Jewish Book Club discussion
Literary Chat & Other Book Stuff
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WHAT ARE YOU READING? A place for remarks, recommendations or reviews
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I didn't realize when I read the book last year that I had both a hard copy and a paperback book version of the tevye's daughters. I am doing the biblioploy challenge and needed an aut..."
Way to go Kszr- you are good.
It's what I thought, but wasn't 100% sure. I haven't read it.
Everytime I see that book, the first thing that pops in my mind is
Neil Diamond. Go figure :)
I understand that reference. Him and Bobby benson right?
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:)
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Call it Fiction, Historical Fiction- wherever the genre falls, it is
a winner.
I tried to copy the synopsis here, but couldn't get it.
Looks good Stacey, recently I read The German Girl, which dealt with the Ship St. Louis and its docking in Cuba . One of the nineteen people to get off she makes her life in Cuba and that journey.I am about 20% through A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams. It is a period piece of New England in the 1930's. Very good so far. Hard to put down. It looks like she writes a lot of historical period pieces.
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I read The German Girl and enjoyed that.
Going to re-read One Hundred Summers again. I can't understand why I felt it was 3*. Something is not right.
Oh okay you read it before. I will let you know how I like it. Right now there seems to be a lot of mystery to it. About 70 pages in.
I read it a long time ago, but I really liked One Hundred Summers. I really like Beatriz Williams in general. Tonight starting Romantic Comedy. Just started the Ex Talk on Audio.
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Tonight starting Romantic Comedy. Just started the Ex Talk on Audio."
Those sound good- let me know your thoughts!!
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I did. I read the synopsis again after reading how much you are enjoying it- maybe I mixed up two books but I don't think so.
I haven't looked at your reading list for awhile. I bet you have some great ones on there .
I feel like rereading my review of it. I really did love it I think.
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Tell you what- I will read it now and tell you what you thought.
(too funny)
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Tell you what- I will read it now and tell you what you thought.
(too funny)"
Ok Amy,
You must be related to me.
I couldn't find your review.
Very frustrating when they disappear. :(
Aha! I figured it out. First, its called A Hundred Summers, not One.Second, it says I never (haven't yet) read it. Its on my TBR. This confused me too until I realized that there are three Beatriz Williams Books with Summers in the title. Maybe the one I read already, was Summer Wives? I think so. Also the Lost Summers of Newport. I have read most of her books. They are starting to blend a teeny bit.
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Second, it says I never (haven't yet) read it. Its on my TBR. This confused me too until I realized that there are three Beatri..."
Good job and good to know. Now I have to figure out why I gave it
3 stars.
Looking forward to hear what you guys think.
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I looked at your books last night. Great ones at that and I read at
least 12 that I never marked, which I will do today.
I apologize as I smile to say I didn't read any of the baseball ones. :(
Not a problem, but if you want to read one. Try Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It is a memoir of her childhood and growing up in the Fifties, rooting for the Dodgers and how the world was changing around her.
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That was the first book of yours re re baseball. It didnt seem like I would have expected. I will try it- only bc its you recommending it.
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Would anyone feel compelled to nominate a book for our July 2023
read?
The theme is easy- "What book do you feel our group should read".
It can be about anything you feel is important or one that left an impression with you. There are examples on the nomination
page. We need 3-4 more.
Thank you so much. Happy Saturday!
It starts a little slow, but the way she weaves in history of the era makes it all worthwhile.
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Thank you- Going to read it shortly.
Jonathan wrote: "Not a problem, but if you want to read one. Try Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It is a memoir of her childhood and growing up in the Fifties, rooting for the Dodgers and how the world..."I loved Wait Till Next Year, even though my father was a die-hard Yankees fan.
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The Modern Jewish Canon: A Journey Through Language and Culture - I'm reading this as scaffolding and food for thought as I'm trying to put together an "authentic Jewish literature" curriculum. Lots of fascinating insights and ideas here!
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An ambitious undertaking, Perlie. I've seen some of her presentations and she is impressive. I just looked at some of the preface on Amazon; I wish the index had been included.
Happy reading. :)
Jan,I took snaps of the pages, but can't figure out how to upload them here, so you can see them. If you know a way, let me know!
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I took snaps of the pages, but can't figure out how to upload them here, so you can see them. If you know a way, let me know!"
It's laborious to post pictures like that on Goodreads, as far as I know, Perlie -- unless you turn them into a link first.
I'm currently reading American Midnight: The Great War, a Violent Peace, and Democracy's Forgotten Crisis by Adam Hochschild. This is a painful recounting of our country's slide to Jim Crowe racism, xenophobia, and anti-democratic (lower case d) laws and policies, led by Woodrow Wilson. This scope of this frightening period of American history simply was glossed over when I was in high school and college. While focused more on the era's anti-Black, anti-labor, anti-immigration policies, anti-Semitism was part of the hateful brew. The lynching of Leo Frank in 1913is recounted in detail. It is especially poignant because it eerily echoes today.
