Jewish Book Club discussion
Literary Chat & Other Book Stuff
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WHAT ARE YOU READING? A place for remarks, recommendations or reviews
Mod
Looking forward to it, Julie. I have The Netanyahus already but haven't been able to get to it yet 😢 because of too many books 😊
As to what I'm currently reading, [book:The King of Warsaw|48735658]
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being jewish in Russia....
While Jan and I were vetting books for September's genre, we came across some books you may have not read yet.
We rarely forget "ask's". :). See below!
FICTION
The Blackbird Girls
Anne Blankman
Where the Jews Aren’t
Masha Gessen
I just read some reviews of Where the Jews Aren't and will definitely add it to my to read list and hopefully to the Synagogue book group that I lead. I had never heard of this and it seems like a fascinating story.
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It looks good, right? . I saw it somewhere before, but neglected to
store it. I should have remembered the book with this title.
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Moshe, have you read any of S.Y. Agnon's books? His translator says he was trying to reclaim other modes of Hebrew before they were lost in the tracks of the rapidly developing spoken language. I've been wondering how they sound to Hebrew speakers. I have To This Day
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Hi Sarah,
Congrats on the book!!!
Interesting topic- and more members will see it if you posted this in the place meant for announcements ... "Authors Announcing their work" :)
You can find it under the topic header of "Authors". Below that you will see "Authors Announcing their Work".
Thank you so much for letting us know about your forthcoming book.
Sarah wrote: "Calling all interested in Jewish diaspora politics and progressive Zionism! Who might be interested in receiving a free PDF copy to leave an advance review for my upcoming book? If interested, plea..."Hi Sarah,
I'm interested in a PDF copy for a review. dwkerr@westnet.com.au
Mod
Hey, Sarah, this needs to be moved to our Authors Announcing Their Work discussion at https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... Please re-post over there.
We simply don't have author announcements elsewhere. Thanks.
David, that's where you can talk with her or other authors.
Thanks, all!
sarah please send me a copy too at Cheifetz@ccfamlaw.com
Mod
Sarah's post has been removed and she's been private-messaged to re-post on the Authors Announcing Their Work thread, so hopefully she'll announce her book on this interesting topic there.
Aurora wrote: "FInished reading THE LIGHT OF THE MIDNIGHT STARS and decided to go back to Goodreads to check out reviews. Here's a "gem" I found that seriously disgusted me: first of all the book has nothing in i..."I'm in the middle of reading The Light of the Midnight Stars right now. I'm not sure how I feel about it and I also decided to scroll through some of the GR reviews. I saw that one and I think another one and it made me really angry. These are NOT book reviews! If you don't want to read something because of someone's politics or lifestyle or whatever, that's fine - don't read it - but don't pass off a political diatribe as a book review with one star!
Mod
Hi Louise-
Hope you
are well.
I understand exactly what you are saying...however I cant seem to find those reviews. Are they in this group or in the general reviews?
Stacey wrote: "Louise wrote: "Aurora wrote: "FInished reading THE LIGHT OF THE MIDNIGHT STARS and decided to go back to Goodreads to check out reviews. Here's a "gem" I found that seriously disgusted me: first of..."I saw them in the general reviews under the book, Light of the Midnight Stars.
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Louise- Thank you for responding so fast.. I read a few, but need to go back to re-read them. I haven't read the book, but know a political diatribe when I read one. :)
Noah Gordan The Physician historical fictionoh my......worth all 765 pages.....I just read about Noah Gordan in the Forward and just had to read an internationally lauded book, by a Jewish American, that was almost unknown in the USA. Now I am on to reading all his others, as is my wont.
