Jewish Book Carnival discussion
What are you reading?
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Sally
(last edited Jul 26, 2013 10:31AM)
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Jul 26, 2013 08:42AM
Thanks for the recommendation, Erika. I'll put it into my Kindle.
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Erika wrote: "Highly recommend The Property. Read it in a single sitting last night."Erika, this sounds great! Thanks for the recommendation!
Sally and Helen: Just added some more thoughts/links about The Property: http://www.erikadreifus.com/2013/07/f...
I'm reading a new volume about Elie Wiesel, called "Elie Wiesel: Jewish Literature and Moral Perspectives. This book is a collection of twenty four essays based upon Wiesel’s history as a student, teacher, author, Holocaust survivor and public speaker. The authors delve deeply into Wiesel’s mind through his various writings about Hassidic life, the Talmud, historical perspectives on various Jewish laws and commentaries by famous rabbis.Within this book, prominent scholars in the fields of Biblical, Rabbinic, Hasidic, Holocaust, and literary studies offer fascinating and innovative analyses of Wiesel's texts as well as illuminating commentaries on his considerable influence as a teacher and as a moral voice for human rights. By exploring the varied aspects of Wiesel's multifaceted career—his texts on the Bible, the Talmud, and Hasidism as well as his literary works, his teaching, and his testimony—this thought-provoking volume adds depth to our understanding of the impact of this important man of letters and towering international figure.
Look for my review at The New York Journal of Books soon (http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/revie...).
Charles wrote: "I'm reading a new volume about Elie Wiesel, called "Elie Wiesel: Jewish Literature and Moral Perspectives. This book is a collection of twenty four essays based upon Wiesel’s history as a student, ..."See my review at The New York Journal of Books, my article at The Examiner and my review here at Goodreads.
Sounds fascinating Charles. I'll look up your reviews. Thanks for the heads-up.
As a huge fan of WWII things, I'm beavering my way through Albert Speer's memoir.Very interesting, and I almost feel sorry for him. The absurd plotting and scheming that went on in the upper echelons of the Nazi Party is bewildering.
My reading pace has slowed down, as I edit a novel (Adam V by Daniel Grotta) and short story (Annabelle by Nancy Christie), both of which are due to be published later this year. Happily, I'm very much enjoying reading both. When I find the time, I'm still reading "Redwood & Wildfire" by Andrea Hairston (which is a delight)
CRUMB'S BOOK OF EXODUS: Has anyone read this version, by R Crumb? It is in my opinion monumental. The whole _Exodus_ is depicted, with authentic text. Drawings of God and angels are arresting, the settings and dress from the time of the Tower of Babel to the epic of Joseph are classic and (I think) historically accurate, and most of all, the human facial expressions and body language are worth many hours of thought. The Old testament angry, and jealous God, and how humans respond to his presence, is unique. Any opinions pro or con?
I have started an older book 1980's called gone to Soldiers by Marge Piercy. It grabs you from the first page.
I'm reading This is Real and You are completely unprepared - which I read every single year at this time, it's by Alan Lew (z''l) this year and last I have taught my High Holiday Spiritual Preparation classes using this book as the text. Always profound. Always amazing.
What is it about This is Real and You are completely unprepared that keeps you coming back to it, Jill?
He talks about the high holy days with a depth that I think is not only unparalleled for modern readers - but inspirational. His description of the journey our soul takes at this time of year is exquisite because he makes "the invisible visible" which to my mind, is the purpose of Judaism.
You've made me very curious about it. My reading dance card is full right now, but I'm going to have to add it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion, Jill.
Erika wrote: "Sally and Helen: Just added some more thoughts/links about The Property: http://www.erikadreifus.com/2013/07/f..."I loved your review, Erika! Thanks for posting it. I think there was just a story about it at Tablet. http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-... Thanks for alerting me to this book! It's definitely on my TBR list.
Charles wrote: "I'm reading a new volume about Elie Wiesel, called "Elie Wiesel: Jewish Literature and Moral Perspectives. This book is a collection of twenty four essays based upon Wiesel’s history as a student, ..."Hi, Charles--I've just been reading some of your reviews. Soldaten is on my TBR list...but after reading your review, I don't know if I'll be able to get through it. It sounds too painful. But still, a great review of an amazing resource.