I've set it aside for days at a time because it is so depressing. Like bad but necessary medicine, I'll finish it.
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Mel,
Adam Hochschild is an amazing historian and writer, Although I haven't read this, I can understand your reaction in reading in intervals. I just now looked at the premise; I imagine this would be hard on the heart including future fears. I started one of his other books "To End all Wars..." but got sidetracked by commitments.
Just finished Palestine Posts, An Eyewitness Account of the Birth of Israel: Based on the letters of Mordecai S. Chertoff. It's very good. Chertoff was a New Yorker who moved to Palestine (Eretz Israel) in 1947 and began working and writing for the Palestine Post (which became the Jerusalem Post in 1950). It's very moving to read about his idealism and excitement, and also how he communicates the war to his (worried) family. The book is not only his letters: it also includes context and a few of his articles. Now reading: Nylon Hand of God by Steven Hartov. Spy thriller! (2nd in the trilogy.) Hartov is a cross between Silva and LeCarre, and does not disappoint.
(While in Israel I also read another of Jonathan Dunsky's novels and will continue to the next in the series when I have a chance. But for now, I'm moving on to non-Jewish works for a change!)
--Laurie
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Looks good LA. I will look that up.
I plan on reading Hartov's book too. Good author. Just saw him interviewed.
I love Dunsky's series and read them all. I think he has a new one coming out soon.
And.. I can certainly understand diversifying your reading. Im very similar in my reading.
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Jonathan,
I finished A Hundred Summers".
It wasn't a re-read for me. I never read it.
But I enjoyed it and rated it a 4*. The book read well with twists along the way. Williams changes the momentum and picks up the pace beginning with Lily driving her uncle's car back to the summer house as signs of a storm began to brew. That was where I became anxious, turning the pages faster.
Now I have just started the next one that you and Brina loved: "Wait Till Next Year." As you said, a little slow, but it's early on and you know I'm not into baseball - . My heart would have to go with the "Tigers" if I had to make a choice. :)
Glad you liked Summers. I found it suspenseful, pretty much through. It did not find it too hard to figure out the origin of Kiki. Especially after the New Years party. I guess my only small criticism was that some characters were a little to vanilla and whomever was bad was really vile. I think I would have preferred a little more gray area. As I was nearing end, I actually looked up the 1938 Hurricane as I knew very little about it and was glad, I did.
Wait Till Next Year, probably has more meaning when it came out in 1997 because a lot more people were around then and could remember when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and there were three baseball teams in New York. Her story telling though is just amazing, how she depicts neighborhood life, the first televisions in the block and how that changed baseball forever. Along with religion, McCathyism, the Rosenberg and Hiss trials and so much more about the Era
Sarah wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "Not a problem, but if you want to read one. Try Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It is a memoir of her childhood and growing up in the Fifties, rooting for the Dodgers ..."I think she took more issue with the Giants then she did with the Yankees. I don't think she ever forgave Bobby Thompson.
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I agree with you re Kiki.
I also -had to look up the 1938 Hurricane. A bit vanilla, yes.
I second guessed myself regarding Mrs. Hubert and the club members being anti-semitic.
Lily had some selfish mother.
"Wait Till Next Year is good so far, but remember, Im from the midwest so many of her memories are lost on me. Jones Beach for one, as well as the neighborhoods. I of course know Jackie Robinson and what he did for the love of the game. But.. I don't understand the reference (early on where after he was playing a while) when he was told he could now become more verbal- and to whom? Was that an issue with the entire team or just him?
I just started The Living and the Lost. Not sure where I saw the recommendation, but I am pretty sure it's from this group of well-read people. Considering I have been avoiding WWII era books [there is so much more to the world now] I am now 1/4 of my way through and happy I have started this.
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Hi, Kszr. It was one of the nominations for our recent poll. I'm interested in it too. Read a book a few years ago that told about what it was like after the war--society in shambles, often cities in shambles too--like parts of Ukraine if that war were to stop today. The black market etc. I'd appreciate it if you let us know how the book is.
I need some time to think this all through, but the themes of guilt, compassion and tolerance are all explored here. Well worth the read.
I just finished the audiobook for Hotel Cuba and loved it! Without a doubt, it's a top read (listen) of 2023 for me. Hotel Cuba This is an important Jewish immigration story that needed to be shared and I'm glad Aaron wrote it. He gave these characters authentic voices that really shined in the audiobook format. The writing is brilliant. The details really make this book sing. These are characters I won't forget anytime soon. Highly recommend!
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Brina,
You will love Hotel Cuba !!
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May 15, 2023.
