Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers: An Intimate Journey Among Hasidic Girls: Amazon.ca: Stephanie Wellen Levine, Carol Gilligan, Paul Baran: Books

Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

This absorbing ethnography acts as one subculture's corrective to Reviving Ophelia, in that it offers a refreshing portrait of adolescent girls who are far from insecure. In this refreshing portrayal of girls who are far from insecure, Levine presents a contrasting path to that of mainstream adolescent girls. While a graduate student in American studies at Harvard, Levine spent a year living as a "participant observer" in the Lubavitcher community in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, entering with the following assumption: "The possibility that these girls' lives could be anything other than the Platonic essence of feminine subjugation seemed as unlikely as a suckling pig on a Shabbos table." What she found instead is that Lubavitch culture nurtures most girls' inner and outer voices. Though they are not immune from adolescent concerns about fashion, weight, looks and cliques, the Lubavitch emphasis on each person's godly mission to bring the Messiah deepens their spiritual outlook; the single-sex environment in which they mature helps develop vibrant, expressive personalities. Those who clash with Orthodox strictures, however, experience intense and painful struggles. From interviews with 32 girls ages 13 to 23, Levine found "downright juicy" material and culled seven portraits of girls (disguised in name and background) in their "idiosyncratic splendor." The essays are sometimes repetitive within the context of the entire book, as if Levine wrote each to stand on its own, but her bright, lively narrative compensates. Levine invites readers to share the "pure delight" of knowing these girls, and challenges us to draw on Hasidism as an unexpected source in helping our own girls develop into secure, confident adults.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"This absorbing ethnography acts as one subculture's corrective to Reviving Ophelia, in that it offers a refreshing portrait of adolescent girls who are far from insecure." - Publishers Weekly (starred review); "A vivid portrayal of the Lubavitcher community." - Library Journal; "Levine does a splendid job of presenting how the girls cope, and paints vivid pictures of Shabbat around their family tables." - The Jerusalem Post Literary Quarterly"

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Inside This Book (Learn More)

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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index

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Customer Reviews

9 Reviews

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3.9 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, but not purely accurate, Jun 25 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers: An Intimate Journey Among Hasidic Girls (Hardcover)

As a friend of one of the girls portrayed in this book, I was very excited to read it. It was definitely entertaining, but after discussion with my friend I was troubled by it's inaccuracy. It seems to be less a portrayal of individual girls than a description of different types of girls, with the stories and personalities of several people blended into one character. Stephanie was concerned about the ability of people in the community to identify the girls involved in the book (which they did easily anyway), and perhaps this fear led her to obscure and blend important facts. Several of the events she describes my friend participating in never happened as far as she can recall, so it is difficult to know who they happened to or if they did at all. As a former anthropology major, this aspect concerns me. It's still a fun book to read, but I would approach it more as a work of fiction based in fact than a purely anthropological study.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Sensitive, Humorous, Profound, Jun 1 2004

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Susan Brown (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers: An Intimate Journey Among Hasidic Girls (Hardcover)

After seeing several fantastic reviews and feature articles of this book, I had to read it for myself. Now I feel compelled to share my own praise. "Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers" is sensitive, profound, humorous, and incredibly well written. This book makes the world of Hasidic teenage girls seem so real. Levine brings each young woman to life in ways that defy all the stereotypes of meek, docile Hasidic girls. Readers see the girls' talents, weaknesses, and internal struggles. We join them on adventures that are so adolescent, and yet so Hasidic. Just one example: a car ride home with a Hasidic young man inspires both guilt and exhilaration, for Hasidic males and females are not allowed to socialize outside the family.

This book offers deep, enduring observations about the beauty of Hasidic life. Levine believes we have much to learn from the Hasidism as we go about our own lives. She also brings out the pain of those cannot conform because their beliefs or desires fall outside Hasidic boundaries.

"Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers" taught me so much, on many different levels. The beautifully developed Hasidic characters seemed like people I know, but in a totally new, fascinating world. I learned a lot about Judaism, mystical thought in general, and the power of leading a religious life. I also learned more about the Lubavitchers, the particular Hasidic group Levine discusses; I was fascinated to see how modern they seemed in some ways, and yet how removed from key aspects of mainstream American life. If you want to help teenage girls boost their confidence, this book is filled with relevant insight. For that matter, these insights could help any human being, regardless of gender, background, or age. Perhaps most fun of all, the book is filled with wonderful stories, told with literary flair.

I short, this is an all-round terrific read. The author's level of empathy for each of these very different Hasidic young women is astounding. This book makes a very unusual world feel real and deeply relevant, a wonderful accomplishment.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Gifted Writer with an Open Mind, May 21 2004

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Louise J Guy (New Bedford MA ,United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers: An Intimate Journey Among Hasidic Girls (Hardcover)

From start to finish, MYSTICS, MAVERICKS, AND MERRYMAKERS delighted me because the author is so open. Levine spent a year living among Crown Heights, Brooklyn's Lubavitcher Hasidim, and she maintained a rare balance: She sees the beauty in Hasidic life and beliefs but also explores the problems. Indeed, this writer is open to absolutely everyone, and portrays all points of view with deep empathy. Her focus is the teenage girls, an endlessly fascinating bunch. One chapter explores the life and thoughts of a young woman whose mystical craving overpowers the other girls, who balance their faith with heavy doses of shopping and socializing. Another portrays a girl who starts off rebelling in outrageous ways but ends up a relatively well-behaved young Hasid. Yet another wonderful chapter ushers us into the life of a girl who expects the Messiah to appear at any second, but who loves to flirt ever so subtly with forbidden boys. And I'll never forget the girl who loses faith and leaves the Hasidic world, but with a longing for all she has lost. I loved learning about this girl and her friends, both in their secret apartment in Crown Heights, and in their new home after they leave the Lubavitch community. MYSTICS, MAVERICKS, AND MERRYMAKERS portrays each young woman with psychological depth. Throughout the book are wonderful observations about the community as a whole, everything from social class issues to the politics behind arranged marriages.

Levine is a gifted writer; there are eloquent and arresting passages throughout. I found her descriptions of Hasidic philosophy particularly beautiful. Her discussion of her own personal journey also intrigued me. She did not become an observant Jew, but her deep respect for Hasidic lives comes through, and Hasidic thought influences her own ideas and behavior in fascinating ways.

I loved MYSTICS, MAVERICKS, AND MERRYMAKERS, and I recommend it to anyone who wants a thoughtful, entertaining, and truly open-minded look at Hasidic teenage struggles and triumphs.

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Most recent customer reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Hardly an "Intimate Journey"
The author, as part of her doctoral thesis at Harvard, spent a year in Crown Heights, studying Lubovitch girls in high school and beyond, before they married. Read more

Published on May 17 2004 by Tante Esther

2.0 out of 5 stars Lots of words, little depth
After reading the many positive reviews about this book I was very excited to start reading it, however I was very disappointed by the lack of the depth in the portrayls of the... Read more

Published on May 12 2004 by K. McCaslin