What kinds of books should we read--and when?

[Shelley]

Debra, I would love to see your book list especially marked with those which led to energized discussions. we loved Waking Lons, and I recommend First Person Singular as well. I also have a good list.

[debra]

there are multiple books titled First Person Singular ... who is the author?
I don't have a full list of our books at my fingertips... (I really should lol) Its on my to do list.... happy to send a few favorites for good discussion your way.... soon.

[Shelley]

Debra first person singular by said Israeli Arab has written several good books

[debra]

Shelley wrote: "Debra, I would love to see your book list especially marked with those which led to energized discussions. we loved Waking Lons, and I recommend First Person Singular as well. I also have a good list." I looked at your "read list" and we've read MANY similar books!! (similar reviews as well) -- Couldn't find the book you named ... Its actually Second Person Singular .... lol Looks good, Thx!!

[Shelley]

debra wrote: "there are multiple books titled First Person Singular ... who is the author?
I don't have a full list of our books at my fingertips... (I really should lol) Its on my to do list.... happy to send ..."

sorry I had trouble with my computer the author is said Kashua, a journalist and Writer,

[Stacey B]

"Jewish Noir 11: Tales of Crime and other Dark Deeds"
Release date is in April -2022
I have seen many novels like this one, made up of collections of short stories written by more than one author or three.
This one got my attention because of this fiction book's perspective, which I haven't seen before.
Coming together are many award winning jewish and non jewish authors who compiled twenty-three new short stories on the subject of confronting resurgent antisemitism- in other countries along with the US.
Might be a reprint into kindle format; I also think it was nominated at some point for one of our genre polls.
Just a thought. :)

[Jan]

Seeing which biography has just won the poll, I'm thinking a future category of biographies of celebrities would work.
Maybe the one on Irving Berlin again
I have a newish one on Herzl that gets quoted a lot by the new Walter Russell Mead book, meaning it's probably good--if also readable. Herzl's Vision: Theodor Herzl and the Foundation of the Jewish State
The one that's been mentioned on another thread, Matti Friedman writing about Leonard Cohen
And the one on Tom Stoppard. It was an award winning biography. His mother didn't tell the family they were Jewish. His father had not survived their escape from Europe circa WWII and she had remarried a British officer. But he eventually found out. Very interested in that one.
Only the good bios, of course.
~smile~

[Alan]

I have just read Mattie Friedman's book on Leonard Cohen. It was definitely interesting. It is an easy read (except for the passages by Leonard Cohen). However, I think transitional theme of the book about Israel as a nation is quite deep and profound.

[Jan]

Alan wrote: "I have just read Mattie Friedman's book on Leonard Cohen. It was definitely interesting. It is an easy read (except for the passages by Leonard Cohen). However, I think transitional theme of the bo..."

Yes, that's the one I was thinking of. Thanks, Alan.
Who by Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai

[Adele]

I’d like to read social histories about daily Jewish life pre-war. I have read many books on shtetl life, but nothing that captures living in cultural and academic cities such as Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna etc. Any recommendations?

[Stacey B]

Adele, there are two of I know, but of course the titles
are a blank. Give me a day or two. I am thinking specifically about one in Vienna. Anyone????

[Jan]

Adele wrote: "I’d like to read social histories about daily Jewish life pre-war. I have read many books on shtetl life, but nothing that captures living in cultural and academic cities such as Warsaw, Budapest, ..."

If you read fiction and agree it can sometimes paint a good picture, check out The Lost Shtetl by Max Gross. It's an alternative history, and it won the Jewish Book Award for book club read a couple years ago. An alternative history. I liked it!

[[deleted user]]

Stacey B wrote: ""Jewish Noir 11: Tales of Crime and other Dark Deeds"
Release date is in April -2022
I have seen many novels like this one, made up of collections of short stories written by more than one author ..."

I read that one and enjoyed it a lot, especially the first section stories were done very well.

[Jan]

This cartoon about which book to read tickled me:

...by Emily Bernstein; New Yorker Humor cartoon of the day for Nov. 11, and from the Nov. 14, 2022 issue

[Jan]

Re nominations for April -- turns out we can't do "emerging authors" without some more thought and planning. Hope to do soon.

