Jewish Book Carnival discussion
Authors Announcing Their Books
A novel of Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation moving through actual events in 2016-2017. Latest Amazon review:Read this spy story for its author’s impressive knowledge of the history and the confusion of current events in Jerusalem and the surrounding Middle East. He makes his way with assurance through its bewildering political jungle, its military, professional and commercial networks, its shifting friendships and antagonisms and just ordinary daily living. I have no idea whether all this knowledge comes from personal experience (it reads like that) or research, or whether he just makes it all up (possible, but not likely), but the background to his story is one hundred percent convincing. Add to that what reads as a true passion for peace, accommodation and mutual understanding between Palestinians and Israelis—though the narrative is largely from an Israeli point of view. Most of Kaplan’s sympathetic characters on both sides of this persistent, painful wound in the heart of geopolitics have a longing in their hearts to find a solution, and a despair to see it constantly escaping them.
https://www.amazon.com/Spys-Gamble-Ho...
Howard wrote: "A novel of Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation moving through actual events in 2016-2017. Latest Amazon review:Read this spy story for its author’s impressive knowledge of the history and the con..."
Howard- This book was terrific.
I also read Damascus Cover and To Destroy Jerusalem.
You are full of talent!!!
Hi, I'm a new member with a forthcoming collection of short stories, WE LOVE ANDERSON COOPER (Celadon Books/Macmillan). One of the stories, "The Infidelity of Judah Maccabee," aired on NPR's Hanukkah Lights in 2016. We Love Anderson Cooper
About the book:
In this quirky, humorous, and deeply human short story collection, Pushcart Prize-nominated author R.L. Maizes reminds us that even in our most isolated moments, we are never truly alone.
In We Love Anderson Cooper, characters are treated as outsiders because of their sexual orientation, racial or religious identity, or simply because they look different. A young man courts the publicity that comes from outing himself at his bar mitzvah. When a painter is shunned because of his appearance, he learns to ink tattoos that come to life. A paranoid Jewish actuary suspects his cat of cheating on him—with his Protestant girlfriend.
In this debut collection, humor complements pathos. Readers will recognize themselves in these stories and in these protagonists, whose backgrounds are vastly different from their own—we’ve all been outsiders at some point.
https://www.amazon.com/We-Love-Anders...
Hi. I'm a new member. I am pleased to announce the publication of my new book. Of Bitter Herbs and Sweet Confections is a fictionalized memoir, based on real-life experiences. The book presents the story of Tanya, a Jewish teenager, as it unfolds over a ten-year period from 1939 to 1949. Forced to flee their Polish hometown, Tanya and her family wander from place to place, trying to keep one step ahead of the Nazis, until they fall into the hands of the Russians and are exiled to Siberia. Having survived hard labor in the frozen north, Tanya's father relocates the family to central Asia where they live out the final years of the war. On her return to Europe, where she encounters the atrocities committed during her absence, Tanya finds the inner strength to help those whose war time suffering has been even greater than her own.
The book already has a lot of 5 star reviews. Check it out at:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1729756050/...
Susan, I second that!!Hope it takes of ..running.
R.L.... I see your book is becoming quite the hit. Congrats!
I got one! Creation Colors, a retelling of the Creation story through the vehicle of color will be out April 1. Thanks, Heidi!
Free on 03/24/2019 for one day only and then the price will soar to 3 bucks an e-piece:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O3BEX4Q
Ukrainian Jewish Godfather
You are cordially invited to attend the book launching event of the season! Please join me, Sunday April 7th from 9-3 pm PST, for food and frolicking (virtual, of course!), interesting tidbits, giveaways, and a surprise or two! Feel free to pose a question, share your thoughts about Jane Austen Fan Fiction or simply stop in and say hello!"The Meyersons of Meryton" coming to Amazon soon!
www.facebook.com/Mirtainestrupp
Hi everyone, I'm thrilled to announce that my novel-in-stories, The Book of Jeremiah (Press 53), is coming out in less than a month! Available for pre-order here: https://amzn.to/2Uyx46o
About the book:
Julie Zuckerman's moving and engrossing debut novel-in-stories, The Book of Jeremiah, tells the story of awkward but endearing Jeremiah Gerstler--the son of Jewish immigrants, brilliant political science professor, husband, father.
