Riva Pomerantz - Diamond Dust

Diamond Member Joined: Feb 20 2007 Posts: 4464

Hashem loves me: it's all good. Great name, btw, because that's exactly how I feel. I really feel that Hashem loves me and B"H, I think I finally was able to see the good in these experiences eventually. Even so, it is hard reading those scenes. But because of these and other experiences I ended up realizing that there's only One who I could turn to. It sounds corny, but it's really true.

Gold Member Joined: Feb 15 2011 Posts: 1106 Location: UK

It never occurred to me that it wasn't Yalli. One week it even mentioned the name Ayalah Chaya.

Why else did she react like that at the date? Also in seminary when a girl remembered her from her childhood.

The only thing that didn't add up is that the way how it was described you would think she came from a Nebech dysfunctional background but her family seems far from that. Just not rich.

I too had a really hard time in school and when reading one installment of Diamond Dust I had to put it down and walk away and come back later. I think it shows what a great writer Riva is to be able to stir up that much old emotion in some of us.

Active Poster Joined: Feb 11 2010 Posts: 37

Anyone else think that the divorced boy's sister is the one who tormented Yalli?

No, her name is Henny and the tormentor is Dina.

Diamond Member Joined: Feb 20 2007 Posts: 4464

Although it could be that she's Henya Dina and later she started going by Henny, but I don't like that answer Very Happy

Moderator Joined: Jun 05 2011 Posts: 3372

Remember a few months ago when Riva asked on this board (screenname: write on) about women's experiences marrying into money?

I think the moral is going to be the regular - that money can't buy happiness.

How do you think the story will end?
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Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5868

Why does there always have to be such a "moral?" I'd be fine with a novel that leaves you with the message "life is complicated and interesting because people are different and their experiences shape them, too. Here's what some realistically fictitious people went through, make what you want of it." I have enjoyed a number of books that seemed to have that kind of flavor rather than clubbing you over the head with some overdone message.

I could see that theme working for this story Smile

Oh and wasn't there already one about money not buying happiness? Was that the message of Green Fences or something? I don't have a great memory for this stuff. I get wrapped up in the current stories and then when they end I leave them behind. It's a blessing, how much room can I possibly have in my life for all these people who don't even exist!

Diamond Member Joined: Nov 10 2005 Posts: 3401

Active Poster Joined: Jul 04 2010 Posts: 68

Can't believe I'm posting "mevinus" about this, but here it goes: while I believe the tormented girl is indeed a younger Yalli, the turnaround must have happened before seminary because in the latest installment, she has some kind of admirer from highschool. Other than that, I agree with what most have said. Riva is a very good writer, and she manages to make the story both dramatic and believable in many ways. She is great at portraying the complexities of some of the characters. On the other hand, some of the descriptions of the 'rich people' don't reach that level of complexities and some of the descriptions of what they are eating, wearing blahblah focus on the outside instead of the emotions within.

Moderator Joined: Jun 05 2011 Posts: 3372

Of course, having a good memory means that there are lots of things in my brain I wish I could delete!

Green fences - I suppose that part of the moral was that money doesn't make for a perfect life, but we saw all along that Ruth was quite imperfect. That story really bothered me. Remember when Batya spent way more than she could afford getting purple orchids for her son's Bar mitzvah because Ruth said she should, and all that? What kind of grown woman goes out of her way like that to impress her friends? My friends are my friends because I don't need to impress them- they like me as is!

If anyone from Mishpacha is reading this thread- if the whole Diamond Dust were available as an ebook right now, I would probably pay good money to download the rest of the story now:)

I'm really, really into this story now. But I don't get it....why are zelig and fraidy so upset about the whole thing with Yalli and Tzvi? It's not really clear to me, is it because he has money? I mean, he seems like a nice (fictional) guy. Did we ever find out the details of his divorce?

Something big has to happen...maybe Eli will lose his fortune and Tzvi and Yalli will be paupers? we're only at chapter 20!

Silver Member Joined: Oct 08 2009 Posts: 596

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 01 2005 Posts: 16879

ceo, Fraidy and Zelig are not aware that yalli was bullied in school and that most of it was due to her family's frugal financial situation. (hey, Seraph, see what frugality can do to a girl's self esteem? Wink

) They are tgherefore extremely confused why she so much wants to marry into money, they always envisioned having a son in law a true ben torah, not a from a wealthy, money-minded family. To their values, throwing a million bucks into a wedding is a terrible thing to do. For them, such a family isnt one they envisioned themslelves being meshadech with. hope this helps.
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Mama Bear, thanks for the explanation. I didn't realize that Fraidy and Zelig don't know that Yalli was bullied. I also didn't realize that her being bullied was because of their very poshut lifestyle.....I mean, I was definetly bullied/made fun of in elementary school, and my parents are NOT poor. Huh, interesting.

am I correct that the details of the divorce were never explained? didn't Shira exhibit some sort of narcissist personality traits, and it's been left at that?

I agree, I would read it as an ebook in a second!! (not that I have an ereader, but still....)this one is much more interesting than Riva's previous serials. It's more exciting than finding out if Bracha is going to be set up with Yonah Kirsch in Pass or Fail. Very Happy

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 01 2005 Posts: 16879

The funny thing is that Shira waS SOOOOOO money minded, which led to Tzvi's divorce. Therefor it's baffling why he wants to go out again with a girl who so much loves the finer things in life. I guess Yalli will end up using Tzvi as her therapist, the therapist she needed years ago, and will finally see that unconditional acceptance and [totally unromantic, kosher for print style] love was what she craved all along, not tangible things. or she'll finally get her money and still not find the acceptance she wanted. something like that....

Moderator Joined: Jun 05 2011 Posts: 3372

How could that be the main theme in a magazine catering to the frum community?