The Outside World

By: Tova Mirvis

Narrated by: Emily Bauer

Tzippy Goldman was born for marriage. She and her mother had always assumed she'd graduate high school, be set up with the right boy, and have a beautiful wedding with white lace and pareve vanilla cream frosting. But at 22, Tzippy's fast approaching spinsterhood. She dreams of escape; instead, she leaves for a year in Jerusalem.

There she meets - re-meets - Baruch, the son of her mother's college roommate. When Tzippy last saw him, his name was Bryan and he wore a Yankees-logo yarmulke. Now he has adopted the black hat of the ultra-orthodox, the tradition in which Tzippy was raised. Twelve weeks later, they're engaged... and discovering that desire and tradition, devotion and individuality aren't the easiest balance.

Hilarious, compassionate, and tremendously insightful, The Outside World illuminates an insular community, marvelously depicting that complicated blend of faith, love, and family otherwise known as life in a modern world.

©2004 Tova Mirvis (P)2011 Audible, Inc

Critic reviews

"At times giddily humorous, at times stirring and sorrowful, Mirvis's insightful novel is packed with convincing detail, from descriptions of yarmulkes (fancifully embroidered or stolid black velvet) to the varieties of wigs worn by married ultra-Orthodox women. The characters' frequent use of distinctively Jewish terms and ideas gives the novel a foreign air, but the universal themes of growing up and choosing a fitting life to lead will resonate with readers of all faiths." ( Publishers Weekly)

Not her best.

The childish voice of the narrator takes a while to get used to. Her mispronunciations of Hebrew and Yiddish words do not help. I actually winced. The story is overly simplified with some true challenges of each protagonists questioning of the boundaries that religion forces onto to us.

Gives a good sketch of Jewish Orthodoxy

An enjoyable listen, with surprises as the characters develop. The largest source of Kosher food in Memphis is in one of the Krogers supermarkets!

A terrific read!

I read this book years ago, but wanted to listen to the audio version and it did not disappoint! The narrative was on point with the characters and I could not stop listening!