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דלילה לוי, צעירה נאה וחומרנית, מחליטה ברגע של פאניקה להינשא לרב שמחפש את דרכו ולהיות עזר כנגדו. אבל ההכרח להפוך לדמות מופת בעלת מידות טובות בקרב הקהילה מוביל אותה למערבולת של בחירות בלתי צפויות, היוצאות מכלל שליטה. בשפה רגישה להפליא, בהומור שנון ואגב תובנות מאירות עיניים פורשת בפנינו נעמי רגן את סיפורה של אשת הרב ושל הקהילה, הנאבקת להיצמד לאמונה ולערכים בתוך עולם גדוש סתירות ופיתויים מסחררים. נעמי רגן חיה וכותבת בירושלים יותר משלושים שנה. ספריה רבי-המכר על נשים תאבות חיים בסביבה דתית זכו להצלחה בינלאומית ונמכרו בלמעלה מחצי מיליון עותקים.
349 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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752 people want to read
About the author
Naomi Ragen
18 books580 followersNaomi Ragen is an American-born novelist and playwright who has lived in Jerusalem since 1971. She has published seven internationally best-selling novels, and is the author of a hit play. Naomi also publishes a regular column that deals with Jewish subjects, especially Israel.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/naomir...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/naomir...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
October 2, 2007
I wavered between one and two stars on this one, but finally decided that it really wasn't much better than "With All My Heart, With All My Soul," especially in terms of subtlety, dialogue, agenda, etc. Before I start ripping this book, I have to get this one gripe out that jumped out at me. WHERE WAS THE EDITOR?
p. 205 -- "A week later, Chaim [the rabbi] began learning with Victor Shammanov."
p. 220 -- [at a dinner party given by the rabbi some time later] "He took Chaim into his arms and hugged him, kissing him vigorously on both cheeks. 'Victor Shammanov. Good to meet you, Rabbi!'"
But that's just the tip of the iceberg.
1. This story was way too farfetched, and I simply couldn't suspend my disbelief. The characters, thinly drawn though they were, were chameleons who changed character traits to suit the story. One minute, Chaim is a low-IQ guy smitten with his wife; the next, he's thinking critically and analytically about both his wife and his congregation and delivering pointed sermons, not to mention putting together the nature of his wife's extracurricular activities based on very limited, vague information. Also, while it was predictable that Delilah would have trouble with the community, some of the forms that this trouble took were pretty unrealistic.
2. The satire was way over the top. I know Naomi's been out of America for a while, but the idea that a charity for providing secondhand designer handbags for Israeli victims of terror would take off is too ludicrous to be funny. Most Americans, even suburban ones, are too busy struggling to pay their tuition to have three maids or make bar mitzvahs which involve flying their friends to Africa. It's the classic Israeli image of American Jews as rich, bored, people with absolutely no sense of proportion. I'm not saying it's never true, just not nearly to the extent that Ragen depicts. While good satire involves some exaggeration, too much exaggeration just makes it into an eye-rolling farce.
3. Ragen's trademark, the little (and not-so-little) asides slamming many Orthodox practices, have GOT to go. Believe me -- it's not because this offends me as an Orthodox Jew. I read a wide range of books and have no problem with authors whose points of view don't reflect mine -- I even find that more stimulating. I'm actually speaking purely as a writer -- it disrupts the flow of the story when the author sticks her agenda in with little mini-lectures (whether framed as narrative or as dialogue) or even brief ad hominem attacks. The really good books I've read have managed to convey a lot without ever departing from the story line in this way. Agenda ruins a story -- any good writer will tell you that. Other writing problems, probably related to this, was a major problem with "Show, don't tell," especially when it came to depicting the stresses on Delilah's life as a rebbetzin.
I thought this book would be a departure from some of her earlier Haredi-bashing books. In a superficial sense it was, focusing on Modern Orthodox Jews and on a heroine who exploited the system rather than suffering from it. However, there was certainly no shortage of anti-Orthodox diatribes, especially attacking rabbinic Judaism, to the point that I started to wonder whether Naomi might be a Karaite.
p. 205 -- "A week later, Chaim [the rabbi] began learning with Victor Shammanov."
p. 220 -- [at a dinner party given by the rabbi some time later] "He took Chaim into his arms and hugged him, kissing him vigorously on both cheeks. 'Victor Shammanov. Good to meet you, Rabbi!'"
But that's just the tip of the iceberg.
