Exodus, Revisited: My Unorthodox Journey to Berlin
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- Create Date：2021-10-18 04:40:58
- Update Date：2025-09-23
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- Author：Deborah Feldman
- ISBN：0593185269
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Summary
The definitive follow-up to Unorthodox （the basis for the award-winning Netflix series）--now updated with more than 50 percent new material--the unforgettable story of what happened in the years after Deborah Feldman left a religious sect in Williamsburg in order to forge her own path in the world。
In 2009， at the age of twenty-three， Deborah Feldman packed up her young son and their few possessions and walked away from her insular Hasidic roots。 She was determined to find a better life for herself， away from the oppression and isolation of her Satmar upbringing in Williamsburg， Brooklyn。 And in Exodus， Revisited she delves into what happened next--taking the reader on a journey that starts with her beginning life anew as a single mother， a religious refugee， and an independent woman in search of a place and a community where she can belong。
Originally published in 2014， Deborah has now revisited and significantly expanded her story， and the result is greater insight into her quest to discover herself and the true meaning of home。 Travels that start with making her way in New York expand into an exploration of America and eventually lead to trips across Europe to retrace her grandmother's life during the Holocaust， before she finds a landing place in the unlikeliest of cities。 Exodus， Revisited is a deeply moving examination of the nature of memory and generational trauma， and of reconciliation with both yourself and the world。
In 2009， at the age of twenty-three， Deborah Feldman packed up her young son and their few possessions and walked away from her insular Hasidic roots。 She was determined to find a better life for herself， away from the oppression and isolation of her Satmar upbringing in Williamsburg， Brooklyn。 And in Exodus， Revisited she delves into what happened next--taking the reader on a journey that starts with her beginning life anew as a single mother， a religious refugee， and an independent woman in search of a place and a community where she can belong。
Originally published in 2014， Deborah has now revisited and significantly expanded her story， and the result is greater insight into her quest to discover herself and the true meaning of home。 Travels that start with making her way in New York expand into an exploration of America and eventually lead to trips across Europe to retrace her grandmother's life during the Holocaust， before she finds a landing place in the unlikeliest of cities。 Exodus， Revisited is a deeply moving examination of the nature of memory and generational trauma， and of reconciliation with both yourself and the world。
Reviews
Canice
，
Of course this finally became available to me （from the library） a few weeks after the revised edition was published。 The original "Exodus" is now almost 10 years old， and it would be almost irresponsible to write a review at this point， given that the new edition has 50% new material。 So all I'll say is that it was irritating and confusing to have to jump around in time and narrative to follow this， and that it was disappointing that there was no thread to connect it to "Unorthodox"。 I'll have Of course this finally became available to me （from the library） a few weeks after the revised edition was published。 The original "Exodus" is now almost 10 years old， and it would be almost irresponsible to write a review at this point， given that the new edition has 50% new material。 So all I'll say is that it was irritating and confusing to have to jump around in time and narrative to follow this， and that it was disappointing that there was no thread to connect it to "Unorthodox"。 I'll have to request the new edition and hunker down with it this winter。 。。。more
Nina
，
