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A Short History Of A Tall Jew

by Dennis Danziger (Goodreads Author), Cover (Illustrator), Gary Dumm (Illustrator)

4.33 of 5 stars 4.33 · rating details · 21 ratings · 11 reviews

Phillip Lachman is 39 and he's looking for a heart. He's searching for a second wife who is neither terrified by his teenage son who is into Communism and designer shoes nor turned off by his teenage daughter who dreams of becoming the queen of an oil-rich country. On the eve of Valentine's Day Phillip announces to his custody-battle scared kids that by the following Valen...more

Paperback, 468 pages

Published May 2010 by Deal Street press

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Dec 24, 2011 Paula Phillips rated it 4 of 5 stars

When I got this novel to review, I wasn't exactly sure how it was going to turn out and at nearly 500 pages, the book can seem daunting but as soon as I turned the pages and started reading it, I was hooked and the time flew by quickly. A Short History of a Tall Jew in a way the title is self-explantory to the story. We meet Philip , a father of two children and going through a custody battle with his ex-wife over the children Lily and Zach. His son Zach is into Communism , his Daughter Lily wan...more

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Oct 20, 2011 Leslie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comic, contemporary, fiction, hope, romance, spiritual

Article first published as Book Review:A Short History of a Tall Jew by Dennis Danziger on Blogcritics.

Life is often difficult with the decisions and directions we choose to follow. When our choices become attached to us through divorce and shared custody it is often a dramatic, angry, funny, sad and disparate ride through life.

In A Short History of a Tall Jew by Dennis Danziger, we are both charmed and dismayed by the unique and often funny, but serious quirks encountered by Phillip Lachman as...more Article first published as Book Review:A Short History of a Tall Jew by Dennis Danziger on Blogcritics.

Life is often difficult with the decisions and directions we choose to follow. When our choices become attached to us through divorce and shared custody it is often a dramatic, angry, funny, sad and disparate ride through life.

In A Short History of a Tall Jew by Dennis Danziger, we are both charmed and dismayed by the unique and often funny, but serious quirks encountered by Phillip Lachman as he begins the search for a second wife, the perfect mother for his teenage children.

As with most children there is drama, kindness, fun and irritation, yet through it all Phillip maintains his sense of humor and fun. When others would be overwhelmed he allows himself very little if any self-pity, and the process he begins as he decides to find a bride is not always well thought out, and very self-depreciating. Though the entire process, Phillip maintains an unhealthy and depressive relationship with the court system, brought on through continued summons from his ex-wife. In a continued effort to make him suffer and to gain custody of the kids, she finds every detail she can to return to court, and Phillip finds the system does not have much sympathy for either him or his plight. Can he keep his promise to both himself and his children to find a wife by the following Valentine’s Day, or is he living in a dream world?

Danziger has a wonderful sense of the comedic and can seem to turn what appear to be depressive incidents into humorous and interesting dialogue. The by play between Phillip and his children is heartfelt, and yet you can see the realism of what you see every day in teenagers everywhere. Phillip has such a unique way of dealing with the daily drama you can’t help but be amused. His characters are bright and alive, creating visuals that bring them to life. His interaction with both his ex-wife and the court system can be felt in detail through the telling, and the way Danziger takes the scene from dismay to humor and insight keeps the pages turning.

The comedy and drama are well woven creating such an interesting contrast the book is hard to put down. This is a wonderful well told tale of life as we live it. I know of many people these days in such circumstances, and if those we know were able to handle the circumstances and situations with such aplomb and ease there would be much less depression in the world.

If you love the drama of a somewhat over the top life, and enjoy the creativity of humoristic interludes you will enjoy the sometimes serious and most times humorous tale told in this story.

I would recommend this book for a book club or reading group. It is full of life and interesting choices, and in the end it all comes together with the real heroes of the book. The story takes on the challenges and shadows created in our world today, bringing them to the fore and spreading them before us in a smorgasbord of decisions, impacting our own future and those around us. The humor is spot on and the flow is impressive.

This book was recieved free though a publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material. (less)

