I thought about what my feelings were and what I would say about this book the entire time I was reading it. The chapters alternate, for the most part, between the main character, Gittel, at 10 years old and at 17/18 years old. They seemed to mesh seamlessly which is always a gigantic plus but the childish voice from the 10 year old carried over to the adult. And please know that when I say 'childish' I mean childish.
I totally understand that someone in an ultra-orthodox religious community such as the one in the book wouldn't be as worldly as the children I'm used to but this was stretching it. This isn't the first book I've read, fiction or otherwise, where this kind of community and this kind of character is portrayed so it's not that this was a shock to me. The voice stood out, far out, to me as being overly childish. I'm not going to state specific examples, it would take too long although I do have a few in mind.
The ARC didn't have a glossary or a pronunciation guide and although most of the words can be understood with with the context clues there are still many that cannot. At the least one can't be sure if they're correct or not. Those two additions to the finished novel will go a long way. That being said, the author could have dropped it down about 5 notches. You can open the book to any page and find dozens of alien words. Sometimes the same word over and over, other times a new word. Either way it gets old fast. Just like I've read many books concerning this "type" of community and this "type" of character, I've also read many books featuring Jewish people. Their language is sometimes a part of that so this wasn't something unknown to me either. But there is such overkill. So much of it is just not needed and it definitely detracts from the story in my opinion.
Last but not least, this doesn't affect my rating because it's a pet peeve and nothing else, but why would the author choose to use "Eishes Chayil" as her so called "name"? The term means "Woman of Valor". wtf? How about the name your parents so lovingly gave you when you were born? They gave you the name for a reason. Use it. People have them for a reason. Don't like it? Change it. But don't just use whatever term you want when you want. I'm going to write a book and it'll be by "Super Woman" or "Super Mom". Who does that?
As a side note, I saw a book on goodreads.com by "Intelligent Allah". I guess that's opposed to "Stupid Allah"? I'd love to know what goes on in these people's minds. Actually, no, no I wouldn't.
I totally understand that someone in an ultra-orthodox religious community such as the one in the book wouldn't be as worldly as the children I'm used to but this was stretching it. This isn't the first book I've read, fiction or otherwise, where this kind of community and this kind of character is portrayed so it's not that this was a shock to me. The voice stood out, far out, to me as being overly childish. I'm not going to state specific examples, it would take too long although I do have a few in mind.
The ARC didn't have a glossary or a pronunciation guide and although most of the words can be understood with with the context clues there are still many that cannot. At the least one can't be sure if they're correct or not. Those two additions to the finished novel will go a long way. That being said, the author could have dropped it down about 5 notches. You can open the book to any page and find dozens of alien words. Sometimes the same word over and over, other times a new word. Either way it gets old fast. Just like I've read many books concerning this "type" of community and this "type" of character, I've also read many books featuring Jewish people. Their language is sometimes a part of that so this wasn't something unknown to me either. But there is such overkill. So much of it is just not needed and it definitely detracts from the story in my opinion.
Last but not least, this doesn't affect my rating because it's a pet peeve and nothing else, but why would the author choose to use "Eishes Chayil" as her so called "name"? The term means "Woman of Valor". wtf? How about the name your parents so lovingly gave you when you were born? They gave you the name for a reason. Use it. People have them for a reason. Don't like it? Change it. But don't just use whatever term you want when you want. I'm going to write a book and it'll be by "Super Woman" or "Super Mom". Who does that?
As a side note, I saw a book on goodreads.com by "Intelligent Allah". I guess that's opposed to "Stupid Allah"? I'd love to know what goes on in these people's minds. Actually, no, no I wouldn't.
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