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amandag0515 's review for:
Shmutz
by Felicia Berliner
Thanks to the author, publisher, and Goodreads, for this giveaway!
I wish we could give half-stars because this book is definitely 3.5 stars to me. I enjoyed it maybe more than I expected, and was eager to read it as fast as possible. It really pushed me out of my comfort zone with the names and new words for things, and was also kind of familiar to me with the religious aspect outlining your daily life. It wasn’t as strict an upbringing as an Orthodox Jew, but Southern Baptists have their own limits due to religion so I liked that I could relate to that somewhat.
When I opened this novel, I had no idea what to expect and was instantly intrigued by the family dynamics of dating and marriage in Jewish communities, the Yiddish language, and Raizl’s story and porn addiction. No twist ending was needed and I think it actually trailed off at the perfect spot. We can see where she is going and yet, there is still some mystery. Can she continue to do what she wants, even though her life is changing?
The way addiction was addressed, with the main character in weekly therapy, and the inner monologue of the daily struggle of choices vs not feeling able to choose, but instead feeling obligated, was thoroughly portrayed here. I would read a second novel continuing in Raizl’s new future.
I wish we could give half-stars because this book is definitely 3.5 stars to me. I enjoyed it maybe more than I expected, and was eager to read it as fast as possible. It really pushed me out of my comfort zone with the names and new words for things, and was also kind of familiar to me with the religious aspect outlining your daily life. It wasn’t as strict an upbringing as an Orthodox Jew, but Southern Baptists have their own limits due to religion so I liked that I could relate to that somewhat.
When I opened this novel, I had no idea what to expect and was instantly intrigued by the family dynamics of dating and marriage in Jewish communities, the Yiddish language, and Raizl’s story and porn addiction. No twist ending was needed and I think it actually trailed off at the perfect spot. We can see where she is going and yet, there is still some mystery. Can she continue to do what she wants, even though her life is changing?
The way addiction was addressed, with the main character in weekly therapy, and the inner monologue of the daily struggle of choices vs not feeling able to choose, but instead feeling obligated, was thoroughly portrayed here. I would read a second novel continuing in Raizl’s new future.