I Am Forbidden

A Novel

De: Anouk Markovits

Narrado por: Rosalyn Landor

A family is torn apart by fierce belief and private longing in this unprecedented journey deep inside the most insular Hasidic sect, the Satmar.

In 1939, five-year-old Josef witnesses the murder of his family by the Romanian Iron Guard. He is taken in by a Gentile maid, who raises him as her own son. Five years later, Josef rescues a young girl, Mila, whose parents are killed in the wake of Nazi deportations. Josef helps Mila find safety with Zalman Stern, a leader in the Satmar community, in whose home Mila is raised as a sister to Zalman’s daughter, Atara. The two girls form a fierce bond, but as they mature, Atara feels trapped by the restraints of Jewish fundamentalism, while Mila embraces her faith and her role as a respected young woman in her community. When Josef returns and chooses Mila to be his bride, she eagerly strives to be an ideal wife, but a desperate choice after ten years of childless marriage threatens to separate her from everything—and everyone—she cherishes.

A beautifully crafted, emotionally gripping story of what happens when unwavering love, unyielding law, and centuries of tradition collide, I Am Forbidden announces the arrival of an extraordinarily gifted new voice and opens a startling window on a world long closed to most of us, until now.

Loved

I read the book a few years ago and enjoyed the story but struggled with pronouncing the Jewish words. Being able to hear the words said made it much more enjoyable.

A Cautionary Tale

I like the story, but it’s a bit bleak and depressing. It seems more a cautionary tale warning the reader about the dangers of literally interpreting religious texts than anything else.

It’s a pretty spare tale that moves quickly through the 70-ish year span it encompasses. I appreciate that, but I still think some scenes or issues wouldn’t have been hurt by a little additional time spent on them. For instance, what was Atara’s life like? She escapes the strict religious life as a teenager, but we don’t see her again until she’s in her 60’s. Her part in the story is so very brief.

I found the description of Hasidic life in both fascinating and horrifying; for the women, at least. While I was listening, I was constantly thinking of the similarities between Hasidim and other insular religious communities that encourage rigorous and strict interpretation of religious law and how limiting and confining they are to women. That’s pretty much what I took away from this audio book. I didn’t think it was a beautiful love story at all. It was a frustrating story about a married couple who, because of religious interpretation and rules and regulations spend their entire lives together physically-but apart mentally and emotionally. A couple who, because of an indiscretion and how the result of that indiscretion might affect future generations leads to family tragedy. Bleak and depressing folks!

It is well narrated by Rosalyn Landor.

The Damning of the Law and by the Law

This audio book is absolutely incredible. The story which goes inside the lives of Hasidic Jewish families brings an onslaught of emotions. I didn't know that the holocaust reached into Romania, until I listened to this book. Then to learn that Hasidic Jews believe and teach that the atrocities that the Jewish people suffered during World War II by the evil Third Reich are somehow a punishment that they deserve . . . oh, my, it is so sad. Yet there is an order, an extreme love of family and tradition in these people that one cannot fail to see and appreciate. Josef's story is haunting and beautiful. And all through the book, I prayed that he would return to the brave Gentile maiden who rescued him and became his second mother, and who revealed to him the only mercy he had ever known in his life, the grace and love of Jesus Christ. This isn't a religious book. It's so much more. It's a book that makes one question things. It is sad, victorious, triumphant, and yet, you will end up, like we all do, knowing that we, human beings, alone, we are not enough. And we CAN NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH. My heart broke every time that the Hasidic Jews chanted, Come my Messiah, come. They danced and sang. They punished themselves. They tried to keep a pure bloodline. Yet, all the while missing the gift that God send to them. Rejecting joy. Rejecting mercy. Josef's dreams of Jesus were haunting. This tale is beautifully written and the narration is just right.

Not Modern Orthodoxy!

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

To learn more about orthodoxy - pretty extreme. Certain facets not covered; like what they lived off of!

Would you be willing to try another book from Anouk Markovits? Why or why not?

Maybe. It didn't draw me in or endear the characters to me. I would have liked to know more about the sister who left and her challenges-

What about Rosalyn Landor’s performance did you like?

Not sure why the British accent - and it's Bubbie and Zayde; not Bobby and Ziedie! Lots of language challenges in the book. Not bad considering that.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Probably!

Heartrending

This book is a gem. It is not just a glimpse into life of the Satmar's hasidim, it is full of universal themes - belonging, love, honesty, devotion, interconnectedness of generations. It had a special meaning for me, because I am an immigrant, a Jew, and my grandparents and parents were Holocaust survivors. The pain of leaving one's country (despite persecution), losing loved ones, feeling like you don't belong, being rejected by your own family, by your own people is palpable in the book. Rosalyn Landor did a superb job, as always.
If you are not familiar with Jewish history and Judaism, read about it. Hasidut is a movement in Judaism. To me, their beliefs seem closer to Christianity, with the emphasis on Salvation, Resurrection of the dead in the "world to come", Messiah coming any day,divine holiness of their rebbes who rule like kings.It is a lifestyle, and they are not holier then anyone else. Satmar Hasidim do not acknowledge the existence of the state of Israel. Hypocrisy of their Rebbe, who saved himself by boarding the "Zionist" train, while his community was sent to the ovens thanks to his silence speaks for itself.