As a cultural artifact, this is a great document. As a literary memoir, it lacks nuance and self-awareness. The afterword, added years after the initial publication, does nothing to dispel the sense I got of a total lack of self-awareness.

A memoir is not just a recounting of events, it's a carefully crafted story, with reflection on past events and emotions. This book does not have that. Devorah refers to problematic statements and attitudes that she inhabited while a part of this community, but adds no reflection, makes no indication as to whether she still holds that attitudes. Most egregious are her terrible statements about other women's physical appearance, commenting on facial hair and calling girls ugly in a way that horrifies me to think she still maintains those views.

This book served a valuable role in breaking open the market for OTD memoirs, a valuable genre. On its own merit, however, this book does not stand as a great literary accomplishment.