Houses of DETENTION by JEAN ENDE

 

4 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK -

So, what's a nice girl from a good family doing in a place like the Bronx House of Detention?

Like many immigrants who flee persecution, when the Rosens escaped the Nazis they thought life in America would be perfect. And for a while it was. Men developed successful businesses, a mink stole hung in every hall closet, overly abundant high-carb food graced all tables and grandma preserved traditions while finishing her weekly bottle of whiskey.

But then cracks appeared-a teenager pushed boundaries so far that the police became part of the family story, an in-law loudly mourned the loss of status he had in their village and a woman with stricter beliefs married into the family causing catastrophic rifts.

Despite the ever-present shadow of the Holocaust there's frequent humor. People who eat frozen, pre-packaged bagels are condemned, Cossacks who once incinerated towns are now Bar Mitzvah waiters carrying flaming cherries jubilee, the chippie dating the synagogue president carries a bejeweled poodle-shaped purse that barks in French and no one understands how WASPs can wear leather loafers without socks.

This book has enough twists, turns and turmoil to make anyone, immigrant or Mayflower descendant, cry, Oy Vey!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

Jean Ende is a native NYer who is trying to exorcise her background by writing fiction influenced by her Jewish family in the Bronx, NY. Jean is a former reporter for daily newspapers, commercial bank VP and college marketing professor. Jean has had two dozen short stories published in print and online magazines and anthologies in the US and England and her work has been recognized by major literary competitions. This is her first novel. Jean and her dog now live in Brooklyn which is a foreign country to anyone from the Bronx.

MY THOUGHTS -

 We closely follow the everyday (and not so everyday) lives and traditions of a Jewish family living in the Bronx. I loved Rebecca, she really stole my heart! She lived a difficult life. She just wanted to be a teenager. Maybe she didn't always make the best choices but she had to live with them, and learn from them. I loved the close relationship she had with her aunts and her cousin. But her love for her brother, Marvin was what really stood out for me. They stood up for each other and remained close throughout.

Rebecca ends up going to a detention center and then a reform school. I don’t know why, but I’ve always liked reading books about juvenile detention centers or reform schools. So this book appealed to me right away. Rebecca tries to make the best of a rough situation. This is where I started to fall in love with her.

Parts of this book were absolutely heartbreaking. And parts wanted to make me cheer. Both brought tears to my eyes!

If you are interested in the Jewish life and traditions this is a great book. You will feel like a fly on the wall watching the lives of these families. And you might even learn something.

My ex is Jewish so I did already know a lot of the traditions. I found this book very interesting. And there was one thing I did not already know -  a Sheitel - is a wig worn by many married Orthodox Jewish women as a symbol of modesty and in accordance with religious tradition. My ex's family was not Orthodox, so that is probably why I had never heard of this.

A very good, interesting, and heartfelt story. 

I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Mindbuck Media Book Publicity -  Thank You!!