The following novels

Posted: Wed, Dec 28 2011, 12:22 am Post subject: The following novels

I want to order one of the following books, can anyone who has read any of them tell me which one is good? (I want to order it tonight as Israel book shop publication has a special which ends tonight)

Circumstances by Chana Pincus
Into the whirlwind by Tzippora Price
Fools gold by Libby Lazewnick
The freedom to be by Chaya David
what lies within by Leah Widen

Thanks

Gold Member Joined: Aug 23 2011 Posts: 1576

I didn't like Fool's Gold or What Lies Within.
Fool's Gold- The plot and ending was very typical and I felt Esther and Yoni were very easily manipulated. There was no major character developement either.
4 main charecters
Leila- She is becoming a BT much to her parent's dismay and is worried about who her brother is hanging out with.
Esther- enslaves herself to her widowed friend
Yaffa- Esther's manipulative friend. She is not likable. At all. (A bit like Carol Barron- if you've read any of Libbly L.'s other books)
Yoni- He dreams of making it big time in politics until something happens to burst his bubble. (A bit like Yossi Arlen is the Quest)

I don't remember anything about What Lies Within. I do remember feeling that the plot was a bit childish.

Some imamothers read Freedom To Be and liked it. Here is the thread discussing it: http://imamother.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=167025

Moderator Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 18297

I'm in the middle of reading Into The Whirlwind.
I don't find it to be exceptionally well-written, and I can easily put it down.
It does address subjects that other publishers wouldn't touch (e.g. hinting at drugs, bulimia, cutting, etc)
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Gold Member Joined: Nov 01 2010 Posts: 1686

Posted: Wed, Dec 28 2011, 12:24 pm Post subject: Re: The following novels

Diamond Member Joined: Nov 10 2005 Posts: 3401

Circumstances by Chana Pincus
- Defintitely eye opening and really shows you never know what goes on behind closed doors

Into the whirlwind by Tzippora Price
- I finished feeling like "OK making aliyah with teenagers ruins them..." Definite agenda.

Fools gold by Libby Lazewnick
- I read when serialized in Binah. She's the best author around and only Libby can make readers hate an almanah!

The freedom to be by Chaya David
- Very heavy book but I enjoyed (other than the part of a boy googling and getting into a live chat not being possible)

what lies within by Leah Widen
- has the potential to be a good book but it wasn't developed enough/too simplistic

Silver Member Joined: Jan 31 2008 Posts: 692

I have only read "Freedom to Be" on that list. It is a good piece of writing, and I certainly recommend reading it.