Rated of 5
by Sandy Solid debut novel from Sidura Ludwig Holding My Breath is a coming of age story set in Winnepeg's North End, spanning from the 1950’s and into the 70’s. Told from the perspective of Beth Levy, the book chronicles the life of a young Jewish woman struggling to find her identity and the delicate balance between living up to family expectations while trying to follow one’s dreams.
Ludwig provides the reader with insight into the suffocating sense of duty and responsibility placed upon the shoulders of a young woman growing up in a Jewish community (or any community, perhaps) during that time period. Rather than following her dreams of studying astronomy, Beth is encouraged to stay in Winnepeg and take over the family business and, above all else, become a wife and mother.
Ludwig succeeds in providing a sense of place about the insular world that Beth inhabits, revolving around her home, her aunt’s apartment and the family pharmacy. The cast of women in Beth’s life are well developed.
There were a few areas, however, that could have deserved further development. As the only Jew on a softball team, Beth strives to make sure her last name is not placed on the team t-shirt. This was the first and only mention of Beth being in any way self conscious about her Jewish heritage. I was left wandering about the significance of this episode in the story as a whole.
But, all in all, a solid debut novel. I look forward to reading more from Sidura Ludwig.
Rated of 5
by Talya Holding my Breath
I can't believe this is a work of fiction. I felt like a member of Beth's family with the wonderful character descriptions in the novel. The family felt so real and you could tell that the author loved them with the amount of care she put into each character. I think any person that loves reading about family ties, strong women, or generation gaps in 1960's Canada would enjoy this book.
Rated of 5
by Cecilia Holding My Breath
This is a remarkable coming-of-age story about a young girl growing up in a Jewish family in Canada during the 1950's and 1960's. It is very well-written, with interesting and believable characters. What resonated with me is how well it dealt with the conflicts in growing up during this time, especially the difference in expectations of the generation coming out of World War II and the next, growing up in the 60's. The development over the years in the relationship between the girl and her mother was very moving and very realistic. I look forward to reading future novels by this author.
Rated of 5
by Beth Holding My Breath
Canadian writer Sidura Ludwig has done a wonderful job with her first novel. I loved that it was set in Winnipeg, Manitoba - a city I have visited several times and always enjoyed. This is not an action packed novel, but rather a character study of a family. The main character, Beth Levy, tells the stories of her family - parents, aunts, cousins- who live and work together in one of Winnipeg's Jewish neighborhoods. As Beth grows up, her perceptions of her family members change and thus add layers of complexity to their personalities. Ludwig has created people who seem extraordinarily real. I enjoyed every minute of my time with them.
Rated of 5
by Jill Holding My Breath
Although it was nice, as a Jewish woman, to read a story about a young girl growing up in a Jewish family, I was not overly impressed with the writing. I thought it was a bit draggy, and I suppose I prefer a faster moving story!
Rated of 5
by Cam Holding My Breath
This is a wonderful first novel about a young girl who grows up in a close knit Jewish-Canadian family. Ludwig writes poignantly and beautifully in this first person narrative. This is a great read and one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys reading about family life. I look forward to reading future books of hers!
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Its board approved the...
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