WHAT ARE YOU READING? A place for remarks, recommendations or reviews Showing 901-950 of 1,112

[Rachel]

Amos Oz and David Grossman are both Israeli authors that I enjoy very much.

[Rachel]

Mrs. Dalloway
I am not sure why but I have always avoided reading Virginia Woolf. This was my initiation. Some of the prose is amazing and I did enjoy this book but am not sure I will read something else by her. How do others feel about her work?

[Stacey B]

Rachel wrote: "Amos Oz and David Grossman are both Israeli authors that I enjoy very much."

Me too Rachel!!!

[Rmplanet]

Jewish literature is always on the top of my reading list. Three recent reads were very different but enjoyable. Shadows on the Hudson by Isaac Bashevis Singer; Kasher in the Rye by Moshe Kasher and How to Love Your Daughter by Hila Blum.
Please share what everyone else is reading.

[Jan]

Rachel wrote: "Mrs. Dalloway
I am not sure why but I have always avoided reading Virginia Woolf. This was my initiation. Some of the prose is amazing and I did enjoy this book but am not sure I will ..."

I read To The Lighthouse fairly recently (a few years ago) and it was my 1st too. I liked it, but it was sad. I am not reading exclusively Jewish lit but am in several book clubs and always trying to keep up! There is so much!

[Stacey B]

Anne wrote: "Alan wrote: "I haven’t been here in a long time. But I’ve been reading a lot of Jewish themed books lately.
I loved The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store when it dealt with the Jewish wo..."

Anne,
I also didnt care for the ending of The Wolf Hunt.
Ha, Im far from a writer but its possible I could have been more creative.

[Amy]

Whoops I missed my deadline. Coming up soon I hope.!

[Brina]

I also don’t read Jewish books exclusively. I have the two BoTM for April to read next week as well as the McBride book on a long library holds list- I’ll get to it when I get to it. This month I have been reading women. Somehow I didn’t have it in my head to read a Jewish woman author and I should have but I’m picky with fiction. I’ve read all of Nicole Krauss’ books already as well as Emunah Elon that has been translated to English. I should/could have read The Wolf Hunt but wasn’t thinking of it. Maybe Golda Meir bio??? I should read that too. Considering I have Amos Oz on my year’s tbr I should add more Israeli authors.

[Rachel]

Kantika

I adored this book.

[Jan]

Rachel wrote: "Kantika

I adored this book."

For those who would like to talk more about it, Kantika is on our shelf for December. Here you go: Discussion for Kantika

[Jan]

I just finished reading Rachel Maddow's Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism, and I never would have finished if it hadn't been for a book club. Like pulling teeth to read it. But in the end I learned something and think it'll make for an interesting discussion.

[Alan]

The Helen Mirren film about Golda was I thought exceptional. Her portrayal should have at least won Mirren a nomination somewhere. It is even more so interesting today because the film deals with the Yom Kippur war of 1973 and how Golda had to lead with great difficulty her war cabinet. The film is out on dvd so it is probably available at your public library. I really didn’t expect much from the film but I found it to be very interesting and moving.

[Stacey B]

Alan wrote: "The Helen Mirren film about Golda was I thought exceptional. Her portrayal should have at least won Mirren a nomination somewhere. It is even more so interesting today because the film deals with t..."

Hi Alan,
I thought she won something- maybe it could have been at the Golden Globe Awards? Too bad, she deserved it.
I love Helen Mirren and thought she was outstanding and exceptional. Actually, I cant think of any movie where she wasn't a superstar. She acted just like Golda, looked exactly like Golda and spoke like Golda.
For me, I felt the movie lacked in a bit of history before The Yom Kippur War. We watch Golda and the stress of her decisions in dealing with this war as well as the different personalities; but for those who are not aware of how the The Iron Lady came to be, there was nothing other than her walking off a 747 and getting right into the thick of it. Who was Golda and what was it that led her to become the PM as well as being accepted by the people.
You are right about comparison. Suffice to say the most clarifying moments of this movie prove that history repeats itself. It was uncanny to see such close similarities to Oct. 7th.
I have to reread the book to see how much creative license was in the movie vs.the book, but loved watching the end where Golda take one for the team at the inquiry. I knew about that issue and her facial expressions were priceless.

