Modern Girls

This was a fantastic debut but talented Jennifer S. Brown. I highly recommend reading the author's notes at the end, when she discusses how she came up with the story. A fascinating and unexpected plot for the time and place.

I enjoyed the story and the characterization of the Jewish immigrant experience in pre-WWII NYC. I just felt that the storytelling was a bit simplistic, as was the language. Perhaps the immigrants SPOKE THAT WAY, but their thoughts in a first person telling would not have been so stilted. I think their voting Che's didn't ring true to me.

The story was just about to be meaningful and suspensful when it ended. I only got a kick from all the yiddish -- I understood it all, but a non-Jewish reader may not; a "dictionary" may have been a nice addendum.

Set in 1935, "Modern Girls" tells the story of 19 year old Dottie Krasinsky, who works as a bookkeeper in Manhattan while still living with her family on the Lower East Side. After an argument with her boyfriend Abe, she has a "one night stand" with Willie and becomes pregnant.

Much of the novel deals with Dottie's soul searching about what to do about her predicament. Willie, the son of a wealthy Jewish family living a life very different from Dottie's family, has a reputation for such behaviour. After her plan to convince Abe to marry her fails, Dottie considers abortion but instead approaches Willie's mother and reveals her situation. Willie's parents arrange an immediate wedding, although Dottie and Willie are not in love.

Dottie faced difficult choices during a time when such choices would have been much more problematic than today. While I enjoyed reading this novel, I did not, however, find it totally satisfying, and in the end the story is left without a resolution.

This story is told from two alternating points of view—that of 19-year-old Dottie and her 42-year old mother Rose. They live in a poor Jewish area of New York City during the mid-1930s. Both find themselves unexpectedly, and inconveniently, pregnant.

The characters were interesting and convincing. Life in that time period and neighborhood jumped off the page with the clear writing. And the dilemmas were intriguing and caused me to want to read further to see how they played out.

And then the story just ended with only partial resolution and no sequel planned. It became obvious to me as I neared the end of the novel that there was not going to be a satisfying conclusion and it tainted my entire opinion of the book. Why bother writing an incomplete story? There are very real concerns at the end, which is why I feel it’s incomplete. It leaves me feeling like the author hit some deadline (although, this is her only novel so that can’t be true). And with no announced sequel, it just seems like a cop-out to me. Did the author not know how to give closure to these characters? Did she feel she hit a word limit that indicated the end? It makes no sense to me and I’m assuming that her publisher and readers will eventually convince her to write a sequel. However, if she truly did not intend one, then it’s bound to be a disappointment like so many other forced sequels. Alas, I get ahead of myself. My dissatisfaction at the end simply overtakes any other thoughts I might be able to voice about this otherwise enjoyable novel.

By Melissa Amster

I had heard good things about Modern Girls, so when I suggested it to my book club, I was pleased that they were all interested to read it for our next meeting. And really, it’s the perfect book for my club, as we are all Jewish women and most of us are mothers, as well. The Orthodox customs and traditions spread throughout the novel are full of detail and would be easily understandable by someone who is not Jewish or observant. There are Yiddish words used a lot of the time, but explained, as well.

For a debut novel, this was incredibly polished and well-written. I felt like I could see everything happening right in front of me. It wasn’t overwhelming in description, but gave enough for easy visualization. The characters were complex and sympathetic, even though their circumstances were less than ideal and they had to make difficult and, sometimes, heartbreaking choices. I kept forgetting Rose was close in age to me, but when I was a kid I thought my parents were old at the age I currently am at and now they seem too young to be grandparents. Go figure!

All I know is that I’m glad to be the age I am in the present time. I couldn’t imagine doing all Rose had to do for her family. I definitely take a lot for granted! I also like the fact that marriage age is so open ended now. Dottie was 19 and complaining that marriage at 20 would be too much of a wait and render her as old.

I like the amount of thought and research Jennifer S. Brown put into this novel and I wish there were a sequel, as I’d like to see what happens for Dottie and Rose after the final page.

