INTRODUCTION
Whether theyíre looking for demi-cup bras or full-body girdles, for more than thirty years women of all
ages have come to Sima Goldnerís shop. Tucked away in a basement deep in the Orthodox Jewish
neighborhood of Boro Park, New York, the tiny store is a community treasureóa place to congregate,
commiserate, and buy new lingerie. With her sharp and experienced eye, Sima can size up a woman in
an instant, and with a stitch, some underwire, and a few words of encouragement, her customers leave
the shop feeling good about their bodies and themselves. But as much as she can help other women,
Sima canít seem to help herself. Childless and filled with regret, stuck in a lonely, bitter marriage, Simaís
store is her entire world. And then, suddenly, Timna walks in.
Ilana Stanger-Rossís debut novel Simaís Undergarments for Women tells the story of Simaís
infatuation with the young and exquisitely beautiful Timnaóa platonic and peculiar love that blurs the
lines between maternal affection, adoration, and friendship. Recently arrived from Israel, Timna stumbles
into Simaís shop in the hope of employment; when Sima hires her as a seamstress, their relationship
blossoms. In Timna, Stanger-Ross has created an exotic, enigmatic foil to Simaís pessimism and self-
doubt. Where Sima is hesitant, Timna is bold, and soon Sima is living vicariously through her adventurous
young friend. While she wants to be like Timna, she also wants to keep Timna from becoming like her,
and Simaís desire to protect her brings their relationship to a breaking point.
A blend of rueful humor and poignant observations, Simaís Undergarments for Women is written
in the intimate, casual tones women use when whispering secrets, confiding worries, and sharing
wisdomóthe voice of generations of mothers, daughters, and friends. Sima is a flawed but honest
heroine, and her struggles, sacrifices, and disappointments are as touching as her efforts to overcome
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