[Alan]

I just finished listening to Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin. Listening to the book being read was an incredibly moving experience-particularly the last part of the book. There is so much intelligence and sadness in the book that by the time the narrator comes to the end I almost thought he was sighing from exhaustion and sadness. It’s got to be one of the Great American novels-just a beautiful book and so courageous for when it was written. In my mind Baldwin is now one of the greatest of all writers,an incredibly intelligent and sensitive man.

[Alan]

Finished Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing and loved it. Robert Caro reads the audio book and he has an extremely pronounced New York accent. I knew nothing about his bio and for the most part the book doesn’t go into that,but at one point he identifies himself as being Jewish. Remarkable,very compassionate man.

[Stacey B]

Alan wrote: "Finished Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing and loved it. Robert Caro reads the audio book and he has an extremely pronounced New York accent. I knew nothing about his bio ..."

Alan,
Isnt Caro a writer of biographies or something close to that?

[Jan]

Just finished Martin Peretz' The Controversialist: Arguments with Everyone, Left Right and Center, which turns out to be a controversial book. I loved it!

And beginning that one by Benjamin Balint that may have gotten some air time on here or on Books I've Been Hearing About: Bruno Schulz: An Artist, a Murder, and the Hijacking of History I think it's going to be another good one.

[Jan]

Alan wrote: "Finished Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing and loved it. Robert Caro reads the audio book and he has an extremely pronounced New York accent. I knew nothing about his bio ..."

Sounds very good, Alan. I looked for your review but couldn't find it because there are so many. If you've done one yet.

[Shelley]

yes he is most known for The Power Broker about Robert Moses but he also wrote a book I think about Lyndon Johnson

[Stacey B]

Shelley wrote: "yes he is most known for The Power Broker about Robert Moses but he also wrote a book I think about Lyndon Johnson"

Thank you Shelley,
I knew that name was familiar. I just couldnt place it.
I should have googled it.

[Jan]

Jonathan wrote:
"Hi Alan,

Thank you for reading my work. You are not the only person to have remarked on my accent, or lack thereof. It's a mystery even my fictional detect...."

Jonathan, I'd appreciate so much if you'd move this over to the author thread where you have been telling us about your new book. Thanks so much!
Jan

[Alan]

Jonathan I very much look forward to reading all of your books. And as I write this it is Saturday night and I hope you and your family are safe in Israel.

[Alan]

Jan-I have experienced the feeling of reading=pulling teeth. It gets so bad that I can’t stop counting the pages to the end of the book. I hope to break the habit but I definitely know how you feel.

[Jan]

Alan wrote: "Jan-I have experienced the feeling of reading=pulling teeth. It gets so bad that I can’t stop counting the pages to the end of the book. I hope to break the habit but I definitely know how you feel."

I had to scroll back up to remind myself, Alan, but I see you're responding to my comment on Prequel. It was not for me!
In general it's that resistant groove when reading seems like an assignment or chore. That can happen with bookclub reading! Yet at the same time, I've been led to finish books I wouldn't have read otherwise and have learned a lot! Trying to instill an attitude of gratitude since too many books is SO much better than not enough.

Re the author's comment above, as moderator I need to herd them back over to the author threads because otherwise author self-promotion takes over. People will defer to authors in lieu of expressing their own views. Hope that makes sense. I would have sent a private message but wasn't an option.

[Jonathan]

I've been reading a bunch of mysteries by Stuart M. Kaminsky. All good and enjoyable.

[Jan]

Jonathan wrote: "I've been reading a bunch of mysteries by Stuart M. Kaminsky. All good and enjoyable."

Wow, he had a long and prolific career, didn't he?

Is there any one of his books that has a particular resonance for the moment we're in, Jonathan? Or are they more of a distraction? (not a bad thing itself!)

