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A review by bookapotamus
The Marriage Box by Corie Adjmi
4.0
The Marriage Box was such a vivid window into a pivotal time in one girls life and the pressure she feels to respect her family and their beliefs, when all she really wants to do is be herself … or really - find herself - and become whoever she wants to be. Not who everyone else wants her to be.
After a troubling incident, Casey, a Jewish teen, is uprooted from her life in New Orleans to live in Brooklyn within a tight knit community of other Jewish Syrian families. And it is a culture shock.
These families follow rules she doesn’t know, and speak words she doesn’t understand, and they marry way too young for her to ever be able to pursue and follow her dreams. It’s just what is done - and what her parents think she needs. But she’s pretty sure this unfamiliar world is not for her.
It’s a unique coming-of-age story and such a wonderful look into the culture of this devoted community - something I wasn’t very familiar with. Although some parts made me super cringe for Casey, I loved how she persevered and didn’t lose herself, and thoughtfully made decisions that were right for her. I was rooting for her to smash the patriarchy all the way through!
Also… the 80’s vibes were totally on point and I loved all the nostalgia - and I also got quite hungry reading this and now I NEED to try all the Syrian foods!
After a troubling incident, Casey, a Jewish teen, is uprooted from her life in New Orleans to live in Brooklyn within a tight knit community of other Jewish Syrian families. And it is a culture shock.
These families follow rules she doesn’t know, and speak words she doesn’t understand, and they marry way too young for her to ever be able to pursue and follow her dreams. It’s just what is done - and what her parents think she needs. But she’s pretty sure this unfamiliar world is not for her.
It’s a unique coming-of-age story and such a wonderful look into the culture of this devoted community - something I wasn’t very familiar with. Although some parts made me super cringe for Casey, I loved how she persevered and didn’t lose herself, and thoughtfully made decisions that were right for her. I was rooting for her to smash the patriarchy all the way through!
Also… the 80’s vibes were totally on point and I loved all the nostalgia - and I also got quite hungry reading this and now I NEED to try all the Syrian foods!