This is a "sequel memoir" by the woman who wrote Unorthodox （which was made into a very good Netflix mini-series。） This book follows her experiences trying to assimilate into the wider world after leaving the Hasidic community。 The first half seemed more like an introspective reflection than a memoir; a bit self-absorbed， perhaps。 But the second half picked up steam。 I was most interested in her stories about her Grandmother， who had been a concentration camp survivor and barely survived （in fac This is a "sequel memoir" by the woman who wrote Unorthodox （which was made into a very good Netflix mini-series。） This book follows her experiences trying to assimilate into the wider world after leaving the Hasidic community。 The first half seemed more like an introspective reflection than a memoir; a bit self-absorbed， perhaps。 But the second half picked up steam。 I was most interested in her stories about her Grandmother， who had been a concentration camp survivor and barely survived （in fact， a friend had to convince the Red Cross that she was actually still alive and deserved to be carried out of the liberated camp）。 The author made some pretty gutsy moves in travelling around the world， supporting herself and her son， and confronting on-going anti-Semitism both in the US and in Europe， before finally settling down in Berlin。 Interesting that she pondered what she would have done if she had been an Aryan German in Berlin back in 1939。 I was amazed at how much she could find about her ancestors from generations back -- even photos --- when I can barely locate anything about my great-grandparents even in the US。 。。。more
Bernadette Walsh
，
A difficult read yet a worthy one。
Mediaman
，
Monotonous， poorly written， and one of the worst sequels to a bestseller ever。 And you discover that nothing in the Unorthodox TV series about Feldman's life after leaving the Jewish community is true。 Absolutely nothing， and after reading this I know why。 Her real story is too boring and depressing with her constant anxiety and self-analysis， and nothing really bad happens to her after she is treated just fine after she leaves。There is literally nothing to this book with almost no real stories Monotonous， poorly written， and one of the worst sequels to a bestseller ever。 And you discover that nothing in the Unorthodox TV series about Feldman's life after leaving the Jewish community is true。 Absolutely nothing， and after reading this I know why。 Her real story is too boring and depressing with her constant anxiety and self-analysis， and nothing really bad happens to her after she is treated just fine after she leaves。There is literally nothing to this book with almost no real stories included。 She claims at one point that she learned in college that a story must have a beginning and end。 Nope， it needs a middle too and could us some kind of drama or conflict--I guess they don't teach the basics at Sarah Lawrence。 Feldman could have written the outline of the past ten years of her life in a few paragraphs， instead she wastes over 300 pages on what amounts to nothing。 What the book ends up being is her therapy， putting on paper all her insecurities， uncertainties， fears， and reactions to the new world around her， even though she is actually treated well。 If someone glances at her the wrong way she is convinced they're condemning Jews。 If someone simply asks if she's Jewish， she takes great offense and fears giving an affirmative answer。 She comes across as hating America （despite it giving her instant fame and wealth）， is obsessed with Nazi's and stereotyping Germans （even claiming after seeing a couple neo-Nazi's in Germany that it's not a country "in which a majority of people condemn right-wing extremism"）， and has some serious mental illness issues， making all sorts of bad choices。 It's totally unclear how she not only survived but managed to seduce so many men into helping her and freely sleep with guys。Her first book was mediocre and not well written。 Her writing style hasn't improved much。 She still has long， rambling， dull sections that add nothing to the little narrative there is。 When something suddenly happens that appears eventful， she skips through it quickly without detailed descriptions or conversations。 It's a frustrating book to read and， honestly， a total flop from the perspective of her telling her personal story。By the end you realize this isn't supposed to be about her; the exodus she refers to is actually that of her dear grandmothers from the death camps， and this book would have worked better if it was just about her now departed relative。 Instead we get references to her travels without stories， three weeks alone in a beach house in California where literally nothing happens， her dealing with fame without giving almost any specifics about what occurred when the book was published， and there's little about her husband， son or mother--all of whom are living just fine in a solid relationship with the author despite the Netflix show fictionalizing it otherwise。If you loved the Netflix series then skip this book--it will infuriate you that they totally mislead viewers about Feldman's life after leaving her husband。 If you are a practicing Jew you might want to skip this as well--she makes sure to take a stand that rejects the faith and God， saying she hasn't prayed one prayer in like 7 years。 