1 note & 58 highlights (All visible)
Loved this.
Review to come.
UPDATE 5-18-2023
No Spoilers
I will admit that I struggled for days with this review. It was hard to portray the essence of courage and belonging. And... although the author's writing is fabulous and passionate; I am not him.
Aaron Hamburger's bit of humor and detailed characters in this story drew me in. The ease of his writing style brought me to a place where I was transported in become Pearl for a few hours. This book read quickly, never feeling it was 400 pages.
My reactions were Pearls.
My name is Pearl. It is 1922 and I am in my twenties. I raised my sister Freida since our mother died when she was born. I sew very well and will say I am a seamstress of sorts. Our father scraped enough money together for us to escape the Soviet Revolution and go to America. But now immigration laws changed.
The travel agent sent us on a route to Cuba. It was my fault which Freida refuses to let me ever forget.
We did not expect to be as miserable on the ship as we were, and we were not expecting to stay in Cuba very long.
But you should know a few things first.
We are strangers here and poor ones at that. I myself for some reason am always hungry and love to eat, Freida is the opposite. She is thin and I am not. I say this for a reason you will find out later. And.. we dislike, no..we really despise the heat and bugs here.
Our first meal is beans and rice. How come the rice in Cuba is yellow? It is like one of the colors in scribble drawn on the outside wall of a building here.
But I can't ask. No-one speaks Polish and I don't speak Spanish or English. This makes everything else become a hardship except for a moment of comfort in finding people who speak yiddish. I didn't know about all the tourists here or that other Jews and Americans live here.
My sister Freida and I disagree a lot. I know I don't fit in here and this makes me feel alone, but I'm not jealous. It is a fact I don't know how to be a people person.. She is prettier and feminine and very outgoing which brings her attention and subsequently friends. I am the opposite so I stay working for the both of us.
I believe it is the dark secret I keep that makes me a self-doubter which is why I just work, eat, and try to sleep in this suffocating heat.
My sister's goal is to marry her old boyfriend who lives in a place called Detroit. I am not his cheerleader, but help her leave for America illegally with the extra money I earn making clothes for wealthy people. I want her to be happy.
I am alone now and nervous which makes me even more desperate to leave Cuba.
There is an opportunity to leave by way of Key West that will cost me a lot of money. I chance it because Freida got out. She is just lucky-because I am sent back to Cuba twelve days later.
So..I start all over again but this time with a plan.
I'm beginning to think g-d is testing me. What will happen to me next. When will my turn come to make a life for myself and what do I want.
Finally, I am in New York. It is dirty and congested but at least it isn't hot all year round. I have found some strange food here, and I like it.
My other sibling has found a job for me as a seamstress in a factory.
I recognize I am too talented but there is no choice to leave.
Freida is in Detroit getting married very soon and I must go.
Arriving in Detroit for the wedding, Freida makes a beautiful bride. I don't want to leave here but my boss is depending on me to return. Detroit is nice. I like it here.
The choice to stay and live in Detroit is made; by me. My turn did come to make a life for myself and I suppose.. if all this was a test, I passed.,
////
There are plenty of current emotional topics incorporated throughout this book as well as crossover genres.
Aaron Hamburger addresses these themes with respect and humility. I can't say enough about how special this book is. The authors note explains how and why this book was written.
Why is it that authors notes are just emotional as the book.
88 likes
Brina, I hope you'll love it. If you enjoy audiobooks, I thought the narrator was outstanding!Brina wrote: "Yay Aaron. It’s at my library so after I finish my long read of the summer - new MLK bio by Jonathan Eig must read- I will pick it up."
Liza wrote: "I just finished the audiobook for Hotel Cuba and loved it! Without a doubt, it's a top read (listen) of 2023 for me. Hotel Cuba This is an important Jewish immigration story that ne..."
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Stacey, This is a phenomenal review! Love your style. I would really like to see this as a book selection for our group!Stacey B wrote: "5 BIG STARS
May 15, 2023.
1 note & 58 highlights (All visible)
Loved this.
Review to come.
UPDATE 5-18-2023
No Spoilers
I will admit that I struggled for days with this review. It was hard to p..."
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Liza...wow, thank you!! I appreciate you as an author- in taking the time to comment.
Stacey B wrote: "5 BIG STARS
May 15, 2023.
1 note & 58 highlights (All v..."
As I was pondering my responses to The Living and the Lost I ended up reading two more books that delved into guilt, complicity and the human capacity for violence. A Woman Is No Man and All the Broken Places
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I didn't realize when I read the book last year that I had both a hard copy and a paperback book version of the tevye's daughters. I am doing the biblioploy challenge and needed an author with a pen name, so I went back to my bookshelf. The Adventures of Mottel the Cantor's Son was waiting there patiently for me.