This is a 4+ star book for me. It could have been a 5 star, but it fell a bit short for me.First off, I would like to say that this author is AMAZING. Her writing just sucked me in and kept me hooked. I felt like I was really there in Jerusalem living the life of this family. I learned so much about this religion and community. It was fascinating to see the similarities and differences between their religious beliefs and my own LDS Christian beliefs. Their struggle felt real to me.This author was able to make me FEEL what the characters were feeling, and feel it deeply. It was an emotionally painful and uncomfortable book at times...I guess that is the sign of a good author, but it still wasn't always pleasant. Call me crazy, but I read mainly for enjoyment, and if I'm not enjoying something, then it loses a few points in my book. Within the pages I found so many wonderful "Ah-ha" moments or things I wanted to ponder or remember or share with family members. I started sticking post-it notes on the pages that had these quotes -- by the time I was done, my book looked like a porcupine with post-it notes sticking out of it all over.I LOVED the first 1/3 of the book and the last 1/3 of the book. The middle was a bit tough for me. Without giving away too much, let's just say that it was really uncomfortable and I found myself squirming and wondering if I should close the book. It never crossed the line (my personal line of appropriateness) but it got uncomfortably close. But I'm glad I stuck it out. That last 1/3 gave me a lot of powerful, life changing things to think about. I think I am a better person as a parent, spouse, friend, and neighbor for having read this book. I still have many areas to improve on, but this book gave me LOTS to think about and ponder about what I believe and how I live my life.
I very much enjoyed this story. The characters, though at times simple, caught my attention and I often found myself wondering what would happen in the book as I went about my day. But one must remember that this is a story. Elements are created. Truths are exaggerated. This is a work of fiction by someone who does not live this way. I feel that the author was not using orthodox Judaism to demean the belief system, but to make a point about religion in general concerning gopsel versus personal doctrine. You find this problem in every religion, a small cluster of people who apply their personal beliefs as gospel and lose the fundamental principle behind what they are trying to acheive. An example of this would be the Morals Police, not an actual issue in Judaism (from what personal study has gleaned). I see why people of this faith do not like the portrayal of thier religion in this book, because so many will take all of these dramatic story elements as pure fact. I know that I would have the same concern if this book focused on my religion. I think the purpose of this story is not to expose the inadequacies or flaws of the religion, but to reflect on our personal reasonings and fundamental beliefs in an honest light and determine for ourselves its truth, validity, and purpose in our lives. Does it have value? Or is it a creation of social or economic gain parading as spiritual morality? I read this book and I discover a deep respect of this religion and its dedication to education, personal study, family, tradition and modesty.
What do You think about Sotah (2001)?
If you want to understand a diffeent group of people that lives among us I suggest the very interesting story written by Naomi Ragen. The name of the book is called Sotah and its the story of a young haredi girl that comes of age. The story begins with a description of her environment like how the sleeping arrangements of the siblings and the parents in a 2 bed room apartment in Mea Shearim. It tells how she struggled with conforming to the strict rules that everybody there has to follow, and the consequences of not following the rules exactly. I liked it because it gave me an understanding of their daily life from their point of view. I found it interesting that these girls are around my age and getting married and having kids. I highly recommend this book because it may change your opinion about how you feel towards the Orthodox.
—Galit
This book was pretty interesting. I picked it up because I wanted to learn more about the life of ultra-orthodox Jewish women. Although I am Jewish, their lives could not be more different from mine. Naomi Ragen, the author, is Orthodox herself and seemed very knowledgeable about the community. The book centers on Dinah, the second daughter of a family of modest means. In the ultra-orthodox community, girls' go through arranged marriages in their late teens. The best "catches" among the men are talmudic scholars. Thus, a lucky woman has to work very hard supporting herself, her husband, and her inevitably large family (due to lack of birth control). These "catches" also expect a large dowry from the bride's family - often an apartment, perhaps a car, and a contribution to income. To an outsider it is a miserable existence. Dinah, who is very pretty, eventually marries after the disappointment about being turned down by her first choice because her family was not wealthy. The man she married was not a scholar, but a successful carpenter/business man who could support her. Dinah was dissatsfied and disappointed by her low status. She was also very lonely and possibly had Post Partum Depression. Eventually she starts an inappropriate relationship with a man. When she is found out she is banished to New York. Eventually Dinah redeems herself. In the meantime, her perspective on the lives of Americans outside of her ultra-Orthodox bubble is amusing.The storyline is interesting as is the subject matter. Unfortunately, Ragen is not a great writer. Her characters felt a little flat to me. However, the storyline and the intersting information about the ultra-Orthodox community compensate for the weak writing.
—Lauren
So good! I enjoyed this book on several levels. First, it was an education into the lifestyle of Orthodox Jews - and the various groups within orthodoxy - in Jerusalem. Second, it is a study of good and evil, right and wrong, reward and punishment. While most Jewish novels I have read look at these issues against the holocaust, Sotah is Dina's struggle to reconcile these issues while immersed in the most observant form of Judaism and then in the presence of a kind but non-observant Jewish woman in New York City. Third, the characters and relationships are well-drawn and interesting. I particularly loved the characters of Judah, Dina's loving but too-quiet husband and Rabbi Reich, her always loving, so very gentle father.
—Sarah Nelson
