The Chosen (Reuven Malter, #1) in Clean Reads

May 27, 2011 Emily rated it really liked it

Shelves: classic-literature, adult-lit, historical-fiction, religious, political

Overall Review: “Merely to live, merely to exist—what sense is there in that? A fly also lives!” So states the father of Reuven Malter, a young jewish boy in America. In The Chosen we meet Reuven and Danny Saunders: Two boys who couldn’t be more different. They are both Jewish, but the similarities stop there. They become friends over an accident. Danny hits Reuven in the face with a baseball during a game. Reuven’s glasses shatter into his eye, and from that moment on, life changes its course. Overall Review: “Merely to live, merely to exist—what sense is there in that? A fly also lives!” So states the father of Reuven Malter, a young jewish boy in America. In The Chosen we meet Reuven and Danny Saunders: Two boys who couldn’t be more different. They are both Jewish, but the similarities stop there. They become friends over an accident. Danny hits Reuven in the face with a baseball during a game. Reuven’s glasses shatter into his eye, and from that moment on, life changes its course. Reuven’s eyes are literally and figuratively opened as he sees everything in a new light. This is, of course, one of the important side effects of traumatic experiences—we are torn away from our old point of view and comfort zone, and given new ideas, experiences and friendships. Danny comes to the hospital to apologize and the boys become fast friends. It is an unlikely friendship from the beginning, but they are so good for each other—balancing their ideas and personalities to perfection. I loved following Danny and Reuven through their formative years, watching them make decisions that were difficult; waking up to what life really has to offer and finding the strength to follow their own dreams. They go through so many emotions, disillusionments, and learning experiences. They both have amazing minds and intellects. The book overall is astounding. The scope of information presented is huge—yet it is also intricate, well researched, and delicately complex. We learn amazing things about WWII from a totally different perspective. There is some fascinating information presented on Jewish history, customs, and beliefs. It never feels like a textbook or an encyclopedia, though. The story is poignant and flows with expert ease. The Chosen is a coming of age story that reminds us to wake up, to live life to the fullest, to open our eyes and see what can’t be seen…to Listen to the unspoken silence. Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Content Review:

PROFANITY: A few mild instances throughout

VIOLENCE: Some mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEMES: Mild to Moderate

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 16+

At the very beginning of the book, there is a baseball game between two groups of young men. During this game, there is quite a bit of ‘religious’ profanity. Every once in a while, another word is sprinkled in here and there, but it is never as concentrated as during the ball game. There is some violence, but it really is handled very low-key for the content that is dealt with. A character is hit in the face with a baseball and his glasses shatter into his eye (he’s eventually fine). There are some references to boxing and the effects of serious fights (losing eyes, etc.). There are many fistfights and a lot of anger and hatred at times.

Also, there are many mentions of WWII, and subsequently we read a lot about the death toll of certain battles as well as seeing the desolation of post-holocaust life of the American Jews. Other smaller wars, skirmishes and battles are also mentioned along with many terrorist acts. Many people are killed in battles, hangings, bombings, etc. This is all told as hearsay as the main characters are not in the heat of the action. A younger audience may not enjoy this book due mostly to the more adult themes of raising children, making serious life/religious choices, deep friendships, and the effects of war, but all of these themes are lovingly handled--The Chosen is a book to make you think deeply that is a Clean Read for ages 16+.

This review was written by Emily
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer

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Feb 07, 2008 Jen Pratt rated it it was amazing

I remember reading and enjoying Chaim Potok’s The Chosen in High School, but I think i appreciated it even more as an adult. Reuven Malther is a modern Orthodox Jew living in Brooklyn in the mid-1940s. He studied the Torah regularly with his father and attended a parochial school. At a baseball game against another school, Danny Saunders, the son of a Hasidic rabbi, hits a fast ball into Reuben’s eye, shattering his glasses and landing him in the hospital. From this u likely start, the two becom ...more

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Jan 17, 2010 Becky rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

A compelling beautifully written book. The love between two fathers and their sons is poignant and heart wrenching. This book will stay with me for a long time.

Favorite quote:
"There is so much pain in the world. What does it mean to have to suffer so much if our lives are nothing more than the blink of an eye?.....I learned a long time ago, Reuven, that a blink of an eye in itself is nothing. But the eye that blinks, that is something. A span of life is nothing. But the man who lives that span, ...more

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Aug 16, 2009 Debbie rated it really liked it

I liked this book and I really like that it resolved and was happy at the end, but not in a cheesey way. I just like happy books. It was a little slower than the 2nd book, but very interesting.

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Jun 26, 2011 Heather rated it it was amazing

Shelves: book-group

This has been a wonderful introduction to Chaim Potok! I know a lot of people who read his works long ago because of school assignments, but here I am as an adult experiencing this modern Jewish world for the first time. The Chosen is very readable, compelling, and deep. I look forward to the sequel The Promise.

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Jun 03, 2008 Shauna rated it it was amazing

This was a really good book! I read it for a book club and wished I would have read it before I went to Jerusalem back in college. Great story about friendship and religion. If you haven't read this book, I would recommend doing it! ...more

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May 31, 2008 Teri rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

Loved The Chosen and The Promise. I read these books a long time ago, but remember how much I enjoyed them. I also remember watching the movie of The Chosen years ago, with Robbie Benson in a lead role.

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