i ended up dnfing this book. i got around 35% and then i wasn't too excited to pick it up. the story is intriguing and interesting, but i just found it to be a bit redundant. i will pick it up again in the future. but for now, i need something else. something more dynamic.

Shmutz was one that I thought sounded so interesting and I just could not get into the story! I think it was the timing on my part, so I may try again at another time. But I do find the premise interesting and think it was a good debut but maybe not my favourite I have read so far. I found the language to be a bit hard to follow as I am unfamiliar with Yiddish terms and it kind of took me out of it a bit.

What an interesting story! Raizl is a woman caught between two worlds: her Orthodox Jewish community and the porn she finds herself addicted to watching. She’s been given access to a computer in order to complete her studies in accounting so that she can help support her brothers’ education. Raizl wants to meet someone to spend her life with in earnest, but she’s just so distracted by the titillating life happening on the screen of her computer. This is a book that asks the question: how can we reconcile the very different parts of ourselves that are seemingly in opposition with one another? This is a book about communities and individualism woven together in a both funny and poignant narrative. Thank you to Atria Books and to NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

Shmutz was a book that I really wanted to love, but I just had a difficult time getting into the story. While Raizl's internal struggles were definitely interesting, and you could feel the struggles of her coming of age story, I was left wanting something more.

Hearing about her relationship to her religion in contrast to her sexuality was fascinating and there were definitely parts that drew me in, but at the same time, I had a hard time getting through other parts. Maybe my expectations were a little too high after reading some of the reviews. I was expecting a book that I was unable to put down, but I really found myself struggling to get through this one.

Shmutz caught my attention because of the description of Raizl being Hasidic, I love to read books that explore different cultures, religions, lifestyles, etc. It seemed like a truly interesting premise for a book. Quite honestly, I didn't finish the book, I tried, I hate not finishing a book, but I just couldn't continue reading it.

As someone who is married into a fundamentalist family, I was immediately drawn to Shmutz because although I am only familiar with Hassidic culture on a surface level from movies and tv shows, I understand the forbidden nature and rebellion of very strict religious communities. Plus, I like smutty romances.

What started off as a great reflection on the struggle between religion and addiction, yet tempered with enough light hearted moments, quickly became bogged down with far too many descriptions of the pornography Raizl is viewing and less on the type of future she truly was seeking. Although I loved her personality and also the supporting characters, I wanted more insight into everyone. I felt the ending was extremely abrupt and unsatisfying based on the journey the author wanted us to seemingly take with the main character.

Light hearted romance with plenty of spicy self-discovery, but could have been so much more. For fans of Netflix’s Unorthodox and rebellious romances.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Felicia Berliner for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with a free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued by the concept for Shmutz: Set in 2012, Raizl is an 18-year-old Orthodox Jew with an addiction to online porn. Although Raizl has not so much as kissed a man (in fact, she's not even allowed to touch a member of the opposite sex until her wedding day), she's given a laptop as part of her college scholarship and uses her newfound internet access to discover the world of porn. Raizl has led a sheltered life as a traditional Orthodox Jew and it's a rarity that she's even allowed to pursue her college studies in accounting, but she gives herself a sexual education by watching porn—even if her firsthand knowledge of dating is virtually non-existent.

The novel is a study in contrasts, and I like how Felicia Berliner contrasted Raizl's curiosity about porn with the repressed, buttoned up Orthodox Jewish society in which she was raised. Each chapter is a vignette from Raizl's life, and accordingly, nothing really happens in the book. I found it difficult to get through Shmutz, and candidly, I skimmed the last half of the book. While it was a good primer in traditional Orthodox Judaism for those unfamiliar (the book includes a glossary of Yiddish words in the back), I didn't care for this particular story. Berliner also included really vivid descriptions of the porn that Raizl watches; that was wholly unnecessary. Overall, I liked the idea for the novel, but I did not enjoy the execution much at all.

1.5 stars

I absolutely adored this book. I suspected I was going to love it based on the incredible cover (SERIOUSLY amazing and provocative), and I'm so glad it didn't disappoint.

This is a book that it truly unlike anything I've ever read before- and the voice of the main character, Raizl, is so unique. Berliner has created a very well-rounded cast of characters in this novel- even those that show up in only a few moments are fully realized and fleshed out (har har?). Raizl's boss, her dates, her therapist, her goth "BFF", her siblings- seriously all very memorable characters and several laugh out loud moments. And some heartbreaking moments. And some cringeworthy ones, too. Lots of feelings.

Also- there is a glossary, and while I think Berliner does a nice job of including sufficient context clues that make the glossary unnecessary, it was still very nice to have as an option to flip to when my brain was feeling lazy.

My one quibble is that ending, while realistic and satisfying, felt a bit rushed. But the journey to the end was WELL worth it. I loved this book.

Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the review copy!