1. This story was way too farfetched, and I simply couldn't suspend my disbelief. The characters, thinly drawn though they were, were chameleons who changed character traits to suit the story. One minute, Chaim is a low-IQ guy smitten with his wife; the next, he's thinking critically and analytically about both his wife and his congregation and delivering pointed sermons, not to mention putting together the nature of his wife's extracurricular activities based on very limited, vague information. Also, while it was predictable that Delilah would have trouble with the community, some of the forms that this trouble took were pretty unrealistic.
2. The satire was way over the top. I know Naomi's been out of America for a while, but the idea that a charity for providing secondhand designer handbags for Israeli victims of terror would take off is too ludicrous to be funny. Most Americans, even suburban ones, are too busy struggling to pay their tuition to have three maids or make bar mitzvahs which involve flying their friends to Africa. It's the classic Israeli image of American Jews as rich, bored, people with absolutely no sense of proportion. I'm not saying it's never true, just not nearly to the extent that Ragen depicts. While good satire involves some exaggeration, too much exaggeration just makes it into an eye-rolling farce.
3. Ragen's trademark, the little (and not-so-little) asides slamming many Orthodox practices, have GOT to go. Believe me -- it's not because this offends me as an Orthodox Jew. I read a wide range of books and have no problem with authors whose points of view don't reflect mine -- I even find that more stimulating. I'm actually speaking purely as a writer -- it disrupts the flow of the story when the author sticks her agenda in with little mini-lectures (whether framed as narrative or as dialogue) or even brief ad hominem attacks. The really good books I've read have managed to convey a lot without ever departing from the story line in this way. Agenda ruins a story -- any good writer will tell you that. Other writing problems, probably related to this, was a major problem with "Show, don't tell," especially when it came to depicting the stresses on Delilah's life as a rebbetzin.
I thought this book would be a departure from some of her earlier Haredi-bashing books. In a superficial sense it was, focusing on Modern Orthodox Jews and on a heroine who exploited the system rather than suffering from it. However, there was certainly no shortage of anti-Orthodox diatribes, especially attacking rabbinic Judaism, to the point that I started to wonder whether Naomi might be a Karaite.
May 31, 2010
Well, I'm not sure why so many people didn't seem to like this book. I didn't feel it offended or stereotyped Judiasm- in fact, I learned a lot of interesting facts about the religion and customs. Yes, the main character was unlikeable, but do we walk around liking everyone in the world, real or fictional? Of course not. We're all flawed. Yes, this woman clearly had a screw (or seven) loose. But she also showed sign of humanity here and there, and her character seemed to be in an ongoing conflict within herself. She struggled between being her own best friend and her worst inner critic. I felt sorry for her when I wasn't laughing at how clearly crazy she was. I thought it was a humorously written satire. My heart broke for her poor husband, who only wanted to do the right thing for his wife and his religion and his community, and quickly realized that he could never please everybody no matter how hard he tried. You really felt for the poor guy. In any event, I thought this was a silly read. If you liked the movie "Election", you'd enjoy this book. In fact, when a Reese Witherspoon movie reference is made towards the end of the book (all I will say b/c I don't want to give a spoiler), I laughed out loud b/c I could totally see it. So Mazel Tov, Naomi, because I liked this book and think you are a wonderful writer!
November 8, 2020
Definitely dove into The Saturday Wife for a specific challenge. It was an okay book that definitely made me break out the wine. It also had a lot of boring moments for me as well.
Let's just say.. that I wasn't entirely invested in any of the characters. I'm not going to flat out state that they were extremely boring - it's just nothing really happened to them throughout the book that would make me want to like them.
None of them had any particular growth and if they did, I probably would've rated this book a lot higher. Then there's the main character of this book and I just couldn't stand her. She constantly frustrated and annoyed me. I even hoped that I could find one little thing to like about her - I didn't and couldn't.
At one point, I realized how close I was to finishing the book and that was the only thing that got me going. Honestly, I'm just glad that it's done and over with. It had potential to be a good book, not great but better than just okay, and I just ended up being disappointed.
Let's just say.. that I wasn't entirely invested in any of the characters. I'm not going to flat out state that they were extremely boring - it's just nothing really happened to them throughout the book that would make me want to like them.
None of them had any particular growth and if they did, I probably would've rated this book a lot higher. Then there's the main character of this book and I just couldn't stand her. She constantly frustrated and annoyed me. I even hoped that I could find one little thing to like about her - I didn't and couldn't.
At one point, I realized how close I was to finishing the book and that was the only thing that got me going. Honestly, I'm just glad that it's done and over with. It had potential to be a good book, not great but better than just okay, and I just ended up being disappointed.
