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Modern Girls

A dazzling debut novel set in New York City’s Jewish immigrant community in 1935...   How was it that out of all the girls in the office, I was the one to find myself in this situation? This didn’t happen to nice Jewish girls.   In 1935, Dottie Krasinsky is the epitome of the modern girl. A bookkeeper in Midtown Manhattan, Dottie steals kisses from her steady beau, meets her girlfriends for drinks, and eyes the latest fashions. Yet at heart, she is a dutiful daughter, living with her Yiddish-speaking parents on the Lower East Side. So when, after a single careless night, she finds herself in a family way by a charismatic but unsuitable man, she is desperate: unwed, unsure, and running out of options.   After the birth of five children—and twenty years as a housewife—Dottie’s immigrant mother, Rose, is itching to return to the social activism she embraced as a young woman. With strikes and breadlines at home and National Socialism rising in Europe, there is much more important work to do than cooking and cleaning. So when she realizes that she, too, is pregnant, she struggles to reconcile her longings with her faith.   As mother and daughter wrestle with unthinkable choices, they are forced to confront their beliefs, the changing world, and the fact that their lives will never again be the same….

Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: NAL (April 5, 2016)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 045147712X

ISBN-13: 978-0451477125

Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.3 inches

Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #36,115 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #88 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Jewish #93 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Mothers & Children #102 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Religious & Inspirational > Jewish

MODERN GIRLS is a novel that takes place in New York City in the 1930's. It evokes the struggles faced by a Russian Jewish mother, Rose, and her daughter, Dottie who both find themselves pregnant at the same time. She keeps her pregnancy secret from her daughter.Dottie becomes pregnant by a young man named Willie with who she had slept with only once, despite the fact she is engaged to another young man named Abe. When all attempts to arrive at a solution fail, her mother steps in and convinces her to have an abortion. But plans often go awry and for both these women, the answer to their problems arise unexpectantly and is not what they had originally planned. Their plights in the restrictive era in which they live rendered this tale poignant and heart-wrenching.The first third of the story is definitely interesting, but a little slow paced. Once the groundwork was laid, however, the plot became engaging and interesting and I was fully immersed, eager to read on to learn what came next.The story is based on the Jewish religion and adds a strong flavor to the story. The use of Yiddish words in italics sometimes pulled me from the story to look up their meanings, but added learning and authenticity. A glossary would have been helpful and I hope the publisher has added it to the final sale version of the book.Rosie and Dottie portray a profound love for each other, one in which will bind them forever. The ending is only the finale of part 1 of the story. It will obviously be continued with a sequel. I eagerly look forward to it as it will take reader into Europe and the dangers of World War II and the risks Dottie will face.Definitely a 5 star read - wonderful Women's Historical Fiction. I recommend it for mothers and daughters and for book clubs.Thank you to the author and publisher. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for visiting my blog, [...], where the greatest historical fiction is reviewed! For fascinating women of history bios and women's fiction please visit [...].

I am angry at Jennifer S. Brown for keeping up until one and then stealing an hour and a half of my work time this morning; I simply had to know what happened to Dottie. I enjoyed the novel from page 1, but by the time I was halfway through I became a reader obsessed. It's rare I leave a book hoping there will be a sequel, but I would certainly inhale another novel with Dottie. Author take note!

This extraordinary book, rich with historical detail, grapples with the challenges of assimilating to American culture. Throughout, the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe looms in the backdrop as families struggle to succeed financially and otherwise in the 1930's.The book is told from the perspectives of a mother and daughter, Rose and Dottie Krasinsky, members a Jewish immigrant family living in New York’s Lower East Side in the 1930's. The author’s complex and nuanced portrayal of the family’s efforts to balance traditional Old world values against modern American conveniences highlights their compassion and humanity. I felt as if I was reading about my own great grandparents’ immigrant journey; this unforgettable book will stay with me and has given me much to wonder and think about.

Modern Girls, Jennifer Brown’s debut novel, captured me from the very beginning and as I read, I lost track of time. An engrossing historical fiction novel, told from the perspectives of a mother and daughter, Rose and Dottie Krasinsky, members a Jewish immigrant family living in New York’s Lower East Side in the 1930's. Brown effortlessly moves from one character’s voice to another while delicately balancing Old World traditions with modern America. The pages are full of detail, the smells and sounds of the Lower East Side, as well as the historical detail, the pages suck you in. While reading, I found my mind thinking about my own ancestors, who entered this country as Jewish Immigrants. Because of this I was immediately engrossed within the pages of the novel because it encompassed so many of the topics that I love to read about. Simply put, it was hard to put it down.Rose and Dottie Krasinksy both face unexpected, unwanted pregnancies. Rose believes her childbearing days are complete. Dottie, who has the gift of mathematics, has just received a promotion at work. In addition, Dottie’s Beau, Abe, continues to promise to marry her in near future once he has enough money for their own place to live; however, a single night of passion with another man, changes Dottie’s life. Both main characters, Rose and Dottie, feel like they could be your friends. They have hopes and dreams and make good and poor decisions. While reading, I often thought about my own 19-year-old daughter, thanking god, that whatever happens to her in her own life, she will not have the restricted choices of generations before her.Drawn into both characters, Rose and Dottie, I truly hope that Jennifer Brown completes the story with a sequel as the book left you hanging as both main characters move forward towards their new life. An amazing book for book clubs, mother-daughter reads or simple an enjoyable summer novel……Modern Girls will grab you immediately and keep you wanting more.

This debut novel by Jennifer S Brown had me hooked from the beginning to end. I love historical fiction especially those taking place in the 1930's. We see profound depth of love a mother had for her daughter and the hardships the women of that time faced. It gave a glimpse into the family life of a Jewish Family living in the Lower East Side tenements in 1935. The story is told both from the perspective of the mother, Rose and her daughter, Dottie. Loved it, can't wait for Ms.Brown's next book.

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