• An Unorthodox Match

  • A Novel
  • By: Naomi Ragen
  • Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
  • Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (259 ratings)

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An Unorthodox Match  By  cover art

An Unorthodox Match

By: Naomi Ragen
Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
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Publisher's summary

An Unorthodox Match is a powerful and moving novel of faith, love, and acceptance, from author Naomi Ragen, the international best-selling author of The Devil in Jerusalem.

California girl Lola has her life all set up: business degree, handsome fiancé, fast track career, when suddenly, without warning, everything tragically implodes. After years fruitlessly searching for love, marriage, and children, she decides to take the radical step of seeking spirituality and meaning far outside the parameters of modern life in the insular, ultraorthodox enclave of Boro Park, Brooklyn. There, fate brings her to the dysfunctional home of newly-widowed Jacob, a devout Torah scholar, whose life is also in turmoil, and whose small children are aching for the kindness of a womanly touch.

While her mother direly predicts she is ruining her life, enslaving herself to a community that is a misogynistic religious cult, Lola’s heart tells her something far more complicated. But it is the shocking and unexpected messages of her new community itself which will finally force her into a deeper understanding of the real choices she now faces and which will ultimately decide her fate.

©2019 Naomi Ragen (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

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What listeners say about An Unorthodox Match

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Many truths about Human nature

The story could have been a 5 if it weren’t for a couple of things.
1. The story dragged on too long. Too much explanation about every detail.
2. From what I know if the Ultra-Orthodox sects, children are not taught to read & write in English They know their Hebrew birthdays but not their Gregorian dates. Reading English signs in the Train Station would have been impossible nor is it likely for the conductor to understand her birthday when spoken in Hebrew. The author has great knowledge of Biblical history and human nature and this story does pull on some heart-strings.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Decent, knowledgeable, but not the best

This book was good and very well written, but it lagged in areas. It was clear the author was very well versed in orthodox Jewish culture and religion. However, the character development was unnecessary and dragged on and on. At times, the author would jump backwards so far that it seemed superfluous. Also, the whole point of the story was the unorthodox match. It took the entire book to get to that, instead spending most of the time focusing on each character’s trials and tribulations.

The reader was just meh. She struggled to keep the people’s voices straight. It was difficult at times to remember who was who. This book could’ve benefited greatly from a man voicing all the male parts. This book had so much potential.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Learning More about Judaism through a Good Story

I’m not Jewish so I was very interested in all the details (the good and the bad) about the various orthodox groups that exist in Judaism. I also found it interesting to be exposed to so many Yiddish expressions, which not everyone would enjoy I’m guessing. The story was very compelling and the learning aspects were nicely woven into the lives of a variety of Jewish characters.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Book!

I can't say enough about this book. Wonderful, very human characters, and I cared about them all so much. It was a look into a culture I know very little of, and I appreciated that as well. The story, performance, and everything about it was superb. I want to read more by this author.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

loved it...wanted more

I thoroughly enjoyed this audible book, but I wanted more, it ended too early for me!!!!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

so good

Although I don't speak a word of Yiddish & I'm a Christian, I loved this book. The story is timeless but the look into the orthodox community made this love story so much better.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Predictable outcome but clever getting there

Well written story with intriguing fragments that are not resolved until the end. Extremely well read. Characters are somewhat stereotyped but the plot is so clever that it prevents the reader from being able to figure out how the story will be resolved. Worth listening to.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing book

First review I ever write. This book was Powerful, honest, inspiring, truthful yet respectful. Teaching that the most important thing in the end is honesty and love.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Thinly veiled fluff

Basically Danielle Steele with some religious window dressing. What's with the racy cover that has nothing to do with the actual story? And please, tattoos cannot be removed with scalding water. Don't try this at home! Seriously, the author should have done at least five minutes of research before wrtiting something so laughably untrue. She should also get some therapy for her obvious body issues and eating disorder.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Would be better with a different narrator

A very good story of life in the Orthodox "yeshiva" world and how a sincere baal tesuva (religious returnee) tries to fit in. Unfortunately the narrator tires to put on some sort of a Yiddish/ European accent for many of the Orthodox characters. Its not believable and detracts from her otherwise good performance. Likewise her pronunciation of many hebrew, Jewish terms comes off as inauthentic.

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