The Ladies auxiliary

Tova Mirvis

Wow, what a great book!! It had me hooked from page one. A fictional story that will make you ponder and think about many things.

The story is set in Memphis, a traditional orthodox Jewish community where everyones roots are dug deep. It is the responsibilitie of each citizen to ensure that standards are kept, everyones buiseness is theirs, and to continue this life style for all future generations whether they like it or not.

Into this tight community enters Batsheva. A Widowed convert to the Jewish faith with a past. The ladies all try to welcome her into the fold, but the problem is she has a different way of doing things and noone is comfortable. They are comfortable with routine, even if that means they have forgotten about the spirit and meanings of their rituals. Those things are no longer important, what is important is that you perform the ritual the same way everyone else does. The story will have you probing deep into those auxiliaries to which you belong. Some of the questions you ask yourself when truthfully answered hurt.

Within this story there is another. This one is about parents holding onto their children tightly in order to keep the outside world at bay and save their families. You began to question whether you yourself are holding on too tightly. Where is the line between freedom and protective barriers? What will guarantee me children who will not succomb to those dangers I am striving so hard to keep them from? And the questions go on.........

The author's writing style accentuates the book. The narrator always writes from a "we" standpoint and while you become familiar with the other characters, you are never really introduced to the narrator specifically. This technique give the impression that the story is told from the collective voice of the ladies. Without eachother they do not have their individual voice.