Hi Helen. "Soldaten" is not a graphic book; nor is it unduly painful to read. It reflects a pervasive lack of humanity expressed by Nazi POWs when they didn't realize that they were being surreptitiously recorded. Humans (especially males) are easily persuaded to hate and murder other humans, even when the victims are innocent children. Nazi POWs expressed glee in strafing innocent English, French and other Allied civilians, regardless of age. We're not talking about strafing soldiers. We're not even talking about civilians who work in Allied munitions factories. This is the deliberate strafing of civilians in Allied cities and towns, just walking down a street, or standing in front of a building. To my estimation, this is a very serious perpetration of mass genocide by Nazi armed forces.
Could you make the same case against Allies who carpet-bombed German cities? Perhaps not, as Nazi ammunition and war plants were located in cities, among civilians. Those bombs were aimed at factories, not people. But the Nazi war machine was used to exterminate the Jews of Europe, a people who possessed no threat to Germany. Their POWs were happy to kill civilians.
Considering genocides in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur, these attitudes are not very different today. We select for our soldiers, sailors and airmen a group of young people (primarily men) who are easily manipulated.
Of course, most of the European (not just German) population either supported the genocide against Jews (and others) or they did nothing to stop it. That makes WWII and the Holocaust different. There is a difference between pulverizing a nation's ammunition factories and the deliberate gassing or shooting of millions of innocent people based upon their religion.
Lets hope that our progeny will value the differences among humans, rather than fear or hate them. Otherwise, the future of humanity will be a repeat of our past. In the words of philosopher and writer George Santayana, "Those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it."
Meanwhile, reading "Soldaten" is not much different from reading another textbook about war. Unfortunately, Nazi soldiers had views about civilians and innocent minorities that today appear well beyond egregious. And while we consider ourselves more advanced today as a global society, consider Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas and the many other people today who would love to nuke Israel into extinction. The more we change... the more we stay the same.
The pervasive lack of humanity is precisely the thing I find painful. I like to think that the German soldiers, in their heart of hearts, felt bad about what they did in the name of their government, that once they were off the battlefield they recognized that what they did was inhuman. So, the fact that they were laughing about the atrocities they saw, or committed, makes me feel sick. I write short stories using my parents' experiences as a jumping-off point--and based on your review, it sounds like this book is a must-read.
Charles: Consider as well the attitudes of Israeli soldiers re Palestinian civilians, in Gaza and elsewhere. You think that British/American bombing (carpet bombing) of Nazi cities was only done because of the factories? Whistleblower Snowden and the courageous Jeremy Scahill has shown the glee of Americans killing would-be rescuers of Iraqis blown up by our troops fire. What was the rationale for *fire storms*, German or the Allies? What about Dresden, hardly a strategic industrial center--any more than Hiroshima? What about--for that matter--the Israeli attack on the peace flotilla trying to bring relief to Gaza--the soldaten who chose a Turkish ship (killing US or European protesters would be too controversial) and killed a score of Turks (saying falsely they acted only in self-defense after they attacked), then refused to even release the names of those dead for about 10 days, keeping loved ones wondering!
"Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas and the many other people today ... would love to nuke Israel into extinction." Yes, but Israeli military might makes that impossible, as anyone knows. Those 2nd-class citizen non-Jewish Israeli citizens who are confined to separation walls, and who are pushed back continually to make room for Jewish settlers' homes and shops, are much more likely to be driven to extinction, or is the word "deportation"? Your post seems not to include Israelis and of course Americans among the "we."
There is only ONE belief system for any nation-state military: "the only enemy is a dead or terrorized enemy." And that is esp. true of any occupying force--Germans, Russians, Americans, Israeli--the lot.
Jay, I disagree strongly with your equating Israeli soldiers with Nazis.
Not what I said. I've heard enough of that from anyone emotionally upset by discussion of what nation-state militarism does.Be specific--in what ways do Israeli _military_ (and their soldiers), or American or NATO military, behave toward enemies in different ways toward those with whom they are at war than did Nazi _soldiers_? Try, for example, Israeli military's declaring the southern part of the Gaza a war zone b/c of fighting there, and thus destroying the homes of those who lived there. Rachel Corrie, standing in front of the home of a local physician wearing an orange, florescent jacket, was run over by a bulldozer advancing to destroy that home. That is why Rabbis for Peace work to declare illegal the policy of house demolition--so that Israeli-Nazi military policy comparisons have less credibility than they justifiably do. You know, I assume, that Nazi POWs were treated very well during WWII, just as Americans were by Nazis. Ever think why?