Jeremiah has yearned for respect and acceptance his entire life, and no matter his success, he still strives for more. As a boy, he was feisty and irreverent and constantly compared to his sweet and well-behaved older brother, Lenny. At the university, he worries he is a token hire. Occasionally, he's combative with colleagues, especially as he ages. But there is a sweetness to Gerstler, too, and an abiding loyalty and affection for those he loves. When he can overcome his worst impulses, his moments of humility become among the best measures of his achievements.
Spanning eight decades and interwoven with the Jewish experience of the 20th century, Julie Zuckerman charts Jeremiah's life from boyhood, through service in WWII, to marriage and children, a professorship and finally retirement, with compassion, honesty, and a respect that even Gerstler himself would find touching.
The Meyersons of MerytonWhen a new family, thought to be associated with the House of Rothschild arrives in Meryton, a chain of events are set in place that threaten the betrothal of Miss Elizabeth Bennet to her beloved Mr. Darcy.
Rabbi Meyerson and family are received at Longbourn. This inconvenience leads to misfortune, for when the rabbi disappears from the quiet market town, Mr. Bennet follows dutifully in his path. Her father’s sudden departure shadowed by the Wickhams’ unannounced arrival has Elizabeth judging not only her reactions to these tumultuous proceedings but her suitability as the future Mistress of Pemberley.
A sensible woman would give her hand in marriage without a second thought. Can Elizabeth say goodbye forever to the one man who has captured her heart?
The Meyersons of Meryton is a Pride and Prejudice variation. The narrative introduces Jewish characters and history to the beloved novel and, although there are some adult themes, this is an inspirational and clean read.
Checkmate! The Love Story of Mikhail Tal and Sally LandauSally Landau, born in 1938, Vitebsk, Soviet Union, was Mikhail Tal’s first wife, a highly talented actress and singer. Sally and Misha were married from 1959 to 1970 in a period that encompassed Tal’s two world championship matches with Botvinnik as well as many of his greatest tournament performances.
Sally’s breathtaking story, first published in Russia in 1998 and which has been reprinted multiple times, is a memoir of her time with Tal, with whom she remained friends long after they divorced right up until his death in 1992. Full of detail about Tal and their life together, it is a tale of triumph and tragedy, love, parenthood, sorrow, jealousy, betrayal and revenge. Colored by a historical and social background including the Second World War, the Soviet chess scene, Rigan high society, the shadow economy in the Soviet Union, and Jewish emigration, it contains a fascinating portrait of Misha’s mysterious family and is illustrated with photos from Sally’s private archive. And it all just happens to be true…
https://www.amazon.com/dp/5604176966
Added by the publisher
Review copies for bloggers also available, contact the publisher at www.elkandruby.com
In honor of Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Day (May 2) I am running a free promotion of the Kindle ebook Of Bitter Herbs and Sweet Confections and a reduced price on the paperback version.The promotion will run from May 2 thru May 5.
Hope you like it - and kindly review.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1729756050
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...Today is the last day of the giveaway! Enter for your chance to win one of fifty ebooks!
In the second half of the 19th century, two brothers living in Ukraine, both Hasidic rabbis, became fabulously wealthy within a short time period. They and their families were celebrated by the Jewish population in numerous folk tales. Even Sholom Aleichem, the great Yiddish storyteller, wrote a short tale about them. Today, however, they had been all but forgotten until the publication of this book.
Based on decades of research, including research in the Ukrainian archives, Sons of the Lion's Cub tells the story of these Horenstein brothers from multiple perspectives. It reviews the life of their father (named "the lion's cub" in Hebrew) and the 1000-year history of their distinguished ancestors, and proposes a theory of how the brothers were able to acquire their remarkable wealth.
We know a lot about the hardships of Jewish life in the shtetl; this book provides a different perspective by examining the life of an exceptional rabbinical ancestral line which, over the centuries, often prospered and made substantial contributions to Eastern European Jewish life.
Uncovering their history has been a remarkable adventure for me; now I'm thrilled to be able to share it with you.
(Bloggers: contact thirdlinepress@gmail.com for a review copy.)