April 10, 2023
OK, so Delilah Levi is one of the most irritating, narcissistic, unlikable characters you’ll ever meet. She is also a hoot. She has absolutely no self awareness; if there is a decision to be made, she invariably makes the wrong one; and she wants what she wants and doesn’t care about the consequences. She can self justify anything. She tries to be a good observant Rabbi’s wife, but it’s all just so hard for her to care about anyone but herself. She married Chaim because G-d managed to get her out of a sticky situation, not because she loved him. She gave being a rebbitzin her best shot, which wasn’t much, but the life of a poor Rabbi’s wife just didn’t suit her. (The life of a poor woman also didn’t suit her either. Let’s face it, being poor was not in her plans.) Her life is further complicated by Chaim, who loved her but was never going to amount to much. He liked being a mediocre Rabbi, which was all he would ever be. He could never stand up to Delilah about anything. (I’m not sure, but X-rays would show that he was born without a spine.) I will say that some of the best laugh out loud parts of the book is when Chaim is telling a funny story to make a moral point. (People looked at me funny at the gym when I would LOL while exercising on the recumbent bike.)
The story moves along at a pretty good pace, as you wonder just how much more trouble Delilah can get into, and how this is all going to end.
And then there is the epilogue, and for all that Delilah exasperated you during the story, it makes it all worth it.
While reading the book, I took it all at face value, and found it a bit frustrating. Now I see that it was all satire and so well done. A lot of jabs are taken at holier than thou people, at excessive consumption, at a “keeping up with the Joneses (or the Bernsteins)” that goes on in some circles. (I was not raised observant, but I am well aware of the “my country club is better than yours” mentality that I saw among the families I grew up with.
So go into this book with tongue firmly planted in cheek, and be prepared for some scathing social commentary, with a lot of humor and some snark.
The story moves along at a pretty good pace, as you wonder just how much more trouble Delilah can get into, and how this is all going to end.
And then there is the epilogue, and for all that Delilah exasperated you during the story, it makes it all worth it.
While reading the book, I took it all at face value, and found it a bit frustrating. Now I see that it was all satire and so well done. A lot of jabs are taken at holier than thou people, at excessive consumption, at a “keeping up with the Joneses (or the Bernsteins)” that goes on in some circles. (I was not raised observant, but I am well aware of the “my country club is better than yours” mentality that I saw among the families I grew up with.
So go into this book with tongue firmly planted in cheek, and be prepared for some scathing social commentary, with a lot of humor and some snark.
July 12, 2016
The Saturday Wife is an entertaining, witty yet saddening read, which highlights the immoralities and hypocrisy of some people in every religion. Whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim etc there are always those people who claim to be "holier than though" and bend the rules of their religion when it suits them.
The story centers around Delilah Goldgrab Levi, a highly unlikable, selfish and conniving young woman, who dreams of living a life of fortune and luxury at any price. Delilah takes advantage of her beauty in order to achieve this goal. She marries a naive but goodhearted rabbi, Chaim, whom she manipulates into taking a job as the rabbi of an extremely affluent, but scandal tainted community in Connecticut.
Even though Delilah is such an unlikable character with very few redeeming features; I find unlikable characters more interesting. I felt sorry for Chaim, as he tried so hard to make Delilah happy and to be a good dutiful husband. I was glad that he eventually grew some balls and starting to stand up for himself and what he believed in. Chaim becomes disillusioned and disheartened by the immorality, excess and greed of the people in the community. It's yet again another classic example that some people have more money than brains and have not even a semblance of spiritual or moral compass. For them religion is just a facade. This novel really depicts the downside, excess and wastefulness of the American Dream. It's disgusting that for example such a spiritual and profound coming of age event like a Bar or Bat Mitzva is turned into such an extravagant event, where by the amount of money spent becomes the most defining characteristic.
Although this was an entertaining, funny and easy read, I felt as though there was no meaningful outcome of the story or significant change in Delilah's character. Even though unlikable characters make a more interesting story, they have to have some redeeming qualities in order to make the reader root for them. Although Delilah displays some tinges of guilt, it's not enough to make her rethink her behavior and she always finds a way to justify her cruelty. The ending was also far too ambiguous. Sometimes although it's good to create some ambiguity it doesn't really work in a story like this. Other than that this was an enjoyable read. Naomi Ragen is a good writer and although the theme of all of her books are pretty much about Orthodox Judaism, it's something that non-Jews can enjoy as well and learn more about the Jewish culture and religion. I do look forward to reading more of Naomi Ragen's novels.
Grade: B+
The story centers around Delilah Goldgrab Levi, a highly unlikable, selfish and conniving young woman, who dreams of living a life of fortune and luxury at any price. Delilah takes advantage of her beauty in order to achieve this goal. She marries a naive but goodhearted rabbi, Chaim, whom she manipulates into taking a job as the rabbi of an extremely affluent, but scandal tainted community in Connecticut.
