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Title: The Ladies Auxiliary (Ballantine Reader's Circle) by Tova Mirvis ISBN: 0-345-44126-5 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 05 September, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.12 (86 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: The Ladies Auxilliary, a Timeless Tale
Comment: This tale plunges the reader into the midst of a contemporary Orthodox Jewish community as it reacts to the presence of a young widowed convert and her daughter. Batsheva brings a refreshing enthusiastic approach to her chosen religion that acts as a catalyst in the community. Some find her differences dangerous, others are inspired by her actions. Written to reflect the women's view, the story is narrated in a communal voice. Yet each of the many characters is revealed by her own personal truth as she measures herself and her feelings against Batsheva's actions and opinions; the women in the Auxiallary, the high school girls, and finally the rabbi's son. Although it may appear orthodoxy is being challenged by change and modernity, the message gently reminds us that human beings even in orthodoxy must consult their hearts and minds to live a meaningful life. Ultimately both sides are given a sympathetic hearing. Along with a good story, the author paints an affectionate view of holidays and Jewish life.
Rating: 3
Summary: A conservative religious community confronts change in the
Comment: This first novel by Tova Mirvis accurately portrays a modern yet very conservative Orthodox Jewish community in the southern community of Memphis. Tradition is king here and through kinship and frienship community ways and standards are passed on and preserved. Scandal erupts in the form of a "new agey" widow, a convert no less, who arrives with her young daughter. What ensues is chaos and rebellion, although hardly caused by the newcomer. Mirvis does an excellent job in portraying the insular and suspicious nature of many Orthodox Jews. While they are friendly to their own, most Orthodox Jews are hardly free spirits or open to new ideas and ways. In many cases it is people who acrry these new ideas , and they need to be "investigated" before being accepted in the community. Yet tradition has a very beautiful side with strong families, beautiful rituals and a strong moral code. These are all very nicely portrayed in this book. It seems that this book is framed against a very real scandal in that southern town involving a leading rabbi and leading community members. It must have shaken the community to its core in the way Mirvis depicts the spiritual chaos in this fine first novel. The Purim chapter is evocative of the first novel of I.B. singer," Satan in Goray "with the freeing of restaint and passion among teen age community members. Hopefully Mirvis will continue to write and I hope she continues to explore the various shades and strands of the American Orthodox Jewish community.
Rating: 5
Summary: Gossip is never idle
Comment: Near the end of this novel there is a marvelous lesson about gossip. A woman who has damaged another person's reputation with gossip goes to her rabbi and asks him how she can take back the harm she has done. The rabbi tells her to take a feather pillow to the top of a hill and rip it open. The woman does this and returns to the rabbi. He then tells her to go back to the hilltop and collect every feather and put it back in the pillow. "But, Rabbi! That is impossible!" she tells him. He then replies yes, it is and such is the case with gossip. Once the harmful words have been spoken they cannot be taken back.
This is a wonderful novel about a close-knit religious community and the suspicion and fear that envelops it when an outsider moves in. The fact that this outsider is a young and very attractive widow only adds fuel to the fire. Ms. Tovis pulls no punches here in her depiction of the viciousness of gossip and how devastating it is not only for the victims but for the ones who participate in it. An excellent story with a lot of detailed descriptions of Jewish family life and Jewish holidays. I loved it.
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Title: The Outside World by Tova Mirvis ISBN: 1400041619 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 30 March, 2004 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
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Title: Four Mothers by Shifra Horn, Dalya Bilu ISBN: 0312263236 Publisher: Picador USA Pub. Date: 01 June, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: The Ghost of Hannah Mendes by Naomi Ragen ISBN: 0312281250 Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin Pub. Date: 16 November, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Seven Blessings: A Novel by Ruchama King ISBN: 0312309155 Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: 13 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $23.95 |
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Title: The Wholeness of a Broken Heart by Katie Singer ISBN: 1573228311 Publisher: Riverhead Books Pub. Date: 12 September, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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