Gitel, born in the early 1900's Belarus is the only daughter to her Jewish parents.  Immigrating to the US to follow her father in 1911, Gitel is kept constrained by her parents and religion. She is not allowed to study the same things, go to college, play sports or go out with friends.  Gitel is kept by her parents in order to learn to be a good Jewish wife.  Seeing marriage as her only option, Gitel finds a like mind in Shmuel, a liberal thinker politically, following Orthodox Jewish practices and working as a pharmacist.  Together, they open a pharmacy near Chicago, Gitel is fulfilled in her work life, but is struggling with intimacy with Shmuel. Nevertheless, they welcome a daughter.  When the Great Depression hits, Gitel and Shmuel are forced to sell the pharmacy and it seems that Shmuel enters a streak of bad luck.  Trying to survive, Gitel moves around with family, taking jobs where she can to save up money.  As soon as they are back on their feet, Gitel is pregnant again and Shmuel is injured at work.  Gitel now tries to balance being a parent, a caretaker to Shmuel and the family breadwinner. As Gitel's two girls grow up, she knows that she has done the best she can for them even though it has not been an easy life.  When Shmuel falls ill again, Gitel looks forward to the day when she can do something for herself. 

Gitel's Freedom is historical fiction based on the trials of the author's family.  Deeply steeped in the process of immigration, Judaism and women's rights, Gitel's story reverberates for many women.  The author relies heavily on exposition rather than allowing the events to unfold organically. The dialogue felt unnatural and abrupt, which hindered the development of the characters. Additionally, the narrative progresses rapidly through significant historical periods, offering a broad overview without delving into the characters' immediate experiences or emotional responses to these events.  Despite this, Gitel's story still felt important and I wanted to know about her life.  I felt for her as she was denied experiences and growth as a child, as she was pushed into a marriage where she didn't enjoy intimacy and was forced to be a caretaker for others while she neglected herself.  This expression of womanhood is one that is often repeated and throughout history and still pervades into women's lives today. Despite these stylistic choices, Gitel's story remains compelling. I empathize with her struggles, particularly the limitations imposed on her youth, her experience in a marriage lacking intimacy, and the constant demands of caring for others at the expense of her own well-being. This portrayal of womanhood, marked by self-sacrifice and deferred personal aspirations, unfortunately reflects the experiences of many women throughout history and continues to be relevant today.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.