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Jul 17, 2010 Tiffany rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Short History of a Tall Jew,
mixing past with present, chronicles a year in the life of Philip Lachman. Philip has been divorced for years, he is an English teacher at a public high school that is literally a melting pot. With lawyer fees and child support he barley makes any money. After celebrating his 39th birthday alone, Philip decides he no longer wants to be alone. Craving a chance at normalcy, Philip announces to his children that by the following Valentines Day he will have found his se...more A Short History of a Tall Jew,
mixing past with present, chronicles a year in the life of Philip Lachman. Philip has been divorced for years, he is an English teacher at a public high school that is literally a melting pot. With lawyer fees and child support he barley makes any money. After celebrating his 39th birthday alone, Philip decides he no longer wants to be alone. Craving a chance at normalcy, Philip announces to his children that by the following Valentines Day he will have found his second wife. The problem is, he has no leads, no numbers, a son into communism, a daughter who is a teenager with lofty aspirations, and a horrible life sucking ex-wife who will do anything to make his life miserable. While battling for his children he attempts his search for happiness, except Philip has no idea how he will find a nice, caring, competent woman who will make a good step-mother, and who he sincerely loves in L.A., a city all about worth.
This novel is laugh out loud funny. There were multiple times I just couldn’t contain myself. It is well thought out and wonderfully composed. I couldn’t imagine the book without every aspect that it has, nor could I add more. The ending fit so well with the book that it left you feeling complete. The book characterizes the life Philip Lachman leads. He is a public school teacher in L.A., a melting pot of cultures and lifestyles with no real minority. The author gracefully includes all aspects of life in this situation, making you feel you are actually there and that this story is not fiction. While it is amusing, it is also heartbreaking, painful and almost tragic at times. It is life. The reader will connect with Philip, laugh at Philip, and want to slap him into wake up mode. The novel is irresistible and will keep you hooked until the end.
I highly suggest A Short History of a Tall Jew to all. While I personally would classify this book as the male version of chick-lit, it is simply a work of fiction. There is an amazing amount of variety in content in this novel. It has something for everyone and the reader will not be disappointed. I look forward to reading more works from Dennis in the future.

**reviewed for www.bookpleasures.com** (less)

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Nov 22, 2011 1000 + rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was what I expected and not what I expected at the same time. The book started off going in one direction and ended up in another. I was expecting this humorous story of a guy looking for a wife by the next Valentines day and the first part of the book was dedicated to that then grew into dealing with the drama divorce can bring and trying to live life doing the right thing no matter how hard that may be or the troubles that come with it.

I enjoyed reading about the main character, Phi...more

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Oct 10, 2011 Zohar - ManOfLaBook.com rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

“A Short History of a Tall Jew” by Dennis Danziger is a not-so-short fictional book following a man searching for his second wife. A very funny book with a heart.

Philip Lachman, the titled Jew, gets beat down by life. He is a public high school English teacher who barley makes a living, is a doormat for his supervisors, his ex-wife, her lawyer, his lawyer and his kids which had had enough with being players in their parents’ massy divorce.

Philip decides to finds a wife who is no...more “A Short History of a Tall Jew” by Dennis Danziger is a not-so-short fictional book following a man searching for his second wife. A very funny book with a heart.

Philip Lachman, the titled Jew, gets beat down by life. He is a public high school English teacher who barley makes a living, is a doormat for his supervisors, his ex-wife, her lawyer, his lawyer and his kids which had had enough with being players in their parents’ massy divorce.

Philip decides to finds a wife who is not an actress and would put up with his teenage daughter, a communist son and a bitch of an ex. But does a poor, divorced public school teacher even has a shot in glitzy, materialistic LA?

"A Short History of a Tall Jew” by Dennis Danziger (website) is a hilarious and charming book. The book is a well written fictional account of a year in the life of Philip Lachman who simply craves for a normal life.
Seems like a normal life is a tall order in ostentatious, selfish Los-Angeles.

"And as I drove on, I began to wonder. Was it me or was it Los Angeles? Was the town just brimming with sexy oddballs or was I a magnet for women who were intentionally not taking their meds?"

The barrage of insane women Philip encounters will dissuade anyone from wanting to find a spouse. The author keeps the reader busy with plots and subplots, main characters which are interesting and secondary ones which still make you feel for them.

The book doesn’t concentrate only on Philip’s search for a spouse, but we also get a glimmer into his classroom, work and family life. While the story is often very funny, it is sometimes sad and tragic as well. The book make many excellent observations about how people treat one another in a supposedly civilized society, the challenges of raising kids, what’s really important, what makes us happy and more. For a while I forgot I was reading a fictional book.

While the story is about a Jew, I believe anyone of any religion would enjoy this book. The narrative is seamless and the story gets carried along evoking many feelings along the way. Philip maintains that he is not a practicing Jew, but finishes (almost) every chapter with a nice, simple prayer.

I visited LA once and it was all right (I like New York City better), but the more I read, hear or see shows about LA the less I want to visit. Do people really act that way? Treat each other like dirt? And that’s OK with everybody?

For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com (less)

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Jan 13, 2012 Jennifer Walker rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Short History of a Tall Jew is an amusing tale of faith, love, and hardship. Despite Philip's cascading series of woes, there is humor as well. It is a life-affirming read--after all, if you're doing better than Philip, maybe you don't have as much to complain about as you thought. It has plenty of warm moments to offset the times when he is out in the cold, and he catches just enough breaks to keep you from wallowing in his despair. The book is well written and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Al...more

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Sep 30, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: another-time-perhaps

I'm a First Read winner, and this is the book! Very excited. I was hooked by the title. Also, I noticed the author's last name, and wondered if he's any relation to one of my favorite authors as a kid, Paula Danziger. Looking forward to its arrival in a few weeks.