Even though Delilah is such an unlikable character with very few redeeming features; I find unlikable characters more interesting. I felt sorry for Chaim, as he tried so hard to make Delilah happy and to be a good dutiful husband. I was glad that he eventually grew some balls and starting to stand up for himself and what he believed in. Chaim becomes disillusioned and disheartened by the immorality, excess and greed of the people in the community. It's yet again another classic example that some people have more money than brains and have not even a semblance of spiritual or moral compass. For them religion is just a facade. This novel really depicts the downside, excess and wastefulness of the American Dream. It's disgusting that for example such a spiritual and profound coming of age event like a Bar or Bat Mitzva is turned into such an extravagant event, where by the amount of money spent becomes the most defining characteristic.
Although this was an entertaining, funny and easy read, I felt as though there was no meaningful outcome of the story or significant change in Delilah's character. Even though unlikable characters make a more interesting story, they have to have some redeeming qualities in order to make the reader root for them. Although Delilah displays some tinges of guilt, it's not enough to make her rethink her behavior and she always finds a way to justify her cruelty. The ending was also far too ambiguous. Sometimes although it's good to create some ambiguity it doesn't really work in a story like this. Other than that this was an enjoyable read. Naomi Ragen is a good writer and although the theme of all of her books are pretty much about Orthodox Judaism, it's something that non-Jews can enjoy as well and learn more about the Jewish culture and religion. I do look forward to reading more of Naomi Ragen's novels.
Grade: B+
November 13, 2016
At the end of the book Ragen says this was supposed to be satirical and purposely exaggerated to be amusing. I didn't see the amusing part, I didn't even realize it was supposed to be a satire and found the whole thing to be OTT with one dimensional characters and anti-religion. Ragen says in the interview printed at the back that she would never cross the line where she was actually anti religion and anti G-d, well I think she passed it and has done so in previous books too but here the plot wasn't interesting and the characters were inconsistently portrayed (in a bad way) and non-believable. In parts of the book she seems to even switch narrative, going from fiction to kind of preaching mode where it is obviously the author's personal voice rather than the character's. A readable book and I had no problem finishing it but I wouldn't particularly recommend it.
April 23, 2015
I think this 'novel' is unworthy of Naomi Ragen. The plot line is silly, a means for her to display the barely two-dimensional characters. The "satire" is terribly overdone and loses whatever message there might be for the reader interested in the conflicts between being a religious Jew and material desires. Her observations make me wonder if she views all of Jewish life through these terribly jaded lenses.
There is also an error: the sotah is not described in Leviticus, but in Numbers, parashat Naso. Hmmmm.
I would expect much more of this writer.
There is also an error: the sotah is not described in Leviticus, but in Numbers, parashat Naso. Hmmmm.
I would expect much more of this writer.
May 12, 2010
Unfortunatley there can't be a lot of positive things to say about this book in my opinion. After reading Jephte's daughter I was expecting a lot more.
There was no depth to the characters or the plot and the portrayal of a young Jewish woman both in seminary and as a Rebbetzen in two different communities was I felt largely unrepresentative of those lifestyles.
The main character was ofcourse highly unlikeable and although I don't think this in itself is always a negative point in a novel, in this case it was as I didn't feel I was given any cause at all to sympathize with her thoughts, try as i might to 'see the other side of the story.'
I also felt Ragen was over indulgent with her focus on Delilah and didn't dedicate enough time to her husband or friends which may have made for more interesting characters.
When I reached the end of the book my dissapointment didn't cease as I felt it just petered out. Overall, although the book was easy to read it felt very shallow and didn't keep me gripped.
I hate to write such a bad review! The previous Ragen I read means I won't be put off reading another one and I'v heard that 'The Covenant' is one to look out for?
There was no depth to the characters or the plot and the portrayal of a young Jewish woman both in seminary and as a Rebbetzen in two different communities was I felt largely unrepresentative of those lifestyles.
The main character was ofcourse highly unlikeable and although I don't think this in itself is always a negative point in a novel, in this case it was as I didn't feel I was given any cause at all to sympathize with her thoughts, try as i might to 'see the other side of the story.'
I also felt Ragen was over indulgent with her focus on Delilah and didn't dedicate enough time to her husband or friends which may have made for more interesting characters.
When I reached the end of the book my dissapointment didn't cease as I felt it just petered out. Overall, although the book was easy to read it felt very shallow and didn't keep me gripped.