"Through a Bible Lens: Biblical Insights for Smartphone Photography and Social Media" teaches how biblical insights can transform smartphone photography and social media into imaginative ways for seeing spirituality in everyday life. It speaks to Jews and Christians who share an abiding love of the Bible by inspiring the creation of a lively dialogue between our emerging life stories and the enduring biblical narrative. See praise for the book at http://throughabiblelens.blogspot.com DRAWS ON THE BIBLE FOR DEVELOPING CREATIVITY IN A DIGITAL AGE
Through a Bible Lens draws on my research on creative thinking at the MIT Center for Advanced Visual Studies and biblical insights I formulated as professor at Israeli universities to teach imaginative ways for developing creativity in our age of smartphones and social media.
TEACHES HOW TO MAKE THE BIBLICAL NARRATIVE A MIRROR FOR SEEING YOURSELF
It shows how to create a lively dialogue between your emerging life story and the enduring biblical narrative by Bible blogging your life. The blog is an ideal narrative form for developing fresh insights for revealing spiritual dimensions of your personal narrative.
SPEAKS TO MILLENNIALS IN TODAY'S LANGUAGE OF DIGITAL CULTURE
Through a Bible Lens presents to all generations the most up-to-date thoughts on how The Bible gives fresh insights on the impact of new technologies on contemporary life.
OFFERS A BIBLE CURE FOR SMARTPHONE ADDICTION
It offers a spiritual cure for the serious problem of smartphone addiction by teaching how to shift focus from the screen to photographing your everyday life from biblical perspectives. See http://biblecure.blogspot.com.
A MUST-READ BEFORE VISITING THE HOLY LAND
Through a Bible Lens teaches how to transform your smartphone photographs into biblical messages emerging from what you see and share your experiences through social media.
The Rabbi Finds Her Way (your bookstore can order it for you; also available from Amazon -- https://www.amazon.com/Rabbi-Finds-He...) This is the first of a series and follows Pearl Ross-Levy’s first two years as associate rabbi at a large Reform congregation in California.
We see Pearl's lifelong friendship with a high school classmate—the victim of a serious car accident—evolve as it opens her eyes to the world of religion.
And whether she's discussing women's rights in the Bible with a bat mitzvah student, meeting the man she'll soon marry, encouraging a congregant with Alzheimer's to tell a joke whose punch line he's forgotten, or struggling with the anguish of a man who believes he's unwittingly committed a murder, Pearl reveals her intelligence, empathy, grit, and humor.
The Rabbi's strength and faith grow as she continues to see that God does, indeed, work in strange ways.
Julie ZuckermanHi everyone, I posted a little while back, but I'm very pleased to say that my book, The Book of Jeremiah: A Novel in Stories, has now been published and is available from Press 53, the publisher, from Amazon, or anywhere you like to purchase books.
I've had some lovely reviews in The Jerusalem Post, Small Press Picks, and more, and I hope you'll check it out!
About the book (from the beginning of The Jerusalem Post review):
Jeremiah Gerstler is a sensitive and brilliant man, devoted to his family and his career. He is always trying to be the best at everything he does, while at the same time he is constantly struggling with a feeling that he is never quite good enough.
In 13 skillfully crafted stories, Julie Zuckerman, a native of Connecticut who now lives in Modiin, introduces us to Jeremiah Gerstler – the son, the father, the husband, the political science professor and the Jew. Spanning eight decades of Jeremiah’s life, from the pre-World War II years through the first decade of the new millennium, The Book of Jeremiah: A Novel in Stories draws the reader into the life of a colorful and unforgettable character and the people close to him. There is something familiar about Jeremiah, as if he is someone you know – perhaps a cousin, uncle, or friend. From Jeremiah as a child who dresses up as a shochet (ritual slaughterer) for Purim, to Jeremiah at 82 as he struggles to deal with his wife’s absence following her death after many years of marriage, the author brings us into Jeremiah’s world through her stories. Each story can be read as a separate entity and indeed, most of them were previously published as short stories in literary journals. Bound together they form a moving and delightful novel that not only tells Jeremiah’s story but also paints a picture of the Jewish experience across the decades.
