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The Book of Separation
The Book of Separation | Tova Mirvis
The memoir of a woman who leaves her faith and her marriage and sets out to navigate the terrifying, liberating terrain of a newly mapless world Born and raised in a tight-knit Orthodox Jewish family, Tova Mirvis committed herself to observing the rules and rituals prescribed by this way of life. After all, to observe was to be accepted and to be accepted was to be loved. She married a man from within the fold and quickly began a family. But over the years, her doubts became noisier than her faith, and at age forty she could no longer breathe in what had become a suffocating existence. Even though it would mean the loss of her friends, her community, and possibly even her family, Tova decides to leave her husband and her faith. After years of trying to silence the voice inside her that said she did not agree, did not fit in, did not believe, she strikes out on her own to discover what she does believe and who she really is. This will mean forging a new way of life not just for herself, but for her children, who are struggling with what the divorce and her new status as not Orthodox mean for them. This is a memoir about what it means to decide to heed your inner compass at long last. To free the part of yourself that has been suppressed, even if it means walking away from the only life youve ever known. Honest and courageous, Tova takes us through her first year outside her marriage and community as she learns to silence her fears and seek adventure on her own path to happiness.
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LatrelWhite
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I don‘t know what it is about this book but reading very slowly. My heart is breaking for her. Early Sunday morning reading with my cup of Java!☕️📖💔✡️ #TovaMirvis

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LatrelWhite
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Some June reads🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

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Anna40
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Bailedbailed

At page 211 I bail, something I don't think I've ever done so far into a book, but I can't take any more of this inner struggle, the sadness and oppression. It's stifling. I might return to this book or read one of her novels, but right now this is not for me.

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Anna40
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Anna40
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MindyK59
Pickpick

I have liked Tova Mirvis‘s previous books which were novels so this has been on my list for a while. My book club selected it for this month‘s selection. It is a memoir about ending her marriage and leaving her orthodox religion. Overall I liked it. I found myself thinking about my own life and some of my choices. I think she was very brave to do what she did but I also realize that it was important for her to be happy.

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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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1. Mr. B makes seriously kick butt fried rice (he took this pic for FB)
2. I had this from NetGalley a while ago, but waited too long to open it. Glad to have a copy again!
3. Pretty close to 50, but I‘ve lost track.
4. Nope
5. France in April—mostly Paris 🇫🇷

#HumpDayPost @MinDea

MinDea Yummy! I love fried rice. I make it all the time! 6y
107 likes1 comment
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Cinfhen
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#HeyJune #WeCanWorkItOut....or not😉 A memoir I‘m really interested in reading and I own, just haven‘t gotten to yet. Tova Mirvis was born & raised in an observant Orthodox Jewish home. She went on to marry a man with similar background & they began raising their own children, when Tova realized this might not be the life she believes in. It‘s her story about hard choices, marriage , family and learning to navigate a new road map.

LeahBergen This sounds good! 6y
CarolynM Sounds interesting. I always wonder about people who make such major breaks from their backgrounds. How do they get to the point of doing it and how do they cope once it's done? I think I need to stack this one. 6y
emilyhaldi Very interesting! I'm still trying to get to this one that I purchased due to you 😘 6y
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Cinfhen You have to read that one @emilyhaldi it‘s good!!! Let‘s make a pact to each read our #LeavingOrthodoxcy memoirs before sept 1😉 6y
Cinfhen I‘ll let you know @LeahBergen @CarolynM 6y
emilyhaldi Love that pact... and the hashtag 😉 6y
Reviewsbylola This sounds very fascinating. 6y
98 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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Cinfhen
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#MarchintoOz A book on my TBR and an author appearing at the Jewish Book Feast next week in NYC...Tova Mirvis was born and raised in a Jewish home. Married and living a modern Jewish lifestyle, she undergoes a change of heart towards both her marriage and her community. Very curious to read her journey. Have you read this one @ElishaLovesBooks ?!? #TheHoneymoonIsOver

