The Big Nap

Rating:
Summary: appealing heroine makes this novel enjoyable
Review: "The Big Nap" is an enjoyable read if you're looking for a novel that possesses a brave and resilient heroine who is good with snappy comebacks, and who possesses a rather wicked sense of humour. However, if you're looking for a really good mystery novel that will tease 'the little gray cells' with its plot twists and is chock full of suspicious suspects and red herrings, then this novel may be a bit of a disappointment.

Juliet Applebaum is discovering to her horror that she does not possess the stuff that super moms are made of: her 4 month old son, Issac, seems to given up on the concept of sleep completely, and Juliet feels as if she has been hanging on (barely) with a mere 15 minutes off sleep per day. One day, it all becomes too much for her, and she finds herself breaking down into tears at a gocery store. The owner of the store, kindly Nettie Tanenbaum, immediately takes Juliet under her wing and more or less forces Juliet to hire her niece, Fraydle Finklestein, as her new nanny. And for the first time things seems to be really working out for Juliet. She gets to have a couple of hours of sleep, and feels really energized and optimistic about things (even the extra pounds she's put on and has yet to shed). But the next day, Fraydle fails to turn up, and Juliet discovers that Fraydle's parents think that she's runaway from home. But they refuse to call in the police because firstly, they belong to a strict orthodox Jewish sect and would rather handle matters themselves rather than rely on "outsiders;" and secondly, because the Finklesteins had arranged an advantageous marriage for Fraydle with a prominent New York Hasidic Jewish family, and they don't want any scandal to jeopardize this marriage. Juliet finds it hard to understand their attitude, and she's really afraid that Fraydle could be in some kind of trouble. So, in spite of Mr. Finkelstein's warnings, Juliet starts an all out search for Fraydle. What could have happened to Fraydle? Juliet knows that Fraydle has (unbeknowst to her family) an Israeli boyfriend, but he denies any knowledge of Fraydle's whereabouts. Did Fraydle run away? Is she in some kind of trouble? And why are the Finklesteins so reluctant to involve the police in Fraydle's disappearance? Soon, Juliet begins to fear that Fraydle may not be found alive at all...

"The Big Nap" is an enjoyable read esp for it's humourous takes on L.A. living -- the Hollywood glamour, the quest for thinness, etc. And Juliet Applebaum is an appealing heroine. However the resolution of the mystery of the missing Fraydle, left me reeling. The novel was moving along nicely, when suddenly, Juliet had the answer; and while it made sense once all was explained, the manner at which she came by the solution, left me feeling a little short changed. So here's my take on this novel: enjoy the book for its humourous and snappy asides, and for its vivid character portrayals, and for it's engaging heroine, because mystery-wise, it is a bit of a let down.

Rating:
Summary: THE BIG NAP is a Big Success
Review: As a mystery writer with my debut book in its initial release, I noticed this new mystery because of its title--THE BIG NAP, a clever play on THE BIG SLEEP. The cleverness in this work doesn't stop with the title. While Ayelet Waldman's tone for the most part is light, she addresses some serious themes here. Her sleuth, Juliet Applebaum, L.A. public defender turned stay-at-home mom, represents many contemporary women juggling the various facets of their overcrowded lives. Ms. Waldman has given us a first-rate mystery involving the disappearance of young Fraydle Finkelstein. She draws vivid contrasts between the worlds of conservative Judaism and Applebaum's liberal Hollywood style. All in all, Ms. Waldman has written a fine book here. You won't fall alseep reading THE BIG NAP.

Rating:
Summary: Misinformed
Review: Ayelet Waldman certainly seems to hold promise as a writer, but first she must learn to check her facts. The entire plot of this book is based on the most ridiculous stereotypes and misconceptions about the Hasidic Jewish community. As someone raised without much Jewish knowledge at all, then adopted an Orthodox Hasidic life as an adult, I feel I can and must caution readers. While the questions and concerns voiced by the book's protaganist, Juliet, are thoughtful and valid, Waldman's answers sadly are not. Among these: That Hasidic women are forced to marry. That a girl's thoughts and feelings are, as a rule, not taked into account. That men "rule" and women merely "comply". That Freydel's father, an important leader, would DARE to treat someone like Juliet with such arrogance, distrust and hostility as described here, and get away with it! The list goes on.... PLEASE do not use this book as an insight into Hasidic Jewish life. A wonderful academic (and readable) book has just been published and is respected very much by "both sides"--Hasidic people and others: Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers: An Intimate Journey Among Hasidic Girls by Stephanie Wellen Levine, Carol Gilligan (Hardcover - November 2003). Your money (and curiosity!) would be better spent here.

