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    Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots
    Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots
    Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots
    Audiobook10 hours

    Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots

    Written by Deborah Feldman and Cassandra Campbell

    Narrated by Rachel Botchan

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Now a Netflix original series!

    Unorthodox is the bestselling memoir of a young Jewish woman’s escape from a religious sect, in the tradition of Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Infidel and Carolyn Jessop’s Escape, featuring a new epilogue by the author.

    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 nineteen 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.

    Editor's Note

    On the screen…

    Deborah Feldman writes with raw intensity in this memoir about her life as a member of a very stringent sect of Judaism. Netflix based its miniseries of the same name off of Feldman’s chilling experiences growing up as a Satmar Hasidic Jew in a New York City, seemingly so far removed from modern life.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateMar 3, 2020
    ISBN9781797109398
    Author

    Deborah Feldman

    Deborah Feldman was raised in the Satmar Hasidic community in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York. She lives in Berlin with her son.

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    Reviews for Unorthodox

    4.5/5

    281 ratings18 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Deeply moving. I was transported to a fascinating world very different from my own with a story that I felt very close to mine. And im sure I’m not the only one sharing this feeling.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I loved this book and as someone who is very familiar with the area having gone to school on their "side of the tracks" as Deborah put in her book it felt more personal knowing the areas she was talking about and the customs and holidays she mentioned. I listened to this book in one day because I just could not put it down, definitely my favorite book of the year so far!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Thank you Debroah for sharing your story and giving us an insight into your ex community.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I watched the series before reading the book. With no knowledge of Hasidism this book is eye-opening and jarring. I feel proud to have met Debra Feldman through these pages and salute her for accomplishing this without prior training. When you apply yourself to what you love, the results are nothing short of phenomenal. ????
    • 5/5
      Absolutely amazing, I enjoyed it so much.... x x x
    • 5/5
      Very good! I loved it. So interesting to listen to all her thoughts about her community. I am so proud of her achievements as a woman. She is awesome!
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this. I listened to it after watching the Netflix series based on it. Was great to hear the real full story
    • 3/5
      I thought the book was insightful into a world I had previously respected, but knew little about. I would not have missed less details about the gynecological history of the author.
    • 5/5
      So good, can highly recommend. Take a peak into a hidden world, revel in her willpower and determination to be free.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed how this book opened my eyes to her experience of Hasidic Jewish culture, and the many ways in which the interpretation of the Torah's rules manifest themselves into daily life. The influence of the patriarchy in Hasidic Judaism is evident from listening to this book, especially concerning sex, motherhood and gender roles. Some parts were jaw dropping, like the child sex abuse cases that were more tolerated than homosexuality. I think 3 stars is justified as I would have prefered it if Feldman had spoken more about her life AFTER leaving the community, her relationship with her mother (did she restablish one?) It is worth noting the scandal this book caused, with many Hasidic Jewish people furious that she published their "dirty laundry". Some even compared her to inciting another Holocaust by sharing this story.
    • 5/5
      Incredibly moving, heartbreaking, and empowering. What a truly exceptional story!
    • 5/5
      Absolutely amazing! I listened to this after watching the Netflix doc and it was completely worth it.
    • 5/5
      Raw and honest
      Loved it so so beautiful.i saw and felt
    • 5/5
      Great book. Glad I listened after watching series on Netflix.
    • 5/5
      I watched the series and then ran to the book. Bungee both in a weekend. I have a friend who is an Hasidic and the last time I saw him my heart broke because I was not allowed to hug him goodbye. It was the first time I saw him in 7 years and I couldn’t hug him in front of his apartment that he lives and studies in Brooklyn. I wanted to know more about this community he chose to join.
      I HIGHLY recommend this and I honestly understand waaayyy clearer. Thank you
    • 5/5
      Simultaneously disturbing and fascinating, this details a woman's awakening to the flaws in the strict Jewish religion she has been raised in.
    • 5/5
      Great book about strong independent woman. Looking forward for the Netflix version.
    • 5/5
      Profound, powerful, and touching. I enjoyed reading it, and I hope many other people will enjoy it as well.