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Tonight is the first event for the new book, and I've spent most of the afternoon at home with curlers in my hair and cucumber circles on the eyes... Continue »

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What We Talk About When We Talk about Anne Frank: Stories
Nathan EnglanderNathan Englander 9780307958709

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Other titles in the Vintage Contemporaries series:

The Outside World (Vintage Contemporaries)

by Tova Mirvis

ISBN13: 9781400075287
ISBN10: 1400075289
Condition: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Tzippy Goldman was born for marriage. She and her mother had always assumed shed graduate high school, be set up with the right boy, and have a beautiful wedding with white lace and pareve vanilla cream frosting. But at twenty-two, Tzippys fast approaching spinsterhood. She dreams of escape; instead, she leaves for a year in Jerusalem.

There she meets–re-meets–Baruch, the son of her mothers college roommate. When Tzippy last saw him, his name was Bryan and he wore a Yankees-logo yarmulke. Now he has adopted the black hat of the ultra-orthodox, the tradition in which Tzippy was raised. Twelve weeks later, theyre engaged...and discovering that desire and tradition, devotion and individuality arent the easiest balance. Hilarious, compassionate, and tremendously insightful, The Outside World illuminates an insular community, marvelously depicting that complicated blend of faith, love, and family otherwise known as life in a modern world.

About the Author

Tova Mirvis grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. She received an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. She lives outside of Boston with her husband and two children. She can be found online at www.tovamirvis.com.

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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:

: Rachel Coker, October 21, 2010 (view all comments by Rachel Coker)
This novel offered great insights into the everyday lives of modern Orthodox Jews. It's a truly thought-provoking, occasionally wrenching book. I found it fascinating to see the differences in the family members' level of belief and adherence to various traditions. My own family, a mix of Reform and Conservative Jews as well as non-Jews, experiences some of these same challenges. I'm not sure that non-Jews would be able to understand the rituals and some of the vocabulary Mirvis uses, though the struggles between parents and their children that she writes about are universal ones. The novel raises numerous interesting questions, among them: What do you do when your child is more observant than you are? How much independence should you give your nearly adult children? Can a mother force her children to be friends with each other? This is a perfect book club selection!
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: Susan Wilson, October 2, 2006 (view all comments by Susan Wilson)
In her second novel, The Outside World, Tova Mirvis provides an accessible glimpse of the ?inside world? of Orthodox Jewish life. For me, the strength of the book is in Mirvis? believable mosaic of individuals. All are all trying to make sense of what it means to live as an Orthodox Jews. For example, middle-aged Shayna who became Orthodox as a teenager is always afraid that she will be ?found out? as a relative newcomer. Or Baruch (formerly Bryan) who was raised in a more progressive Orthodox home and becomes religious alienating his family. Or Naomi?s search for a more spiritual connection with her religion.
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Product Details

ISBN:: 9781400075287
Author:: Mirvis, Tova
Publisher:: Vintage Books USA
Subject:: Literary
Subject:: Parent and child
Subject:: Conflict of generations
Subject:: Domestic fiction
Subject:: Jewish fiction.
Subject:: Literature-A to Z
Edition Description:: Paperback
Series:: Vintage Contemporaries
Publication Date:: 20050531
Binding:: TRADE PAPER
Grade Level:: General/trade
Language:: English
Pages:: 283
Dimensions:: 8.08x5.28x.66 in. .49 lbs.

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