Naomi Ragen

This novel follows a young American medical student who relocates to Jerusalem and becomes entangled with an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. What begins as a search for meaning quickly turns disturbing, as community leaders reveal themselves as deeply manipulative figures who derive power and gratification from controlling others.
Ragen’s strength lies in her nuanced, unsparing portrayal of insular religious worlds and the psychological cost of unquestioned authority. She avoids show more caricature, instead showing how idealism, fear, and devotion can be weaponized—particularly against women. The novel raises compelling questions about where spirituality ends and coercion begins, and how faith can be distorted into a tool of silence and submission. Uncomfortable but powerful, this is a sharp critique of extremism cloaked in holiness. show less

Milia has taken over as head of the Survivor’s Campaign. Her grandfather has lead this charge for years. Now it is her responsibility to fight for Justice for the Holocaust victims. Milia receives an invitation to a conference in Lithuania. She has fought for the right to inform the public about what truly happened in this country. Lithuanians have never been taught the truth and Milia is determined everyone learns the heart wrenching details…even if it puts her life in danger.

This was show more really close to a five star read for me. But, I really was not a fan of Milia. She gets furious in several places without…in my opinion…understanding the true nature of the situation. Nor does she want to learn about the situation. She just wants to get mad. Now, she has EXCELLENT reasons to be mad about many things…and this is why everyone should read this book.

This story portrays what really occurred to the Jews in Lithuania. I have never, ever read a story with Lithuania as a backdrop in WWII. To say I learned something is an understatement. This novel had me researching and studying what I had missed. I cannot believe this tale slipped by me. Such an under reported tragedy.

Need a different take on the Holocaust…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. show less

A sequel to An Unorthodox Match, this novel can also stand on its own. It will be especially meaningful for those readers who are intrigued by Orthodox Jewish customs as they exist in the cultural prison of Boro Park, Brooklyn. Leah, who was not born into the life, had fallen in love with Yaakov, a widower with five children, whose wife had suffered from mental illness and taken her own life. As the novel opens, they are marrying, and Leah, already subject to the contempt of the Judgy show more McJudgeface neighborhood, scandalizes those who peer into her window and see her dancing to rock music with the two youngest children and without a head covering. It gets worse when Shaindel, seventeen and eldest daughter, sneaks around with the bad boy son of a rabbi, unsupervised. Each chapter is a crisis due to the unforgiving nature of the community. It's melodramatic but well written and full of condemnation for the rigidity of the religious life, while still interjecting some joy from the true nature of what HaShem (literally, the name of God) expects and rewards. show less

I have been reading Naomi Ragen novels for twenty years, since my mom recommended Jephte's Daughter to me. She always tells an engaging story, with interesting characters and very human dilemmas to solve. They are set among the orthodox Jewish community. Her newest, An Unorthodox Match, does not disappoint.

The story is about a a young widower, Yaakov, with five children. After a year of struggling emotionally and financially since his young wife's untimely death he realizes that he needs to show more find a new wife. In his community lives a young unmarried convert (although born Jewish) to orthodoxy, Leah. After losing her fiancé in an accident Leah is trying to find her life's purpose in that Orthodox community in Boro Park, Brooklyn where Yaakov resides. She too needs a new partner and strongly desires to be a mother. She volunteers to help others and becomes the part time baby sitter to Yaakov's youngest two children. They adore her. But also living in the home is a sixteen year old daughter who resents Leah and does whatever she can to sabotage the arrangement. Also figuring prominently (and a bit humorously) in the story is the role and purpose of the shadchan (matchmaker) in the orthodox community. And then there is Yaakov's mother-in-law, who wants Yaakov to remarry but lives with regret and self blame for her family's woes.

Regan explores the many forces that are against Yaakov and Leah coming together. She also inserts a bit of a mystery as to what actually lead to the death of Yaakov's first wife and skillfully deals with the issue towards the end of the book. Regan, as she always does, enhances her work with a more general exploration of faith in god and religious purpose. It is beautifully written and a compelling read.

You will find a glossary at the end that defines the many Yiddish terms used throughout the book. If I have any quibble it is that a number of terms were not included, despite being italicized in the text. Since I read an early review copy, perhaps the final glossary will be expanded. Although I knew many of the terms, I knew far from all, so the glossary was very helpful. show less