I hate to write such a bad review! The previous Ragen I read means I won't be put off reading another one and I'v heard that 'The Covenant' is one to look out for?
January 28, 2016
This is one of the worst books I have ever read. Not a single character in this book is likeable, the plot is so far-fetched that it is unbeliveable, and it is poorly written. While I have enjoyed Naomi Ragen's other novels (for the most part), not as great literature but enjoyable, it was not so with this one! I felt myself so bored that I skimmed sections and at the end found myself pondering why I wasted my time finishing the darn thing!
December 27, 2008
I really enjoyed this humorous book, which wound up being rather profound--and eerily forboding of a current situation in the world (don't want to say too much and spoil). The book follows the life of a young American Jewish modern orthodox girl, Delilah, whose material and sexual appetites separate her from the world in which she lives.
September 4, 2015
I love her writing and all her other books are five stars. This one was so very cynical that it was as if someone else wrote it. Very derogatory towards Jews and not an enjoyable read at all. It starts bad and ends worse.
April 2, 2009
Hilarious! Even though I possibly missed some of the subtleties by not being Jewish, I found it a great bit of satire.
June 17, 2011
Delilah grew up going to Jewish schools, immersed in the Orthodox Jewish community. She was always on the fringes looking in. She was envious of all the things her schoolmates had and she coveted them. At college, she rooms with Rivkie who is a wonderful person. Delilah is looking for something. When she gets a date with Yitzie, the son of a famous Rabbi, she thinks this is it. He is a little bit dangerous not like the other boys. When he finally gets his way with her, he stops calling. Then Delilah thinks she is pregnant. After talking to Rivkie, she prays and promises to change. Scared at what almost happened, she convinces herself that she should be virtuous and marry Chaim Levy. He is the grandson of a lesser known Rabbi with a small, older congregation in the Bronx. Delilah settles in only to become bored within a few months. She wants Chaim to look for another job. Chaim cannot disappoint his grandfather. Delilah is never satisfied. She starts a flirtation with a new young congregant only to realize that a relationship with him would be worse than what she has. Unfortunately, the grandfather finds out and he suffers a stroke and dies. Chaim knows that Delilah is unhappy but he assumes she will come around. After the death of the grandfather, the congregation begins to drift away mainly because they do not really like Delilah. Delilah follows the rules until she does not follow them. She yearns to be free to go to a Broadway show, to wear a bikini, to not have to cater to the people in the congregation. She finally convinces Chaim to apply for a position at a synagogue that has been ostracized. They fired their last Rabbi for being too good at getting their children to embrace Judaism. Now no Rabbi will take the chance to go there. Any Rabbi who does will be shunned by the entire Rabbinic community. Chaim cannot deny Delilah anything. Against his better judgement, he accepts the job. Delilah is ecstatic. This is a very wealthy area. They get a very beautiful home. However she is still called upon to see to the needs of the congregation. This is all too much for her. Chaim arranges for her to have an aupair come in and a membership at the country club. There she meets Joie and she feels like she has finally found a true friend. Joie is married to a wealthy Russian Jew. They are in the process of building a 45,000 sq ft home. Delilah is in heaven. But be careful what you wish for.
Delilah is very unlikable. She is spoiled, childish and not very bright. She always wants what she cannot have and when she gets it it is not enough. Chaim is so in love with Delilah that he will do anything for her. He was warned before he married her that she was damaged goods. He let her lead him around by the nose. He was a nice man, low self-esteem, and also not very bright. He eventually realizes that Delilah has led him into what for him is very dangerous territory. He cannot find a way out before everything comes tumbling down.
Delilah is very unlikable. She is spoiled, childish and not very bright. She always wants what she cannot have and when she gets it it is not enough. Chaim is so in love with Delilah that he will do anything for her. He was warned before he married her that she was damaged goods. He let her lead him around by the nose. He was a nice man, low self-esteem, and also not very bright. He eventually realizes that Delilah has led him into what for him is very dangerous territory. He cannot find a way out before everything comes tumbling down.
