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A Bunch of Jews
A Bunch of Jews (A Minyen Yidn) is a collection of stories written in Yiddish in the 1930s adapted to an English graphic novel by Trina Robbins and a collection of artists including Willy Mendes, Steve Leialoha, Shary Flenniken, Eve Furchgott, Miriam Katin, Miriam Libicki, Sarah Glidden, Anne Timmons, Robert Triptow, Jen Vaughn, Elizabeth Watasin, Caryn Leschen, Joan Steacy, Ken Steacy, and Terry Laban. These are stories of jealous schoolteachers, yearning husbands, loyal pets, and all the emotional moments of friends and neighbours that make up a community. Touching, funny, and heartfelt tributes to Jewish life in the early 1900s in Europe and USA.
80 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2017
About the author
Trina Robbins
269 books86 followersTrina Robbins is an American comics artist and writer. She was an early and influential participant in the underground comix movement, and one of the few female artists in underground comix when she started. Her first comics were printed in the East Village Other. She later joined the staff of a feminist underground newspaper It Ain't Me, Babe, with whom she produced the first all-woman comic book titled It Ain't Me Babe. She became increasingly involved in creating outlets for and promoting female comics artists, through projects such as the comics anthology Wimmen's Comix. She was also the penciller on Wonder Woman for a time in the '80s.
Trina has worked on an adaptation of Sax Rohmer's Dope for Eclipse Comics and GoGirl with artist Anne Timmons for Image Comics.
Trina designed Vampirella's costume for Forrest Ackerman and Jim Warren.
In addition to her comics work, Robbins is an author of non-fiction books, including several with an emphasis on the history of women in cartooning.
She is the first of the three "Ladies of the Canyon" in Joni Mitchell's classic song from the album of the same name.
Trina Robbins won a Special Achievement Award from the San Diego Comic Con in 1989 for her work on Strip AIDS U.S.A., a benefit book that she co-edited with Bill Sienkiewicz and Robert Triptow.
Trina has worked on an adaptation of Sax Rohmer's Dope for Eclipse Comics and GoGirl with artist Anne Timmons for Image Comics.
Trina designed Vampirella's costume for Forrest Ackerman and Jim Warren.
In addition to her comics work, Robbins is an author of non-fiction books, including several with an emphasis on the history of women in cartooning.
She is the first of the three "Ladies of the Canyon" in Joni Mitchell's classic song from the album of the same name.
Trina Robbins won a Special Achievement Award from the San Diego Comic Con in 1989 for her work on Strip AIDS U.S.A., a benefit book that she co-edited with Bill Sienkiewicz and Robert Triptow.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 22, 2017
I have an ever-growing fascination with Yiddish literature thanks to my Ashkenazi roots, so I was ecstatic when I saw that Trina Robbins had adapted her father's A Minyen Yidn un Andere Zakhn into comic form.
This collection of engaging and humane short stories, featuring different sets of illustrators for each one, of arrogant schoolteachers, boastful travelers, stingy merchants, adoring pets, and all the disasters and triumphs that can happen to families and tight-knit communities. “It’s a snapshot of a way of life that would end with the coming of the Nazis and WW2, although none of them knew it yet.”
However, while I enjoyed most of the tones and themes explored in the stories - a deep mixture of melancholy and nostalgia - most tales would end a bit nonsensical and unclear to me, so that it became harder and harder to appreciate to message. But on a brighter (and a bit random) note, the short story about latkes made me crave them by a tenfold, so bonus points for that.
Since this comic adaption was on the shorter side, I'm intrigued to check out the book by the author's father, Muttel (Mutye) Perechudnik, originally published in Yiddish. And I do hope that more comics like this one will be adapted in the future.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication: March 21st, 2017
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April 22, 2023
Trina and 15 artists
I hate to trash anything T-Rob and fear failing stories within heritages but this is just awful reading. The guy was a writer than nobody but super-fringe would publish and his stories only appeal to an ultra-specific group of readers.
She did this out of guilt, as she explains, but how did she get the time of the others? That's how cool she is- not how readable it makes this.
To make matters worse:
I've lived in an shtetl-similar (without the dangers and poverty) ultra-conservative Jewish neighborhood, that shares this brand of piety nearly exactly, for over two dozen years (as a boy<-->recently) during which I've always being interested in studying their ways and have associated with (to the extent that us goyim are allowed) this super similar culture (only cosmetically less antiquated than the vintage of these stories). I even understand most of the lingo/lexicon that's given a pitiful glossary at the end instead of footnotes when you need them.