[Jonathan]

Jan wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "I've been reading a bunch of mysteries by Stuart M. Kaminsky. All good and enjoyable."

Wow, he had a long and prolific career, didn't he?

Is there any one of his b..."

A distraction. I've been reading three of his series: Toby Peters, Inspector Rostnikov, and Abe Lieberman. Each is wildly different from the others.

[Jan]

Jonathan wrote: "...A distraction. I've been reading three of his series: Toby Peters, Inspector Rostnikov, and Abe Lieberman. Each is wildly different from the others."

Thumbs up for that, Jonathan. 👍
You may have found more readers for Stuart M. Kaminsky

[Lee]

Perlie wrote: "Just read Aharon Appelfeld's wonderful "A Table for One". A memoir of his life told through the cafes of Jerusalem. Touching, thoughtful and with some memorable lines.

I just read a couple of Appelfeld’s novels, Age of Wonders and The Man Who Never Stopped Sleeping. Hadn’t read him before. It was interesting that the Holocaust was central to both novels yet barely written about in either. Age of Wonders is set in rural Austria in the years just before, and then 30 years later when the young protagonist, now grown, returns to visit it from his home in Jerusalem. The Man Who Never Stopped Sleeping follows a young man from the end of the war to his emigration to Israel first on a kibbutz, and then as a writer in Tel Aviv. He processes the changes in his life through dreams in which he talks to his lost parents, and others. Its style is simple and straightforward in mostly 3-4 page chapters, whereas Age of Wonders is somewhat hallucinatory in style in the first part and then burlesque in the second. I think both are fairly autobiographical. Reading them both made for an interesting compare/contrast.

Am wanting to read more of him, maybe one of his higher profile books next.

[Dvora]

Jonathan wrote: "Jan wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "I've been reading a bunch of mysteries by Stuart M. Kaminsky. All good and enjoyable."

Wow, he had a long and prolific career, didn't he?

Is there any ..."

I never heard of Kaminsky and his books look interesting to me, but they seem to all be only on Kindle. I don't read ebooks, only paper. Are none of his books published as paperbacks?

[Stacey B]

Lee wrote: "Perlie wrote: "Just read Aharon Appelfeld's wonderful "A Table for One". A memoir of his life told through the cafes of Jerusalem. Touching, thoughtful and with some memorable lines.

I just read a..."

That was a good book Perlie. I enjoyed it more so than The Man Who Never Stopped Sleeping.

[Stacey B]

Dvora wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "Jan wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "I've been reading a bunch of mysteries by Stuart M. Kaminsky. All good and enjoyable."

Wow, he had a long and prolific career, didn't h..."

Dvora,
There are Kaminsky pp books on Amazon. The series of Toby Peters is in pp as well. Have a look. Good author too!!!

Bullet for a Star (The Toby Peters Mysteries) Paperback – April 16, 2013
by Stuart M. Kaminsky (Author)

[Dvora]

Stacey B wrote: "Dvora wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "Jan wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "I've been reading a bunch of mysteries by Stuart M. Kaminsky. All good and enjoyable."

It was the Inspector Kostnikov that interested me. There are 16 in the series so I looked at the first one and it is not offered in paperback on Amazon, I don't think the second one is either, but later ones are. Seems strange.

[Jan]

Dvora wrote: "... It was the Inspector Kostnikov that interested me. There are 16 in the series so I looked at the first one and it is not offered in paperback on Amazon, I don't think the second one is either, but later ones are. Seems strange."

Just means it's out of print, Dvora. Check out AbeBooks. They have some inexpensive used copies.

[Jan]

...I looked up the 1st of the series, Death of a Dissident. Didn't check out the 2nd one. Hope you find one, Dvora!

[Mikki]

I am reading modern commentaries for the seder for one I will have to do this year. Because of the circumstances that Israel and Jews are in, I have to use some of the new material sent to me. I should have composed a poem or piyyut (prayer) or 2 but I have lost the muse since October 7th and it has not come back to inhabit me.