Movie casting:
Dottie: Natalia Dyer (I saw her in Stranger Things and then she was all I can picture as Dottie)
Rose: Rachel Weisz

Life for woman of the Lower East Side, especially women of Russian Jewish descent, was very hard. A pregnancy was a source of joy as Rose, already a mother of three boys and a girl, knows and her husband Ben shares that joy. But now Rose finds she is again with child and doesn’t know if she has the physical, mental or emotional strength to withstand another pregnancy and birth. Her daughter, Dottie, has found a good job and even been promoted as she has a gift with numbers. Add to that Dottie is really a second mother to her three brothers, giving them her undivided, devoted attention at all times. Now, one mistake puts Dottie into a panic, for she finds she is pregnant as well. Mother and daughter keep their secret for a very long time.
Rose has big dreams for Dottie and has been planning for years. Dottie’s current boyfriend, Abe Rabinowitz, is planning on their marriage but not just yet. He wants financial security before he even asks for Dottie’s hand and Dottie is plotting to seduce him to make him marry her before the disgraceful secret is out, a revelation that would absolutely ruin her future in the judgmental times of 1935. Or is her future with the father, Willie Klein, known as irresponsible and a lady’s man wherever he can ensnare an admiring female?
The remainder of this tale is a tribute to love and familial support, despite the unexpected turns of events. Jennifer S. Brown portrays Dottie as the model “American Woman,” with her talents and foibles. This woman is not only gifted in the external world but finds within herself reserves of strength and purpose that the reader must admire, respect beyond the mistakes and vicissitudes of daily life that were ever-present in this particular time period in American history.
Choices are difficult enough to handle in the year 2016, but multiply that by hundreds to fully appreciate the decisions made by Rose and Dottie. The cost and consequences are the essence of this realistic novel that Jennifer Brown has crafted that never fails to captivate the reader on every page!
Fine, fine historical novel with several touches of troubled and sweet romance! A poignant tribute to the quest for equality!

** spoiler alert ** This book is my all time favorite for the month of August.

Wow, I have not read a book like this before and I am hoping there is a sequel to Modern Girls.
Right after reading the last line of this novel my heart ached and my tears were ready. Modern Girls left you wanting more! The characters were lovely and the uses of Jewish words were endearing. I left this book not lacking anything except that I need it to continue... now!

Dottala, was a young woman who made a mistake. Not a uncommon mistake except that it got her pregnant.
Rose, a middle aged woman who is eager to start her true life's journey and is counting the time that her children will be grown up and going to school and not need her as much. She finds herself pregnant at the same time as her daughter. The sacrifices a mother makes are big and small... this book really resignated with me as a mother the things we think and do for our children.

Willie Klein. A spoiled kid who thinks he can eat the world up. Going to Europe is such a dangerous thing to do as a Jew. Oh. My heart breaks on what danger this man has put his family in.

The abortion details made me cringe to many times. Just the thought breaks my heart and soul.

I was sent this book by the author part of the Red PR campaign.
It has been a privileged to read sucha fantastic book.

A great example of Women's Literature.

I did receive this book as part of a social media compaign. All opinion are my own.

For more reviews follow my instagram and goodreads @thejubilantreader

Modern Girls is a fantastic foray into the 1930's world of Manhattan's Lower East Side. Brown is a masterful world-builder, taking the reader back in time to the world of Rose and Dottie, a mother and daughter who find themselves to be pregnant. These women are strong and determined but their world is fraught with challenges and WWII is nearly on their doorstep. Brown treats us to both of their perspectives and in doing so enables the reader to be empathetic to both situations. It's a book about family, about love, about the immigrant struggle, gender and a world in tumult, watching the rise of Nazism and facism.