->So if any without their blood->lifestyle would appreciate this- it would be me!
I hate to trash anything T-Rob and fear failing stories within heritages but this is just awful reading. The guy was a writer than nobody but super-fringe would publish and his stories only appeal to an ultra-specific group of readers.
She did this out of guilt, as she explains, but how did she get the time of the others? That's how cool she is- not how readable it makes this.
To make matters worse:
I've lived in an shtetl-similar (without the dangers and poverty) ultra-conservative Jewish neighborhood, that shares this brand of piety nearly exactly, for over two dozen years (as a boy<-->recently) during which I've always being interested in studying their ways and have associated with (to the extent that us goyim are allowed) this super similar culture (only cosmetically less antiquated than the vintage of these stories). I even understand most of the lingo/lexicon that's given a pitiful glossary at the end instead of footnotes when you need them.
->So if any without their blood->lifestyle would appreciate this- it would be me!
July 24, 2017
'A Bunch of Jews (and other stuff)' by Trina Robbins is an adaptation of a book her father wrote in Yiddish in the 1930s called A Minyen Yidn.
An introduction by Robbins talks about how the book was found by her daughter. It is translated here in English and illustrated into graphic novel form by a series of artists including Ken and Joan Steacy, Jen Vaughn, Steve Lealoah, Anne Timmons and others.
Many of the stories are about a shtetl in what is Belarus called Duboy. The stories are about stern rabbis, devoted dogs and everyday life. There is food as women bake matzos and a young boy yearns for a chance to eat something called kotletn (the recipe is included after the story for those curious to know what it is).
The book finishes with a short Yiddish glossary and artist bios for all the creators. I really enjoyed reading this book adapted from another time and place.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Bedside Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
An introduction by Robbins talks about how the book was found by her daughter. It is translated here in English and illustrated into graphic novel form by a series of artists including Ken and Joan Steacy, Jen Vaughn, Steve Lealoah, Anne Timmons and others.
Many of the stories are about a shtetl in what is Belarus called Duboy. The stories are about stern rabbis, devoted dogs and everyday life. There is food as women bake matzos and a young boy yearns for a chance to eat something called kotletn (the recipe is included after the story for those curious to know what it is).
The book finishes with a short Yiddish glossary and artist bios for all the creators. I really enjoyed reading this book adapted from another time and place.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Bedside Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
August 7, 2017
Most of what I got from these pages was due to the visuals, and the many different monochrome drawing styles (love the nod to Will Eisner I found from Steve Leialoha). What that means is I didn't find much favour with the stories themselves, which is not to say they're bad, but they definitely had the air of meaning more to an actual Jewish audience.
June 28, 2019
This short book beautifully illustrates and translates a short story collection originally written in Yiddish by the author's father. The comic artists have perfectly matched the quaint and sometimes heartbreaking sense of humour of the original text. Delightful work.
September 28, 2017
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I received an ARC of A Bunch of Jews (and other stuff) from Netgalley. I was interested in seeing a collection of stories was going to be conveyed in graphic novel style. I also liked the idea of reading about Jewish everyday life.
This book is #ownvoices for Jewish representation.
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The author’s note is fascinating, as she explains what the book her father, Perlson, had written meant to her when she was younger and what it means to her now. I thought it was very touching that this was a father-daughter collaboration through time.
The illustrations are quite minimalistic in this book. I thought they would be colourful due to the cover, however they are in greyscale. Thus it took me some time to not feel disappointed. However, the simplicity of the illustrations ended up winning me over. It didn’t distract from the story told along the panels. Each story is illustrated by a different illustrator, hence I think most people will find an illustrating style that they enjoy seeing.
The glimpses of everyday life in Duboy, Brooklyn and the Lower East Side were amazing. It felt like I was reading a written equivalent of the old candid photos that show people going about their life decades ago.
One thing I would have liked to see more of, were stories in which the main character was not a man. However, since this is an adaptation of an older book, I understand that such stories are not in the graphic novel.
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This was a beautifully-illustrated book and the stories are all interesting.There were some stories that I enjoyed more than others, but all in all, I had a wonderful reading experience. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
I received an ARC of A Bunch of Jews (and other stuff) from Netgalley. I was interested in seeing a collection of stories was going to be conveyed in graphic novel style. I also liked the idea of reading about Jewish everyday life.
