I liked the concept but could have been better and funnier.
sunshine608's review against another edition
3.0
I had very mixed feelings about this book. At time I got frustrated with the fast-paced writing style ( i spent a good amount of time flipping back to see what I missed) and at times the story line irked me. It was the ending though that I really enjoyed, but as much I enjoyed the ending, it the plot line in the middle frustrated me.
Overall, I enjoyed it. Lots of things I could relate too and I definitely improved my Hebrew/Yiddish skills.
Overall, I enjoyed it. Lots of things I could relate too and I definitely improved my Hebrew/Yiddish skills.
ewg109's review against another edition
2.0
Oy vey. I had a lot of problems with this book, not the least of which involved her size 6 pants being too big. Throw in my raving distate for "Jewish boyfriend" and all the shiskas and I just really didn't enjoy this book. The best part was probably the yiddish dictionary at the back.
bookhoarding's review against another edition
4.0
I've always wanted to be Jewish. Besides that I had to read this book for an English course in college. We focused on the cultural transformations and sacrifices women often go through as they grow up and consider marriage. Pretty much, this book solidified the idea that women don't need to lose their own identity for a man.
nothingforpomegranted's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Thirty-something Aimee Albert breaks up with her non-Jewish boyfriend on Christmas when she suddenly processes that raising a Jewish family is important to her. Unfortunately, it seems like all the Jewish men just want to date shiksas. When a feel-better makeover gone wrong results in red hair, green eyes, and a false shiksa vibe, Aimee decides to embrace it, enjoying attention from men at a series of Jewish singles events who believe she and her friend Krista are both shiksas. Aimee enjoys the charade until she starts to realize how much she misses her Jewish life.
I enjoyed how full of New York and Jewish appreciation this book was. There were Yiddish words on every page, and the city was truly a character. I related to Aimee's absolute comfort in her city, and cringed with her when she found herself pretending it was no longer her home. The plot was fast-paced, and I flipped through pages quickly, but I finished the book quite uncertain that I had enjoyed it. The characters functioned primarily on stereotypes, and Aimee's false shiksa identity lasted far too long, especially with a love interest that neither she nor I seemed to connect to. The writing was readable enough, but a bit clunky and not always clear. The Shiksa Syndrome was a perfect airplane book, but one I was happy to leave on my seat when I landed.
I enjoyed how full of New York and Jewish appreciation this book was. There were Yiddish words on every page, and the city was truly a character. I related to Aimee's absolute comfort in her city, and cringed with her when she found herself pretending it was no longer her home. The plot was fast-paced, and I flipped through pages quickly, but I finished the book quite uncertain that I had enjoyed it. The characters functioned primarily on stereotypes, and Aimee's false shiksa identity lasted far too long, especially with a love interest that neither she nor I seemed to connect to. The writing was readable enough, but a bit clunky and not always clear. The Shiksa Syndrome was a perfect airplane book, but one I was happy to leave on my seat when I landed.
sunshineariel's review against another edition
2.0
It is rare, but sometimes I find myself reading a book so poorly written that I cannot bring myself to finish it. This is one of those books. The plot was decent enough to keep me interested for about half the book, but the author's writing kept me from wanting to finish it. Her sentence structure is very odd, and alternates between rambling sentences and sentences that seem to be missing some elements. In many places the scene completely changes between one paragraph and the next, with no transition and no separation. I was 142 pages in when the main character used a strong swear word, completely out of the blue. It wasn't the word that shocked me but the fact that there had been no indication for the first 141 pages that this word would be something natural for the character to say or think. While it is a story of the search for love and the hijix that go along with a mistaken identity, it seems the author also wanted this book to make the reader think about religion and tolerance, but the way she went about it made it seem like you are taking a break from the story to hear her opinions on those subjects. It isn't integrated very well with the story.
The only reason I gave this two stars instead of one is that it is an interesting plot, and the poor writing did not significantly detract from the story until about halfway through. I did flip to the end and read the last chapter, to see that it has a happy ending.
The only reason I gave this two stars instead of one is that it is an interesting plot, and the poor writing did not significantly detract from the story until about halfway through. I did flip to the end and read the last chapter, to see that it has a happy ending.