Modern Girls, by Jennifer Brown, is a heart-warming story of a family living on the Lower East Side in the 1930's. This easy-to-read book highlights the compassion and humanity of this family as they deal with "modern" realities and traditional values. The book is well researched, making it not only believable, but drawing the reader in.
Club members pointed out that this book was perfect for anyone, because all immigrant families go through similar experiences. Who hasn't heard stories about a family member or ancestor and their experience as a new American? Some examples of this in the entertainment industry are "Brooklyn" and "The Boston Girl". Every generation is rebellious as a way of moving ahead, but the traditions hold you together. When you have children, you want to continue those traditions.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the alternating chapters with Rose the focus of one, and Dottie the focus of the next. Both Rose and Dottie were modern women. Not only did Rose save money for Dottie to better herself, but she ended up having an abortion.
As for the men in Dottie's life, a blend of the two would have been fine. Abe was just stringing her long, and had no courage. Perhaps he was backed into a corner and saw no alternative. Will would always be a womanizer, and look for money to solve everything.
As to Dottie's decision to go to Europe during such a volatile time, members differed in opinion. It was generally thought that since she could never have imagined the horrific events of WWII, her decision was easier.
Everyone was disappointed that the ending was so abrupt and we're all hoping for a sequel!

It was pointed out that if this were written about a present situation, there would simply be no story. These issues don't resonate with anyone today, and no one would care.

Dottie Krasinsky is a whiz with numbers, has a steady boyfriend, girlfriends galore, and just got a promotion at work. But she's also pregnant, the result of a one-night stand with an uptown playboy. It's 1935 and she doesn't have many options and the clock is ticking. She goes to her mother with a plan but what Rose doesn't tell her daughter is that she, too, is pregnant at 42 (though she maintains a decades old ruse that she is three years younger). MODERN GIRLS, skillfully told with great attention to detail from mother and daughter alternating points of view, is a superbly crafted look at this Lower East Side immigrant family. I was so impressed with the nuances the author built into each character, especially Rose and Dottie who are each struggling to deal with unexpected pregnancies within the confines of their Jewish religion, social norms, and individual morality. I was sympathetic to both characters and the way that Brown was able to tackle the issue of abortion as an option for both women without moralizing one way or the other. Each woman was "modern" and independent, in her own way and for the time, but it was their deep affection for each other and for their family that touched me the most. Arresting and heartfelt.

Modern Girls is a meticulously researched and thought-provoking debut novel. In it, Jennifer Brown gives us a slice of 1930’s New York that is rich with history. The story follows Rose and Dottie, a mother and daughter, each struggling with the ramifications of an unplanned pregnancy. I loved watching this story unfold from the separate perspectives of the two women. The fears and frustrations they deal with ring true not only for the time in which the novel is set, but for women today as well. Dottie is young and unmarried, while Rose is a mother many times over, hoping to start a new phase of her life. My favorite parts of the story are the interactions between the two women, both before and after their secrets are revealed. The compassion Rose shows for her daughter is particularly moving. Although the author provides us with an intimate view of the Jewish community in New York’s Lower East Side, she doesn’t stop there. She takes us to Dottie’s office in Midtown Manhattan and, later, all the way uptown to Park Avenue. As we travel through the city, we grow increasingly attached to these compelling and multifaceted characters. I’m very grateful that I had a chance to read this wonderful debut. I am hoping for a sequel so I can follow these characters and watch the next phases of their lives play out. (less)

Dottie and her mother Rose both find themselves unhappily pregnant in New York City in the mid 1930s. Great potential, right? On the plus side, here's what you get:
1. Two strong female characters.
2. The inherent tension when a middle aged mother finds it hard to let go of her adult daughter.
3. An immigrant mother remembering the persecution of the Old World and appreciating the freedom of the United States living with a first generation American daughter who yearns to be fashionable and modern and is a bit ashamed of her family's modest circumstances and reliance on Old World values.
4. Involvement in the socialist movement of the 1930s in New York City.
5. A glimpse into a moment in feminist history when women were able to participate in the work force, but expected to give up everything once they became wives and mothers.
6. Intense societal pressure and judgement around the issue of pre-marital sex.