Julie wrote: "Julie ZuckermanHi everyone, I posted a little while back, but I'm very pleased to say that my book, The Book of Jeremiah: A Novel in Stories, has now been publis..."
Mazal Tov on those reviews!
Julie wrote: "Julie ZuckermanHi everyone, I posted a little while back, but I'm very pleased to say that my book, The Book of Jeremiah: A Novel in Stories, has now been publis..."
Mazal tov. Hope your book is a great success.
Hi - My book Of Bitter Herbs and Sweet Confections already has some great reviews, but today I was excited to receive this from Kirkus Reviews: "An illuminating contribution to Holocaust literature and a riveting family drama"
Join the more than 800 others participating in my Goodreads giveaway for my new novel in stories White Zion just released by Cervena Barva Press.https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
This novel-in-stories takes readers into the worlds of 19th century Yemen, pre-State Israel, modern Israel and modern Canada. You will hear the voices of a young boy marveling at Israel's first air force on his own roof, the cry of a newly married woman helpless to defend herself against her new husband's desires, the anger of the heroine's uncle as he reveals startling secrets about his marriage and the fall-out after generations of war.
Chag sameach! My book, A Bend In The Stars is just out. It is set in 1914 Russia and it is the story of a Jewish scientist racing Einstein to prove relativity. It is a sweeping epic filled with history, love, science and Judaism. A NYTimes summer reading selection and already a Boston Globe bestseller. Thank you for reading!!
Hi Rachel. Surprise.....Look on the Jewish Book group page. I just finished putting all the new books from the JBC conference 2019/20 by genre.
I do it bc I enjoy supporting authors. Every little bit help them.I need to copy it on Jewish Book Carnival. Think I will wait a day or two. :)
Thank you, Stacey!! Amazing.Stacey wrote: "Hi Rachel. Surprise.....Look on the Jewish Book group page.
I just finished putting all the new books from the JBC conference 2019/20 by genre.
I do it bc I enjoy supporting authors. Every little..."
Stacey wrote: "Hi Rachel. Surprise.....Look on the Jewish Book group page. I just finished putting all the new books from the JBC conference 2019/20 by genre.
I do it bc I enjoy supporting authors. Every little..."
That's awesome!! And very much appreciated!
Rachel wrote: "Chag sameach! My book, A Bend In The Stars is just out. It is set in 1914 Russia and it is the story of a Jewish scientist racing Einstein to prove relativity. It is a sweeping epic filled with his..."Sounds great! Mazal tov!
My historical novelette, "My Name is Rebecca: A Novelette," is the story of a man and his sons who escaped persecution in Russia and came to America in the early 1900s. The story details the voyage to America, the process at Ellis Island, and life in the Lower East Side of N.Y. Finally settling in Wisconsin, the story is one of hope, family, and love. Originally meant to be a tribute to my mother's family, it is in reality a tribute to all of our families who came to America for a better life. I am giving away 14 copies of the kindle version on an Amazon giveaway. It is first come--first serve. But hurry--it is almost over.
https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/788ca4a80...
By the way--the cover on the book is of my mother, taken in 1931 when she was 4 years old.
Hi everyone, I am thrilled to announce the publication of my novel "Memoirs of a False Messiah". It's the story of a young woman with a tragic past, who grows up to create an all-woman cult in Israel. As her fame and following grow, she struggles with the attention from the press, the betrayals by some of her supporters and the anger of her extended family.Hitting issues such as feminism, religious identity, sexual double standards, and sexual assault, there's plenty to talk about, and I've been enjoying positive feedback, particularly from book clubs.
I hope you will check it out :-)
Sounds interesting. Good luck with it.
Susan wrote: "Sounds interesting. Good luck with it."Thanks!!!
Good morning! I'm thrilled to announce that my debut book, The Crate: A Story Of War, A Murder, And Justice, won 1st Place Nonfiction in the Connecticut Press Club contest, which automatically sent it on to the national contest, where it came in 2nd Place. This makes seven literary awards altogether... I'm plotzing.Just a bit a background: the story is a true crime with echoes of the Holocaust. Back in 2010 my family discovered a wooden crate shoved underneath our cherished lake house in Canada. The contents were the most gruesome thing you could imagine: the butchered body of a murder victim. The discovery turned my family upside down (my brother was the initial murder suspect!) but the worst part was that it traumatized my parents: it dredged up their memories of having survived ghettos and death marches and concentration camps. The narrative braids the past to the present, speculating on anti-Semitism, violence, and evil. Turns out, I knew the murderer.
