Jewish Book Carnival discussion
What are you reading?
message 301:
by
Erika
(new)
Oct 22, 2013 04:39AM
Just finished (and loved) Between Friends, by Amos Oz (trans. Sondra Silverston). Brief blog post at http://www.erikadreifus.com/2013/10/b... (includes request for suggestions re: how to remedy my general Oz deficiency).
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Susan wrote: 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. "What??? You're corresponding with Helene Wecker? How did that come about? OMG, so so cool!
What a funny coincidence--I am also madly in love with Neil Gaiman's work right now. In the past few months, I've read American Gods, Neverwhere, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Fragile Things, and just this weekend, The Graveyard Book. Have you read any of them yet?
Erika wrote: "I hope to read it, Susan. Quite a review from Adam Kirsch in Tablet. http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-...."Thanks for the link, Erika. It sounds remarkable.
Hi, I just joined this group and am happy to find it. I recently finished Dara Horns book, The Guide for the Perplexed, which is on my list of best books ever, and am now reading another of her novels, The World to Come. I find her work fascinating and her style, which blends the past and the present woven together into a cohesive, quite magnificent, story. I look forward to seeing what others are reading so I can add them to my "want to read" list.
I highly recommend this important book. I feel it is guaranteed to help the Aliyah and Klita experience smoother and more relaxing. The book can also be helpful to veteran immigrants as well. I would love to hear your thoughts
I am new to this group and looking forward to sharing and hearing from others.I just finished reading "I Am Forbidden" by Anouk Markovits. It is a beautifully written story about 2 sisters raised in the Satmar community. The story follows them from Transylvania to London to Williamsburg. One chooses to remain within the fold and the other does not. The author raises important questions about faith and love. Tender, poignant and non-judgmental.
I also recently read "The Invisible Bridge" by Julie Orringer, also a wonderful book. Right now I am reading City of Women by David R. Gillham. Gripping so far.
I am reading Sister's Weiss, pretty good story. I thought it would be another one of these beat up the religion. But, it delves more about the family reaction to the family member ostracized. I am enjoying it. Not sure, if this will be a good book club book. But, I have to try and see. Since it was picked for that.
Recently finished Molly Antopol's excellent debut story collection The UnAmericans and am happy to be hosting the author on the My Machberet blog today. http://www.erikadreifus.com/2014/04/m...
I am reading Ruth Calderon's A Bride for One Night: Talmud Tales. She's the Israeli Knesset member whose speech on the importance of Talmud to all Jews, not just Haredi men, went viral. She's an excellent author as well, and certainly an inspiration to me.Maggie Anton
I am reading The Essential Ellen Willis, which I bought specifically to read an essay that Tablet posted yesterday: "Is There Still a Jewish Question? Why I’m an Anti-Anti-Zionist". http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-...
I just got done reading the graphic novel The Rabbi's Cat. I saw the animated movie first and loved it, then found the book at my library and loved it as well. Charming, clever and very Jewish.
Maggie, that looks wonderful! I'm reading many more graphic narratives than I used to (which isn't saying much, but still). Most recently, I read Roz Chast's Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?, which was simply outstanding. The talent that goes into creating one of these books by an author/illustrator is just stunning.Maggie wrote: "I just got done reading the graphic novel The Rabbi's Cat. I saw the animated movie first and loved it, then found the book at my library and loved it as well. Charming, clever and ver..."
Elyse, just last night I found this interview in the latest "Jewish Week." http://www.thejewishweek.com/arts/boo...
I picked up a copy of Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity: Essays a while back. Heschel's essays on Vietnam and Civil Rights are particularly interesting, as are transcripts of speeches given over the years.
I'm in between books right now and unsure what I'm picking up next. I've been on a music history, women in music kind of binge lately though. I did want to comment that for anyone else interested in The Rabbi's Cat, the movie version is up on Netflix instant watch. I'm the sort who prefs to read the book before the movie and have both Rabbi's Cat books in an Amazon shopping cart. I should probably take the plunge and buy them! I love graphic novels and cats and of course, all things Judaica. I also have a very Jewish cat named Tzeitel. ;)
Just remembered, I recently read David Grossman's Falling Out of Time. It's a unique book about grief and parents who have lost children and well, its bound to make you cry. I read it shortly after a major health crisis that almost left my own parents without their child so it hit me in an interesting way. I'm not even sure how to describe the book itself. The synopsis states it's "part play, part prose, pure poetry" which to be honest didn't really appeal to me but it works really well. I've read a lot of books about grief but never anything like this. And it's one of the most quintessential pieces of Jewish literature I've perhaps ever read. Like it reminded me of the sorts of metaphorical stories an amazing rabbi I know with a gift for storytelling would tell. Just something told in such a Jewish way, if that makes any sense at all. Just a really deep, meaningful, thought provoking little book. Grossman's at his best, for sure.