Then we come to find out the husband she divorced ran off with another woman and left the faith as well。 Her thoughts on that？ We don't know， she never gives insight into any story details or her reactions to them。 There may be some that think the book is good because it suddenly swerves into an anti-Nazi stance， but it makes such broad generalizations about Germany I'm shocked she lives there。 Feldman didn't seem to appreciate her American freedoms and First Amendment speech rights， so she became a citizen of a country where there are strict laws about what people can say， do， and wear （including throwing someone in jail for having a pro-Nazi tattoo！） While I empathize with the descendants of those who had horrible atrocities done to them， Feldman doesn't do the cause any justice in this book。In the end I felt misled， deceived， tricked， angry and upset that someone gave this woman another book contract but we still don't know a lot of details about her life after leaving the Jewish community。 At least give her some writing lessons and get her an editor that knows what a story is！ This is one that still needs to be fully revisited。 。。。more
Chaya Schwartz
，
This time it’s a NO from me。 A difficult read， not in the sense of her struggles but in the tone and desperation of the writer。 It lacks authenticity and I couldn’t bring myself to like her。 I wanted to love this but I could not get through it。 Maybe next time？
World Traveler
，
I so badly wanted to enjoy this book - and I started reading it as soon as it was delivered。 But unlike Unorthodox， this book felt very forced and manipulated。 I’m sure that everything in the book is Deborah’s truth as she “believed” it， but that doesn’t mean that the reader needs to believe her。 There were too many assumptions and coincidences; there were parts that just felt exaggerated and dishonest - which was a turn off for me and I found myself struggling to finish the book。 Two paragraphs I so badly wanted to enjoy this book - and I started reading it as soon as it was delivered。 But unlike Unorthodox， this book felt very forced and manipulated。 I’m sure that everything in the book is Deborah’s truth as she “believed” it， but that doesn’t mean that the reader needs to believe her。 There were too many assumptions and coincidences; there were parts that just felt exaggerated and dishonest - which was a turn off for me and I found myself struggling to finish the book。 Two paragraphs into Exodus， Revisited and I just kept on feeling the sheer exaggeration of her stories。 I wish she would learn to be less judgmental of others。 I could also sense a bitterness and her unhappiness in her journey。 Maybe next time eliminate the half truths and exaggerations - and it’ll be a better read。 She may have been pressured to deliver another best selling book， but this one was a major disappointment。 Deborah， keep it honest。 No need to be this desperate。 You’re an amazing writer and that should be enough。 Please write again but keep it real。 。。。more
Neona
，
Wow！ A lot to chew on here for Jewish or non Jewish people。 At times， the book got a little too cerebral for me， but this story is a unique one and a rare opportunity to be inside an equally unique persons thought process。 No spoilers here， but everyone should read this book。 This book begs many important questions that we should all be asking ourselves
Karen R。
，
Lovely update to a great book。 I was very interested to read about what the author has been through since releasing Exodus。
Beti
，
Duże rozczarowanie po pierwszej części。 Jakby autorka podpisała umowę na pewną objętość， a potem miała problem z jej wypełnieniem。 Dwie gwiazdki za to， że dotarłam do końca。
Ľubomíra
，
At first I’d like to point out that I haven’t read Unorthodox and therefore I don’t know whether the shortcomings of this book are perhaps made up for in the other one。 To be honest I was very intrigued by this book since I’m naturally drawn to the books about people who had similar experiences and have at some point decided to leave everything behind in search for their authenticity。 This book partly managed to satisfy this expectation， but I must say my expectations were far greater since I wa At first I’d like to point out that I haven’t read Unorthodox and therefore I don’t know whether the shortcomings of this book are perhaps made up for in the other one。 To be honest I was very intrigued by this book since I’m naturally drawn to the books about people who had similar experiences and have at some point decided to leave everything behind in search for their authenticity。 This book partly managed to satisfy this expectation， but I must say my expectations were far greater since I watched Unorthodox on Netflix and I was a big fan。 