This book is #ownvoices for Jewish representation.
__
The author’s note is fascinating, as she explains what the book her father, Perlson, had written meant to her when she was younger and what it means to her now. I thought it was very touching that this was a father-daughter collaboration through time.
The illustrations are quite minimalistic in this book. I thought they would be colourful due to the cover, however they are in greyscale. Thus it took me some time to not feel disappointed. However, the simplicity of the illustrations ended up winning me over. It didn’t distract from the story told along the panels. Each story is illustrated by a different illustrator, hence I think most people will find an illustrating style that they enjoy seeing.
The glimpses of everyday life in Duboy, Brooklyn and the Lower East Side were amazing. It felt like I was reading a written equivalent of the old candid photos that show people going about their life decades ago.
One thing I would have liked to see more of, were stories in which the main character was not a man. However, since this is an adaptation of an older book, I understand that such stories are not in the graphic novel.
__
This was a beautifully-illustrated book and the stories are all interesting.There were some stories that I enjoyed more than others, but all in all, I had a wonderful reading experience. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
July 5, 2017
If you are only familiar with Sholom Aleichem and Fiddler on the Roof, this might be a good book to expand your horizons on. This book was originally written in Yiddish, by the father of Trina Robbins, of Underground Comic and Wonder Woman fame. As she said in the introduction, when her father wrote this, she wanted nothing to do with the book, Yiddish was old-fashioned, and she wanted nothing to do with that world.
Than, years later, she not only embraced the book, got it translated, and heald a fundraising to get illustrators to bring the stories to life.
Some stories are better than others, but all have an old worldly sense of time and place, though a few do take place in the New World (New York).
A good addition to any library, be it personal or public, for people who want to hear the stories of a world long gone.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest reveiw.
Than, years later, she not only embraced the book, got it translated, and heald a fundraising to get illustrators to bring the stories to life.
Some stories are better than others, but all have an old worldly sense of time and place, though a few do take place in the New World (New York).
A good addition to any library, be it personal or public, for people who want to hear the stories of a world long gone.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest reveiw.
June 15, 2017
Mixed results due to multiple illustrators. Frustratingly, not all illustrators signed their work.
December 11, 2023
"First published as a book in Yiddish in 1938, A Minyen Yidn is a collection of stories by Max B. Perlson, focused on a small shtetl called Duboy and Brooklyn, NY, in the early 20th century."
Trina Robbins rediscovers he father's work, gets in translated and then adapted by a diverse group of cartoonists. It works really well considering the book is a collected of short stories. A perfect way to introduce this obscure book to a modern audience. I really enjoyed a lot of the personal stories of odd Jewish characters living in this shtetl.
Trina Robbins rediscovers he father's work, gets in translated and then adapted by a diverse group of cartoonists. It works really well considering the book is a collected of short stories. A perfect way to introduce this obscure book to a modern audience. I really enjoyed a lot of the personal stories of odd Jewish characters living in this shtetl.
March 9, 2019
A Bunch of Jews (And other Stuff) by Max
Perlson & Trina Robbins by Bedside Press is realistically an old fascinating book with an amazing story behind. I start to tell that I would want to read also the version written by Max B.Perlson. Living in a countryside I know the dynamics told by the author.
Realized in cartoon and taking in consideration some of the stories written by Perlson, this book was firstly written and published in yiddish in 1938: a series of short tales about the people living in Duboy a shtelt of the modern Belarus.
Once emigrated in the USA Max learned english very well, read all the possible beautiful literature, and had wagons of books, all reads; books that later would have been read by Trina as well. Living in America Trina didn't pay attention at the love and devotion that her father manifested for yiddish. He wrote everything in yiddish; pieces, books. Once he released this book written in yiddish, she didn't mind. It was of course just for people in grade of understanding that tongue. Trina thought that yiddish was a foreign element in a culture like the USA; she wanted to live completely integrated with the rest of her American friendsf
She completely forgot that book written by her dad.
It was a casuality. Her daughter one day surfing the web discovered the book of her grand-dad reprinted on Abebooks, and, curious they decided of buying some copies. Trina discovered a precious book. Her dad portrayed and remembered the most interesting men and women who lived in Duboy and the fresco is vivid, beautiful still now. Anecdots, facts, of remarkable people. After all the story of a community.