Unfortunately, all these elements were simply not artfully integrated. When characters in this novel espouse socialist values typical of the era, it doesn't really ring true -- but rather feels awkwardly stuck in. The integration of Yiddish phrases, which I assume is an effort to make this Jewish family feel more authentic actually often feels forced, overdone and distracting, bordering on stereotyping. But my biggest criticism is around the resolution of the plot -- which comes on too quickly, seems unrealistic and left me feeling unsatisfied. In fact, it felt much more like the author was setting up a sequel, rather than finishing a novel.

Modern Girls is a fast read because you will be eager to find out what happens to these two women. And there are a few surprises along the way. But I think the book needed more polish and a better editor.

Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings

Two women, a mother and a daughter, both find themselves pregnant and both are not happy about it. One is a single woman with a lot of ahead of her and the mother has had her share of children and is ready for the next stage in her life and a baby isn't in her definition of the future.

I loved seeing a mother and daughter dealing with the same "issue" and see how each solves it. It was interesting to read a mother daughter relationship when they are both in a similar boat. I also loved that both mother and daughter were given the opportunity to tell their story from their own eyes - I LOVE a dual narrative!

This was an exceptional novel, full of wonderful character development, complex relationships, family dynamics, and pitch perfect details of the time period in which it was set. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, and felt compassion for the main characters, who were strong, vibrant women forging their way through the end of the Great Depression and beginning of WWII. It was a poignant, thought-provoking tale. I would love to read more from Ms. Brown.

Sure, we all like happy endings and clear conclusions—that's why we watch romantic comedies and crime dramas on TV. However, as I learned from finishing Jennifer Brown's amazing debut novel, Modern Girls, this past week, sometimes a novel is more powerful if you create an ending that leaves the reader drawing her own conclusions and journeying forward with the characters in her imagination. I won't say more about Modern Girls here, other than to urge you to read it for Brown's gripping portrayal of immigrant Jewish families in New York City as World War II heats up and women are still struggling for independence from society's expectations.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of two Jewish women in 1935, New York City. Mother Rose and daughter Dottie are both facing unwanted pregnancies. Rose at 42 thought her childbearing years were behind her. Dottie who finds herself pregnant after a one-night stand has just been promoted to head bookkeeper at her work. She has a fiancé named Abe who is too devout to have premarital sex. That is the dilemma facing both women.

This story is rich with historical details about the Jewish communities in New York City at this time. The rich Jews trying hard to fit in the new world while the poorer Jews still living in the ghetto of the Lower East Side combine together as their families join. I loved the dialogue that Ms. Brown has written in this book. She knows her characters.

I found myself rooting for both women in this book and I am hoping that Ms. Brown will write a sequel so we can see what happens next in the lives of these remarkable women. I also liked the interview at the back of the book where Ms. Brown talks about the inspiration for her book, being told that a relative once had an “unwanted pregnancy”. I do my families genealogy too and her sharing this with her readers made it very real to me.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who admires strong women and women everywhere who face major life choices daily.

I received an advance copy of this book through Penguin's First to Read program.

HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this book! Incredibly well-written, fully-developed characters, and the pacing was en pointe - "I'll just read one more chapter...Ok, just ONE more chapter"...and an hour goes by in a blink. Rich in the Jewish culture of lower east side of Manhattan, a tribute to the love between mothers and daughters, this was easily one of my favorite books of the year. Like many other readers, I am begging for a sequel to find out what is next for Dottie and Rose.

Entertaining, occasionally heartwarming, but a little heavy on melodrama. Unfortunately, as the story progressed, I grew to quite dislike Dottie, one of the (2) central characters. She seemed self-absorbed and rather stupid for a supposedly "modern girl". Her mother, Rose, was a much more sympathetic character. I also liked the portrayal of the Jewish community in 1935 NYC.

Real,people characters make this story impossible to put down. The mother-daughter alternate chapters are easy to follow, and aren’t afraid to explore the deep emotions that accompany the scenarios in this story. These combined with my favorite era in history and the actual ending of the book leave me shouting, “When is the sequel?” Please don’t leave us hanging!

