Non Jewish books | Imamother

amother

Ginger

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 7:47 pm

amother OP wrote:

Seriously, what’s with the hugging?
You have something to say, say it.
You think I’m too frum and look down at me? You judge me I’m a hypocrite? Why? You know me at all?
I’m legit not harming you or anyone I know. So what’s up with being able to ask a simple question on imamother these days?

Don’t know about the hugging, but me and all my neighbors in my very mainstream Jackson neighborhood all read plenty not Jewish books
We all send to good schools and are very frum. I wouldn’t think twice

amother

↑ OP ↓

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 7:55 pm

amother Ginger wrote:

I know. I’m toying with all this now that I’m thinking it through. I have no issue with my daughter reading Mrs piggle wiggle etc. …so technically I am ok with my kids knowing I read non Jewish books too. My mind is going to the romance novels- but it can jolly well be that I’m reading appropriate books too.

It’s funny, cuz my husband says that I’m usually so chilled so he’s pretty surprised that I’m of this view of concern

amother

Mint

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 8:02 pm

amother OP wrote:

Are you new-ish here?
I’ve gotten hugs for the most harmless posts. People love hugging. Don’t take it to heart. Let’s see who’s going to get more hugs on this thread, you or me.

amother

Lightcyan

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 8:09 pm

Your kids will find your books one way or another. That’s a lot worse than them seeing you have a kindle and not knowing what you read on it. I read a lot of self help and non fiction books. I’d rather my kids think I’m reading that than them seeing actual secular novels lying around (or hidden under my pillow).
Besides, a kindle can be password protected. Much better for them as they can’t find and read stuff while your back is turned/ you’re out for the night. I think you need to rethink all of this.
You sound young and new to this kind of thing. While I’m sure you are smart and solid, you could use some guidance from those with more experience than you.

amother

Lime

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 8:18 pm

I would not assume someone who has a Kindle is for sure reading non Jewish books. I'm fact I wouldn't think too deeply into it at all. I don't see why your kids would assume anything. I think you should use it the same way you use / store your books. If you usually only read when they aren't around, and don't leave the books lying around, do the same for the Kindle. If you do read / leave books around, do the same with the Kindle just keep it password protected.
Do not let your kids read Jewish comics on it. Tell them this is Mommy's gift they have plenty of their own.

↑ sequoia

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 8:58 pm

Yeah, I mean aside from the goodness/badness of reading literature (you can guess which side of the debate I’m on), it feels like you’re seriously overthinking it with the kindle. So they saw you get a present. They’re not gonna overanalyze it. If you want to keep your reading private, a kindle is the best way to do that. I don’t have one because I prefer paper books, but then I don’t throw them out afterwards.

Your nice dh gave you a thoughtful gift — enjoy it!

By the way rebbetzin Chaya Mushka was a reader and especially enjoyed the Russian classics like “War and Peace.” The more you know Smile

amother

↑ OP ↓

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 9:35 pm

amother Mint wrote:

Are you new-ish here?
I’ve gotten hugs for the most harmless posts. People love hugging. Don’t take it to heart. Let’s see who’s going to get more hugs on this thread, you or me.

😂

amother

↑ OP ↓

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 9:38 pm

amother Lightcyan wrote:

I hear that. How do I create a password? You make solid points.
I had told my kids that I might return cuz there are hardly Jewish books when they kept pestering me to check out their comics

amother

Moccasin

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 10:02 pm

amother OP wrote:

Nope. I have a smart phone and laptop that are filtered. I have no concerns as everyone knows I’ve got internet.

No one knows that I devour secular books…

Husband bought it for me as a gift… but I’m afraid it’s going back. He told me to do as I think makes sense and I am not looking for my kids to know, or share with their classmates,,,

You don't need Kindle to read books.

I have an iPhone and read both Kindle and books in the iBooks App. You can download the Kindle App.

If you are reading outside of the house it's easier to not shlep a Kindle anyway since you would have the phone.

behappy2

Thu, Jan 02 2025, 10:13 pm

There are so many types of Non Jewish books that are kosher, like self help books, memoirs, how to guides, history and science books and lots of clean books.

