Poll

I don’t really want to read any of them

Kerry that’s ok. Next time try to nominate a book that you do want to read that you think the group would enjoy.

Kerry wrote: "I don’t really want to read any of them"

Hi Kerry,
Hope you are well.
Is there a particular book you would have liked to read for this genre?
We ask questions such as this for any information to improve and grow our group. It is so necessary to stay connected. For some, their only link is through books and discussion topics.
Thank you.

The criteria was confusing to me because you want a family saga but not about the Holocaust. I don’t know of any Jewish families that aren’t affected by the Holocaust. The only book I would recommend is Esther Safran Foer’s book I Want You to Know We Are Still Here.

Thank you for sending me the link for voting. I had already looked at the books before I commented about not reading them. I don’t typically join book clubs because I don’t have mainstream tastes. I am just going to leave because I already have more than 100 books I want to read.

Hi, Kerry, sorry about your leaving. You are welcome to hang around even if you aren't doing it to find books for reading. Maybe we would learn from you books we haven't heard of before and vice versa. Or you could find like-minded readers. Thanks for your participation!
Jan

It seems strange to me that a Jewish reading group would not allow a book about or that touches on the Holocaust to be on a proposed reading list. People can vote for whatever book they want, but why prohibit such a topic that touches on almost everyone's family?

They all sound great! I'm going to add all of them to my Want to Read after I vote. Thank you for these great recommendations!

Dvora wrote: "It seems strange to me that a Jewish reading group would not allow a book about or that touches on the Holocaust to be on a proposed reading list. People can vote for whatever book they want, but w..."

Hi Dvora,
You are quite right in your thinking, but we would NEVER EVER do that. This isnt the case here -at all. Im so sorry you felt as though the subject was off limits. We are a jewish book group; Holocaust is part of our history and the thought of banning that theme is frightening.
There have been many times our members write us asking not to put in a Holocaust "theme". I get that, as its painful, and people want diversions, especially our members who are children of survivors.
Personally, October 7th cracked me wide open as it did to almost. We try to be as sensitive as possible.
Most often members nominate the books, not us.
Our monthly themes are done ahead of time. Is there a genre "theme" you would like to suggest re Holocaust for one of the upcoming months?
( apologies in advance for not proofing this )

Dvora, I understand too. But what happens a lot is if we want a book in a different genre that doesn’t involve the Holocaust and then not give the caveat, people nominate those books anyway. Passover preps are hard for a lot of people and we decided this time around to make the book happier if possible so that people would not have the extra burden of a tough book while preparing for the chag.

Last day to vote!

Ah well, I am always in behind in these things, but the fact is I don't usually participate in group reads either because my own TBR list is long. But obviously that's MY choice, and I am happy to continue to be a group member for many reasons. I would have chosen the winning book, to read more about the Sephardi experience, and I will add it to my list. (Maybe I'll actually get to it with the group!) The other books I found interesting, and will add to the infinite TBR list, are My Mother's Secret and perhaps Family Carnovsky, although having seen Leopoldstadt on stage last year I am set for pre-Shoah material for a while.

Cheers-
Laurie

LA wrote: "Ah well, I am always in behind in these things, but the fact is I don't usually participate in group reads either because my own TBR list is long. But obviously that's MY choice, and I am happy to ..."

Thank you for this kind post LA.
There is a power in numbers :)