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2023: Other Books
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[Subdue] The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen - 2 Stars
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Thanks for this, I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this but now I'm sure I don't. I think some sources made it sound like it would be humorous. Prize winners can be very strange!
I read this for similar reasons. I try to read several prize winners each year, and I usually enjoy them. I think this book is supposed to be read as a satire or parody, but I definitely agree that the author is not a fan of Netanyahu. I was not sure the purpose of this book and concluded that I probably do not have the right background to fully appreciate it.
I think you did a wonderful review of a tough book to do one on. I had seen this, and as I am that reader here who will usually read just about anything history, that I don't know much about, the idea of reading it was in the back if mind. Seeing "academic" though put me off and I decided to wait. I knew someone here would read and give me an idea, at least, of it is for me or not. The verdict, after your review is Not. Thanks for the honest review-
I’ve been following this thread, and I’m just not sure. It’s hard for me to tell if this is right for me. It is slowly climbed up my list and it’s kind of right there even though it’s not on my TBR. Here’s what I think I’m going to do. I’m gonna order a copy of it from the library. I’m going to hold it in my hands and kind of take a look at it. And then maybe I’ll be able to let it off my list. I will either read it or dump it.
Thank you for the support and feedback everyone! I have to admit, I was nervous to post this review and probably wouldn't have if it wasn't part of game rules for Subdue the Shelf. The conversations I've had with my husband regarding this book have been interesting, I will say that. Today at lunch, we were discussing how not funny I found the book and how I was confused as to why it would be labeled a comedy. In the end, we cleared things up by looking up the definition of satire:
"the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues"
Turns out, I don't really like satire. Now I know!
Amy - To be my own devil's advocate, the first half of the book did touch on some interesting topics regarding family dynamics. Specifically the impact fathers inevitably have on their sons (for obvious reasons). I do think you would appreciate those aspects of the book.
I don't always like satire either. Sometimes it just comes across as mean.
Joy D wrote: "I don't always like satire either. Sometimes it just comes across as mean."Yes!! I couldn't agree more.
You know what? I think I’m gonna dump this one. I think I could feel very fine about that. I really hate satire.
Good for you Amy! That’s just one less book on the tbr; making way for better and happier things :)
The book is a fictionalized account of an interview of Benzion Netanyahu for a professorship at an American college. Ruben Blum, a Jewish historian - fictional character - is asked to host Netanyahu during the day and get a read on him, so to say.
The book opens with an introduction to Ruben Blum and his family as he starts to prepare for Netanyahu's visit. At this point the book was a discussion on what it was to be a Jew in America in the 50's/60's and a criticism of Netanyahu's career up to this point - we have yet to meet the man himself.
Pause. I had to admit that I had to do quite a lot of Googling to even begin to understand the political implications here. To talk about Netanyahu is to talk about the history of Israel and Revisionist Zionism, of which I know next to nothing. Even now, I feel like I would need an entire college course on the subject to truly understand all the underlying context in this book.
Resume: The book was rolling along at a solid three start rating for me. Not to say that I was particularly enjoying the ride, but I didn't actively dislike it and was vaguely intrigued. Three stars because I have no solid basis for judging the book at all and I was taking a neutral stance. Then we meet the Netanyahus.
As the United States has become more and more politically polarized, I have tried to stand by my belief that while you can disagree with a person's political opinion and argue vehemently (and intelligently) on the subject, its never okay for a disagreement to devolve into a personal attack. Attack the idea, not the person. This is where Cohen lost me.
Once we meet the Netanyahus, the rest of the book turns into a very personal attack on the man, his wife and his children - their petty family arguments, their rudeness and disrespect for their hosts, and a willingness to lie to and cheat a proclaimed friend are just the tip of the iceberg. This makes me extremely uncomfortable; as an author, how can you comment so thoroughly on the personalities of real people you've never met?
Again, I must disclose that I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about. I don't proclaim to agree or disagree with Netanyahu's political beliefs or to even understand what those beliefs are; I cannot comment on whether history has proven this person to indeed be petty, rude, disrespectful, deceitful, etc. I am completely out of my depth here. I am saying that I was uncomfortable with Cohen's direction and the extremes he was willing to go to to paint this family in a very poor light. I was especially uncomfortable with the events of the last 20 pages.
If anyone else has read this book and can provide educational insights, I would welcome the opportunity to discuss and learn.
As a partially unrelated post note that nonetheless colored my impression of the book: I also found it distasteful that when Cohen approached a source regarding their involvement and representation within the book and after he was told they wanted to be wholly excluded, he then proceeded to include their emailed critique on the final work in his Notes and Credits at the end of the book. Being a critique that he mostly likely did not appreciate or respect, the inclusion felt petty and intended to ridicule.