If you read it (or have read it already), I'd love to hear your thoughts! Thanks, all.
Barbara J. OstfeldGreetings, friends! I’m excited to announce the publication of my memoir, Catbird: The Ballad of Barbi Prim.
I broke a stained glass ceiling 44 years ago and became the first ordained woman cantor in Jewish history. Catbird, though, is about more than that public role. It’s about a chunky, self-conscious girl with frizzy hair and a big nose who carries her anxiety—and a painful secret—with her well into adulthood. “Catbird will resonate with any woman who’s ever been bullied for being too plain, too fat, too smart, too talented, too different, or not good enough.”
I invite you to visit www.catbirdbook.com for the book tour schedule, publicity information, and reader’s guides.
“Extrarodinarily powerful.”
—SALLY J. PRIESAND, America’s first female rabbi
“Funny, heartbreaking, and yet bursting with hope.”
—HELEN ARONOFF, M.D., Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
“Celebrates the sweetness of hard-won self-acceptance.”
—LOIS WEISS, PH.D., State University of New York Distinguished Professor
My name is Jack Hoffmann and I would like to introduce my book:He Does Not Die A Death of Shame|46760295]
15 Giveaways are available.
This is an enthralling South African Jewish novel spanning two generations from 1908 to 1972.
It describes the early life of Dan Ginsberg. He is forced to leave Lithuania because of anti-Semitism. It follows his struggles to find a foothold in South Africa. Debora Becker is born in a small town in the Cape. She suffers the abuse of her single mother and the prejudices of the local Jewish community. Dan and Debora marry but their lives are blighted by the horrors of the Second World War.
Their son, Zak grows up in the shadow of his parents' sad histories. He seeks solace from his Zulu nanny, Zanele and befriends her son Simon. Awareness of the Second World War, his Jewishness and the status of the black population, slowly infiltrate Zak's consciousness.
Simon has spent an idyllic childhood in rustic Zululand. At high school, he realizes for the first time, that he is a second-class citizen.
The story follows the lives of the two young men in apartheid South Africa. Their destinies become inexorably intertwined in their pursuit of what is right.
Zak studies the art of saving lives. Simon learns the craft of destroying lives. Both are drawn into the anti-apartheid struggle.
The one acts because his ancestors were victims, the other because he himself is a victim.
Sounds very interesting. Hope it does well.
Boker tov, Susan. Thanks for your remark.
I'm proud to announce my new book Private Good Luck by Sherwin Gluck. You can preorder your copy today at www.tiszapublishing.com
Five months have passed since the start of World War II. German U-boats are hunting British passenger ships in the North Atlantic and daily life in a rural Hungarian village in what had recently been Czechoslovakia is increasingly restricted by anti-Jewish laws. Yet, with their father’s blessing, four siblings overcome two years of bureaucratic hurdles and flee to America in search of a better life. With only a dollar and a dime in his pocket, the youngest brother begins his pursuit of the American dream, only to have it interrupted by the war. Not yet a citizen, he’s inducted into the Army and chooses to serve in the infantry in order to defend his newfound American freedom, champion the honor of his people, and save the family he left behind. Throughout his service, small serendipities repeatedly safeguard him from almost certain death. From the battlefields of Monte Porchia and Anzio in Italy with the 6th Armored Infantry Battalion to occupied France and Germany with the 67th MP Company, his courage, kindness, and optimism are inspirational. Join him on his transformative journey and learn how his story will be forever linked with the triumph and tragedy of World War II.
You can preorder your copy today at www.tiszapublishing.com
Hello dear Jewish Book Carnival bloggers, I'm writing on behalf of my 92-year-old client, Rita Kuhn, who's hired me (through her daughter) to spread the word about her first novel, ANOTHER RUTH.I have PDF copies available for review and a limited number of print copies.
About ANOTHER RUTH
It is Berlin 1920, Klara and Lev, from two seemingly irreconcilable worlds, meet during a time of increasing social unrest and prejudice. Their courtship confronts them with the political and racial struggles in Germany during this turbulent period.
