Eve Harris was born to Israeli-Polish parents in West London. She taught for twelve years at schools in London, as well as in Tel Aviv. The Marrying of Chani Kaufman was inspired by her final year of teaching at an all girls' ultra-Orthodox Jewish school in North West London.
Longlisted for the 2013 Man Booker Prize
An Amazon Best Book of the Month (Literature/Fiction)
A B&N Discover Great New Writers Selection Like a surgeon
cutting into human flesh for the first time, Eve Harris audaciously
dissects a community defined by inscrutable social mores; her
profound reverence for her characters in no way hinders her
intrepid plunge into the murky viscera of this complex world.
Readers will be mesmerized by Harris's unforgettable voice; this
powerful debut novel is a startling and effervescent contribution
to a canon much in need of enrichment."--Deborah Feldman, author of
Unorthodox and Exodus "A restrictive, claustrophobic world emerges
from the pages of this astonishingly impressive first novel. Yet,
there is tenderness and compassion too which irradiates the
struggles of the various characters as they negotiate their way
through the demands of religion, duty and personal desire.
Terrific."--Elizabeth Buchan, bestselling author of Consider the
Lily "Eve Harris's remarkable debut novel offers access to [a]
hermetic realm. . . . Harris--born to Israeli-Polish parents in
London--focuses on the separate plights of two women and captivates
us with her compassionate character studies and gripping set
pieces. . . .Harris renders her characters multifaceted by fleshing
out faults and finely orchestrating emotions. . . . Harris also
keeps us rapt by altering her tone and imbuing scenes with rich
humor. . . . The Marrying of Chani Kaufman shines a light on a
topic and a people rarely seen in fiction."--Minneapolis Star
Tribune "Eve Harris spent years teaching at an Orthodox girls'
school, and is clearly intimately familiar with the social nuances
of that culture. . . . she gives readers a fresh perspective on an
obscure community, depicting its humanity in both its beauty and
its flaws. With its keen tongue-in-cheek observational humor and
classic love story format, The Marrying of Chani Kaufman reads like
an Orthodox Pride and Prejudice with fearless, witty Chani taking
the lead as a spunky, Jewish Elizabeth Bennett. This stunning
debut, which was deservedly nominated for the Man Booker Prize in
England, is a rewardingly delightful read."--Bust "Simultaneously
relatable and unfamiliar. . . . [Chani] is a deep and wonderful
character with whom the reader can't help but connect. She lives in
a world that might be unfamiliar to most, but with the help of a
writer of great ability like Eve Harris, The Marrying of Chani
Kaufman is the type of novel that ventures into an unfamiliar place
with the ease of a seasoned traveler."--Flavorwire (book of the
week) Harris writes of this closed world with knowledge and
understanding, and highly observant, slightly acidic humour.
Deservedly longlisted for the Man Booker.--The Times (UK) "Engages
from the very first page, slipping the reader deep into the
orthodox Jewish community, beyond the rituals and prayers, the
constraints and the hair-covering wigs, into the secrets and
emotions beneath, illuminating the story of Chani's journey from
schoolgirl to bride and revealing the lives of others around her
besides. This novel is beautifully done and highly
recommended."--Daily Mail One of those books you cannot put down .
. . Some of the women (the story is mostly told from a female
perspective), could have been created by Jane Austen or Mrs
Gaskell. . . . Eve Harris looks but does not judge. . . . an
optimistic, compassionate story.--Sunday Express "Compassionate and
witty . . . The Marrying Of Chani Kaufman is about more than an
innocent girl in a rigorously controlled community hoping for a
soul mate while being paraded before husband material (Jane Austen
has done that already). At the heart of the book is the theme of
identity and the glue that fastens us to communities, be they
religious, racial or social. . . . [It has] the emotional and
thematic complexity needed to raise the story to a Booker
contender."--Independent "The serious subject at its core - the
semi-arranged marriage of two young Haredi Jews - is belied by the
warmth of the writing. There are demons here, but they do not
terrify. . . . Humour abounds, but so do pathos and anger. . . .
Harris's eye for suburban social mores is wickedly acute, as is her
evident relish in describing both the sensual life and its absence.
. . . Has the potential to be that rare thing - a crowd-pleaser
about Orthodox Judaism."--Guardian The book introduces readers to a
little-known way of life and asks us to consider the role of faith
and family in today's world. Anyone interested in relationships
will enjoy this fascinating take on the subject; in fact, Jane
Austen fans will find much that is familiar in the well-developed
characters and the social conventions they must navigate.--Booklist
"Intelligent, revealing characters who command conviction and
connection; the tug between the old ways and modern life; and the
universal themes of desire, guilt, manipulation and submission will
resonate with readers from all backgrounds. Harris' debut is as
deeply melodic and exciting as her depiction of Shabbat in
Jerusalem, and will linger after the last page."--Publishers Weekly
Not just love and tradition, but rules and expectations shape the
relationships of two couples from an ultra-Orthodox Jewish
community, in a British novelist's engaging debut. . . . A
readable, compassionate portrait of roles, especially women's, in a
Haredi community.--Kirkus Reviews Harris evokes the community's
insular nature, she also suggests the sense of comfort and
belonging that it confers, offering a sympathetic window on a way
of life little glimpsed in contemporary fiction.--Financial Times
Confidently done, a romantic comedy at ease with its own lightness.
Its setting, northwest London's ultra-orthodox Jewish community, is
small and devoutly separate, and reading about such enclosure is
pleasantly consuming. . . . Harris is humorous and clement
throughout with her characters.--Sunday Times "Depict[s] the
claustrophobic anxieties of a young heroine locked within a
powerful family hinterland. . . Readers seeking genuine Jewish
characters have no need to search for the latent beneath the
manifest here. . . . [The Marrying of Chani Kaufman] has received
the British literary establishment's seal of approval. It deserves
it."--Jewish Chronicle Judaism may be the setting but Eve touches
on universal themes. It's about being true to ourselves when even
our closest friends seem at odds with our chosen lifestyle. It's
about forging a set of values when everything around us, locally
and globally, seems to encourage the antithesis. It's about being
human. It's about being alive and I adored it.--The Bookbag "[The
Marrying of Chani Kafuman] is set in the ultra-Orthodox
neighborhoods of Hendon and Golders Green . . . The chapters shift
from Chani's point of view to that of her equally anxious
betrothed, Baruch, as well as his best friend who is secretly
dating a shiksa, and his mother Rivka, the rabbi's wife who is
supposed to prepare Chani for marriage but is herself grappling
with the religious way of life."--Haaretz Harris is tender and
sympathetic as she reveals the intricacies of acceptable behaviour
and anathema in this group of Orthodox families. This lively and
thought provoking novel makes a significant contribution to the
contemporary literary scene.--The Bay A lovely, very funny and
touching account of a marriage in orthodox Jewry.--Spectator "A
wonderful novel, which grips you from the first sentence and holds
you until the last. Like Zadie Smith's NW, this book is set in
contemporary North London, but it has much more in common with the
work of Jane Austen. The main preoccupation of the novel is
marriage."--WeLoveThisBook.com
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