Disobedience by Naomi Alderman is a beautiful exploration of identity, faith, tolerance, and sexuality set within an Orthodox Jewish community. The story follows two gay women navigating their relationships and personal growth, with themes of choice, self-acceptance, and the complexities of leaving one's community. Alderman intricately weaves the Orthodox Jewish religion into the characters' life experiences, creating a compelling narrative that delves into the characters' motives and self-awareness.

The book portrays the dynamic between the main characters, highlighting their endearing flaws and the complexities of their relationships. The writing style is praised for its sensitivity, humor, and complexity, engaging readers in a thought-provoking reflection on life and societal expectations.

Characters:

Characters are multifaceted, with Ronit showcasing complexity and Esti delving into inner struggles, while Dovid plays a lesser role.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is lyrical and immersive, effectively conveying deep emotions and complex themes.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot delves into identity, faith, and forbidden love, showcasing the struggles of two women in an Orthodox Jewish context.

Setting:

The setting is crucial, rooted in an Orthodox Jewish community that significantly influences the characters' experiences.

Pacing:

The pacing is deliberate, allowing for character exploration and thematic depth, while maintaining reader engagement.

The Rav had brought them through the High Holy Days, had remained standing during the two-hour service at the end of the Yom Kippur fast, though more than once his eyes had rolled back as though he wo...

Notes:

The book explains aspects of Orthodox Judaism at the start of each chapter.

It explores the main character Ronit's struggle with her identity as both Jewish and gay.

The ending is realistic and does not conform to typical happy-ever-after storylines.

The main themes include love, choice, and self-acceptance amidst strict societal expectations.

Esti, another key character, experiences deep internal conflict and isolation within her Orthodox community.

Alderman's prose is noted for being rich and emotionally impactful, with comparisons made to other authors like Sarah Waters.

Ronit and Esti's relationship is central to the narrative, but their interactions are more limited than expected in the book.

The author drew from her own experiences growing up in an Orthodox Jewish community.

Alderman has identified as LGBT and mentioned becoming a non-practicing Jew after writing this book.

Readers appreciate the deep character exploration and themes of identity and faith throughout the story.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book includes medium-level content warnings related to themes of sexual identity, cultural dislocation, and the emotional struggle of living in a strict religious community.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance in the book, focused on the complex relationship between Ronit and Esti, though the story also delves into other elements of character development.

From The Publisher:

*NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE, STARRING RACHEL WEISZ AND RACHEL MCADAMS

*AUTHOR OF ONE OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FAVORITE READS OF 2017

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Power comes a novel about a young woman who must return home in the wake of her father's death and confront the tight-knit Orthodox community that she ran away from-reigniting the old flames of forbidden love.

When a young photographer living in New York learns that her estranged father, a well-respected rabbi, has died, she can no longer run away from the truth, and soon sets out for the Orthodox Jewish community in London where she grew up.

Back for the first time in years, Ronit can feel the disapproving eyes of the community. Especially those of her beloved cousin, Dovid, her father's favorite student and now an admired rabbi himself, and Esti, who was once her only ally in youthful rebelliousness. Now Esti is married to Dovid, and Ronit is shocked by how different they both seem, and how much greater the gulf between them is.

But when old flames reignite and the shocking truth about Ronit and Esti's relationship is revealed, the past and present converge in this award-winning and critically acclaimed novel about the universality of love and faith, and the strength and sacrifice it takes to fight for what you believe in-even when it means disobedience.

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Disobedience?

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About the Author:

Naomi Alderman is a graduate of Oxford University and the University of East Anglia's Creative Writing MA and has published award-winning short fiction in a number of anthologies. She has worked as an editor and game designer, and spent several years living in New York. She grew up in the Orthodox Jewish community in Hendon, the neighborhood in London where she now lives.

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