The story takes us from 1021 London when Robert Cole is 9. (BTW...As a small child, he was in an odd accident and his foreskin was cut off--so helpful when he starts to masquerade as a Jew). This book is so very well researched about life in London at that time, the guilds, the Saxon and Danish kings; barber surgeons. . We travel through Rob's orphan childhood when he is apprenticed to a barber surgeon. He falls in love with medicine and realizes the only way he can become a physician is to apply at a famous medical school in Ispahan, Persia, but only as a Jew. He fortunately meets Jews on his way to Persia, learns Persian and how to daven; doesn't quite master learning The Tongue...., meets Jews all along the way who provide safe houses....Is accepted at the Muslim/Persian medical school. Just a fascinating, I-can't-put-it-down-but-it-is-too-heavy book. I had no idea about the Jews living and trading all over Europe and in the Middle East. Just a gripping novel.
from Wikipedia: Gordon's debut novel, The Rabbi spent 26 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list in 1965.[1] When publishing The Physician, the book was picked up by Random House - Germany, which promoted the book in Europe, where Gordon became a very popular in Spain and Italy.[1][3] Though Gordon's reception internationally has been quite strong, as of 2015, the Boston Globe described Gordon as relatively unknown in the United States.[1]
Mod
oh my......worth all 765 pages.....I just read about Noah Gordan in the Forward and just had to read an internationally lauded book, by a Jewish Americ..."
I read all his books so long ago, but remember that I found them addicting and had a great time entertaining myself with these books.
Planaria, you bring up a good point. While I felt Gordon was "well known" in my world at that time, I have always been curious as to what criteria one uses to determine what "well known" means- in terms of a compliment.
Mod
Have The Last Jew and haven't read it.
I recently saw a (Moment?) broadcast on why we're still reading/writing so much Holocaust fiction, and in that broadcast, Wouk's The Winds of War & War and Remembrance were mentioned as being formative for many people. It was important to me! -- I was so cut off at that time. (One participant said her college-age son excitedly told her he was now reading such a wonderful book that she "really needed to read," and it was The Winds of War!
Are Gordon's books a similar reading experience?
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Have The Last Jew and haven't read it.
I recently saw a (Moment?) broadcast on why we're still reading/writing so much Holocaust fiction, and in t..."
In my opinion, I don't believe so, but the book comparisons are not apples to apples. Wouk's books are sequels of WW2 which takes you deeper. Gordon's book is 15th c. Spain. There is a difference in their writing.
Many of Wouk's books are classics to me, and some became a mini series, among others. Gordon's books never did, which is probably part of what may constitutes a "well -known" author. I wouldn't use books to the screen as that criteria.
I think everyone should read Winds of War and at some point W&R. They are long reads, but well worth it. I am not discounting Noah Gordon at all.
Just my take, I'm only a reader.
Mod
Many of Wouk's books are classi..."
Stacey, I think I threw you a curve. What I was responding to was Planaria's reaction and the feeling she got from The Physician. That's what I was wondering if might be similar. I hope so. 🥰
Mod
Yes, you threw me a curve.
I thought you were only asking if Gordon's writing was similar to Winds of War. But, I'm sticking with my answer anyway :)
Hello all - The next Literary Modiin event is coming up on Sunday, August 29 at 1 pm ET. This month we'll be hearing from:
- Judy Bolton-Fasman, whose new memoir Asylum: A Memoir of Family Secrets comes out this week
- Alice Kaltman, whose novel Dawg Towne came out in June
- Haim Watzman, whose story collection Necessary Stories came out a few years ago.
Register here to get the Zoom link: https://www.juliezuckerman.com/event-...
Hope to see you there!
As for what I'm reading: The Boy in the Field and Blind Man's Bluff: A Memoir
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Brina...
Im sorry to hear this. I hope you recover with your feet hitting the floor running. Its been a tough two years. Enjoy the holidays.
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Hi everyone - chag sameach. You're all invited to the next Literary Modiin event, coming up on Oct 3 at 20:00 Israel time / 1 pm ET. This month we'll hear from:- The Guest Book by Sarah Blake
- Adults and Other Children by Miriam Cohen
-The Last Words We Said by Leah Scheier
Register here to get the Zoom link: https://bit.ly/3DwUAon
Hope to see you there!