[Stacey B]

Hi Mikki,
I tried to look up what you are reading, but couldn't find the one you refer to other than from David Arnow and Laurence Hoffman.
I am close to being at a loss in responding to your comment. Its extraordinarily painful this year. The emotions which tug and split our heartstrings everyday will stay.
Maybe write a poem about "Anger".
Im in the middle of writing two more questions to add with the four already given. Each begins with "Why"
I saw this while looking for what you reading. Maybe it can help.

Seder Interrupted: A Post-October 7 Hagaddah Supplement Paperback – March 13, 2024
by Menachem Creditor (Author), Ora Horn Prouser (Author)

[Mikki]

David Arnow and Lawrence Hoffman's are both great. I need to see Menachem Creditor's supplement. I hope to glean a way to accept all these events in a way that allows me to move forward. I have never felt so humbled and yet frightened by "the future" as these happenings have generated such fear within. I don't even know if I am making sense at all.

[Stacey B]

Mikki wrote: "David Arnow and Lawrence Hoffman's are both great. I need to see Menachem Creditor's supplement. I hope to glean a way to accept all these events in a way that allows me to move forward. I have nev..."

You are doing great Mikki. :) If its any comfort for you, most feel as you but may not wear their hearts on their shoulders. I do.
More later, I am glued to the news at the moment.

[Paul]

Due out this August ... as much about Yiddishkeit as about music. My non-spoiler review https://paullevinson.blogspot.com/202...

[Irene]

I was looking through some older emails and I found one on this book-- The Choice: A Novel of Love, Faith and The Talmud. I read the book a while ago and enjoyed it. The characters seemed real, more than one dimensional, and likeable. Each of them had to make choices and they did. They grew and stepped out of the prescribed mold that society or tradition put them in. It showed me how others live in a world that is very different from my own . One reason I read this book is because of the reference to Chaim Potok, . Each of the characters is well defined in their own right and references to a previous book are not necessary for the enjoyment of this one. I would recommend this book.

[Jan]

Paul wrote: "Due out this August ... as much about Yiddishkite as about music. My non-spoiler review https://paullevinson.blogspot.com/202...

[bookcover:The Singer Sis..."

Thank you, Paul. Hope you're holding up well!

[Jan]

Irene wrote: "I was looking through some older emails and I found one on this book-- The Choice: A Novel of Love, Faith and The Talmud. I read the book a while ago and enjoyed it. The characters seemed real, mor..."

Thanks, Irene. I think Maggie announced it on Authors Announcing Their Work. Glad it hit the spot!
The Choice: A Novel of Love, Faith and The Talmud

[Jan]

I'm reading The Last Jew: A Novel of The Spanish Inquisition. Have had it so long. Hope I have a chance to finish. Recommended by a friend around 10 years ago. :)

[Paul]

Jan wrote: Thank you, Paul. Hope you're holding up well!

Thanks Jan -- Hangin' in there! Here's interview I did a few days go about the college protests https://www.spreaker.com/episode/cris...

[Paul]

Jan wrote: "I'm reading The Last Jew: A Novel of The Spanish Inquisition. Have had it so long. Hope I have a chance to finish. Recommended by a friend around 10 years ago. :)"

Good for you for catching up with that recommendation. I have some recommendations that friends gave me more than ten years ago, and I haven't yet read.

[Susan]

I have just finished The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Despite the author being a skillful writer, I have mixed feelings about the novel. You can read my review at;
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

[Jan]

Paul wrote: "Jan wrote: Thank you, Paul. Hope you're holding up well!

Thanks Jan -- Hangin' in there! Here's interview I did a few days go about the college protests https://www.spreaker.com/episode/cris...-..."

Hi, Paul. "Being Frank" is certainly a cute name for a podcaster who's conveniently named Frank. 😆

I got about a quarter of the way in. Thank you. Suggesting next time you may want it over on Israel at War. Interesting to here one of our own holding forth.

[Jan]

Paul wrote: "...Good for you for catching up with that recommendation. I have some recommendations that friends gave me more than ten years ago, and I haven't yet read. ."

One wants to read them all!

[Jan]

...hear! 😁