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Unorthodox
- The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots
- Narrated by: Rachel Botchan, Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
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Unorthodox
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Publisher's Summary
Called “brave and riveting” by Jeannette Walls, Deborah Feldman’s New York Times best-selling memoir of escaping from a strict Hasidic community includes a new afterword by the author as well as the epilogues from the original 2012 editions detailing the circumstances of her life after leaving her husband and forging new beginnings for herself and her young son.
As a member of the strictly religious Satmar sect of Hasidic Judaism, Deborah Feldman grew up under a code of relentlessly enforced customs governing everything from what she could wear and to whom she could speak to what she was allowed to read. Yet in spite of her repressive upbringing, Deborah grew into an independent-minded young woman whose stolen moments reading about the empowered literary characters of Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott helped her to imagine an alternative way of life among the skyscrapers of Manhattan. Trapped as a teenager in a sexually and emotionally dysfunctional marriage to a man she barely knew, the tension between Deborah’s desires and her responsibilities as a good Satmar girl grew more explosive until she gave birth at 19 and realized that, regardless of the obstacles, she would have to forge a path - for herself and her son - to happiness and freedom.
Remarkable and fascinating, this “sensitive and memorable coming-of-age story” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) is one you won’t be able to put down.
Featured Article: 17 Brilliant Audiobooks for Growing Up and Growing Older
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What listeners say about Unorthodox
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2020-09-18
Surprised
I thought it would be the same as the Netflix series (which I loved!) but it was very different. The resilience of the author in such a stifling environment is truly inspiring. Loved it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- sd
- 2021-01-17
Captivating but troubling story
Hard to imagine more has not been published about this little secret down there in NYC.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Crystal Galt
- 2020-04-21
review
I didn't love the narrator at first, but she grew on me. I decided to listen after watching the amazing Netflix series, which left me wanting more of the story. I'm happy I did.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lexi Wigan
- 2020-05-07
Unorthodox
Amazing! Narrator of the book was phenomenal - afterword narrator sound like a computer, almost impossible to listen to. It’s too bad bc the continuing story was interesting...
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2020-05-04
Loved it
I came to this book because of the show. Loved both so much. I think it will be one of those stories that I will carry with me forever
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Louise P.
- 2020-10-09
Witnessing the struggle !
I found this book profoundly touching. Being raised in a strict catholic upbringing, I remembered, as a child, my father and I crossing the street to avoid walking by a Protestant church. Being told that outside the Church, there is no salvation. My rebellion was so much easier by living in the secular world. My family and friends remained , even as my father felt he had failed his mission on earth. Her journey was life changing and a solitary adventure. This woman has guts ! This book is written in the rich language of someone who read many old books instead of magazines. I truly loved it from beginning to end.
Louise Power Bélec
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tina
- 2020-11-05
Captivating!
I loved this book. I loved its audiobook version, too. I literally had a movie playing on my mind as I listened to every word. A beautifully written memoir from the perspective of a Hasidic Jewish woman, made even more vibrant by the excellent storytelling in its audiobook version.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2020-05-04
Must "read"
Wonderful narration of a captivating autobiography. I binged this right after watching the short Netflix series.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nikki
- 2020-04-24
Love this book! Hard to stop listening
I love Rachel Botcham as the narrator
The story describes her lack of control her dimeaning events, her role as a wife mostly for sex and procreation, yet her delivery is not of emotion but sheer courage and strength and acceptance and finally freedom. Her wisdom for such a young age is astounding.
I didn’t like that the epilogue was a different narrator. You connect with Rachel and I would have preferred her soothing uplifting voice at the end, I understand why the narrator was changed, because of her age,yet still would have preferred Rachel.
Keep the same narrator all the way through
The reader feels a connection with her. This is the thing I dislike most about many audiobooks I buy.
Thank you!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Emma
- 2020-04-27
picked it up after binge watching the Netflix show
this is a great audiobook, goes into detail into the life of a young hasidic Jewish woman and how she grew up. I grew up in a modern reform Jewish home, so it was interesting to hear about how extreme and different it is. great story. highly recommend.
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1 person found this helpful