I've been reading, and reviewing, a lot of Jewish books lately. Including the The Star and the Shamrock series, The Winemaker's Wife, The Last Bathing Beauty, The Boy on the Wooden Box and Cilka's Journey. All of which I liked a lot. I've read some others, which you can see on my book list, that I didn't like so much.I look forward to reading A Bintel Brief: Love and Longing in Old New York with the group. Shabbat Shalom.
Mod
Shabbat Shalom to you as well, Maggie!
I want to look at your reviews!
Do any of those have to do with issues of recent immigration from Russia, by any chance? Maggie or others, click here to make a nomination for our November book
I just completed reading "Morality" by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. This is an important book that should be widely read and understood. Rabbi Sacks not only pull from his Jewish heritage, also from his Cambridge/Oxford education for which he was awarded a Ph.D. in Philosophy combining with his amazing capacity to research and keep up with important trends that are impacting society today. Although not exclusively Jewish, he does bring to the challenge a uniquely Jewish perspective on the issue and what can be done to address it today!
Mod
I believe this book won the National Award from JBC?
Stellar gentleman.
No longer reading, but *highly* recommend, Dara Horn's "People Love Dead Jews", an absolute powerhouse of thought, insight, and justifiable anger.I also highly recommend Menachem Kaiser's strangely funny memoir, "Plunder", about his attempt to reclaim property in Poland owned by his grandfather; and so much more about how we relate to memory, trauma, family, how Jews should think about Poland, conspiracy theories, and hidden treasure.
Also outstanding (listened on audio and immediately read from paper), A.B. Yehoshua's, "The Tunnel". The blurb says it's about a road engineer diagnosed with dementia, but don't let that dissuade you if you don't care about engineering. It's a beautiful story of love and freedom, and is one I will reread again and again .
Currently reading "Nesting Dolls", a novel set in Stalinist Russia. Also "The World of the Yeshiva" for my dissertation.
@Stacey B -- The Blackbird Girls is really strong! I gave to my 11 y.o. to read when I finished (part of my campaign to ensure they don't become a communist ;-) ). Gessen's book was fascinating and disturbing.
Mod
Thanks for your review, Alan. I hope to be reading this soon with a local group and glad to hear it holds up.
Mod
I also highly recommend Menachem Kaiser's strangel..."
Hi Perlie,
You have good taste :)
I read Horn's book last week and wrote a review on it.I had read the book "Rescuer" as well, which ties both books together regarding "Varian Fry".
I must say that the title makes you do a double-take.
Horn's book is written using a new lens in discussing antisemitism etc.
Her point- become involved.
debra wrote: "Really liked The Invisible Bridge and The Golem and the Jinni.Both definitely worth the read!. Plan on reading Flight Portfolio (once its out in paperback. Have not read Sisters of the Winter wood..."
The Golem and the Jinni is one of my all time favorite books.
I just finished "The War of Return" by Einat Wilf and Adi Schwartz. This is a must read book to understand why there is no peace between Israel and the Palestinians. If you want to learn more, read my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Sipping from the Nile: My Exodus from Egypt, by Jean Naggar (2008) is a memoir of a young women who grew up in a wealthy and privileged Jewish family in Egypt. The author was born in December 1937, on the cusp of World War II. She grew up in a pampered and sheltered environment, so the horrors of the War largely escaped her.Although her family had Italian passports, they had roots in Egypt going back centuries. Over the years, the family had amassed an enormous fortune through banking and lived in a large mansion with many servants. They were integral members of high Egyptian society and rubbed shoulders with high level diplomats and kings.
As a young girl growing up, she and her family traveled extensively throughout Europe and she (as well as other members of the family) was fluent in many languages, including English, Italian, French and Arabic. When she entered high school, she was sent to a boarding school in England. It was her first time being separated from her family and, although it gave her some freedom, she was also very along among her British classmates.
It wasn’t until the Suez crisis in 1956 that the author began to realized that being Jewish in Egypt had consequences. Although she describes the losses of their home and property, as she recounts the family’s life in exile, they seemed not to have suffered too badly financially. She is still able to maintain a high-society lifestyle.
