Jewish Book Club discussion
This topic is about
The Book of Lights
2020 Poll Winners
>
2020/5 Early Thoughts on Chaim Potok's The Book of Lights
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Jan
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars
Apr 30, 2020 12:00PM
Mod
reply
|
flag
Mod
I wanted to see if I could get started by listening while doing some exercises, but no audio version as far as I can tell. Although I have a used hardback, I found the book in the National Emergency Library and tried the computer-generated voice option. Don't do it! Awful! Did not give me any idea about this book or how good it might be. No to computer-generated narration of this one!
Anybody else started it? Did you react positively too?
Almost done. Will post comments shortly.
Mod
Thanks to whoever suggested this book. This is one in my personal home library so I can read it. Not Potok's best but interesting and the writing is great as always.
Mod
Glad we obliged, M!
I'm looking forward to it too, as I said. I was hoping it was one not everyone had read, compared to some of the others that were suggested.
Mod
There's a common theme to all his books (orthodox misfits) including this one.
Mod
Will tune in to that when I start. Thanks, M.
Mod
I’m not reading this month’s book. I’m not a big fan of the author, my personal opinion only, but I will attempt to read Nemesis, even if I have to read it directly online.
Mod
I'm a fan, or I think so, anyway. I read The Chosen some time before 2005, I think, and so possibly may have been a fan and find I am no longer. Just saw the play of My Name is Asher Lev, so if I was less than wowed, that might not be the author's fault. I will soon find out! 😉
My husband thinks that to read the Internet Archive books via a pdf, you have to download Adobe Reader or something like that. I haven't tried it. Because I'm not tech savvy, though, I fail to realize that there are other steps implicit between what he says and what I'd need to do.
Considering this is "The Book of Lights" is awfully dark. I'm a fan of Potok but honestly I prefer something actually light these days.
Mod
Is it, really? I haven't gotten that far. Yes, the aura of sadness around him has already been mentioned. Will see how it strikes me!
Would The 188th Crybaby Brigade: A Skinny Jewish Kid from Chicago Fights Hezbollah suit you better, M?
Through first 50 pages. Slow going but Potok never disappoints. So I feel he is giving us a lot depth in characters. Do not know how I did this but when I went for library loan I ended up with In the Beginning also by Potok. I was halfway through when I realized my mistake but I really enjoyed it.
Mod
You are a hard one to please! Looking forward to what you may add on the What Are You Reading thread. Also, it's about time for nominations once again, so who knows, could be you find one to read with the group, M!
Mod
That's about where I am, Jonathan, and going to dive back in now...
Mod
Unlike some of you, the book grabbed me right from the start. But leading up to around p. 100, he (the author) almost lost me. It wasn't that the material was difficult or boring -- Talmud vs Kabbalah and all that -- it was the content and the way it was put. It was coming across to me so strongly as from our culture, and in that sense, was paralleling anti-Jewish critiques from our culture (the accusation of legalism, I mean), that it threw me. Glad I climbed back on, because the book is very good, now. And, moreover, I'm starting another book that may help with the issue at its root. Chaim Potok is an excellent writer.
Mod
Now I see that my earlier response had your comment on The Book of Lights confused with somebody else', M. 😁 Looking forward to your conclusions.