Cinfhen @CoffeeK8 Do you have any interest in attending Tova‘s session next week?!?! I need to look through that list a few more times...so many good options #booknerdproblems 7y
CoffeeK8 @Cinfhen maybe, I haven‘t been able to narrow it down! There are so many good choices! 7y
CoffeeK8 @Cinfhen she is high on my list though! 7y
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Cinfhen Wait??? You‘re up too???! @CoffeeK8 7y
Cinfhen I have jet lag, what‘s your excuse?!? @CoffeeK8 7y
alisiakae Wow, I‘m not the only one on the East Coast up! Sorry you have jet lag, @Cinfhen , hopefully you‘ll adjust soon. 7y
CoffeeK8 @4thhouseontheleft @Cinfhen I have a 2-year old who does not like to sleep in. So I‘m up watching Paw Patrol 🤷‍♀️ 7y
Cinfhen Haha @CoffeeK8 Paw Patrol in my day it was Barney or Bob the Builder and Dora...so what‘s your deal @4thhouseontheleft ?!? You‘re probably going to 6am yoga 😘 7y
alisiakae @Cinfhen I never go to 6am anything 😂😂 No excuse, really, other than that I fell asleep really early (the wind kept me up the night before), so I guess my internal clock is off. 7y
Cinfhen Have a great day @4thhouseontheleft and phew...overachiever 6am-ers scare me🤗💕 7y
Lacythebookworm I enjoyed this one! She is so open in recounting her experiences. I would definitely recommend it! 😊 7y
Dragon Sounds interesting , stacking. 🐉 7y
ElishaLovesBooks I haven‘t read it yet, but it‘s been on my radar for awhile! 7y
122 likes2 stack adds13 comments
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Smrloomis
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Pickpick

This page is from the acknowledgments. I found this memoir incredibly moving despite the fact that Mirvis grew up in very different circumstances than I did. All the separations and emotions she went through - and the way she writes about them - make this a very affecting memoir. Highly recommended. #LitsyAtoZ2018 @BookishMarginalia

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Smrloomis
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A “Daddy Shabbat” means her kids are going to their father‘s that weekend. I teared up a little when I read this. There‘s no way to avoid this when a couple divorces, but it‘s still sad.

Tanisha_A Reminds me of this heart-wrenching, beautifully made Iranian movie, A Separation! 7y
Sue Heartbreaking. My daughter revealed to me not long ago that she would cry herself to sleep every night she was at her father's up until only a few years ago (because she missed me, not because her father is a bad guy). 😢 7y
Godmotherx5 Oh, that tugs my heartstrings. 7y
Smrloomis @Tanisha_A haven‘t heard of it but sounds good (in a sad way)! 7y
Smrloomis @Sue 😢 poor thing. I feel bad for the author, the kids, and the ex-husband. It‘s just not an easy thing all around! @Godmotherx5 yup, mine too. 7y
83 likes5 comments
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Smrloomis
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Only a little ways in but so far this is really great.

Cinfhen I was resisting buying this book, but I think I need to purchase it! Hope it's still a kindle deal🤑 7y
Smrloomis @Cinfhen I hope so because it‘s fascinating so far! 7y
cathysaid @Cinfhen I just found it on iBooks for 2.99, so I bet it's still a kindle deal. 7y
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Cinfhen Yay! Thanks @cathysaid 💕 7y
cathysaid Also, if you guys like this one, you might also like Unorthodox. #blameitonlitsy @Cinfhen @Smrloomis 😁 7y
Cinfhen I‘ve read Unorthodox and the sequel @cathysaid I thought they were both fascinating 7y
Cinfhen I can also recommend this one 7y
Cinfhen I bought it @cathysaid @Smrloomis couldn‘t resist the price tag 🤑 7y
Smrloomis @Cinfhen yes! Definitely interested to hear what you think. Thanks @cathysaid for the other recommendations! 7y
cathysaid @Cinfhen Sequel?!?! I will check this out! Thanks! 7y
90 likes4 stack adds10 comments
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Smrloomis
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Kindle deal 🎉 looking forward to this!

EvieBee Me too! 7y
Cinfhen Oooh, this has been on my want list for awhile...#bookbanbegone 7y
Smrloomis @EvieBee @Cinfhen I thought there might be some others interested in this too... let me know if you read it. 7y
84 likes3 comments
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trueisa4letterword
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Pickpick

(This is belated and somehow I lost the photo of the book in the return bins.)