I found the first part of the memoir more interesting that the latter part. I tired of reading of all the “fabulous” connections her family made: winning Olympic medals, meeting all the rich and famous, all the designer clothing her mother had commissioned, etc.
Interestingly, it wasn’t until after she moved to the United States that she began to realized that her Jewishness was and identifying factor. While growing up in Egypt, although her family was Jewish and observed all the rituals and holidays, being Jewish was just a fact of life (until after WWII and the country itself had a massive political turnabout).
Scattered throughout the book are numerous family photos and scene of Egypt. They added to the book, and I enjoyed perusing them.
Mod
This memoir sounds good. I too would get tired of the bragging, but I'm glad you enjoyed most of it.
The author grew up in Cairo I would think..
Nassar was not a fan of Jews; Im curious how this family rubbed shoulders with the high society -assuming many were involved politically. I would think its due to their wealth as it always seems to be the case. But when she came to the US, she felt she stood out as a jew. I would have thought it would be the opposite living in Egypt during her childhood.
. I was just told by Google that 1,000 jews were arrested
and 500 jewish businesses were taken during this crisis.
Never stops.
Mod
Mod
I enjoyed that one.
What say you Hahtoolah?
Brina wrote: "Hi Stacey, Hatoolah, and all. I’m working full time but that book sounds great. How does it compare to [book:The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: A Jewish Family's Exodus from Old Cairo to the New ..."I liked the Man in the White Sharkskin Suit better. I could more easily relate to the people in that book. Sipping From the Nile provides a more historic view of wealthy Jews in the business community living in Egypt for centuries. I would recommend reading both book.
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Thank you. Its appreciated.
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I just finished Dara Horn's "People Love Dead Jews," and I've already repressed most of it and cannot quite say what it's about. Why? It's too uncomfortable for this American secularized Jew. "I am haunted," she states in her last paragraph, "by those who came before us." The anti-semiticism that came before us is revisiting us now, as Horn recounts in numerous attacks on both Jews and synagogues in recent years, many of which I have also repressed. Christian rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust, readers of Ann Frank's Diaries, and Shakespeare are all suspect (I can't remember why.)
The only good news for me personally is that, without realizing it, the grim novels I have authored are part of a Jewish tradition of grim fiction. Happy endings are Christian. Jews--I think she says--have their traditions to keep us sane in an unfriendly world. I seem to have repression and denial.
Mod
I can understand you being uncomfortable reading this book. Its written with a different perspective, and could be a tad controversial and I know you weren't trying to promote your books "here" to counter a book of fact.
Horn's subject is very much alive and always has been.
I don't see it as a book that would be "uncomfortable" to "American secularized jews", but rather, a warning from her to jews who ignore or suppress anti semitism- in thought and in response to actions against jews. She stresses involvement and being visual so that anti semitism doesn't ever become one sided based on lack of response.
I agree it is a warning and should be heeded. Just hard to withstand the notion that we are so universally despised, even and especially if it is true in America today.
Mod
From somebody who hasn't read it yet, is that what she's saying, Carolyn? Can you boil down a couple of examples? Is her book that blunt of an instrument? Was reading it a shock? I noticed you gave it five stars. Do you see the book as a needed confrontation with reality?
Try reading some of the other reviews and see if that helps at all.
Oh, I wish I could read it right now -- but I also wish to be reading the ones I have lined up ahead of it! 🥴
Jewish Book Club
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At any rate - please join Literary Modiin for our July author event on July 25 at 20:00 Israel time / 1 pm Eastern, to hear from Joshua, Sari Rosenblatt, author of Father Guards the Sheep, and Tzippi Moss, author of Angels & Tahina: 18 Lessons From Hiking the Israel Trail.
Register here for the Zoom link: https://bit.ly/3hgHIZ5
Hope to see you there!
(And to answer the question of this thread: what am I reading now? I'm reading Cities I've Never Lived In and listening to Real Life :-)