Beyond the Pale Audiobook By Elana Dykewomon cover art

Beyond the Pale

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Beyond the Pale

By: Elana Dykewomon
Narrated by: Elana Dykewomon
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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. Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Jewish Literature & Fiction World Literature Fiction Russia

Editorial reviews

Beyond the Pale is a touching, lyrical story that follows two immigrant women from the Pale settlement in Russia to New York. Dykewomom presents a powerful look into the experience of being Jewish and a lesbian, while also looking at the greater immigrant experience against the backdrop of poverty. It's a treat to have the writer herself perform this audiobook. Because they are her own words, she easily captures the rhythms of the poetic language. Meanwhile, her voice is so loving toward the characters that is hard not to be swept away by this beautiful, moving audiobook.
Historical Authenticity • Emotional Depth • Authentic Narration • Vivid Immigrant Experiences • Powerful Social Commentary
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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!

Thoroughly enjoyed it!

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Gripping. Compelling. Compassionate. Historically moving. All these words come to mind as I think back on this well written story. More than a story.

Beautiful

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This story has some of the saddest history woven around its characters. It's presentation is not typical . Sad

Sadness

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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.

Incredible!

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

Beyond words

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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

great historical fiction with a lesbian twist

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When I first read “Beyond the Pale” I realized it had been a long time since I’d read any fiction with such scope and authority. Entire towns, entire histories brought to life.

What Dykewomon does so well is vividly animate the social geography of Russian Jews during the progroms; the experience of leaving the homeland, and of labor solidarity; and finding sexual identity in the New World.

Dykewomon reads her own work so beautifully, you’ll feel like she’s telling you the story spontaneously in your ear, dishing the dirt on the characters in the neighborhood.

Leaving the Safety—and Danger—of Home

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I am so glad Elana narrated her book. No one else could have done it justice.

Beyond the Pale -

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the underlying story is beautiful, but there are long stretches where it's just internal rambling of a preteen and that really dragged on over and over. just to mention, since the summary doesn't, there are alot of female sexual relationships. one last thing, if you know your history... you can see alot of the awful things coming.

good story with too much internal dialog

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I you are member of LGBTQ+ comunity than this book is for you. It is a story about 2 russian jewish girls (cousins) falling in love. I gave it 3 stars because some of the story has interesting info from that era. It is set i New York city at the beginning of 20th century.
The author also narrates the book and it’s awful.
Her voice is so monotonous.
I didn’t enjoy this book at all and my standards aren’t high at all.

Not my cup of coffee

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