The Romance Reader

by Pearl Abraham

Book Overview

Widely applauded when it was published last year, Pearl Abraham's debut novel The Romance Reader possesses that quality that distinguishes all great fiction--a fresh look at the universal truths that... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1573225487
• Release Date: September 1996
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.8" x 5.1"

Customer Reviews

Fascinating look at a closed society

I thought the book was fantastic-the characters were compelling and Abraham provides a tight tension (I was never quite sure what Rachel would do).As I am extremely interested in strict interpretations of Judaism (while being very glad I live in a secular world!), I found the background of the story deeply fascinating. That said, I don't think the book is simply a story about the Chassidic world. It's a story about a closed community and the desire of some of its members to remain in the closed community while others push at and seek to explore the unknown world outside the closed society. There are innumerable parallels to this-for me, having a mom who grew up in an extremely rigid immigrant community and whose mom rebelled in a big way (going to college in the 1940s, marrying "out" and marrying someone of a different religion-a WASP whose family came here in the 1630s), the story was really insightful (made me understand my mom and her choices in a new way-and why many people from her childhood still see her, 40 years later, as a dangerous rebel). But it also provided me with insights into some of the closed societies to which I have belonged and the reluctance of the members of these grps to acknowledge the validity of the lives of those outside the society.Abraham writes well and the characters are well-drawn and highly complex people (with all sorts of contradictions within themselves). This was a book I literally couldn't put down. I strongly recommend it!

A True-to-Life Portrayal of a Rebel Within Ultra-Orthodoxy

I loved this book. I was raised within Orthodox Jewish tradition myself, and feel that this is an accurate portrayal of a rebellious daughter within an Ultra-Orthodox family. I know many of the customer reviews disagree with me; however, I do feel that within every single culture there are naturally bound to be certain individuals "who want out"! (Just as there exist secular Jews who want to be ultra-Orthodox). At any rate, the writing is excellent. And I especially enjoyed the part around her wedding; her horrible feelings around her mother shaving her head; and before that, picking her husband, sadly feeling that it didn't matter whom she picked; she had to pick him or someone similar. I had two criticisms: one, that the main character showed no affection for any of the ultra-Orthodox traditions. (There must have been something she liked about her life!) The other is the ending; I felt it was too concise and superficial, didn't really answer what happened after she returned to her family. But overall, this is a wonderful book, and lets us see a world that is mostly hidden from view. I only wish the author would write a sequel, so we can see how the main character deals with non-Orthodox life. I am waiting impatiently!

OY VEY!

This is a great coming of age story of a girl who just happens to be chasidic and her life. I dont think the point of the book was to dis the chasidic community, she could have been amish, catholic, russian or japanese. The point was her conflicts with the life she was used to. I liked Rachel, and thought it was great that she stood up for what she thought was right.Her mother reminded me alot of my own Jewish mom.. tied into tradition without giving it much thought. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ethnic parents, no matter what the ethnicity is.

absolutely loved this book

Pearl Abraham has captured the stifling confines of a very strict religious sect so well that I thought I was the main character! You do not want to put this book down & are very sorry you finished it so fast! Go & get this book as soon as you can, buy it or borrow it from the library, you won't be disappointed.

heartbreaking, great, could not put it down

I know this story, I remember it happining, the author Pearl Abraham Is Pictured in the book as Rachel, Monheegan is the town of Monsey 45 miles north of new york city, The Story is not fiction, from beginning to end true. I wonder why the auther did not finnish the rest of the story, what happend to the child she had after she reunited with her husband Yidel Fischer aka Israel Mittelman, and where her child is these days??? I Wonder if this in another steb in rebellion against her father family and relegion etc... The book is a real big hit, it is very compelling, amanstly charming and very moving. Thank You