cbendito's review against another edition
3.0
** SPOILERS**
I feel like this book was a lot of build up and then just fell flat at the end. It is very well written and Abraham paints a wonderfully vibrant picture of this family and the main character's life. I felt such sympathy for her struggle. Watching her live under the heavy expectations of her imposing father and his religious expectations was stifling. She dreams of breaking free, and then at the end, she sort of has, but not really. And the most frustrating part is that we don't even get to see what happens! We don't get to see her stand up to her husband, or father, or mother. She is just right back where she started and we don't really know how she got there. Or where she is going from there.
Again, I really enjoyed the writing and the story. I just wanted to SEE Rachel stand up for herself and break free, and I feel like the ending just fell flat. Like I was on the climb of a really high roller coaster, and then it just stopped at the top and we went back to the start without the fun of the decline.
I feel like this book was a lot of build up and then just fell flat at the end. It is very well written and Abraham paints a wonderfully vibrant picture of this family and the main character's life. I felt such sympathy for her struggle. Watching her live under the heavy expectations of her imposing father and his religious expectations was stifling. She dreams of breaking free, and then at the end, she sort of has, but not really. And the most frustrating part is that we don't even get to see what happens! We don't get to see her stand up to her husband, or father, or mother. She is just right back where she started and we don't really know how she got there. Or where she is going from there.
Again, I really enjoyed the writing and the story. I just wanted to SEE Rachel stand up for herself and break free, and I feel like the ending just fell flat. Like I was on the climb of a really high roller coaster, and then it just stopped at the top and we went back to the start without the fun of the decline.
noemiveenendaal's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
veryperi22's review against another edition
5.0
"Its not the kerchief or a radio or any one thing I want. They're things i want to have and forget about, things not worth fighting for. I don't want to fight for anything. I want to just be and do, with no one saying they're letting me."
I'm surprised this book doesn't have more exposure in the hasidic/ ex hasidic circle.
This is a beautifully written, painful and worthy read.
I'm surprised this book doesn't have more exposure in the hasidic/ ex hasidic circle.
This is a beautifully written, painful and worthy read.
disasterchick's review against another edition
3.0
I found this to be interesting but confusing. I wasn’t sure what was reality and what was her daydreams. I found Rachel to be disappointing and really only her mother evolved in the story. It was an easy read.
mpimental's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
rebeccafromflorida's review against another edition
4.0
The Romance Reader by Pearl Abraham is a book that was brought to my attention recently, while reading Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman.
Unorthodox is the true story of Deborah’s “escape” from a strict Hasidic (Jewish) community. One of her inspirations for leaving was Pearl Abraham’s novel, The Romance Reader.
And it’s interesting, too, because The Romance Reader really is the fictional version of Unorthodox.
The title is sooo misleading: this book is NOT a romance.
For the full review, visit Love at First Book
Unorthodox is the true story of Deborah’s “escape” from a strict Hasidic (Jewish) community. One of her inspirations for leaving was Pearl Abraham’s novel, The Romance Reader.
And it’s interesting, too, because The Romance Reader really is the fictional version of Unorthodox.
The title is sooo misleading: this book is NOT a romance.
For the full review, visit Love at First Book
oryx27's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
abbythompson's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting insight into the generational divide and subsequent conflict of a young girl coming of age in an Hassidic community in New York State. I wanted to like Rachel more and feel more connected to her story, but her situations was so frequently unsympathetic. The people surrounding her were so selfish and cruel that it was impossible to find much that redeemed any of them and therefore empathize with Rachel.
A good read, but not a great one.
A good read, but not a great one.
mikki_9's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It was cathartic and relatable. It brought up a lot of feelings (emotional trauma) from both a similar relationship with my mum as a young child and time spent in a fundamentalist community as a teenager and young adult.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Body shaming
Moderate: Abandonment, Suicide, Sexual content, and Fatphobia
Minor: Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Adult/minor relationship