I really enjoyed this book, which alternated perspectives of a Jewish mother and a daughter who both find themselves with unexpected pregnancies in pre-WWII America. The writing is engaging and convincing. I found myself invested in the fate of these women and caring about the outcome. I also like how the book takes unexpected twists. I like that the female characters are strong even when they are vulnerable and how it bravely takes on some heady themes about the plight of women before abortion was legal and accessible. It leaves some loose ends, but not in a way that leaves you frustrated, but rather curious and intrigued.

I kind of like how it I can come to my conclusions about the future of the main characters. I'm also excited about the possibility of a sequel. Overall, it's one of the most enjoyable pieces of fiction I've read in quite awhile and I highly recommend it.

Thought this was a fascinating look at life for women in 1935 in the New York tenements. A Jewish mother and daughter both find themselves with unwanted pregnancies - the mother who has already had 5 pregnancies and lost two children and who is ready to return to work - the daughter unmarried, wanting a career and being brilliant with math, who has a reluctant boy friend and who is taken advantage of by a wealthy playboy. I really wanted both these women to find good answers to their problems. The book moves back and forth between chapters in the mother's voice and the daughter's and you so identify with these women who have so little control over their lives.

Oh, how I loved this book. The story is compelling and kept me riveted until the very end. Even when the characters were likable, they still earned my empathy for their situations. It was a quick ready mostly because I couldn't put it down. A great read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction or just loves a good story.

Great book about a Jewish mother and daughter living on the lower East Side of Manhattan in the 1930s that get themselves into some hot water. Enjoyed their relationship, as well as all of the other ones covered in the book. The historical references are fabulous, making the time period feel very authentic. If you love family drama, historical fiction and mother-daughter dynamics, be sure to grab this one!

Shocked this book has so many 5 star ratings. The characters and conversation were both incredibly stereotypical and just not very believable. Makes you think that "anyone" can write a book! Finally, it started to get a little interesting, only to end abruptly. Maybe if the author chooses to write a sequel, it will have more meat on its bones.

A thoroughly enjoyable story. Brown pulls the reader right into the world of a New York Jewish family in the 1930s, deftly weaving a tale of a mother and daughter each navigating expectations—their own, each other’s, their family’s, society’s-- regarding tradition, cultural assimilation, political activism, and women’s roles, all against the backdrop of looming war. The parallel stories of the two women make for an engrossing and page-turning read, and in the end I was sad to have to let go of both of them.

I loved this story about a mother/daughter relationship. It was easy to read & totally kept my interest. I was really bummed at the end because I felt we were just left hanging. I would be so happy if there was a sequel!

I love historical fiction and thoroughly enjoyed this format (switching between the daughter's and mother's perspective with each chapter). Interesting that differences between what the young women were hoping and dreaming for their lived then are similar to what young women go through today. I too ended the book hoping there might be a sequel....but agree that is does not “leave you hanging” as others do.

Loved this mother/daughter story -- really, a coming-of-age, of sorts, for a prospective mother and her own mother. The Lower East Side is alive here -- and full of adventure and risk-taking and love in all its nuances. The two alternating narrators both have tremendous agency -- and that gives the novel true modernity. Just lovely.

Modern Girls is an incredibly strong debut. It has al the things fantastic historical fiction should: strong sense of place and time and terrific period details from food, to dress, to entertainment. And the two main characters: Rose and Dottie are real, complex women. The suspense created by each woman's unwanted pregnancy felt honest. I look forward to reading more by this author!

Set in the Jewish neighborhood of New York City's Lower East Side in the 1930's, the action of this novel revolves around a forty-two year old woman and her unmarried nineteen year old daughter who find themselves with simultaneous unplanned pregnancies. As they work to find resolution, the author explores love, family, politics, and the changing roles of women against the background of the rise of Nazism. Well paced, believable, and thought provoking.

Simply wonderful. This is a meticulously researched novel with a generous, intelligent core. As the mother of two girls, I found the relationship between Dottie and Rosie to be poignant, deep, and tenderly drawn. The plot views complicated issues through a compassionate lens, and I was very invested in the outcome! Kudos to Jennifer S. Brown on a spectacular debut.