Klara and Lev, caught in Berlin's upheaval during the rise of National Socialism, must ask themselves who they really are. What are their core values? What, in a world gone mad, is the value of love?
The author, Rita Kuhn wrote Another Ruth to pay tribute to her mother, Frieda Kuhn. A woman of unfailing courage and devotion. It is a fiction story based on true events. Rita's inspiration comes from family lore, old photographs, and family documents.
In 2013, Rita published her memoir, Broken Glass. Broken Lives: A Jewish Girl's Survival Story in Berlin, 1933-1945.
More about Rita and her work here: http://www.ritakuhn.com/
On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Another-Ruth-D...
If you'd like to review Rita's novel for your blog, please contact me directly on Goodreads or via my site: http://bethbarany.com/contact.html.
Thank you! I so appreciate it and Rita does too!
R.L. wrote: "Hi, I'm a new member with a forthcoming collection of short stories, WE LOVE ANDERSON COOPER (Celadon Books/Macmillan). One of the stories, "The Infidelity of Judah Maccabee," aired on NPR's Hanukk..."My short story collection, We Love Anderson Cooper, came out two weeks ago. Thrilled with this NPR review: https://www.npr.org/2019/07/25/744990...
Hi. I read it and enjoyed it thoroughly!! Great writing. :)
Stacey wrote: "Hi. I read it and enjoyed it thoroughly!! Great writing. :)"Thanks so much, Stacey.
Hi, I have a newly published young adult novel out entitled "Sentenced to Shakespeare." The publisher is Milford House Press, the fiction imprint of Sunbury Press. The teen protagonist, Leah is the product of a Conservative Jewish upbringing. But her Judaism doesn't play a major role in the story--it's just one of her many distinguishing characteristics. But her Jewishness is touched upon a few times throughout the story. Here's the brief overview:
"Sentenced to Shakespeare" is a contemporary young adult novel set in suburban New Jersey. The story revolves around Leah, a smart and sensitive 15-year-old girl who is pushed too far by a bully and snaps. Arrested for assault and battery, Leah is sentenced to an unusual form of rehabilitation—she must take and complete a Shakespeare workshop or else risk incarceration. Ostracized by her classmates, abandoned by her only friend, Leah finds comfort and solidarity with the other juvenile offenders in this same program, with one offering her something she's never experienced before—love.
Here's a snippet of a review/testimonial from an author: "Iris Dorbian is the rarest talent as a writer--the writer with a heart of gold. Her sensitivity in creating the character of Leah, and in realistically infusing empathy into every corner of Leah's plight and growth as a person, makes this book a must-read for the pre-teen, teen and adult audience. "Sentenced to Shakespeare" is an inspirational, deep, illuminating and wonderfully enjoyable read that makes you think, page by page, of what you would do if in a similar trying circumstance as this complex and fascinating character."
Here's the Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/162...
The publisher's link to the book on its site: https://www.sunburypressstore.com/Sen...
And here's the link to my website: www.irisdorbian.com.
It would be great if you can check it out. The story is a labor of love---and loosely inspired by the real-life Shakespeare in the Courts initiative launched in the Berkshires nearly 20 years ago. In this program, juvenile offenders, ages 13-17, are sentenced to take a Shakespeare workshop as a condition of their probation; if they fail to complete it, they risk incarceration. I first found out about it in the early 2000s while working as the editor-in-chief of Stage Directions magazine, a theater trade publication geared for regional theaters, academic theaters and community theaters.
R.L. Maizes, I ADORED your book, which I got via NetGalley.
Jewish Book Carnival
Books mentioned in this topic
The Midwives' Escape: From Egypt to Jericho (other topics)It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles (other topics)
In That Sleep of Death (other topics)
Walk the Earth as Brothers: A Novel (other topics)
Walk the Earth as Brothers: A Novel (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Wallace Markfield (other topics)Csilla Toldy (other topics)
Barbara J. Ostfeld (other topics)
Sherwin Gluck (other topics)
Barbara J. Ostfeld (other topics)
More...
mirikalblog.com
Thank you--take care.
Phyllis