Oh, the new Grossman is on my TBR list. Really want to read it--now even more so after reading your comments, Elyse & Tzipora.
As long as we're mentioning Isabel Allende, I loved Zorro. It's not particularly Jewish but both an excellent and fun historical novel.
I'm a new member of this group. I saw a post to this group from Maggie Anton in my feed and decided to join.I just finished The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz by Michelle Cameron. My review is at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I went to Michelle Cameron's website and saw that she had completed a second novel about the Babylonian exile. I'm wondering when it's going to be published. There was no information about that on Michelle Cameron's site.
Shomeret wrote: "I'm a new member of this group. I saw a post to this group from Maggie Anton in my feed and decided to join.I just finished The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz ..."
I suggest sending Michelle Cameron a message through Goodreads and asking her about her next novel. Her website may also have a way to contact her. Authors generally love to hear from their fans.
Tzipora wrote: "I'm in between books right now and unsure what I'm picking up next. I've been on a music history, women in music kind of binge lately though..."Then I recommend The Four Seasons: A Novel of Vivaldi's Venice by Laurel Corona.
For me the best book I have read in the long time is Michael Wex "Born to Kvetch - the basic premise is that Jews always Kvetch. If you don't believe me read Exodus. Manna? Oy!http://www.amazon.com/Born-Kvetch-Yid...
Several great recent reads to recommend: The Mathematician's Shiva, The Betrayers: A Novel, and (ashamed that I hadn't read it earlier) The Assistant.
The American DelugeHello all, and especially my only friend here Elyse (still love your name, and I do not kiss usually you know what).
Well, it seems that I had been here last time a year ago. That is perhaps why I cannot find a Thread "What is Jewish Fiction?" However, I have been keeping with updates from this forum. Nothing really caught my eye, until I noticed the other day a new novel by Mr. Uri Norwich "The American Deluge." That piqued my curiosity, and brought back the memories of my objection to most Jewish writers and their detached from reality scribblings.
So, I have gotten and read "The American Deluge."
As the author writes himself:
Millions of Americans woke up on January 20, 2009 thinking they knew where they lived and who was in power in their country. They should’ve thought twice!"
In my humble opinion, he has a point to tell to the ones who we had elected the current regime in the past two cycles, and why it all had happened. I especially suggest this novel to my own generations of mostly unemployed Millennials.
Good reading.
Camilia
I am reading A Mathematician's Shiva by Stuart Rojstaczer, Panic in a Suitcase by Yelena Akhtiorskaya and The Opposite of Everything by David Kalish.
Erika wrote: "Susan wrote: "My book club read All Other Nights last month. To a woman, we loved it. As for why the characters were so tortured, I found that to be part of the point. Jacob goes through hell, li..."
I liked All Other Nights. I'm a fan of Jewish literature, Dara Horn and historical fiction. As usual, she's brilliant. Did you read A Guide for the Perplexed?
Linda K. wrote: "Recently finished Good Eggs, a graphic memoir by Phoebe Potts, as part of a work-related assignment. It's a fascinating, funny, poignant, and incredibly honest book about topics many of us don't li..."I read Good Eggs, as well. It was one of those Recommended graphic novels. I enjoyed it.
BookOfLife wrote: "Just read an ARC of Hereville, a graphic novel which apparently began as a webcomic, with an 11-year-old Orthodox troll-fighting heroine as protagonist. I loved it! Now I have to check out the webc..."I just ordered Book One. I'm looking forward to it.
Loved The Mathematician's Shiva. Haven't read the others.Yossi wrote: "I am reading A Mathematician's Shiva by
Stuart Rojstaczer, Panic in a Suitcase by Yelena Akhtiorskaya and The Opposite of Everything by David Kalish."
Yossi wrote: "Did you read A Guide for the Perplexed?"Not yet!
Erika wrote: "Yossi wrote: "Did you read A Guide for the Perplexed?"Not yet!"
It's WONDERFUL!
Erika wrote: "Loved The Mathematician's Shiva. Haven't read the others.Yossi wrote: "I am reading A Mathematician's Shiva by
Stuart Rojstaczer, Panic in a Suitcase by Yelena Akhtiorskaya and T..."
Panic in a Suitcase is very comical. I just started The Opposite of Everything. I HIGHLY recommend Boris Fishman's A Replacement Life and Anya Ulinich's Petropolis AND her graphic novel, Lena Finkle's Magic Barrel!!