December 5, 2008
Ok, i wanna explain why i gave this book a generous 2 instead of what it really deserves- 1- fact is, this book was written in an extremely easy-to-read fashion- not sure what about it made it this way, but i read this in 2 days and couldn't put it down.
so the problems i have this book are many, but i'm gonna focus on one by contrasting it with one of my favorite books- "the outside world," by tova mirvis. i know that a lot of religious people have trouble with that book but i loved, loved, loved it, because i felt that it tackled the many stereotypes that exist in the orthodox world with sensitivity, and above all, love. the main character in "the saturday wife" is possibly the worst fictional character in recent memory- not one redeeming quality, and i'm supposed to understand all her horrible deeds because she didn't get picked for the punchball team when she was a kid? she lies, cheats, sleeps around, flirts, neglects her kid and marriage, and deliberately harms people...this is never ok, "bruised childhood" or not. her husband is written as a total imbecile, ignoring people's advice and marrying a girl solely because she is gorgeous- at least his lack of intelligence is consistent throughout the book. the community they move to is written to stereotype rich, modern orthodox communities, similar to the one where i grew up. while many of the subtleties ring true, i don't think you would ever find a group of rich people stupid enough to think that terror victims needed designer bags. i love how tova mirvis was able to break through her stereotypes by injecting each character with genuine feelings and struggles- ingenuity was a huge problem in "the saturday wife." if the rich community members would be written as excellent parents or caring people, as opposed to all-around crappy people, i might be more inclined to believe and like them...as it is, i'm left with a bad taste in my mouth to almost every character.
so the problems i have this book are many, but i'm gonna focus on one by contrasting it with one of my favorite books- "the outside world," by tova mirvis. i know that a lot of religious people have trouble with that book but i loved, loved, loved it, because i felt that it tackled the many stereotypes that exist in the orthodox world with sensitivity, and above all, love. the main character in "the saturday wife" is possibly the worst fictional character in recent memory- not one redeeming quality, and i'm supposed to understand all her horrible deeds because she didn't get picked for the punchball team when she was a kid? she lies, cheats, sleeps around, flirts, neglects her kid and marriage, and deliberately harms people...this is never ok, "bruised childhood" or not. her husband is written as a total imbecile, ignoring people's advice and marrying a girl solely because she is gorgeous- at least his lack of intelligence is consistent throughout the book. the community they move to is written to stereotype rich, modern orthodox communities, similar to the one where i grew up. while many of the subtleties ring true, i don't think you would ever find a group of rich people stupid enough to think that terror victims needed designer bags. i love how tova mirvis was able to break through her stereotypes by injecting each character with genuine feelings and struggles- ingenuity was a huge problem in "the saturday wife." if the rich community members would be written as excellent parents or caring people, as opposed to all-around crappy people, i might be more inclined to believe and like them...as it is, i'm left with a bad taste in my mouth to almost every character.
February 15, 2011
Ragen was inspired by hoochie-dancing Orthodox Jewish women and Flaubert's Madame Bovary to write this book and frankly, it shows. Ragen's strength is in loving yet clear-eyed depictions of Orthodox communities in America and Israel, but this time she moves out of it enough to show some of the excesses that can happen as these communities go upscale.
The protagonist (one dare not call her heroine), is Delilah Goldgrab, a relentless social climber whose name telegraphs her intent. Since the rabbi is the largest status figure in her confined, ultra-Orthodox world, she sets out to marry one, and succeeds in marrying a nice but not particularly dynamic assistant rabbi with a his grandfather's small, elderly congregation in the Bronx. Delilah's very conventional religiosity exists in tension with her relentless material and social-climbing goals and her desire for male admiration.
Unlike Emma Bovary, Delilah never actually commits adultery or suicide, but she does manage to lead her husband into an upscale (but blackballed!) congregation where the rabbi is expected to provide moral guidance without, you know, weighing against the excesses of the wealthy lifestyles. Whether the book ends badly or not is kind of up for debate. I was highly amused by the story of a particularly lavish bar mitzvah and Delilah's wacked-out idea of a charitable project.
This is not one of Ragen's best books. It's hard to pull off an unlikeable heroine in chick lit (and this is chick lit), and Ragen almost-but-doesn't-quite pull it off. And there are some jarring moments, including when Ragen listed one of Delilah's favorite books as Jephte's Daughter, which is one of Ragen's own earlier (and better) works. An author ought to be able to resist this.
The protagonist (one dare not call her heroine), is Delilah Goldgrab, a relentless social climber whose name telegraphs her intent. Since the rabbi is the largest status figure in her confined, ultra-Orthodox world, she sets out to marry one, and succeeds in marrying a nice but not particularly dynamic assistant rabbi with a his grandfather's small, elderly congregation in the Bronx. Delilah's very conventional religiosity exists in tension with her relentless material and social-climbing goals and her desire for male admiration.
Unlike Emma Bovary, Delilah never actually commits adultery or suicide, but she does manage to lead her husband into an upscale (but blackballed!) congregation where the rabbi is expected to provide moral guidance without, you know, weighing against the excesses of the wealthy lifestyles. Whether the book ends badly or not is kind of up for debate. I was highly amused by the story of a particularly lavish bar mitzvah and Delilah's wacked-out idea of a charitable project.