Hmmm. I'm thinking that this is a heated subject, and that this is probably the point where we should get back to discussing books. Agreed?
not heated, but uncomfortable to many Americans and Jewish people everywhere, Helen. We were discussing a book, a book about war and what it actually is. We Americans have been involved in paying the freight for a "war of choice" (big Oil's choice) for 9 years. It has brought Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and a high suicide rate(not to mention sexual abuse on a wide scale) to those who fight it: "We [soldiers] fight the war while Americans are at the mall." Probably the same is true in Israel: See Roth's _Operation Shylock_ and _The Counterlife_.
Sally wrote: "Sounds fascinating Charles. I'll look up your reviews. Thanks for the heads-up."The review is completed at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15....
If you want to know more about the mind of Elie Wiesel, if you want to know his thoughts on Judaism, Hassidim, Talmud, Torah, God, the Holocaust, the teaching and interpretation of Jewish law, then read this excellent technically expansive book, co-authored by major Wiesel content experts.
Helen wrote: "The pervasive lack of humanity is precisely the thing I find painful. I like to think that the German soldiers, in their heart of hearts, felt bad about what they did in the name of their governmen..."Helen wrote: "The pervasive lack of humanity is precisely the thing I find painful. I like to think that the German soldiers, in their heart of hearts, felt bad about what they did in the name of their governmen..."
Helen, think for a moment about what type of human being joins an army, navy or other armed forces. These people have rarely been raised in a liberal, open-minded setting. Few have college degrees. Fewer still have tolerance for others who think, act, look and seem - DIFFERENT. In other words, soldiers are sometimes the dregs of society; intolerant, racist and prejudiced. But here, Sally is our hope. With each generation in Western society, young people seem increasingly tolerant when it comes to differences in religion, race or ethnic origin. Thus, in several more generations, our progeny will (hopefully) be more tolerant towards minorities. Or, perhaps I watch Star Trek too often.
Charles,Those "...soldiers are sometimes the dregs of society; intolerant, racist and prejudiced," protected your way of life, so you could voice your intolerant, racist and prejudiced opinion towards the only army which stands on the way between you being alive or working in the Siberian mines...
Michael wrote: "As a huge fan of WWII things, I'm beavering my way through Albert Speer's memoir.Very interesting, and I almost feel sorry for him. The absurd plotting and scheming that went on in the upper ech..."
Consider a book called "Soldaten." It's about the comments German POWs made to each other while being surreptitiously recorded. Very interesting. In some cases - shocking. WWII like you've never seen (read) it. I reviewed it for The New York Journal of Books (http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/revie...) in February. I might have also posted it in Goodreads.
Thanks Charles, I'll take a look at that one!
In fact, I just bought it for me Kindle.Looks like Charles Dickens is going on hold again!
Charles wrote:...With each generation in Western society, young people seem increasingly tolerant when it comes to differences in religion, race or ethnic origin. Thus, in several more generations, our progeny will (hopefully) be more tolerant towards minorities. Or, perhaps I watch Star Trek too often. Ha! Think I've seen those episodes too, Charles! I share the same hopes.
Reading The Secrets They Kept by Susan Handler. Super short book about an Orthodox Jew who murdered his schizophrenic teenage daughter instead of having her committed to a mental institution.
Hi,I just joined this group and read the posts. Although most of them have no meaning to me, I found some quite engaging.
I belong to the so-called generation of Millennials, usually easily dismissed as too self-absorbed in our own tech world of texting, instagramming and I-phoning.
I looked through the forum and found a comment posted by author Uri Norwich quite unorthodox. At first, I though it didn't belong to this forum, but then I got his book for I-Pad (what else) at “Smashwords” and read it. Took me a while—it’s a big book.
When I closed the last page, I wished it was me, the protagonist. I wished I could relive his journey. I wished that so many of my own peers could be like him. I wished that so many of my generation read it and understood that no one owned us anything, and no “occupy wall street” would give us anything until we earned it. That’s it!
I highly recommend this book, and especially to my own generation of 20... something, living still at their parents and feeding off them.
Camilia
Elyse wrote: "I'm reading "The Interestings" by Meg Wolitzer (I'm enjoying the characters)LOVED The Interestings. Not surprised that you are enjoying it.
