From the Bookshelf of Diversity in All Forms!…

The Matzah Ball

Jean Meltzer

Start date: December 1, 2022

Finish date: December 31, 2022

Discussion: Monthly Bonus Reads

Why we're reading this: December Bonus Read - International Holidays = Hanukkah

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer
[close] December Bonus Read - International Holidays = Hanukkah

The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 73 topics — 889 comments total

Monthly Bonus Reads

The Autobiography of Malcolm X (February 2023)
By Mariah Roze · 2 posts · 18 views

last updated May 17, 2023 10:35AM

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide (March 2023)
By Mariah Roze · 2 posts · 11 views

last updated Mar 06, 2023 08:42AM

What Members Thought

Jan 03, 2022 Robin rated it liked it · review of another edition

You be the person the universe asked you to be. And anyone who doesn’t celebrate you for it, anyone who doesn’t love you through it, screw ’em.

so this was a Chanukah holiday romance type of book, which was a nice change of pace since there are numerous Christmas ones out there but not nearly enough Chanukah stories. the main characters are both strongly connected to their Jewish faith but in totally different ways, and one of them also harbors a secret she doesnt feel she can share with anyone You be the person the universe asked you to be. And anyone who doesn’t celebrate you for it, anyone who doesn’t love you through it, screw ’em.

so this was a Chanukah holiday romance type of book, which was a nice change of pace since there are numerous Christmas ones out there but not nearly enough Chanukah stories. the main characters are both strongly connected to their Jewish faith but in totally different ways, and one of them also harbors a secret she doesnt feel she can share with anyone due to her family's prominence in the Jewish community. it was a little juvenile of both main characters to basically pick up right where they left off from camp and continue with pranks and tormenting each other because it continued to cause a lot of issues. if they had only communicated and if only a certain best friend had come clean about what he did so many years ago maybe there would not have been so many misunderstandings and they would have been happier a lot earlier in their lives but i guess that wouldnt have made this story possible otherwise.

the author also focused on an illness that one of the main characters (and she also in real life) suffer from more commonly referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome which is often overlooked as nothing serious because it is an invisible type of illness that most people dont take the time to try to understand. i will admit that i didnt really know much about it and learned plenty, but because i have friends and family who suffer from other illnesses such as manic depression, ADD, ADHD, fibromyalgia i can understand that not all illnesses are magically curable or should be taken lightly.

the one thing i did find a bit weird is how she referred to certain things which typically Jewish people wouldnt do and honestly find annoying that other people who are not Jewish do expect. i guess some of it was done on purpose though to make a point. regardless this was a quick, fun holiday read and although it was chosen as one of the holiday reads by one of my book clubs, i would have probably read it on my own if it hadnt been.
...more

Like · see review

May 12, 2022 Zach Strassburger rated it really liked it

Fun Jewish romance about a woman who loves Christmas and is afraid to tell her incredibly supportive family. Also, she is chronic fatigue syndrome. I liked reading about a disabled character that didn’t pity her or lionize her for living with disabilities. It did feel a little preachy at times but overall the book read smoothly and was fun. Also so nice to have Jewish content! I’m a fan.

Like · see review

Jan 07, 2024 Melissa Rochelle rated it liked it

Shelves: ebook, library, holidays, romance, read-2024

Cute story about a Jewish woman with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome who makes a living secretly writing Christmas romance novels. And then the story begins. Lots of fun.

Like · see review