With school back in session, my "recreational" books must take a back seat. I'm on page 144 of this wonderful book, due to a reading spurt the last night or two. Couldn't put it down, and not just because doing so meant picking up Parad...more

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Feb 10, 2012 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-reviews

Divorced, depressed and lonely, thirty nine year old Phillip Lachman vows to find a wife within a year but in L.A., a Jewish, poorly paid public high school teacher with teenage children and a litigious ex-wife isn't exactly considered a catch. The Short History of A Tall Jew chronicles Phillip's search for love (avoiding actresses), a new job (he is fired twice) and a reasonably priced car (his ex-wife's lawyer repossesses his) over a year with humour and warmth.

It is with a keen sense for the...more Divorced, depressed and lonely, thirty nine year old Phillip Lachman vows to find a wife within a year but in L.A., a Jewish, poorly paid public high school teacher with teenage children and a litigious ex-wife isn't exactly considered a catch. The Short History of A Tall Jew chronicles Phillip's search for love (avoiding actresses), a new job (he is fired twice) and a reasonably priced car (his ex-wife's lawyer repossesses his) over a year with humour and warmth.

It is with a keen sense for the ridiculous within misfortune that Danziger relates the trials and triumphs of his protagonists life. Worn down by the vindictiveness of his ex wife, the grind of surviving on a barely liveable wage and the indifference of society to both his ambition and his plight, Phillip is a sympathetic and likeable character. While he has made mistakes he is essentially a good man but in LA, where money and status matter, he has no social cache. His search for a suitable wife (and mother for his children)brings him up against these barriers, it is not enough to be a good man, - he is simply not enough - not Jewish enough, not rich enough, not successful or ambitious enough.
Phillip's search for love throws up several amusing situations but it is his desire to be a good enough father that really drives him. While many men may have walked away from their children rather than endure the years of vitriol Phillip is faced with, he struggles on, even as his wife takes his car, his home and his dignity. Being a nice guy puts him at a distinct disadvantage when his ex-wife is determined to see him suffer and is blind to the consequences for their children. The author captures this dynamic perfectly and allows us to see the issues from all sides.
Despite the title, Phillip's faith is only marginally an issue in the story. Danziger slyly pokes fun at the stereotype of the modern day Jewish culture and it's social mores but refrains from condemning it entirely. Not being acquainted with the US Jewish culture I have no idea if his observations are astute.
At 468 pages I was initially intimidated by the novels length but I barely noticed it. Danziger's experience in writing for television sitcoms shows as he neatly links the episodes that make up his protagonists life. The narrative flows effortlessly with good pace and crisp dialogue. As a character driven novel, A Short History of A Tall Jew relies on wit and wry observation to engage the reader.

Entertaining, poignant and charming, A Short History of A Tall Jew will appeal to readers of any gender who can relate to the trials of searching for happiness in a material society.(less)

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Sep 06, 2011 Loren Kantor rated it 4 of 5 stars

The book is funny, poignant and amazingly insightful regarding the objectionable behavior of modern-day westside LA Jews. Danziger has the courage to honestly portray modern secular jewish culture in all it's ugliness, elitism and racist tendencies. He covers the same ground as Larry David, but where Larry David has wealth and status, Danziger's main character is a financial failure and thus has no cache among his Hebrew peers. I plan on buying the book for all my elitist Jewish friends and fami...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Jeanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

I LIKED THIS BOOK BUT IT WAS RATHER SLOW IN A FEW PLACES. A COUPLE OF TIMES I GOT CONFUSED IN WHICH CHARACTER HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. THE STORY IS BELIEVABLE AND BESIDES NOT BEING JEWISH, I HAVE A FRIEND WHO RESEMBLES THE MAIN CHARACTER IN REAL LIFE. I WILL PROBABLY READ ANOTHER BOOK BY THIS AUTHOR IF I FIND ONE.

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Dec 31, 2012 Gary Butler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, drama

47th book read in 2012.

Number 78 out of 279 on my all time book list.

Follow the link below to see my video review:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbiFV0...

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Jan 08, 2013 Hollye Dexter rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Shelves: something-blue

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About Dennis Danziger

Dennis Danziger is the author of "A Short History of a Tall Jew" and "Daddy, The Diary of an Expectant Father." His TV credits include Taxi and Kate and Allie. His essays have appeared in Huffington Post, Premiere and Education Week. His essay Hoop Schemes will appear in the forthcoming sports-oriented issue of Black Clock. He received is BA in English Literature from the University of Texas – Aus...more

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