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A review by whywelikereading
Sima's Undergarments for Women by Ilana Stanger-Ross
4.0
"Suma's Undergarments for Women" was a book that I picked up in a bargain bin at my school's book store for $1. It is possibly one of the best deals I have ever made. This novel is a small gem that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The setting is a basement in a small Jewish community in New York City. Sima, the owner, is a shrewd woman who is able to tell a woman's bra size with just a glance. Sima lives a functional, if not dysfunctional, life with her husband Lev. In her mid-sixties, married at a young age, with really nothing going for her but her shop, and most important of all, childless, Timna, a young beautiful Israeli starts working in Sima's shop.
Stanger-Ross approaches would could prove to be a very delicate subject with finesse. Sima is unable to have children, and Stanger-Ross examines this. In today's modern world, a woman is more than just her body; she is a powerful individual and her gender is, or at least should be, irrelevant. However, in most cases, this is not true. The main difference between a man and a woman, is, well, their gender, or more importantly what their gender allows. A woman reproduces; throughout history reproduction is paramount to being a woman, and this is still true today.
Sima feels a failure as a woman and becomes bitter towards the world and her husband because of it. Timna is the picture of a modern woman, and everything Sima wants. She wants Timna to be her daughter, she wants to be Timna, and even desires her sexually. Timna acts as a foil for acerbic Sima, and the novel shows the progression of their relationship over 9 months, and how each woman changes the other.
Stanger-Ross approaches would could prove to be a very delicate subject with finesse. Sima is unable to have children, and Stanger-Ross examines this. In today's modern world, a woman is more than just her body; she is a powerful individual and her gender is, or at least should be, irrelevant. However, in most cases, this is not true. The main difference between a man and a woman, is, well, their gender, or more importantly what their gender allows. A woman reproduces; throughout history reproduction is paramount to being a woman, and this is still true today.
Sima feels a failure as a woman and becomes bitter towards the world and her husband because of it. Timna is the picture of a modern woman, and everything Sima wants. She wants Timna to be her daughter, she wants to be Timna, and even desires her sexually. Timna acts as a foil for acerbic Sima, and the novel shows the progression of their relationship over 9 months, and how each woman changes the other.