My favorite memoirs take me someplace I've never been (in this case, divorce and Orthodox Judaism) and contain something familiar (like Eastern Massachusetts). The author is also novelist, which certainly helped to make her writing more enjoyable. I was rushed at the end because it had another hold, but I would've finished it quickly nonetheless.

#nonfiction #memoir

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EliNeedsMoreShelves
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Pickpick

Lovely and thoughtful memoir of an Orthodox Jewish woman who chooses to leave her marriage and her faith, to find her own voice. Much that resonated about my own spiritual journey. Excellent. #thereadingwomen #nonfictionnovember

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trueisa4letterword
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Good gosh, what a good sentence.

#nonfiction #memoir

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trueisa4letterword
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I've had a hold on this since her NYT essay came out. Already can't stop.

#nonfiction #memoir #judiasm #massachusettsauthor

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bookishkai
Pickpick

An intense, moving look at the author‘s life both within and outside of Orthodox Judaism. I found it fascinating because I am not a person of faith, so besides the fact that it was a good overview of Orthodox Judaism, the author continually questions whether her faith comes just from actions she performs or from something deeper.

Cinfhen I‘m definitely curious about this one...lots of mixed reviews 7y
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readsusieread
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I checked this one out from the library too! I'm never going to shrink my physical TBR! 😂

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nickimags
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Stacked this book the other day after someone shared it on here and just got approved on NetGalley. I can't wait to get started! #BlameItOnLitsy 😊

Lacythebookworm I can‘t wait to hear what you think! 7y
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Lacythebookworm
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Pickpick

I could have read this in one sitting! Mirvis tells the story of her struggle with religion and invites the reader on her journey of self-discovery. So good!

nickimags Looks really interesting! 7y
80 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Lacythebookworm
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Friday lunch time reading. With coffee thanks to @readsusieread 😍

readsusieread 😘☕ 7y
90 likes1 comment
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Lacythebookworm
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I hope to start this one tonight!

Lacythebookworm Great interview with the author on @thereadingwomen podcast! 7y
Jennick2004 Ooh what a cover!! 7y
Lacythebookworm @Jennick2004 Isn‘t it lovely?! 😊 7y
88 likes3 comments
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Smrloomis
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Just read a Modern Love column by this author and now I need to read her book. Here's the column if anyone else is interested: https://nyti.ms/2gPbEzX

Cinfhen I'm very curious about this one!!! Has anyone read it???? 7y
Cinfhen Our bookclub just choose another memoir to read although this writer strengthens her Jewish identity (edited) 7y
Smrloomis @Cinfhen thanks! That one looks good, too. 7y
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Sace That does sound good @Cinfhen! 7y
Beckys_Books Thanks for sharing - enjoyed the essay! 7y
Readingrobin She is one of the authors set to appear at the @ReadingWithRobin event tomorrow night in Providence, RI. It's the Point Street Reading Series on Tues, Sept. 19th at Bayberry Beer Hall! 7y
Smrloomis @Readingrobin oh, wish I was closer then 😆 Are you going? 7y
Smrloomis @Beckys_Books glad you liked it too! 7y
70 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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thereadingwomen
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Pickpick

Our first ever dual interview is now live! We had the chance to talk to Rachel Kadish and Tova Mirvis about their most recent books and their awesome writing group. They were so fun to chat with and you don't want to miss their books. Check it out!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reading-women/id1118019442?mt=2&i=1000392192...

starlight97 omg that typewriter *.* 7y
TNbookworm Great pic! 7y
90 likes7 stack adds2 comments
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EmilyChristine
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I got bookmail today! My new #covertocover book came from @Daisey via @BrainyHeroine . Plus I picked up an ARC at work today!

The ARC is a memoir by Tova Mirvis about leaving her Orthodox Jewish family and community to find her own happiness outside the faith.

tpixie Great #bookhaul !! 8y
Daisey Yay! Hope you enjoy my book pick! 8y
EmilyChristine @Daisey It looks good! 8y
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BrainyHeroine @Daisey I was surprised I enjoyed it. Lol not my typical pick. 8y
Daisey @BrainyHeroine Honestly, I was surprised by how much I liked it when I first picked it up as well! 8y
tpixie WOot!!! 8y
Betty I'm so curious what it is! 8y
19 likes7 comments