In the meantime, would you rather take nominations for a recent book with a theme of "family?" Or, for a book you have been meaning to read for which a group read would give you the necessary push?

If you happen to see this comment, please reply by Sunday afternoon.

This isn't a formal poll or a request for nominations. That comes next.

[debra]

theme of "family" is very vague (most jewish fiction deals with "family" in someway...) Books on my endless "list" may be a better choice... We all of something on our table or on our mental list to read but haven't... could be interesting...

[Jan]

Thanks, Debra.
Consider that vague or open-ended may not necessarily be a bad thing in the context of nominating a book!
I hear your preference for a book you need an impetus to read.
Here's another possibility: An unusual (but good) book you'd like the group to read together. ...another rather open-ended option.
I'll come up with something so all of you can come up with nominations! 🥰

[Jazzy]

I can't think of anything at the minute but will be reading If You Can't Say Anything Nice, Say It in Yiddish: Say It in Yiddish :)

[Stacey B]

Jazzy wrote: "I can't think of anything at the minute but will be reading If You Can't Say Anything Nice, Say It in Yiddish: Say It in Yiddish :)"

Thats wild.
Yesterday my mother told me to read this. She doesn't speak it, nor do I, but I have memorized my grandmothers words she used for just this purpose :)

[Jan]

Hey -- how about "books somebody just recommended to me?"
..I'm flailing around now!

[Brina]

Jan, I like that. I always get a ton of recommendations and never get to them. If that’s the case mine is A Pigeon and a Boy which was recommended to me and I’ve put on the back burner.

[Stacey B]

Brina wrote: "Jan, I like that. I always get a ton of recommendations and never get to them. If that’s the case mine is A Pigeon and a Boy which was recommended to me and I’ve put on the back burner."

Brina, that's a great book. You will enjoy it, I know you didn't nominate it- on our bookshelf already.

[Jan]

Stacey B wrote: "Brina wrote: "Jan, I like that. I always get a ton of recommendations and never get to them. If that’s the case mine is A Pigeon and a Boy which was recommended to me and I’ve put on ..."

You know, I think that's the guy whom I noticed one time has more books on our shelf than anybody else. And he's totally under my radar! Not sure, but I'm thinking he's the one. Must be very prolific

[Jan]

...hold those nominations please. Need to set up a place for them 1st. :)

[Brina]

I’ll wait for now- I only read women authors in March.

[Jan]

You're in luck, Brina (or we are), since this will be for our April book.

[Brina]

Perfect. I’m excited about the nominations and I love a good family saga over Passover so if that’s the category I’m all for it.

[Jan]

Brina, I just went with recommendations. Will keep family in mind. Maybe somebody will recommend you a family saga, and then you could nominate it anyway! (I guess nothing would prevent you from asking for such a recommendation!) Here's the link. (will send out group message tomorrow)

[Jan]

This discussion on what kinds of books should we read seems currently closest to what makes a Jewish book.
I listened to a podcast of a book interview with Dani Shapiro on the topic of when is a novel a Jewish novel, but I kind of missed the answer. Must have blinked. Did anybody else hear that one? Jewish Book Council early last month.

Also saw an opinion column in the Wall Street Journal where an editor named Elliot Kaufman described his debates with his wife on that subject, well, on Jewish books in general, while shelving their books. Glad to see there is no absolute answer and subject remains open to discussion! 🤔 Aug 4 issue

[Mel]

That's an interesting question. In a long, verbose essay on this subject ( https://lithub.com/what-makes-jewish-... ), I think Ilan Stavands summarizes it very simply: "Jewish literature is Jewish because it distills a sensibility—bookish, impatient—that transcends geography." Or this: "Made of bursts of consent and dissent, this literature is not concerned with divine revelation, like the Torah and Talmud, but with the rowdy display of human frailties."
That seems to accurately reflect the writings of Roth, Singer, Bellow.

[Jan]

Mel wrote: "That's an interesting question. In a long, verbose essay on this subject ( https://lithub.com/what-makes-jewish-... ), I think Ilan Stavands summarizes it very simply: "Jewish litera..."