This is not one of Ragen's best books. It's hard to pull off an unlikeable heroine in chick lit (and this is chick lit), and Ragen almost-but-doesn't-quite pull it off. And there are some jarring moments, including when Ragen listed one of Delilah's favorite books as Jephte's Daughter, which is one of Ragen's own earlier (and better) works. An author ought to be able to resist this.
February 24, 2014
This was 5 stars all the way until the epilogue at the end of the book! I hate not knowing what happens to characters in whom I have invested days of my life! Until that point, this was an all encompassing read about greed and longing, always wanting more than you have, even when you thought you had everything every time you got more. A lower middle class Orthodox college girl, with great beauty, dreams of a good life, with a big house and material goods. She lusts after a charmer, temporarily breaking from the laws of Orthodox Judaism. To save herself, she marries a hard working Rabbi who takes over his grandfather's congregation in the Bronx. This is not the life Delilah coveted, and she will never stop wanting more and more and more. As she gets it, it is still never enough. The author has a fabulous way of pointing out the vile excesses of the wealthy, who could be doing truly good deeds, but always have to one up their neighbors. It doesn't matter that this is the story of a Jewish couple. It could be any couple with one partner who is never satisfied.
Regan's descriptions of the venues in which she sets her story are just fabulous. Her characters are well drawn. Even though Delilah can be shallow and greedy, there is something real and vulnerable about her. She is naive and trusting, and that is her downfall.
I just with Regan did not offer multiple possible endings. I want to know what because of Delilah and the Rabbi!!!!
Regan's descriptions of the venues in which she sets her story are just fabulous. Her characters are well drawn. Even though Delilah can be shallow and greedy, there is something real and vulnerable about her. She is naive and trusting, and that is her downfall.
I just with Regan did not offer multiple possible endings. I want to know what because of Delilah and the Rabbi!!!!
December 27, 2009
This is very different from Ragen's other work in that the protagonist is not a particularly sympathetic character. She is quite awful, actually. The book is a bit of a farce, which you have to be or have been Orthodox to truly understand. My sister read it despite my warning and didn't get it because she didn't have the same exposure to traditional Judaism that I have had...so she didn't get the "jokes". Jokes is a bit of a misnomer - there aren't any jokes, just crazy situations that are only humorous if you know enough halakha to appreciate them.
So if you think you're Jewish enough to grok the book - should you read it? It can't hurt, but it won't be the end of the world if you don't. It didn't grip me like her other books did, maybe because I really didn't like the main character. She's a social climbing, materialistic no-goodnik with a pretty face who lands a well-meaning but not-so-bright rabbinical student for a husband. She sets out to make sure that he provides for her the type of life she wants to have, no matter what the cost - which ends up being rather higher than any of them would have thought. Despite not being able to say I truly "liked" the book, I did read it in one sitting in hopes that Delilah would get her come-uppance at the end.
So if you think you're Jewish enough to grok the book - should you read it? It can't hurt, but it won't be the end of the world if you don't. It didn't grip me like her other books did, maybe because I really didn't like the main character. She's a social climbing, materialistic no-goodnik with a pretty face who lands a well-meaning but not-so-bright rabbinical student for a husband. She sets out to make sure that he provides for her the type of life she wants to have, no matter what the cost - which ends up being rather higher than any of them would have thought. Despite not being able to say I truly "liked" the book, I did read it in one sitting in hopes that Delilah would get her come-uppance at the end.
January 9, 2010
Wow! I think I just finished reading "The Parable of the Foolish Wife" or some lesson about wanting too much or chasing the gods of money. In this book, the rabbi's wife (aptly named Delilah!) is never satisfied, until she manages to destroy her own family, her circle of friends, and the church--like the original Delilah, huh? The book is an indepth look at the life of a silly, materialistic, ambitious woman unsuited to her role as the wife of a simple, well meaning, long suffering rabbi. The book is also a great indepth look at orthodox Jewish practices in homes, families, etc.--I think this has caused me to give it a higher rating. With its once-upon-a-time tone, there is a lot of humor in the book but also a lot for serious thought. The last chapter is almost an afterthought that adds little to the book, but does propose to satisfy the reader's last question. People expecting a traditional novel will be disappointed, but other readers may get quite a Sunday School lesson from The Saturday Wife!