Rating:
Summary: Misinformed
Review: Ayelet Waldman certainly seems to hold promise as a writer, but first she must learn to check her facts. The entire plot of this book is based on the most ridiculous stereotypes and misconceptions about the Hasidic Jewish community. As someone raised without much Jewish knowledge at all, then adopted an Orthodox Hasidic life as an adult, I feel I can and must caution readers. While the questions and concerns voiced by the book's protaganist, Juliet, are thoughtful and valid, Waldman's answers sadly are not. Among these: That Hasidic women are forced to marry. That a girl's thoughts and feelings are, as a rule, not taked into account. That men "rule" and women merely "comply". That Freydel's father, an important leader, would DARE to treat someone like Juliet with such arrogance, distrust and hostility as described here, and get away with it! The list goes on.... PLEASE do not use this book as an insight into Hasidic Jewish life. A wonderful academic (and readable) book has just been published and is respected very much by "both sides"--Hasidic people and others: Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers: An Intimate Journey Among Hasidic Girls by Stephanie Wellen Levine, Carol Gilligan (Hardcover - November 2003). Your money (and curiosity!) would be better spent here.

Rating:
Summary: More Fun
Review: Ayelet Waldman has improved on her fun first book, Nursery Crimes, with this peppy new mystery. Juliet Applebaum, ever the ambivalent mom, gets dragged across cultures - and the country - to solve a crime. The story is solid, and the laughs pop up suddenly and often. This book will leave you with a smile on your face, hungry for Juliet's next big adventure...and wondering what in the world her children will be when THEY grow up.

Rating:
Summary: Oy vey.
Review: Cliche-ridden and predictable.
The best I can say is that it was a fast read, so it ended quickly. Just not my bag.

Rating:
Summary: Cute!
Review: I discovered this little book in a specialty bookstore in the Philippines and found it charming. Sometimes you need these quick reads. What's most remarkable though is that the author has exactly the same bio profile as the protagonist, and she's married to MICHAEL CHABON!

A mom and mystery-book lover

Rating:
Summary: Quick & Entertaining
Review: I enjoyed this book more than I did the first one. I found it better written and the main character better developed, but maybe it just took a second book for the author to really define Juliet's personality. In this episode, Juliet's babysitter disappears and she feels responsible for finding out what happened to her. Her search leads her to the Hassidic community of New York and back to L.A. The book is interesting in its cultural descriptions in addition to the mystery itself. The only complaint I have is that the ending seemed rushed, as it did actually in the first book of this series; however, other than that, it was a fun and fairly quick read.

Rating:
Summary: light , but fun read
Review: I felt kind of bad giving this book only four stars but I did only because I really didn't enjoy it as much as I did the first book by this author with this main character. I did enjoy this though,and hope the four stars doesn't turn you away. For anyone who likes this kind of novel, light humorous mystery with real people who just become a "detective" because of circumstances, than this series is for you. I am looking forward to her next one.

Rating:
Summary: cozy and fun
Review: I like cozy mysteries, but never would have bought this book if I hadn't met Ayelet at a book reading/signing because the Mommy-Track thing put me off a bit. Her wit and humor impressed me, and I thoroughly enjoyed The Big Nap. Now I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.

Her books will also make great gifts. There is no offensive language, graphic sex or violence that might offend readers, and her humor is warm and engaging.

One of the scenes in The Big Nap that I particularly enjoyed is when Juliet (the protagonist) is confronted by a thuggish gang of Hasidic men, warning her to mind her own business.

If you appreciate a mystery told with warmth, humor, and peceptive insights into human character, I recommend this book.