Rating: 3/5
Spoiler Alert! If you haven’t read the book, this review will contain spoilers so it’s up to you if you continue…
I'll start with the obvious: Alderman enjoys a changing point of view. Not a complaint in the slightest, but after reading The Power and Liars Gospel I wasn't exactly surprised to find two different narrators within Disobedience, it's a bit of a signature style with Alderman. I will say I enjoyed the introduction of a third person narrator though. First person offers a brilliant insight to an individual character, and whilst I really enjoy Ronit, looking at the Orthodox Jewish society from a less connected viewpoint definitely helped facilitate learning about the nature of the community at the same time as progressing the narrative.
The culture of Orthodox Jews in Britain was something I have never even considered. I'm not sure why, but I never thought it was that big. The interview at the end of my copy of the book has Alderman explaining her hesitation over talking about this society, expressing that she was somewhat reluctant to write about a community which was inclined to keep things so private. It was interesting to have this acknowledged, alongside learning how Alderman's life related to that of her characters.
I especially liked Ronit. This might have had something to do with her point of view being filled with humour, but she was also a really interesting character, negotiating her place as a lesbian and a Jew, alongside an attempt to move on from her past. Her psyche was really interesting because of her unwillingness to see the love fostered within the Jewish community she had abandoned. Yes, there was a lot of ignorance and judgemental behaviour in her hometown, but she failed continually to see the good that was there too. I'm not sure Esti's point of view would have been quite as fun to read, but I think exploring her a little more might have helped balance the story two sides of the story - or even proven Ronit right. Esti's failure to conceive a child, her detached attitude toward the women surrounding her, her isolation and potential depression would have been points which all added weight to Ronit's dislike of the place. Instead, we saw how Dovid and Esti supported each other, and a feeling of community came about despite Ronit's best attempts to convince us otherwise. You have to be careful when reading Disobedience not to take Ronit at her word - I liked her because it turned out she didn't have all the answers.
As a whole, Disobedience was less romantic than I initially imagined it to be. I'm starting to see that Alderman isn't a romantic, however. Challenging is maybe the word I would choose to associate with her writing, she's unwilling to take part in society's inertia without questioning what got us there. Disobedience is a story of heritage, not love, maybe not of figuring out who one is, either, but accepting what we cannot change. Ronit and Esti were both Jewish and both attracted to women. Disobedience displays two ways to accept both these facts in one's life - and that neither is right or easy.
As per usual, I recommend you read some Alderman. Her use of symbolism might be a little heavy at times, but she really has some worthwhile things to say about the world as she sees it. And, if nothing else, you can learn about a community hidden within England.
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