The Outside World

The characters are fleshed out, but too much time is spent within their minds and not enough time without. A problem with people is that they tend to think repetitively, and these characters are no different. They tend to be boring, and their lives rarely turn in compelling ways. The writing isn't bad per se; this would make for a pretty good 50-100 page (and maybe even less) novella/short story. I don't think the story, as its told, merits its length.

Tzippy and Bryan, coming from very different Jewish families, find each other and navigate their way through the religious tangles. From ultra-orthodox to super-liberal, the strains of Judaism ring through this book and through our minds. It used to be that pretty much all I knew about Jewish girls was that they were told to find (or have found for them) a "nice Jewish boy". But it just isn't all that simple.

The story is told with a great deal of humor and sympathy, and I am sure for those in the Brooklyn Know it has to be hilarious. I am not Jewish or any religion but I enjoyed the ride.

A wonderful and engaging read that manages to combine the 'exotic' world of orthodox Judaism and an interesting plotline.
This is the story of Tzippy, a girl who has grown up in an orthodox Jewish household in New York. Her whole life has revolved around finding the right husband and marrying, and at age 22 she is worried that she is simply too old. However, she finds Bryan, a boy from her past who seems to hold the keys to her future. However Tzippy learns that being married is about a whole lot more than the big wedding of your dreams - there is a life you have to lead together afterwards.
Rather than being some chic-lit book about girl getting married, this is fascinating look at (what is for this reader) a whole different culture, show more and how that culture can shape your expectations of what is normal and what constitutes happiness. However, the author of this book is talented enough that she also reminds you that some concerns are universal and while at times the world of Tzippy and her family can seem far away from that of a non-orthodox family, at other times her concerns and problems are the same as yours and mine.
I found myself really caring about the characters in this book, and the author has done a great job of making them all well-rounded, interesting and individual, rather than the stereotypes they could have ended up being. I will definitely be searching for more of Mirvis' work. show less

This is a book that is marketed to be about dating and relationships within Jewish Orthodoxy, but really it is a book about faith - what drives people's faith and belief in God, and why is there such a vast difference between people? It is a topic worthy of much discussion and deep introspection, so it was interesting to see it tackled within the context of Jewish Orthodoxy, a world most of us know little about.

I live in Brooklyn, probably just a few blocks from where this book takes place, so it was very easy for me to imagine their world based on the author's descriptions and what I've seen myself. I also happen to be friends with an Orthodox Jewish woman, so I was familiar with many words and concepts that may have otherwise been show more more difficult to understand while trying to enjoy a novel. It was interesting to read these character's voice from the inside.

One thing my Orthodox friend did warn me about was that this book may be a little unfairly biased against Orthodox Judaism. After reading the book, I can understand why she feels that way. There is an awful lot about the difficulty of keeping up appearances, the endless rules, the lure of the outside world, but less about why this way of life is so fulfilling. It would have been nice to read more about that.

I also found the various points of view and shifting of the omniscient 3rd person point of view jarring. Sometimes it was hard to tell whose thoughts I was reading, and just when I got used to one point of view, it would change. The same thing happened with time passing. It was very confusing to realize I'd shifted forward months without a clear transition.

Overall, I felt it was an excellent concept and still give me good food for thought along with an entertaining story, but I wish it had been better executed. show less

Tzippy Goldman is an unmarried young woman, Orthodox Jew, whose mother is frantically trying to marry her off. Bryan Miller is a young man from a liberal Orthodox Jewish family who spends time in Israel and comes back an ultra-Orthodox Jew. Tzippy and Bryan (Baroch) meet, fall in love, and eventually marry. Their courtship and marriage is a comedy and tragedy involving both of their families. Good book and a learning experience for a non-Jew like me.

This Tova Mirvis's second novel about the world of Orthodox Jews and it was just as fun and informative as the first. I liked this one a little better actually because of the way she shows how spirituality and religion can be observed so differently not only within such a small community, but within families. The story follows the lives of two families, the Goldmans and the Millers, whose children meet in Israel and come home engaged. The Goldmans, a family with 5 daughters, are strict Orthodox, while the Millers practice a more modern form. That is, until their son comes home from Israel and no longer wants to be called Bryan, but will only (happily) answer to his Hebrew name, Baruch. Baruch's devout belief puts a strain on his show more relationship with his father, who is more involved with his job than his God. Baruch's sister, Ilana is questioning her own beliefs and their mother, Naomi, finds herself in the middle of many family arguments. But Naomi has been developing her own quiet spirituality, and through it finds a peace that her family cannot provide. The Goldmans are unwavering in their beliefs, but find themselves constantly waiting for their father to "make it big" or discover the next Big Thing. Herschel is a dreamer, and he catches Baruch and Tzippy up in his dreams, leading them from the comfortable, familiar streets of Brooklyn to the tiny, close-knit community of Orthodox Jews in Memphis, much to the dismay of his wife, Shayna, a convert whose only desire is to truly belong. Mirvis shows us and her characters that even in a world as formal and regulated as Orthodoxy, the unexpected can and does occur, and as the cover art cleverly depicts, sometimes you expect roses, but what you get is broccoli. A great beach book. show less

An incredible look at the Orthodox Jewish community from the inside. It is a decent romance novel as well.