Unorthodox

The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots

De: Deborah Feldman

Narrado por: Rachel Botchan, Cassandra Campbell

Called “brave and riveting” by Jeannette Walls, Deborah Feldman’s New York Times best-selling memoir of escaping from a strict Hasidic community includes a new afterword by the author as well as the epilogues from the original 2012 editions detailing the circumstances of her life after leaving her husband and forging new beginnings for herself and her young son.

As a member of the strictly religious Satmar sect of Hasidic Judaism, Deborah Feldman grew up under a code of relentlessly enforced customs governing everything from what she could wear and to whom she could speak to what she was allowed to read. Yet in spite of her repressive upbringing, Deborah grew into an independent-minded young woman whose stolen moments reading about the empowered literary characters of Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott helped her to imagine an alternative way of life among the skyscrapers of Manhattan. Trapped as a teenager in a sexually and emotionally dysfunctional marriage to a man she barely knew, the tension between Deborah’s desires and her responsibilities as a good Satmar girl grew more explosive until she gave birth at 19 and realized that, regardless of the obstacles, she would have to forge a path - for herself and her son - to happiness and freedom.

Remarkable and fascinating, this “sensitive and memorable coming-of-age story” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) is one you won’t be able to put down.

©2012 Deborah Feldman (P)2020 Simon & Schuster Audio

UnOrthodox

I enjoyed the book thoroughly what a brave woman I recommend it highly very good I learned a lot in the lifestyle they had to live what was forced upon them and how sad it is for gay people or women that can’t get pregnant we tossed aside thank you

a very emotional and beautiful story

a reminder of the importance of women's rights to empower an educate sons and daughters

Honest & Heartfelt Story!

Loved this story, though wish the author narrated it herself!! Such honesty & heartfelt writing!

To be or not to be

who really chooses our path? divine intervention your parents or the lack of your religion this woman has faced so much in her Young Life I couldn't stop listening I actually yelled out loud a few times I felt her pain mental and physical But she had a dream and a drive to achieve more to life than what was planned for her

Excellent

This book was good. Very detailed and well written. Always intrigued by other cultures. Thank you

Captivating story

Such a powerful look into the orthodox Jewish world. I was pulled in right away and couldn’t put it down

Incredibly interesting saga

I gained insight into the ultra orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn This women’s saga was mesmerizing and I truly enjoyed being part of her inspiring journey

The universal story of finding a voice

It is the universal experience we all share as humans- when we are young we try to fit in, and then, at a certain point we shift and try to find was makes us different, what makes us special.

Deborah Feldman takes us on her journey from feeling ashamed of being different in a community- where rules are omnipresent to keep everyone the same- to her differentness empowering her.

She finds her solace in reading, and then her voice in writing.

What a gift it was to have a front row seat to her journey. I learned so much about my own Jewish history and identity. She opened so many windows into the world of shared Judaism separated by the choices our holocaust survivor grandparents made. My grandparents chose a different more secular Judaism, so our family never experienced what she did, but I could see the ways a different choice might have put me in her exact position.

I’d like to think that I would have had the inner strength, to find and wield the power of my own voice. In many ways, I still am.

Relatable

excellent book. I came from a Christian background. it was abusive and toxic and I left it behind because it was starting to affect me mentally.

Exceptional !

this book gave a phenomenal view of a world shrouded in secrecy with a reverence and respect not often seen