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January 24, 2008If you can imagine Emma Bovary as a contemporary, Orthodox Jew, you have the gist of this latest Jewish family saga from Ragen. Delilah Goldgrab, whose name is completely symbolic of her personality: Delilah is a "bad girl," an Orthodox Yeshiva student who falls for & has sex with the son of a famous rabbi, who promptly dumps her. Goldgrab is interested in only one thing: grabbing the gold, as in making a successful marriage to a man who can keep her in the style to which she would like to become accustomed. Delilah is a beauty, which definitely helps ensnare rabbinical student Chaim Levi. But no matter what he does for her, no matter what she has, it's never enough and never what she feels she deserves. It's a fascinating story and a mesmerizing one, rather like watching a train wreck; you know it can't possibly end well, but you can't stop reading.
December 3, 2008
To say that I was disappointed with this book is an understatement. I've read many of Ragen's previous books and they have brought me to tears, with characters who really meant something to me. I remember back in high school creative writing class the teacher telling us that stories without a single likeable character are recipes for disaster, and someone should have told Ragen that when she started this book. Her afterword leaves readers to believe that the book was disliked partly (mostly?) because the characters that are so annoying are Orthodox Jews, and her Jewish audience didn't care for that. Well, that's completely beside the point! She has a leaden foot with what she refers to as satire. I gave the book two stars because of Ragen's past excellence, but really this is a one star book if I ever read one.
November 10, 2008
I found this book equal parts hilarious and offensive. I'm Jewish, but not religiously so. In that vein, I can find the humor in a lot of this book without being offended by it. The parts that offended me really had nothing to do with the author, merely that facts about the Orthodox aspect of the religion that is so over the top, it's sad. I thought this book did a great job at explaining the traditions a bit to non-Jews that might read it, and I hope that people understand this is meant to be satire, and not to be taken so seriously, as the author explains both at the beginning and end of this book.
I have immense respect for Naomi Ragen and have been on her e-mail list for about eight years. I look forward to reading her other books.
I have immense respect for Naomi Ragen and have been on her e-mail list for about eight years. I look forward to reading her other books.
April 19, 2010
After reading Ragen's other novel 'Sotah' I had high hopes. I was disappointed. The main character of this novel is completely unlikable. I found most of the subject matter shallow and was annoyed most of the time as I was reading. I did finish the whole thing, but I think it was only because I kept hoping it would get better. The ending lacked closure, and certainly failed to make sense of all the horrible things the main character did in the course of the novel. I suggest you not waste your time.
September 3, 2012
Normally, I'm a tremendous fan of Naomi Ragen's books. They are usually well-written, insightful, compelling and hard to put down. This one had none of those qualities. The main character, Delilah, was a schemer, who was whiny, immature and self-centered. The supporting characters were barely developed and only served to shadow Delilah's true personality. The plot, although it did move, seemed to go nowhere. I finished reading it because I kept expecting something interesting to happen, but this book was nothing more than a tremendous waste of time and money. Definitely not worth reading.
October 18, 2007
The fact that the story was told in multiple POVs distracted from the potential depth of the storyline. I didn't need to know every shallow thought of secondary characters. That said, it was intriguing enough to finish in a day. My favorite part was early on-- the residual emotions from yitzie and delilah's tryst. and having a rebitizin with a scandalous past and materialistic longings as a protagonist is daring.
April 21, 2008
Satire that tended to be more depressing than funny. Still, relatively well-written for a light, quick read. The time period of events in the book were confusing, as there were inconsistencies in cultural references. The book would have made much more sense if the end had been less dramatic and plot-driven, and if the main characters had to come to terms with themselves and their marriage. Not a very flattering presentation of Orthodox Judaism, to say the least.
March 3, 2009
If you have read Ragen's other books, you know that she specializes in shining a light on the position and plight of women in the Orthodox Jewish community both in the United States and in Israel while depicting three dimensional characters and engaging stories. Unlike her previous novels, in this case she turns to satire and irony to tell a story that is both hilarious and horrifying. Altogether a very enjoyable read.
January 19, 2009
This is a two-star satire (of modern Orthodox Jews), a three-star literary update (of Madame Bovary), and a four-star piece of entertainment. It manages to contain satire and literary update, both generally tall orders that tend toward throwing elbows and glitz, without getting in its own way: the pages keep turning and you want to stay in your chair till they're all on the left.
May 31, 2014
Very satirical book....a really upleasant main character. This book is critical of some of the tenets of Orthodox Jewery. THe Saturday Wife is billed as an Emma Bovary type....social climber. Do not reccommend.
October 4, 2016
I lost interest in the satire quickly but kept reading hoping it would get better. The plot picked up in the end but unfortunately I still wouldn't recommend to others. I still enjoy this author and would recommend her other books.
March 6, 2010
this is an interesting, decent book that sheds some light on the hypocrisy of religious observance, at least from one person's perspective. It was a good distraction and I even learned a few things.
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