In this book Feldman shares random moments and stages of her life after leaving， however they are all over the place and at times she even weaves in a flashback from her childhood。 She writes about visiting a shaman， moving to a house in New England countryside， travelling through Europe and tracing her grandmother’s life before emigrating to the US。 She is trying to figure out relationships with men and her sexuality after traumatic experiences in her old community and she is also dealing with the Holocaust trauma of her ancestors that still leaves her restless for a sense of belonging。 Overall I feel as though this book was a bit on the surface and didn’t have a central theme or resolution。 I wanted it to be philosophically deeper rather than just going from place to place （both physically and metaphorically）， meeting with random （often） toxic men， blaming the new generation for not caring about the German history， but then doing a Nazi-Jewish role play with some German men。 But in the end， it is the account of someone’s life and I’m not in the place to judge what they should or shouldn’t do with their life especially within a totally different religious and historical tradition。 。。。more
Emilie
，
I was disappointed with how disjointed the memoir read， jumping from seemingly unrelated and jumbled instances of jet setting， therapy and family research which never really culminates to anything。 I had high expectations and whilst I read it very quickly and compulsively， I didn't get a sense of Deborah's journey in any sense other than her healing nether region。 Good for her though！ I was disappointed with how disjointed the memoir read， jumping from seemingly unrelated and jumbled instances of jet setting， therapy and family research which never really culminates to anything。 I had high expectations and whilst I read it very quickly and compulsively， I didn't get a sense of Deborah's journey in any sense other than her healing nether region。 Good for her though！ 。。。more
Ania
，
O książce dowiedziałam się przypadkiem， ale nie w kontekście jej poprzedniczki "Unorthodox"， tylko podczas przeszukiwania katalogu w usłudze Legimi。Według opisu wydawcy i tego， co zostało umieszczone na okładce spodziewałam się więcej przeżyć i opisów związanych z adaptacją do nowego środowiska i radzeniem sobie z codziennymi przeciwnościami losu， z punktu widzenia osoby do tej pory żyjącej w całkowitej izolacji i kompletnie nie znającej mechanizmów świata współczesnego。 Niestety tego jest w ksi O książce dowiedziałam się przypadkiem， ale nie w kontekście jej poprzedniczki "Unorthodox"， tylko podczas przeszukiwania katalogu w usłudze Legimi。Według opisu wydawcy i tego， co zostało umieszczone na okładce spodziewałam się więcej przeżyć i opisów związanych z adaptacją do nowego środowiska i radzeniem sobie z codziennymi przeciwnościami losu， z punktu widzenia osoby do tej pory żyjącej w całkowitej izolacji i kompletnie nie znającej mechanizmów świata współczesnego。 Niestety tego jest w książce najmniej。 Dla mnie jest to powód dużego rozczarowania。Natomiast to co tutaj znajdziemy to ciąg dalszy rozliczania się z przeszłością， filozoficzno-religijne rozważania na temat ortodoksyjnej wiary żydowskiej。 Miałam wrażenie， że Autorka z jednej strony chciałaby zrzucić więzy narzucone od dzieciństwa， a z drugiej ciągle wspomina i poszukuje prawd， w których wyrosła udowodniając ich niezaprzeczalny i często pożądany wpływ na obecne życie （Bóg zawsze podsunie rozwiązanie sytuacji i pomoże w każdej sprawie）， tak jakby chciała przed swoimi współbraćmi wytłumaczyć się ze swojej decyzji， oczekując zrozumienia， a co za tym idzie nie zamykać， raz definitywnie zatrzaśniętych drzwi。 Momentami miałam wrażenie， że Autorka prezentuje specyficzne rozdwojenie jaźni。 Za mało prawdziwego życia， za dużo niepotrzebnej dyskusji i roztrząsania odwiecznych prawd religijnych。Autorka w epilogu zapowiada pojawienie się być może kolejnej książki， opisującej jej życie jako obywatelki Niemiec， ale z obawy， że będą to kolejne wywody o niekończącej się wędrówce i upokorzeniu jakie przypisywane są każdemu Żydowi - wiecznemu tułaczowi， na obecną chwilę， nie mam ochoty tego czytać 。。。more
Laura
，
Such a disappointment after thoroughly loving her first book。 Her writing still excelled in its descriptions so I still gave it two stars but the story felt disjointed， immature， and lacking in coherence。 I wondered if she had more help in the writing of her first book “Unorthodox” at Sarah Lawrence since she states many of her essays written there helped contribute to the book。
Christiane
，