Thanks, Mel. I'm going to check out that Ilan Stavans essay.

[Deborah]

I'm curious about the answer to "what makes a Jewish book" from both a reader and author's perspective. It's interesting that most of the authors that Ilan Stavans, and even the two comedians he references, are male.

Also, I find that most conversations around this question are centered on literary fiction.

What about genre fiction? I ask this in all seriousness, because I have been an avid reader of fantasy /sci-fi, mystery, and romance since I was a kid.

However, I never saw myself reflected in those stories. The closest I got to seeing myself in books were in stories about kids during the Holocaust, and even then, it was usually boys as the main character.

So I started writing funny urban fantasy, magic mysteries with romance for adults ,featuring Jewish MCs, world building and magic systems drawn from Judaism and Jewish mythology, and humor honed growing up in a family who were quick to wield that unique Jewish flavour.

It turns out there are a lot of other Jewish women who also want to see themselves in these kinds of stories. (And non-Jewish readers excited to find a mythology that moves beyond either the Greek/Roman one or a Celtic lens.)

Yet, the conversation of "what makes a book Jewish" still feels exclusive to very male-skewed, literary fiction-based titles.


Is there room for genre? Is there room to reshape our understanding of what has traditionally been thought of as a "Jewish story?"

[Stacey B]

Deborah wrote: "I'm curious about the answer to "what makes a Jewish book" from both a reader and author's perspective. It's interesting that most of the authors that Ilan Stavans, and even the two comedians he re..."

Good morning Deborah,
My take or interpretation of the question posed is different regardless of what authors say. Quite the subjective subject.
Im not sure there is a definition for me that covers the entire range of this question; which was a great question.
A jewish themed book- is that different from a what makes a jewish book? Maybe. Yet the genre can cover many sub topics.
What makes a book jewish for me is the take away. As our group discussed a few years ago the questions of jewish identity and what was written in a particular book in what was an "Ah-Moment" be in recognizing "hey, they are talking a bout me, or "I remember that as a kid". Its a reminder, so to speak. If one can act on any little piece of what they read- it works for me. Take a look at our past poll winners around the months of Sept and October .

[Jan]

Deborah wrote: "I'm curious about the answer to "what makes a Jewish book" from both a reader and author's perspective. It's interesting that most of the authors that Ilan Stavans, and even the two comedians he re..."

Deborah, in answer to your question, if you check us out, I think you'll see there's room for all genres and varieties of Jewish lit.

As to what makes a Jewish book, we're open, as Stacey has implied in her comment. That's why I liked that WSJ column: Open to debate.

I may even disagree w/Stavans that Merchant of Venice isn't one. I mean, Shakespeare may have made it one by writing what he did! And then there are the books that have been written in answer, like Howard Jacobson's.

I see you're new, so let me refer you to our Latest Group News. You'll see there's an aspect of your comment we didn't reply to, so please see the input for authors in particular. Thanks in advance. And welcome!

[Jan]

I was just told about a virtual interview Hadassah Magazine is doing on Thursday Nov. 16 at 7:00 PM with Allegra Goodman and Dani Shapiro on the topic of what makes a book a Jewish book and how to define Jewish literature. Here's the link.
https://events.blackthorn.io/en/8c4sg...

Meanwhile I also noticed we don't have a single book by Ms. Goodman on our group bookshelf.!

[Shelley]

These Hadassah discussions are recorded so register even if you cant make this event and you will receive access to the tape .
They have been fantastic.

[Jan]

Thanks, Shelley!

[Jan]

Anne wrote: "Hi there! I've been really wanting/needing a list of books that show Jewish Joy, or books of celebration, that kind of thing. The darkness is so overwhelming right now, and while I have several dar..."

That's a good idea, Anne.
I wonder if we'd be able to come up with a slate of nominations of books like that when it's time again in mid-December?
Stacey?

[Stacey B]

Jan wrote: "Anne wrote: "Hi there! I've been really wanting/needing a list of books that show Jewish Joy, or books of celebration, that kind of thing. The darkness is so overwhelming right now, and while I hav..."

Ha, of course- Give me a few hours to compile a list.
A well suggestion Rx.