It seems that when the book appeared there were polemics, but it is pretty normal when someone want to portray people living in a microcosm.
Trina thought that more than re-publish the book with these stories, it was better to create a series of cartoons and asked to various cartooonists of helping her.
This one the final result.
I loved the story of Rebitshe the Melamed, the teaacher barely touching the ground when he walked, and respected by everyone; Yosl Meyer having travelled a lot wasn't absolutely anymore suprirsed of anything, so when someone described him a complete different world, a big lake, a wonderful city, be sure that he had seen it, in another part of the world and wasn't surprised. "There was nothing new under the sun" could have been his motto.
I loved the story of matzos; the one of Khayim introduces us at a jewish, who, with the time became poor.
Prepare yourself for rhe recipe of the Kotletn. The story is so tender. One of my favorite ones.
Faydo was a beloved dog and the departure of her beloved owner meant also the the one of Faydo.
Even Goats love Flowers is a sunny and funny story and I also love the beautiful cartoons.
I highy recoommend to you this book. It is funny but it will also let you think about life, destinies, and daily-life of a vital community.
I thank NetGalley for this ebook.
Anna Maria Polidori
Perlson & Trina Robbins by Bedside Press is realistically an old fascinating book with an amazing story behind. I start to tell that I would want to read also the version written by Max B.Perlson. Living in a countryside I know the dynamics told by the author.
Realized in cartoon and taking in consideration some of the stories written by Perlson, this book was firstly written and published in yiddish in 1938: a series of short tales about the people living in Duboy a shtelt of the modern Belarus.
Once emigrated in the USA Max learned english very well, read all the possible beautiful literature, and had wagons of books, all reads; books that later would have been read by Trina as well. Living in America Trina didn't pay attention at the love and devotion that her father manifested for yiddish. He wrote everything in yiddish; pieces, books. Once he released this book written in yiddish, she didn't mind. It was of course just for people in grade of understanding that tongue. Trina thought that yiddish was a foreign element in a culture like the USA; she wanted to live completely integrated with the rest of her American friendsf
She completely forgot that book written by her dad.
It was a casuality. Her daughter one day surfing the web discovered the book of her grand-dad reprinted on Abebooks, and, curious they decided of buying some copies. Trina discovered a precious book. Her dad portrayed and remembered the most interesting men and women who lived in Duboy and the fresco is vivid, beautiful still now. Anecdots, facts, of remarkable people. After all the story of a community.
It seems that when the book appeared there were polemics, but it is pretty normal when someone want to portray people living in a microcosm.
Trina thought that more than re-publish the book with these stories, it was better to create a series of cartoons and asked to various cartooonists of helping her.
This one the final result.
I loved the story of Rebitshe the Melamed, the teaacher barely touching the ground when he walked, and respected by everyone; Yosl Meyer having travelled a lot wasn't absolutely anymore suprirsed of anything, so when someone described him a complete different world, a big lake, a wonderful city, be sure that he had seen it, in another part of the world and wasn't surprised. "There was nothing new under the sun" could have been his motto.
I loved the story of matzos; the one of Khayim introduces us at a jewish, who, with the time became poor.
Prepare yourself for rhe recipe of the Kotletn. The story is so tender. One of my favorite ones.
Faydo was a beloved dog and the departure of her beloved owner meant also the the one of Faydo.
Even Goats love Flowers is a sunny and funny story and I also love the beautiful cartoons.
I highy recoommend to you this book. It is funny but it will also let you think about life, destinies, and daily-life of a vital community.
I thank NetGalley for this ebook.
Anna Maria Polidori
July 11, 2017
The story of Feydo almost made me cry!
I admit I didn't "get" all of these stories, I think they are very specific to Eastern European Ashkenazi Jewish culture/mindsets, which is not a problem, and they are definitely stories worth telling, but I think I need to expand my knowledge of 19th/early 20th century Jewish culture to fully understand and appreciate the stories. I am definitely not the target audience for this book, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
The artwork is great, and I really feel like each artist's style relates well to the story they're telling. Everything seems to fit quite nicely in terms of tone and whatnot.