Es war durchgehend absolut spannend， diese Erzählung zu lesen。 Sie ist sehr detailliert und dadurch sehr bildlich geschrieben。 Ich mochte sehr diese rationale， sehr reflektierte Art， alles zu sezieren， aber trotzdem Platz zu lassen für irrationale Gefühle。 Genau so fesselnd wie Deborah Feldman spricht - in ihrer ganz eigenen， befreiten Denkweise - so schreibt sie auch - was sehr inspirierend ist。 Ich hätte gern noch weitere 500 Seiten gelesen。
Robinannie
，
This is a truly dreadful follow-up to a gripping debut memoir。 Where Unorthodox was thoughtful and pithy， Exodus is scattered and self-indulgent。 It reads less like a memoir than a personal diary。
Julie Havener
，
She is a great writer and I like her style as it is readable and real。 Sometimes it is a bit raw but so were the struggles。 Not for children but the story should be read as it once again reminds you that we never know what someone has lived through and what they carry even now。
Victoria Otero
，
3。5 stars rounded up to 4。 Exodus is a story about the ways we discover and craft our identity when we realize that our old life doesn’t serve us anymore。 Unlike Unorthodox， this book focuses less on stories about Feldman’s time in the Satmar Jewish Community and more on her journey to understanding who she is without the framework of religion to define every aspect of her life。 I enjoyed her stories about visiting a shaman， speaking with artists， and talking to Jews and non-Jews alike。 So much 3。5 stars rounded up to 4。 Exodus is a story about the ways we discover and craft our identity when we realize that our old life doesn’t serve us anymore。 Unlike Unorthodox， this book focuses less on stories about Feldman’s time in the Satmar Jewish Community and more on her journey to understanding who she is without the framework of religion to define every aspect of her life。 I enjoyed her stories about visiting a shaman， speaking with artists， and talking to Jews and non-Jews alike。 So much of the story was about the negotiation between having an identity that is wholly defined by your religion and culture vs。 the discovery and subsequent work of trying to figure out who you want to be outside of the influence of religion and culture。 Her journey through deconstruction is something I found relatable。 I know some people didn’t enjoy this book， and I think that might stem from how jarring the non-linear narrative can feel at times。 I found myself unsure of what events preceded others， whereas this was much easier to track in Unorthodox。 The nuances of deconstruction don’t have the same immediate appeal as gawking at someone living such a rigid and unique life， but I think there is just as much to be gained from this part of the story。 The true issue is that this book doesn’t feel as tidy as Unorthodox。 This may be because part of that book was written while Feldman was studying at university， so she was able to get feedback and work on it。 Another possibility， which I find more likely， is that Unorthodox was written with no expectation for a sister sequel。 It was only after the first book exploded that the second book deal was offered， and a new path needed to be forged。 I enjoyed this book， but it was different than I expected。 I think readers going in with an expectation of what they’ll see and hear based on the first book are setting themselves up for disappointment， but if they go in with an open mind， it’s enjoyable！ 。。。more
Melissa
，
I had mixed feelings about this book。 I really didn't care for the author at first， the way she described herself as a person。 Eventually I realized， she has been through some $h！t， and its molded her as a person。 She seems to hate the religion she came from， but also feel protective of it。 Its almost like Stockholm syndrome。 Admittedly， I was completely unaware of the hate that still exists between Germans and Jews in some areas of the world。 I was shocked to read some of what I did。 It was hea I had mixed feelings about this book。 I really didn't care for the author at first， the way she described herself as a person。 Eventually I realized， she has been through some $h！t， and its molded her as a person。 She seems to hate the religion she came from， but also feel protective of it。 Its almost like Stockholm syndrome。 Admittedly， I was completely unaware of the hate that still exists between Germans and Jews in some areas of the world。 I was shocked to read some of what I did。 It was heartbreaking， and much like the racial issues occurring in the US- still very much a problem in Europe。 Regardless of my liking of the book， it was certainly an eye opener。 。。。more
Kris Livingston
，