Most kids read Non Jewish books in school. It's really about the kind of Non Jewish books, like romance novels that ppl wouldn't want their kids knowing they read or not want kids to get their hands on.

I understand if you have a rule for kids to read only Jewish books because there is a lot to read today and it's hard to censor every book but I think it's ok for kids to know that certain Non Jewish books are ok and others are not.

amother

↑ Mistyrose

Fri, Jan 03 2025, 4:08 am

Elfrida wrote:

A kindle isn't for comics.
Jewish or not.

That I agree with. It just isn't able to load the pages well. Also it's black and white, unless you buy the latest one that comes with color.
I don't see why it can't be something that's yours and not for them.
And doing a password is really simple to do.
If you have the app on your phone, you can read there, and you can also read on your kindle and they will sync with each other where you are up to.
Where I live the libby app is attached to the public library, so if you have membership, you access the app through that. And the same way you borrow physical books from the library, it works the same for the app.

↑ scintilla

Fri, Jan 03 2025, 8:20 am

amother OP wrote:

That’s fascinating. Will look into it. So I download the app and then sign up for membership?

You need a library card, ie if you live in Brooklyn it's a Brooklyn Public Library card. You then enter the details of the card into the Libby app and it saves it for the future.

amother

Goldenrod

Fri, Jan 03 2025, 8:31 am

amother OP wrote:

I hear that. So far my big ones are boys that read mostly Yiddish and they don’t realize my books are not Jewish. I also toss them once I’m done reading them

So you're chassidish. I am yeshivish and I have a kindle that I rarely use (it's old. I used it a lot when I first got it) My kids know that I have it. They know that I read some non Jewish books. They occasionally read on there too. Things like the secret garden, the little princess, other classics.

If you don't want your kids knowing anything about non Jewish books then a kindle is not a good choice.

My kindle is password protected because all electronics in the house are, because I don't want them using electronics without my knowledge. But that doesn't change what the kids know.

I do think it's unusual that you have filtered internet access but no non Jewish books. But I am not chassidish.

amother

Eggplant

Fri, Jan 03 2025, 8:37 am

behappy2 wrote:

There are so many types of Non Jewish books that are kosher, like self help books, memoirs, how to guides, history and science books and lots of clean books.

I am a big proponent of reading non-Jewish books, but I would not say that even the categories you list are "kosher." Meaning, non-fiction, self-help, memoirs, history books, as well as classical literature can all contain ideas that run counter to a Jewish outlook. But the reader should be prepared for that going in and should read critically, prepared to learn and retain what is applicable and consistent with Judaism, and to disregard what is not. While I believe we should be critical and selective consumers of books, I don't believe in trying to limit oneself only to "kosher" books.

amother

↑ OP

Fri, Jan 03 2025, 9:53 am

amother Goldenrod wrote:

We definitely have lots of non Jewish books for the kids. House on the prairie, Mrs piggle wiggle etc. Loads of Mickey Mouse and curious George too…
My head was going to romance novels. But I think if I step back then ur point about secular books makes lots of sense.

amother

Oxfordblue

Fri, Jan 03 2025, 1:08 pm

First of all, you can't compare the app to the Kindle. The Kindle is a far better reading experience. Even if the books are the same.

I personally if I didn't want to expose my kids to the books, I wouldn't want to expose them to the title. So I'd rather have them on my Kindle where they can't see what I'm reading. Even if they know they're not Jewish then have the book on my bed where they could pick it up and read the back and the title.

Molly Weasley

Fri, Jan 03 2025, 1:28 pm

I have Kindles at home, DH gets them.

It reads all kinds formats, including pdfs.
His new one does have color option, if that's what your looking for.

I "inherited" his old one, it is really nice to read reports and take notes. It forces me to look at the task at hand without getting distracted by the computer.

Dh actually mentioned that he may want to swap his new one with the one he gave me, because the new one doesn't have a pen. We'll see😁