Pru was raised in a Jewish Orthodox household. In what ways do you feel this impacted her life? What role does religion play in your own life, and has this changed as you've aged?

Pru was raised in a Jewish Orthodox household. In what ways do you feel this impacted her life? Do you think her Jewishness is a central pillar of her identity, and did this change, in your opinion, over the course of the book? What role does religion play in your own life, and has this changed as you've aged?

Pru's mother brought the children up in her husband's faith. Pru was comforted and felt closer to her father growing up, if she practiced the Jewish faith. In her marriage, she originally had a Kosher kitchen, etc. Gradually, her faith fell away as life took over. Also, Spence was an atheist so there was no sharing of that part of their lives. She tries to reconnect with her faith when Spence is ill, but it seems foreign to her at that point.
Personally, my faith has grown as I've aged. It gives me the strength to deal with my husband's terminal illness. It gives me inner peace. My church family is a wonderful support system. My faith is a blessing to me.

I felt this whole secondary theme of religion was an interesting one and exemplified that, even though we may walk away from aspects that were crucial to our family, they are always with us and actually call us back, often in an even more committed way that our parents may have felt.

Pru's religion ebbs and flows but she seeks it out when she feels alone and overwhelmed--and as happens to many of us, she finds that she has a spiritual longing. Her keeping kosher demonstrates the fact that it may be buried but it is always a part of her. Like Marcia S, my religion gives me peace and my church provides a caring community.

I was raised in a Christian household; both my parents went to a Christian college and practiced their religion faithfully; my father still does. We went to church every Sunday and fully participated in church activities. But when I found out years later about infidelities, etc, that occurred among the congregation, I turned away. But occasionally going to church and singing the old hymns is definitely a comfort

I joined my church in 1992. I am very happy that a have a church family. I also attend Bible Study Fellowship and Precepts. I love attending church services every Sunday but I must say what I know about the Bible I have learned from my two Bible studies.

I am not church affiliated and don’t take part in organized religious activities so I found the religious aspect a bit bewildering at times. I understand the wonderful support system it can provide and that Pru felt close to her father with her faith. I also understand family traditions, religious and secular can be comforting. I was really confused when she said on pg 238 she was an atheist - it seemed like a lot of very specific rituals in her religion to go through if you don’t believe. I found her mom to be more interesting. She wasn’t really into observing their faith but followed along when Pru’s dad was alive but she snuck off to enjoy non kosher foods etc however, once her husband passes away Pru notes that her mother felt “more beholden to him than she had when he was living.” It surprised Pru as she thought her mother would “ drop it all.That you’d stop being religious.” Yet, Pru also clings to and revisits her faith during a time of crisis and loneliness. I think that Pru was raised with those rituals and they were a type of pillar for her and as time passed they did fall away and now in a time of loss and crisis she may be seeking to revisit those to find support and comfort.

Pru was raised in the strict Jewish household. As she grew older, she began to let the old habits and rituals slip way and she became emotionally and spiritually untethered. I have been a member of the same church since my birth. The ideology and theology give my life a strong connection to my faith and also to all those who worship with me. That's not to say I didn't stray from the "fold" between the ages of 18 and 27. What made me come back? I was depressed and deflated. All my party buddies and my long time drug head boyfriend had scattered. I feel peaceful and calm when I am in communion with other people who follow Christ. There is a feeling of joy and excitement I feel whenever I worship! That's what it does for me!

Like any organized religion, it comes with its own set of rules and regulations, seemingly missing the point of spirituality in the long run. It seems that adults who have taken a path other than the one prescribed by the family religious tradition would often reflect on those prior traditions that gave them comfort or fond memories. I think she thought of herself as an atheist not because she didn't believe in a higher power, wherever that power might have been, but because she seemed to believe that not performing traditional acts somehow removed her from that possibility. How scary is that? The author more than once does interject phrases in Hebrew but doesn't give the meaning - I found that unfortunate. Similar to other ritualized religions, there appears to be a sense of guilt associated with any diversion from the rules. I found this sad and a source of additional emotional strain when it was not necessary. Spirituality and a spiritual community play a very big part in my own life. Having been raised in a religion with its own rules and interpretations of how one must live, it's taken years and a lot of reading, study, dialogue and comprehension to embrace that one's spiritual path in life is not driven by anyone's rules, orthodox or otherwise, but by ones compassion and efforts to see the holy in each person.