I read this as a follow-up to Unorthodox。 I enjoyed the author exploration of what it means to belong as she explores her identity after leaving her Orthodox neighborhood and family。 Sometimes she gives too much information about her personal life。I most enjoyed the sections where she looks to find her grandmother's roots in Hungary。 She is shocked at how few remnants of Jewish life remain in the European cities she visits。 It feels very personal。 The Holocaust is a very real part of her upbring I read this as a follow-up to Unorthodox。 I enjoyed the author exploration of what it means to belong as she explores her identity after leaving her Orthodox neighborhood and family。 Sometimes she gives too much information about her personal life。I most enjoyed the sections where she looks to find her grandmother's roots in Hungary。 She is shocked at how few remnants of Jewish life remain in the European cities she visits。 It feels very personal。 The Holocaust is a very real part of her upbringing and heritage。It interests me that her grandparents chose to join the Hasidic community when they came to America。 It was not a part of their background。 In fact Hasidism is an American invention， not an exact return to European forms of the faith。 。。。more
Benjamin Farr
，
A very disappointing follow up to Unorthodox。
Betsy
，
Once again， I have learned so much from Deborah Feldman's book。 Recently， I read Unorthodox， which gave me details about the Hassidic community I would have had no other way of knowing。 This book is a continuation of her memoir in that it outlines the process of her "assimilation" to the world outside of Williamsburg and exploration of what that life means。 Feldman spends a lot of time talking about exploring the Jewish communities - or remnants of them - in Europe and what that means to her， as Once again， I have learned so much from Deborah Feldman's book。 Recently， I read Unorthodox， which gave me details about the Hassidic community I would have had no other way of knowing。 This book is a continuation of her memoir in that it outlines the process of her "assimilation" to the world outside of Williamsburg and exploration of what that life means。 Feldman spends a lot of time talking about exploring the Jewish communities - or remnants of them - in Europe and what that means to her， as well as the anti-Semitism she finds in many parts of Europe。 That is sad - and revealing to me， as I would never have guessed that to be the case。She also describes her "coming out" as a modern， cosmopolitan person， with new relationships she has explored， and the mistakes and fears that accompany them。 It seems as if Feldman， in exploring her roots， is overreacting to the history of the Holocaust - and yet I don't know how anyone describes a response as an overreaction。 I guess I think her reactions will create problems for her in the future - but who am I to make this judgment？ Anyway， I found her responses fascinating - and I learned a lot。 I really appreciate Feldman's honesty and the insight she provides into her experiencces。 。。。more
Pdxstacey
，
This book reminded me of a less interesting version of Fear of Flying by Erica Jong。 I thought this might have been an accident， but the author waits until the end to humble brag that she was at a writer's dinner with Erica Jong。 Deborah sounds exhausting。 Maybe she uses her memoir as a diary and isn't as irritating in real life。 This book reminded me of a less interesting version of Fear of Flying by Erica Jong。 I thought this might have been an accident， but the author waits until the end to humble brag that she was at a writer's dinner with Erica Jong。 Deborah sounds exhausting。 Maybe she uses her memoir as a diary and isn't as irritating in real life。 。。。more
Cmw
，
Listened to the author narrate this which， despite only a handful of mispronounced English words， she did really well 。。。。 and I’m usually not a fan of authors narrating their own books。 Reread Unorthodox， watched the Netflix series and a few other Items for background in prep for a second book club discussing Unorthodox。 I am very fascinated by Deborah Feldman’s courage， kutzpah， intellect and curiosity amid such seemingly unsurmountable obstacles。 I think Exodus wrapped up a lot of my curiosit Listened to the author narrate this which， despite only a handful of mispronounced English words， she did really well 。。。。 and I’m usually not a fan of authors narrating their own books。 Reread Unorthodox， watched the Netflix series and a few other Items for background in prep for a second book club discussing Unorthodox。 I am very fascinated by Deborah Feldman’s courage， kutzpah， intellect and curiosity amid such seemingly unsurmountable obstacles。 I think Exodus wrapped up a lot of my curiosity about “what happened next” and gave some insight into how her transition to a new life went， though there are still many unanswered questions。 I think we have to afford her privacy however， as having this much publicity and success has earned her that going forward。 。。。more
