The Outside World (Vintage Contemporaries)

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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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