So The Interestings is a good read then? I noticed I already had it on my "to-read" shelf but I read the author's The Uncoupling and didn't care for it so I was debating reading another by her. I'm currently reading a graphic novel I stumbled upon in the library called Homeland. It's basically the history of Israel from biblical times to the present (well 2007ish when the book was published). It's not the best in terms of graphic novels but it's a really awesome overview of the history. I think it'd be a great teaching tool. Even discusses the culture and the arts and other things Israel has done well. In addition to all the wars, the bug names in Zionism, political figures, etc. it reminds me a lot of an Israeli culture class I took in college. I was a Middle East Studies major so not like I learned anything new from the book but from the perspective of getting the history of Israel down in a little over 100 pages in an easy to read format for both teens and adults, it works surprisingly well. Nice refresher for those who do know Middle East/ Israeli history too.
Tzipora wrote: "I'm currently reading a graphic novel I stumbled upon in the library called Homeland. It's basically the history of Israel from biblical times to the present (well 2007ish when the book was published). "That sounds neat! I'm going to look for that at the library.
Tzipora wrote: "So The Interestings is a good read then? I noticed I already had it on my "to-read" shelf but I read the author's The Uncoupling and didn't care for it so I was debating reading another by her. Well, I'd definitely recommend THE INTERESTINGS. HOMELAND sounds intriguing, too. Thanks for mentioning.
Elyse wrote:...
not too long ago I read
"Brewster" by Mark Slouke (WONDERFUL!!!!!!). I liked it 'better' than "& Sons"
I've heard great things about Slouka's BREWSTER, Elyse. Think I'll add it to my tbr list.
I have Peter Orner's new book, Last Car Over the Sagamore Bridge, which I won in a Jewish Book Council giveaway. I just read the first few stories, but the writing is sharp, concise and kind of chilling.
Helen wrote: "I have Peter Orner's new book, Last Car Over the Sagamore Bridge, which I won in a Jewish Book Council giveaway. I just read the first few stories, but the writing is sharp, concise and kind of chi..."Lucky you! I've been meaning to get to know Orner's work better.
Erika wrote: "Helen wrote: "I have Peter Orner's new book, Last Car Over the Sagamore Bridge, which I won in a Jewish Book Council giveaway. I just read the first few stories, but the writing is sharp, concise a..."I'll be reading it over Sukkot. I'll let you know how it goes.
Erika, did you see? It was in the Times Sunday Book Review! It's definitely a fun read so far.
Helen wrote: "Erika, did you see? It was in the Times Sunday Book Review! It's definitely a fun read so far."Helen, I did see the review--but it made me think that reading the book may be a lot of work!
Erika wrote: "Helen, I did see the review--but it made me think that reading the book may be a lot o..."Hm...the review makes it more confusing than it needs to be. As if the reviewer was looking for some kind of cohesion, when there really isn't any.
These aren't exactly short stories with a beginning, a middle and an end. More like, the first two pages of a short story, and then the story is abandoned. Or a couple of paragraphs of observation lifted out of a random short story. (And his powers of observation are very sharp.)
I am re-reading Snow in August for my book club next week. I just loved this book. It is very magical returning to 1940's New York. Makes me think of my father growing up in that time. Instead of New York where this takes place my Dad lived in Boston. I can imagine my father's life with baseball, and Jackie Robinson. time. M But of course there are other things. I could feel the pulse of 1940's NYC life. If you have not read it, you should. Even superheroes, a Golem.
Helen wrote: "Susan wrote: "I finished reading The Golem and the Jenni over a week ago. I can't stop thinking about it. Awesome. I have been putting off posting. Because I want to do justice to the post. I hav..."Thank you for your review. You will be thrilled to know the author of The Golem and the Jinni recommended Neil Gaiman to read. I have been corresponding with her. So take that as a compliment from the author.
Elyse wrote: ""At Home in the World" - by Joyce Maynard.Plus, I just finished her new novel: "After her"
She also wrote a book called "Labor Day" (loved it) ---which was made into a film.
Opens Xmas Day in the..."
Labor Day is a great read.
Wondering if anyone has read or will read Lion Seeker? I am curious to know what your thoughts are. I did have a copy buy my digital copy expired off e-galley.
I hope to read it, Susan. Quite a review from Adam Kirsch in Tablet. http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-...Susan wrote: "Wondering if anyone has read or will read Lion Seeker? I am curious to know what your thoughts are. I did have a copy buy my digital copy expired off e-galley."
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