Holy Unexpected: My New Life As a Jew

by Robin Chotzinoff

Raised a born-again agnostic, Robin Chotzinoff had no interest in religion—and practically no experience in it— until she turned forty. When she suddenly discovered a belief in God, she had no idea what to do next. In Holy Unexpected she describes her journey from a privileged New York childhood through years of unhappiness, drugs, and drift. She investigates what she believed in before she believed in God (the healing power of junk food, music, psychopharmacology), and how a happy marriage impelled her toward a higher power. When she discovers that Judaism embraces arguing with God, hot sex, and acts as opposed to beliefs, she embarks on a journey to reconstruct her Jewish heritage and forge a relationship with her faith. Robin wrestles with the meaning of Torah, discovers how to keep the Sabbath and still go to Walmart for duct tape, and learns to pray while snowboarding. But her real education in the meaning of Judaism occurs as she rides the ups and downs of day-to-day life, and prepares both for her bat mitzvah and for her father's death. Writing with enormous humor and intimacy, Chotzinoff takes readers on an unexpected religious journey lit by humor and grace.

Genres: Religion, Memoir, Nonfiction, Jewish, Judaism, Biography

240 pages, Hardcover

First published August 21, 2006

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read Holy Unexpected on the recommendation of a friend who plays a minor part in the story. The author tells of her life as a Jewish woman from an atheist family (which includes Jascha Heifetz!). She's a boho risktaker in her teens. By the end of the book, she is married, the mother of two children, and finishing up her adult Bat Mitzvah in a Colorado mountain synagogue that has Joanne *I never promised you a rose garden* as a member.

It's enjoyable, rather breezily-written, but doesn't really take the reader along the rocky spiritual journey.

[Gwen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find it interesting that the subtitle changes from hardcover to paperback --my edition's is "How I became an unorthodox Jew. Recommended by people of all stripes, satisfied no one at book club. I wanted more --more grappling with text, more explanation about choices made and decisions taken, more context on larger CO/Greater Denver Jewish community.

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a convert I usually enjoy reading accounts of others' journeys into Judaism, but this one not so much. I don't know if it was the style of writing or the overall journey, but it kind of left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

[Amy Bigman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes us on the author's journey from a childhood basically devoid of religion to her adult experiences with Judaism. If you can get past all of the drugs and sex at the beginning of the book, it's an interesting study of one woman's journey.

[Tama · Rating 2 out of 5]

My guess is that if I ever met the author, Robin Chotzinoff, we'd get along like a house on fire, however, I didn't get on so well with the book. I enjoyed some of her humorous bits, and I want the poncho on the cover....

[Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is a friend of mine, and she rocks. It's quick, clever & witty - I highly recommend.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Definitely like a Jewish Anne Lamott. They should meet. They would probably like each other.