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    Gann 09-18-12
    Gann 09-18-12 Member Since 2016
    HELPFUL VOTES
    61
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    29
    16
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    "Zzzzzz"
    What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

    Greater detail, more insight. This author is too young to write a memoir that reflects a true life experience gained from another twenty years of her life.


    Would you ever listen to anything by Deborah Feldman again?

    probably not.


    What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

    I found the reader's voice irritating, although its youth was authentic for the story.


    You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

    Few.


    Any additional comments?

    The writing was rudimentary and a bore to listen to. Of all the outstanding writers out there who have received rejection upon rejection, how did this one get published?

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    3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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    Lindsay Canada 04-16-12
    Lindsay Canada 04-16-12 Member Since 2016
    HELPFUL VOTES
    9
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    4
    3
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    "Slow start ... but interesting once you get going!"
    Would you listen to Unorthodox again? Why?

    This is one of those books you can't stop listening to after the first 3 chapters. I couldn't help but want to know how things unfolded. It took me awhile to figure out where the author was going, but I quickly picked up on her writing style and ended up enjoying it a lot more than I did at the beginning.
    I had no idea what (really) happened behind the closed doors of Judaism, even having a few girl friends who are practicing orthodox Jews. The truth does stand, that the majority of women do not talk about it, nor what really happens behind the closed curtain practices, holidays, people and beliefs.

    While I'm not personally a religious person, I appreciate anyone who can believe in something so strongly ..


    What do you think the narrator could have done better?

    I have to be honest. The narrator really (REALLY) grated on me for the first 3 or so chapters. In fact, I was actually going to stop listening to it, because her breathy voice unnerved me *that* much ... but because I wanted to get to the real content of the book, I kept going. Thank goodness for that, because as I continued listening, I didn't notice her deep breaths at the beginning of each sentence as much.
    I can appreciate the narrators unique ability to use specific language accents on named & words when needed, which gave the novel a more genuine feel.


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    5 of 7 people found this review helpful
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    Kerry 04-04-12
    Kerry 04-04-12
    HELPFUL VOTES
    34
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    26
    11
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    "Excellent story!"
    Any additional comments?

    I can't believe this woman and I grew up in the same world, at the same time. To hear of her account, it's hard to believe we even live in the same country. I enjoy memoirs such as these that expose religion, cults and practices that are shielded from the outside world. Feldman has such an important story to tell about how strong the ties of religion can be yet how determined people like her cannot be bound by them. The narrator does a great job in nailing the cadence of questions and concerns Feldman brings up in her writing. A great and worthy audible purchase!

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    3 of 4 people found this review helpful
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    Andy Westport, CT, United States 03-02-12
    Andy Westport, CT, United States 03-02-12 Member Since 2010
    HELPFUL VOTES
    1630
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    441
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    "turn your watch back 500 years"

    It's about a woman growing up in a Brooklyn community that turned its watches back 500 years. Filled with surprising and intimate detail of the customs and mores followed in the journey to marriage and children of a Satmar Hasidism couple. I LOL more than once. Super narration.

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    6 of 10 people found this review helpful
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    BeckyJA 02-23-18
    BeckyJA 02-23-18 Member Since 2017
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    5
    2
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "Amazing "

    Crazy life she had to live! The men having so much power over the women is so disgusting. I’m very glad she broke away from her chains and had the courage to live the life she dreamed of.
    The reader did very well. Great voice to listen to.

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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    susan y jainchill 01-21-18
    susan y jainchill 01-21-18 Member Since 2014
    HELPFUL VOTES
    12
    ratings
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    23
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    "inspiring story. excellent performance!"

    inspiring story. excellent performance!
    I highly recommend to all. flows easily.
    listened to it commuting.

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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    sarah 12-20-17
    sarah 12-20-17 Member Since 2016
    ratings
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    8
    1
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    Performance
    Story
    "Fabulous book "

    What a great book!
    Loved the narrator.
    A wonderful respectful account without any mean ness or nasty comment. A respectful account of HER feelings and experience. I loved the book . Thank you. And yes! ITT is wonderful to be Jewish.

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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    Elizabeth 08-03-17
    Elizabeth 08-03-17 Member Since 2017
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    4
    3
    Overall
    Performance
    Story
    "Took a minute"

    The story was interesting & I enjoyed it. The narrator's voice was hard to get used to. It was a bit to high pitched for my liking.

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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    Jennifer G. 06-06-16
    Jennifer G. 06-06-16 Member Since 2015
    ratings
    REVIEWS
    12
    5
    Overall
    "fiction or non-fiction"

    Whether this book is fiction or nonfiction, the story is compelling. It shows what religious abuse looks like and show that is possible to happen within a closed community. those who choose this life cana and are perfectly happy with their religious choices, while some just want to be free.

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Sheila Silver Halet 05-26-16
    Sheila Silver Halet 05-26-16 Member Since 2018
    HELPFUL VOTES
    5
    ratings
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    15
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    0
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    "Free Will"

    Nu, so what happened to the child? If I am not for my self, who will be for me? Left with that question.

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    0 of 0 people found this review helpful