Beyond the Pale

By: Elana Dykewomon

Narrated by: Elana Dykewomon

Beyond the Pale - winner of the Lambda Literary Award - tells the stories of two Jewish women living through times of darkness and inhumanity in the early 20th century, capturing their undaunted love and courage in luminous and moving prose. The richly textured novel details Gutke Gurvich's odyssey from her apprenticeship as a midwife in a Russian shtetl to her work in the suffrage movement in New York.

Interwoven with her tale is that Chava Meyer, who was attended by Gurvich at her birth and grew up to survive the pogrom that took the lives of her parents. Throughout the story, historical background plays a large part: Jewish faith and traditions, the practice of midwifery, the horrific conditions in prerevolutionary Russia and New York sweatshops, and the determined work of labor unionists and suffragists.

©2003 Elana Dykewomon (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It was savvy and to the point!...stories were great!

What about Elana Dykewomon’s performance did you like?

I liked how it was narrated, simple, easy and at times funny!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES!

historical fiction

This was a superb piece of women's history; A perspective I never explored before.

Incredible!

I loved this book. I love this author. I cannot remember when a book has touched me so deeply and personally. Made even more special by the narration of the author herself. Very highly recommended.

Beyond words

This book is simply achingly beautiful – I honestly don’t have words, and the narration is flawless. I never wanted it to end…

great historical fiction with a lesbian twist

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to anyone who is into historical fiction, as this gives great insight into the experiences of immigrants in the early 1900's NYC as well as the oppression of Jews in Russian and elsewhere during that time period

What was one of the most memorable moments of Beyond the Pale?

the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire was as memorable as it was upsetting and difficult to read, though wonderfully written. Also the moments detailing the Pograms in Russia were painfully real, beautifully written and so tragic.Through her narration and writing you truly felt right there in the midst of the action, and you mourned the losses of loved ones right along with the main protagonist.

What about Elana Dykewomon’s performance did you like?

It was so incredibly authentic... these stories could have very well been her own stories that she is passing on to me, the listener

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was in tears toward the end, the factory fire... I challenge you to make it through that part of the book (after reading all of the events leading up to it) with a dry eye