Context, I think, is necessary for a book like Shmutz. The cover is clearly provocative for the content that lies within, but now that I've read the book, the cover is all wrong. It feels too exposed. I feel exposed for having read this and I'm not sure what that says about me?

Okay, back to context. I'm approaching this book as a shiksa - I'm a Catholic woman married to a Jewish man. My father-in-law speaks Yiddish - he is a doctor who cares for the Hasidic population of New York. From my interactions and the conversations I've overheard, Felicia Berliner has captured so much of what I have come to understand like the horrific odors, the hidden bacon cheeseburgers, the Yeshiva boys, and the female oppression. So, high fives to the author, if my non-Kosher self is permitted to touch. My first instinct when reviewing a book about New York is does it feel authentic? This one is DEAD ON. From the jewelers on 47th street to the dates at the Waldorf to the seating on the subway - this is Jewish New York. The dialogue, the patterns of exposition - I am so impressed!

But now we get to the story. Raizl, an eighteen going on nineteen-year-old Hasidic woman is permitted to go to college and study accounting. For this she needs a computer even though the Internet is not allowed by the laws handed down by the Rebbe. However, her father has been injured, he needs the Internet to continue to work, and Raizl is able to work in accounting for an owner of one of the Jewelry stores in the Diamond District. Raizl should be open to finding a husband, but she's scared - as she should be because her father is a nightmare. She discovers the shmutz because of the computer and the internet, and she just can't stop watching. The only person who knows? The doctor her mother asks her to see for therapy in order to help her accept the idea of marriage. The plot runs through the Jewish calendar from Purim to before Rosh Hashanah. The holidays serve as benchmarks for the passage of time and how Raizl gets to the stage where she is willing to meet a match - a person who she could marry. Not a person to whom she would confess to her extra knowledge of human interactions, but a person who might want to interact with her in a physical relationship. A person who would not treat her as her father does.

There is a push and pull of conservatism and modernism. There is what is permitted and what is hidden. There is old and new and the question of what will be. I am wondering who will be the audience for this book? I am wondering if there will be a backlash?

This was a hard one to read. I was immediately drawn into Raizl’s story and rooting for her, but I was never really certain what outcomes I was rooting for her. She was so conflicted and ambivalent, and so I was too. The porn viewing is just one facet of her broader curiosity about the world beyond the confines of Chasidism. She gets glimpses and tastes. It’s fairly clear she has no desire to leave Chasidism, so she faces this constant dread of “will I experience these worldly joys with a husband?” My heart ached for her.

I loved this book!! I am such a fan of Jewish stories and this one was unlike anything I've read. I've been looking forward to reading this book since I first heard of it and it didn't disappoint!

The book is well-paced, the flow of the writing is easy to read, and the storyline is logical. Raizl’s story is one I’ve never heard before, and I was intrigued. That being said, I can’t offer the same feedback as a Jewish reviewer— I am not very familiar with Hasidic Judaism, though I do have a working knowledge of the overall religion. I found some breaches of the religious tenants a bit confusing in how they impacted the main character — Raizl wearing pants vs. Raizl eating a bacon egg and cheese, for example. The latter seemed to me much more serious, given that keeping Kosher seems a much more widely accepted tenant of the religion than women wearing pants (I can’t speak on how nonbinary Hasidic individuals choose to dress, so forgive me for the binary-gendered language). However, like I said, I’m not Jewish, so my confusion may be a result of my lack of education. I will say that I am extremely interested in learning more about more orthodox and/or conservative forms of Judaism as a result of reading this book. 3/5 stars— I will be waiting to see what my fellow reviewers, particularly Jewish reviewers, have to say about this novel.

Shmutz is not a book you have read before. Raizl is a young Hasidic woman living in Brooklyn who is about to get married off to her "match" (chussen) -- a man chosen by her parents and a matchmaker. The purpose: have babies and serve the family. Raizl is also super smart and is studying accounting in college (not something other girls in her community do) and works an accounting job in the Diamond District of NYC. She also has something of a porn addiction that veers into what some (present company included) would call troubling porn. If you like your stories wrapped up in a neat bow, this one is not for you. This book has it all - great writing, coming of age in a closed community, and a provocative story line. I do wish some of the loose ends were dealt with, though. Note that there is a Yiddish glossary in the back of the book that I wish I had know about going in. I was able to understand most of the Yiddish through context clues.

I had a difficult time getting through this book. The description really drew me in, but the execution just didn’t do it for me.

I am thankful for the exposure of a different perspective, one I have not taken in before. I learned a bit about the orthodox Jewish faith, which was appreciated. I am a fan of Raizl’s character development over the course of the novel- addiction aside, seeing her question and take in different perspectives and life experiences… it was nice to see. Granted, she has a lot to learn, but this reader found herself rooting for this character to continue growing, evolving, and questioning.

Unfortunately, there were several tangents which took away from the storyline. I couldn’t find the purpose in them, but maybe not every side story needs purpose? It also took me forever to get through this book. I don’t know why, but it just could not hold my attention for the long haul.

Shmutz is a coming of age with a a premise I’ve newer come across before: Raizl is a young woman raised in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Jewish Community who stumbles upon online pornography. Her curiosity morphs into an obsession as she tries to understand the relevance of porn in her own life.

Shmutz starts off compelling, but didn’t manage to keep my interest for the entire book. I did enjoy the way the author chose to end the book. I’ll be thinking about Raizl and wondering what came next for her for sometime.

Raizl is a young Hasidic woman struggling with desire and duty. She’s waiting for her arranged marriage to be sorted out and has developed a secret porn addiction that is affecting every aspect of her life. I liked that this story didn’t follow a predictable arc and really showed how conflicted Raizl was — she loved her family and her culture but also wanted more — and I thought the ending was open-ended enough to be believable.

And 4000 stars for the cover - it’s perfect.

The title of this novel is what drew me to this book. I was a German major in college and the yiddish "dirt" title made me request it off Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher.

Shmutz is a coming of age story of a young, Hasidic Jewish woman. Raizl is attending college for accounting while working in the diamond district of New York. Her college courses allow her access to a laptop which she uses to the explore the internet including por/nography.

Raizl is torn between two worlds. One which requires observant peity. The other which encourages openness, exploring one's youth and learning new things. She struggles ultimately with wanting both. She is curious and learns more about her body and it's desires but she also tells herself inwardly that she shouldn't be feeling this way.

I enjoyed all of the characters within the book but was disappointed that Raizl's family seemed to function more on discipline vs love. Raizl is allowed to work which enables the funding of her brothers' education as well as her trousseau. Her existence seemed to be based on how useful she was to the family and not just being loved for who she is.

I really struggled that her lack of a marriage (at the young age of 19!) was looked down on by the community and was equated with whether or not she was successful.

I would've loved more development between Raizl and her brother Moishe. Their interactions encouraged me to think that maybe Moishe also took liberties with how he practiced his religion. More conflict between him and their parents would've been interesting to read about.

The book itself is well written and well developed. It would make an incredibly interesting discussion in religious classes regardless of one's denomination. How does religion affect our choices? How important were religious practices in our own homes while we were growing up and do we plan to continue those practices as adults? Why or why not? What makes us "a good person" and should that be defined by us as individuals or by our religion of choice?

What can I say about this book other than it was beshert from page one? There is something so celebratory about seeing your religion represented in contemporary culture (and in representation other than Holocaust literature) and this book spoke my language. I loved absolutely everything about it!

The premise is cleverly hilarious and serious all at once: Raizl, our atypical, red-headed, ultra-orthodox MC is addicted to porn (shmutz)! She thinks that this will make her ineligible for a shidduch (arranged marriage) and that if she does by some miracle marry, that if her chussen (groom) doesn't use his tongue on her 'hamantaschen' she will die.

My heart was singing with all the Yiddishisms! It's there a better language than Yiddish for expression? I'm not confused, I'm farmished. I am not merely sweating I am shvitzing. A complaint is a kvetch and to drag is to schlep and this is my most favorite language in the whole world!

Raizl is a religious Jew coming of age and questioning her place in world that is very different to what she grew up in. It's very Bridgerton-esque in the way that women are not taught about their bodies or sex positivity, where sexual acts outside of marriage are taboo and therefore everything discovered is both a revelation and a terrifying fear. Except that the internet is Simon giving Raizl permission to touch herself.

Short chapters made this an easy read. Purim Shtick, a chapter 1/3 into the book, is simultaneously the most beautiful and most heartbreaking chapter I have ever read and I had to put the book down to recover from it.

This book is relatable for anyone who comes from a strict background or who feels they are different. For fans of Milk Fed, this book may not be for everyone but it stole my heart from the very first shmutz. A 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars.

This is a wonderful book for anyone seeking to understand sexuality from the perspective of another religion. I am not Jewish at all, but I am attracted to the religion and the teachings more than any other religion.

3.5
Thank you to Atria Books for sending me a ARC of this book to read and review! When I first heard about this book I was greatly intrigued and interested in how the narrative was going to be focused. I thought Raizl was a really dynamic and complex character. One of the parts that stood out to me most was her choices and her inner struggle to decide to adhere to her faith or her desire. I also loved seeing all the Yiddish on the page and how it was used in tandem with the overall structure of the book. However, I don't think this necessarily brought out anything positive about the Hasidic community which is hard because the media already portrays it so harshly. I liked the brevity of the this book up until the end. I was so confused when there was nothing left and I feel like Raizl's whole journey was forgotten in the last chapter. This book was intense and provocative, but it also felt like it was lacking something, either warmth or connection, I'm not entirely sure. While the concept did stand out to me, I think at some points it just felt overwhelming.