Set in the 1970s, the book follows the lives of a tight-knit Jewish community that spends summers in the Catskills. The main character, a mother of five named Elizabeth Shulman, struggles with her role as a woman in a patriarchal religious community. As she yearns for a life beyond her prescribed role, she begins a small business, which is frowned upon by the community's spiritual leader. The book explores themes of faith, community, and the tension between individual desire and communal norms.
The 12174th greatest book of all time
