The Disambiguation of Susan

Growing up in small town Moline, Illinois, Susan Fisher had a pretty average life. Susan was the token Jewish girl in town, but her family really didn’t observe the religion—other than to open Hanukah presents during the winter holidays. She even attended the Christian college where her father taught. In one tragic year, however, everything changes. Both her parents die within a very brief time, and then a phone call turns her world upside down again. Susy’s one remaining relative, her aunt Rachel Metzger, also passes, and Susy is summoned to New York. Suddenly small-town Susy becomes the Metzger heiress. Two new friends, Devorah Feldshuh (one of Susy’s new lawyers) and Paul Waldman (the cute doctor living in a downstairs apartment), give Susy a crash course in the conservative Jewish world she finds herself in. The change is exhilarating, but sometimes leaves her wondering who exactly the real Susy Fisher is.

This was a fascinating read. My only real complaint is the utter lack of conflict in the story. There is, of course, the personal tragedy in the background, and every now and then a potential problem arises, but is swiftly dealt with—becoming either a non-issue or simply an excuse for some new triumph before it ever has a chance to cause real difficulties. So there’s no action-packed plot, but if you’re the type to sit and listen to a bunch of juicy gossip, this might be the book for you. I was introduced to a new world alongside Susy as she learns some of the rituals of Judaism (and the differences between orthodox, conservative, and other levels of observance) and discovers the heritage she’d never known. Detailed conversations and character interaction kept me turning pages in this rags-to-riches story that doubles as a family history mystery.