[Brina]

Sounds good to me. Of course with our history of suffering I wonder if joy could be as simple as a book of Jewish wedding customs or a picture or cookbook to look at on long winter nights. I trust Jan and Stacey to come up with something good.

[Jazzy]

Recently I bought several new books

Parsha in Pink - Weekly inspiration from the Parsha to ignite the lives and Hearts of Women Today - Rebbetzin Mindy Bodner-Lankry

(so good I got one for a friend)

and i got five ArtScroll books. And they're on sale now!!
I bought them full price, but I did get a lovely Tanakh in the sale. I might get the What's Bothering Rashi? Vol 2

[Stacey B]

Jazzy wrote: "Recently I bought several new books

Parsha in Pink - Weekly inspiration from the Parsha to ignite the lives and Hearts of Women Today - [author:Rebbetzin Mindy Bodner-Lankry|169651..."

Nice Jazzy!!!
Is "Whats bothering Rashi translated from French or Hebrew to English?

[Stacey B]

Jan wrote: "Anne wrote: "Hi there! I've been really wanting/needing a list of books that show Jewish Joy, or books of celebration, that kind of thing. The darkness is so overwhelming right now, and while I hav..."

Hi Anne, Jan and Brina-
So..
I made a list of about 15 books that I have read -only to make sure there was no tragedy, sadness etc. in the books.
Jan, I think your suggestion is perfect for our next poll.
Brina, just curious if the books you were thinking of were written by Chaya Hirsch or a text on the customs of?
I am going to save most of them for next month and list three.
These are not newly published books, but are humorous and light, all with happy endings to get us through these dark days.

Unorthodox Love -Paperback – June 6, 2023
by Heidi Shertok (Author)

The Real Mrs. Tobias: A Novel Paperback – September 13, 2022
by Sally Koslow

Don't Forget to Write: A Novel Paperback – September 1, 2023
by Sara Goodman Confino

[Diyavol]

Hello folks, I am looking for a book about kibbutz, can be historical/non-fiction or fiction. Do you guys have any suggestion?

Thanks.

[Jan]

At the moment I can think of only one, Baruch. Aerograms Across the Ocean: A Love Story in Letters, 1970-1972 -- one I happen to be reading at the moment. Its main theme is how a relationship developed through letters back in the early 1970s. One of the protagonists is a kibbutznik, though, so the reader gets a realistic idea about a kibbutz and how it affected somebody raised on one.

Interesting nom de plume! 🧐

[Diyavol]

Thank you Jan. It looks very interesting to be honest. I will definitely check it out.

Yes, I think it is interesting. I am not a Jewish person. Instead, I am deeply interested in Jewish history, people, lifestyle etc. So when I opened this account, I took the name of the famous Jewish philosopher as a sign of my interest. :)

[Jan]

Baruch wrote: "Thank you Jan. It looks very interesting to be honest. I will definitely check it out.

Yes, I think it is interesting. I am not a Jewish person. Instead, I am deeply interested in Jewish history, ..."

After that suggestion I realized the same author has another book specifically about her kibbutz childhood. So maybe when you look her up, you'll see that other possibility too -- it's probably more pertinent.

Can you get these books in Turkey, Baruch? Or maybe Kindle helps you out?

[Diyavol]

I saw that book as well. I think you are talking about Growing Up Below Sea Level: A Kibbutz Childhood. Both of them, the one you have previously suggested and this one, look interesting. I just couldn't decide yet which one to read. Maybe I will read both of them, starting with this one and then, read the previous one.

Oh yeah, I can find them easily, Jan.

Thank you for your considerations.

[Jan]

Baruch wrote: "I saw that book as well. I think you are talking about Growing Up Below Sea Level: A Kibbutz Childhood. Both of them, the one you have previously suggested and this one, look interesting. I just co..."

I'm guessing the one about the Kibbutz childhood would be more specific to your interests, Baruch.

If you read it, let us know how it is. You can write about it on the WHAT ARE YOU READING thread.

[Diyavol]

I agree. I will definitely let you know. Actually, this is the first time I am participating in a book club, and little bit excited. It is nice to be in this welcoming community.