Mw Moses
，
Ebook - meh - unorthodox was better - maybe she got a two book contract。
Catherine Bean
，
A story of her attempt to find where 'home' was - where she belonged and felt safe - after leaving the Satmar community in New York and being thrust all alone as a young single Mom into a very foreign American society。 It depicts her travels through America and back to Hungary， Sweden and Germany as she tries to find her roots through the life of her grandmother who was left stateless after WW2。 She may have broken from her orthodox community but she remains a Jew - and holds all that that means A story of her attempt to find where 'home' was - where she belonged and felt safe - after leaving the Satmar community in New York and being thrust all alone as a young single Mom into a very foreign American society。 It depicts her travels through America and back to Hungary， Sweden and Germany as she tries to find her roots through the life of her grandmother who was left stateless after WW2。 She may have broken from her orthodox community but she remains a Jew - and holds all that that means within her and in everything that she does。 。。。more
Jessica Larsen
，
Interesting follow up to Unorthodox， but it was more stream of consciousness in structure than what I had imagined it to be。 Definitely not a chronological memoir but had some powerful parts about her life after leaving her family and religious community。
Allison
，
Feldman is not just a flash in the pan。 In this， her second memoir， Deborah Feldman continues to open doors inside herself and discover scabs to peel back from wounds she didn't realize were there。 She does this with an open mind and heart devoid of the arrogance seen so often in modern retellings of self-discovery。I feel a lot of admiration for this young woman who is half my age because while we both we single mothers recovering from traumatic relationships， she appears to have allowed her own Feldman is not just a flash in the pan。 In this， her second memoir， Deborah Feldman continues to open doors inside herself and discover scabs to peel back from wounds she didn't realize were there。 She does this with an open mind and heart devoid of the arrogance seen so often in modern retellings of self-discovery。I feel a lot of admiration for this young woman who is half my age because while we both we single mothers recovering from traumatic relationships， she appears to have allowed her own self-exploration and healing journeys to have at least as important a role in her life as raising her child。 While I， on the otherhand， have shuttled back and forth with my focus alternating between putting my kids first or myself depending on who was in the most desperate need of tending too。My children are now in their 20s and I have many regrets about things in their childhood experience that I could have done differently。 If I'd been more proactive about my own physical and mental health （and financial health as well）， I sincerely believe we would've experienced a lot less running from fire to fire dealing with crises。 And， I truly believe we would have had a lot more healthy good times to look back on。I look forward to reading what Feldman produces in the future。 I haven't enjoyed a multi-volume memoir by an author this much since Frank McCourt。 。。。more
Anne Slater
，
Having read Unorthodox， I was eager to discover the next part of Feldman's story。 Kudos for not dragging her son into the story more than was necessary。The to-the-point， the "how I emerged from the shell that I had been cloaked in" parts of the book are fascinating， especially the revelatory psychological explorations and discoveries。 I even see how important her sexual explorations were， but they were repetitive and went over the top。 I skimmed much of the last third of the book。 She should hav Having read Unorthodox， I was eager to discover the next part of Feldman's story。 Kudos for not dragging her son into the story more than was necessary。The to-the-point， the "how I emerged from the shell that I had been cloaked in" parts of the book are fascinating， especially the revelatory psychological explorations and discoveries。 I even see how important her sexual explorations were， but they were repetitive and went over the top。 I skimmed much of the last third of the book。 She should have waited until she was 40 to write this part。 I'm no prude-- I just found it uninteresting。 。。。more
Sandy Arnold
，
Neue Perspektiven auf die Welt wie wir glauben sie zu kennen。 Und ein Land das wir nicht sein wollen und uns doch nicht Trennen können von unserer Realität。
Leib Mitchell
，