The Modern Jewish Girl's Guide to Guilt

by Ruth Andrew Ellenson

Book Overview

This is a collection of essays by young Jewish women eriters, exploring all the things that their rabbis warned them never to discuss in public. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452287480
• ISBN13: 9780452287488
• Release Date: July 2006
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.4" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Our book group loved it--smart, charming and funny

I saw the editor and three of the writers speak in San Francisco earlier this month. The panel was so interesting that I chose the book for my book group and we just met to discuss the book and it was one of the most thought provoking discussions we've had. We had 12 people at our meeting ranging in age from 27-63 and what was interesting was that each member had different favorite stories (the stories were all good, but we each related to different ones). If you are part of a book club, I enthusiastically reccomend this book for a great evening of discussion. It really stirs things up.

laughed while sobbing

Molly Jong Fast, daughter of Erica Jong who wrote Fear of Flying, wrote one of the funniest esays I've ever read in my life for this book. She writes about how all of her therapists become obsessed with her mother writing sexual novels and how they try to get her to talk about how much her mom traumatized her. Instead of feeling guilt about it, she decides to only agree with her shrinks if they give her candy. Freakin' hysterical. The other essay I LOVED was by Aimee Bender (who wrote "The Girl in the Flammable Skirt"). As a Highly Assimilated Jew myself I completely 100% saw myself in her story. I don't feel particularly religious, but always feel a spooky air of superstition around me, a fear of an "evil eye" if things are going too well--if I'm too happy, I'm screwed. I read the book over several lunch breaks at work and found it a fun way to take myself out of my day.

"The Modern Jewish Girl's Guide To Guilt," is a welcomed treasure!

Being a Modern Jewish girl, I sure do know guilt. I have felt a lot of it and after this book I don't feel so alone. This wonderful book made me feel less guilty. My Grandfather has been a Cantor for over 50 years. I also attended a Jewish Day school and Jewish Summer camp. I felt guilty for wanting more; breaking away from that environment. I identified with a lot of these stories. Some had me laughing hysterically and I cried at times too. These true stories were written beautifully; honest, personal, heartfelt, and with lots of personality. It's not just for women to read either! My husband loved it and identified with a it a lot! It's so nice to know that we are not alone out there and that we are finding our place in this world individually and as a whole. "The Modern Jewish Girl's Guide To Guilt," is a book long overdue. I feel less guilty now!

A wonderful anthology

Though I am a man, I know from guilt, and Ellenson and her authors nail the topic. This isn't what you expect; it's not a typical treatment of a broad topic, with the typical cliches. Instead, it's a sensitive, creative treatment of an intriguing and complicated human phenomenon. One does not need to be either Jewish or a girl to fully enjoy this book.

As a jewish girl, I really relate

The essays in this book were consistently excellent, with few exceptions. I was raised in an ultra-orthodox household, rebelled to modern orthodoxy in my teen years, and am generally non-practicing as an adult -- with the exception of making a kickin' matzoh ball soup when the urge hits me. In reading these essays, I laughed frequently, and felt that the writers (who span the complete spectrum) really expressed the jewish culture, while, at the same time, had unique stories to tell. I couldn't believe how well I related to so many of these women. If you are a jewish women of any bent, I think you will as well. Some essays assume specific knowledge of judaism without explanation (i.e. using the word "shadchan" instead of "matchmaker") but even those without this knowledge could probably pick up what they don't know because of context. I think some of my catholic friends would also enjoy this "guilt" book. As a little bit of additional heresy, I kept this book as bathtub reading, since each essay was about as long as a short story. Full of laughs! I highly recommend.