The brief history (2 pages I believe) at the beginning of the book is also very interesting to me. It tells of the author's father's original book, the cultural context in which he wrote it, and the author's journey from being ashamed of her father's perceived "foreignness" to wanting to learn more and setting out to track down copies of his book, both originals and reprints, with the help of her daughter. As a recent student of history I am always interested in seeing peoples' journeys into trying to distance themselves from their own history or trying to embrace it, and often the transition from one to the other.
Overall this is a very interesting collection that acts as a snapshot into Jewish history.
I admit I didn't "get" all of these stories, I think they are very specific to Eastern European Ashkenazi Jewish culture/mindsets, which is not a problem, and they are definitely stories worth telling, but I think I need to expand my knowledge of 19th/early 20th century Jewish culture to fully understand and appreciate the stories. I am definitely not the target audience for this book, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
The artwork is great, and I really feel like each artist's style relates well to the story they're telling. Everything seems to fit quite nicely in terms of tone and whatnot.
The brief history (2 pages I believe) at the beginning of the book is also very interesting to me. It tells of the author's father's original book, the cultural context in which he wrote it, and the author's journey from being ashamed of her father's perceived "foreignness" to wanting to learn more and setting out to track down copies of his book, both originals and reprints, with the help of her daughter. As a recent student of history I am always interested in seeing peoples' journeys into trying to distance themselves from their own history or trying to embrace it, and often the transition from one to the other.
Overall this is a very interesting collection that acts as a snapshot into Jewish history.
August 25, 2017
For me, this was a book of two parts. I adored the front cover and the wonderful illustrations inside, but didn't always 'get' all of the stories. Some I found much more enjoyable than others. Having read the background at the beginning of the book, I'm so very pleased that this work was rediscovered by the writer's family and to the Jewish world and it would make a great addition to any Jewish home library, my own included.
Many thanks to Netgalley who provided me with this ARC. I chose to read it and give a voluntary and unbiased review.
Many thanks to Netgalley who provided me with this ARC. I chose to read it and give a voluntary and unbiased review.
July 22, 2017
The illustrations are wonderful. Most notable is the cover art by Willy Mendes. The translated text often leaves much to be desired. Much of the translation seems to be way too literal while losing the essence of what is being said. I was puzzled by two references to Christmas. The first referred to Christmas shopping; while the illustration clearly showed a menorah on display behind a salesperson. Having said all this, I am glad I got it and read it. I'd even recommend it...with my caveats.
February 6, 2019
The author's father published a series of vignettes in 1938, mostly about his native shtetl, Duboy, in what is now Belarus. (Apparently, his tongue-in-cheek look at these people offended some of his fellow immigrants when the book was published.) Trina Robbins adapted his words into graphic novel format and, with the help of a series of artists, offers a fascinating snapshot of a long-gone place and time.
May 24, 2017
Guys, I love yiddish storytelling. I love it even more in comic book form. Hence, I loved this. It's not bold or brilliant or super-showy off-y, it's just a nice, sort of cranky set of tales from Robbins' papa's old shtetl, brought to life by other Jewish cartoons. 2 Miriams! Sarah Glidden! Everything is wonderful. I just wish there was more.
Want to Read
September 26, 2017Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
July 25, 2023
In the early 20th century, Trina Robbins's father wrote a book of short tales about Jewish people, mostly in the shtetl in Belarus where he grew up, with some set in the US after people immigrated (as he did). Robbins recruited comic artists to turn each story into a graphic piece. The stories are nothing special; they each show just a slice of life in those times and places. They are infused with a wry kind of humor, showing people's quirks. I found it fascinating. This is how my grandparents grew up, and I read about life in the shtetl and Jewish life in NYC whenever I can. The art is all excellent. This little book is a gem.
September 22, 2021
Impressive anthology of slice-of-life and folk stories reflecting Jewish life in "the old country" and the city, from stories by (justifiably legendary underground comic artist/writer) Trina Robbins' father. The collection of artists, bluntly, doesn't flow well, though none of the artists are in any way bad (a few perhaps indifferent). Really enjoyable and high quality work.
January 22, 2020
Loved this little anthology of comics about Ashkenazi Jewry, mostly in the old country! I want to read more about that part of history! A few parts were so funny that I laughed out loud!
April 2, 2020
This is a wonderful collection of yiddish stories. They were written by Robbins's father in the 30 and only now translated. THe comic adaptations were lively and the Yiddish spirit is intact.
April 7, 2020
I think I liked the personal story behind the comic book more than the actual stories in the book.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews