Wednesday, February 15, 2012   Disclaimer: I received a free
review copy of 'Unorthodox.'  Deborah Feldman's memoir,
Unorthodox, is a delicately painted portrait of her world, her
questions and her struggle. Contrary to what others have said,
the writing is even-handed and her portrayal of the Hasidic
world is fair and accurate. Interestingly, her articles,
interviews and comments online have come across as far more
bitter than the actual memoir is. Her memoir paints a portrait
while those articles express feelings; I believe this is what
accounts for the difference.  This memoir is highly evocative
and extremely well-written. Deborah's portraits of her Zeidy,
Bubby, Aunt Chaya and friend Mindy are painted particularly
well. It is easy to imagine the wealthy patriarch who refuses to
spend money, the hard-working woman who finds solace and
pleasure in her cooking and feeding of others, the cold, aloof,
emotionally frigid woman who rules Deborah's life and the girl
who was her confidante and fellow rebel but wh