I loved "The Mapmaker's Daughter," by Laurel Corona. We had the pleasure of hosting her to speak at our Jewish Book Festival in November. She is as good a speaker as she is a writer.
Jo Anne wrote: "I loved "The Mapmaker's Daughter," by Laurel Corona. We had the pleasure of hosting her to speak at our Jewish Book Festival in November. She is as good a speaker as she is a writer."I also liked The Mapmaker's Daughter very much. I just finished it and posted my review yesterday. You can read it at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Susan wrote: "I just finished Ruchama King's Seven Blessings last night -- and learned of this group and the event this morning. Talk about signs trying to tell me something!I'm excited to see this group. My b..."
I read King's In the Courtyard of the Kabbalist and our book discussion group read it. I loved it. Wonderful story. Seven Blessings is on my "bucket list"
BookOfLife wrote: "I read Sima's Undergarments for Women about a month ago and I found it really moving. Not happy, but meaningful. I think if I hadn't found stuff that related to my own feelings, I would have just f..."If you liked Papernick's There is No Other, check out his newest book, The Book of Stone and his other book of stories, The Ascent of Eli Israel.
Linda K. wrote: "Recently finished Good Eggs, a graphic memoir by Phoebe Potts, as part of a work-related assignment. It's a fascinating, funny, poignant, and incredibly honest book about topics many of us don't li..."I loved Good Eggs!!! It ended up being more a book about her life struggles, merely than the struggle with infertility. I look forward to reading more from Potts.
Elaine wrote: "My Sisterhood book club is always look ing for good books to read. Here are some of our favorites:All Other Nights - Dara Horne
The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak
The Covenant - Naomi Regan
The Ghost..."
Might I suggest Boris Fishman's A Replacement Life and (if you are open to graphic novels), Anya Ulinich's Lena Finkle's Magic Barrel
Erika wrote: "Reading Tova Reich's One Hundred Philistine Foreskins: A Novel. Anyone else reading it now?"I read it. Very, very odd story, but I LOVE her imagination. It was a very difficult read.
BookOfLife wrote: "Just read an ARC of Hereville, a graphic novel which apparently began as a webcomic, with an 11-year-old Orthodox troll-fighting heroine as protagonist. I loved it! Now I have to check out the webc..."I just finished Book One and I LOVED IT!! I had never seen a graphic novel with Orthodox characters. I love the illustrations and the characters, especially. I'm awaitin' Book Two from the library
I am about halfway through Amy Fellner-Dominy's OyMG (I'm a Youth Services librarian and am always looking for good Jewish books for the kinderlech). It's really engaging and I think that I will be recommend it to Bas Mitzvah-aged kids.
Susan wrote: "I just finished Ruchama King's Seven Blessings last night -- and learned of this group and the event this morning. Talk about signs trying to tell me something!I'm excited to see this group. My b..."
Susan, Jonathan Papernick's The Ascent of Eli Israel and There is No Other, if y'all are into short stories. His novel, The Book of Stone is coming out in March. I'm trying to get my book groups and others to get into graphic novels. Leela Corman's Unterzacht and Anya Ulinich's Lena Finkle's Magic Barrel are must-reads.
Elyse wrote: ""Textile" by Orley Castle-Bloom was a fabulous small book!"I LOVED that book! http://www.erikadreifus.com/2013/10/w...
I think I neglected to post this, which summarizes my "Jewish reading" for 2014:http://www.erikadreifus.com/2014/12/m...
I love Castel-Bloom's writing. Her work is always something that makes me wish I could read Hebrew, instead of having to wait for/depend on translations. (But it also makes me *super*-grateful to the translators.) Elyse wrote: "Erika: I did too! 'Textile' seemed like such a different type of book written by an Israeli author --
I thought their was a lot of truth said under the 'tongue-and-cheek storytelling.
Crazy di..."
I am reading Sweet Like Sugar by Wayne Hoffman, as a monthly read in a new group on Goodreads called, Jewish Book ClubI will return later to give a review.
I finished Enchantress by Maggie Anton. It is the continuation of Rav Hisda's Daughter. We picked Enchantress for our Jewish community read this year, 2015. We are excited that author, Maggie Anton will be coming to our event this coming Monday. The book, Enchantress is better than her previous books. I recommend it highly. It is a mix of Harry Potter. It is magic, amulets, potions, witches, and demons during talmudic times. Wonderful read.
Just finished Day after Night by Anita Diamant. Seems that I am the odd ball. I did not appreciate the book. The story seemed to go on, and on with nothing to say. Then finally toward the end something happened. But, that is my take. Not everyone likes the same kind of book. The New York Times wrote that is was one of their best.
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