Instruct: Classify Amazon reviews into positive or negative sentiment
Query: Interesting depiction of place but plodding storyline

I am afraid I have to agree with those who thought this novel was lackluster. While I enjoyed the foray into the Orthodox Jewish community of Memphis, which I did not even know existed, I found the story line to be plodding and not very innovative. The characterization was sterotypical and I found Batsheva to be too "perfect" in many ways. There was also too much foreshadowing with little to anticipate. The moral of the story was nothing new and the inability of the Jewish women to see the reality around them was a bit unbelievable. Really couldn't wait for the novel to end after the first half of the book. I enjoyed the descriptions of Jewish holidays and rituals, however. It was informative and interesting and added to the story immeasurably. Without the southern-influenced Jewish food, I don't think I could have made it to the end!