Reviews

Brazen: My Unorthodox Journey from Long Sleeves to Lingerie by Julia Haart

elbowglitter's review against another edition

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2.0

This book was not super believable and I lost interest by the last quarter or so, but it passed the time.

vnessc's review

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4.0

I agree with some reviews that it could have used a little editing but JH’s story is incredible and she clearly speaks from her heart and soul. She’s very intelligent and shares what she’s learned along her life-long journey.

cassiemccandless's review

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5.0

Great book and super inspiring!! Julia Haart’s life story and road to freedom was extremely interesting and thought provoking, too.

moosetash's review

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

2.0

thebookmeg's review against another edition

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2.0

I have to say I found this book super disappointing. I really enjoyed watching Julia on My Unorthodox Life and I picked this audiobook up because I was so curious how she went from “not being able to have a job” to being absurdly wealthy and successful in her industry.

The first half of the book is quite interesting being about her life in the Ultra Orthodox community. (Aside from her believing she is the tiniest, smartest, most creative, general best at everything.)

The second half was an absolute struggle to finish. This was the part I was most interested to read about and I am left feeling like most of her success was due to meeting wealthy men at the right time and I still have no real understanding of how we got from point A to B on a lot of things. I also felt like it was full of contradictions and absolute statements (I NEVER or I ALWAYS) that are then promptly shown as untrue.

sarah2019's review

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medium-paced

3.0

finding_me's review against another edition

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2.0

This was a choice of my book club. I wouldn't have finished it if I was not committed to the group and I almost never give up any reading. At first, I didn't hate it, since her life was truly interesting. I could learn some interesting things about Judaism, different ramifications and aspects of the ultra orthodox sect. I liked the way she told about her childhood, mainly her memories as an immigrant eager to find your place in a strange society. I could even feel her despair for not fitting the community. However, she repeats some catch phrases over and over and doesn't give the reader any space to draw their own conclusions. Moreover, while some episodes are related in vivid detail, others, that in my pov were more relevant, are hasty.
Although I like the way she embraces her new life and identity, I couldn't stop thinking about her kids and how overwhelming might have been this process for them.
Overall, I give it 2 stars for the audacity and for the story itself.

theawkwardbookw's review

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3.0

Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCferU-BCL2dlFjWdD0rS75Q

This is the memoir of Julia Haart, an ex-Orthodox Jew turned shoe and fashion designer.

I decided to pick this up after watching My Unorthodox Life Netflix series and all the talk about it on the show. I listened to this on audio, with Julia as the narrator, which I think made for a better experience. I recognized a lot of what she spoke about on the show in the first half of the book, but a lot of the second half I hadn't known. I think if you hadn't watched the show first, it could become very confusing, very quickly. There is a lot of repetition in the book, which can make it drag. The audiobook was 19 hours long, and it definitely could have been cut down if the repetitive parts were taken out. It also ends quite abruptly, glossing over a lot of things I would have wanted to know more about.

easchindler17's review

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funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

3.0

lieseylulu's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.5