Hush by Eishes Chayil

Although this book was published in September 2010, I only read it very recently. Incidentally, this is the point of Chatter On Books, it’s all about books, and what matters is that they are read not when they were published. Hush is definitely one of the top 5 books I read in 2013. 

 

The story takes place in the closed Hasidic community of Borough Park, New York and is told from the viewpoint of Gittel and the catalytic decade 1999 – 2010 that defined her life.

The book deals with a highly sensitive subject - sexual abuse - which can and does happen in any community, in any part of the world. Gittel’s community is a particularly tight religious one in New York City and is governed by centuries-old traditions and religious dogma. While this background is relevant to the story, it ceases to be either an attribute or an impairment as the story unfolds.  Mainly because this is not a problem that is unique to the Hasidic Community – sexual abuse is horribly present in all cultures, religions, and all levels of society.  

In Hush, this charged topic is handled very sensitively and intelligently; it does not stand in judgement of those who perpetrate the crime and those who pretend it does not happen, nor does it condone it. At no time is it implied that sexual abuse is rampant or the norm in the Hasidic community, rather it bears witness that “stuff”  happens to everyone, both good and bad, regardless of who you are, where you are from, the colour of your skin, religious beliefs, or socio economic background. Conversely, the way that it is handled once the abuse is acknowledged does depend to a large extent on the community in which it is happening. 

The descriptive passages of the day to day life of a young girl growing up in a Hasidic community are well done and cleverly blended into the story; Gittel’s life is depicted throughout the book as having plenty of love, compassion, tolerance, support and humour.  

Hush is written without apology or justification. I like that. 

Ultimately life is about choices…and Hush compellingly exposes the anguish, grief and torment we all experience (regardless of our background, religious beliefs, culture or circumstances) when we have to choose a path that is unfamiliar and unknown.

My rating for Hush  -  5 Champagne Flutes