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Stacey wrote: "Jan- Here is what I did.
Looked up comments re antisemitic of the book Olive Kitteridge..
They are from "BookBrowse" under Autumn Reading, Oct 28th 2009.
Here are just a a few....and all loved the..."

Thanks, Stacey. No, I don't believe the author has an issue.

Remember, all this is over a decade ago. Remember back then how most Jews were being told how lucky we are and how there is no antisemitism in America. Elizabeth Strout was picking up on what's there in the culture. Back then some Jews likely preferred to see it as "her problem" and throw it back in her face. As if that would make it go away!

I plan to watch the mini series, soon I hope!

Thanks always for your input.

Stacey wrote: "Thank you to Jewish Book Council for sending me a copy of
"The Book of V." by Anna Solomon.
The synopsis of this novel is about showing how women's roles have and have not changed over thousands o..."

Wow, not being released til May. No wonder I couldn't find it! For those interested, ISBN-10 is 1250257018 Thanks, Stacey!

You are right Jan. Thank you..
The book can also be found by putting in the authors name-
Anna Solomon.

Stacey wrote: "Jan- Here is what I did.
Looked up comments re antisemitic of the book Olive Kitteridge..
They are from "BookBrowse" under Autumn Reading, Oct 28th 2009.
Here are just a a few....and all loved the..."

Depending on the intentions of the author, that would also be a red flag for me. Mostly if there is no perceptible growth in the character's ideas as the series progresses.

Jordyn wrote: ",,,Depending on the intentions of the author, that would also be a red flag for me. Mostly if there is no perceptible growth in the character's ideas as the series progresses."

Maybe I don't understand what Stacey and you are meaning by "a red flag." Are you or Stacey willing to say more?

For me, a red or yellow flag would mean something that would lead to an unfavorable opinion of the author or book. Something, that if explained, or later addressed in a satisfactory manner could change. In short, it makes me wonder about an author's intentions. To have a character that holds such opinions, and those opinions don't change over the course of the work is a red flag bc it appears that those behaviors or opinions are still considered normal. In historical context, they might be, but something still needs to demonstrate to the reader that growth is possible.

Jordyn wrote: "For me, a red or yellow flag would mean something that would lead to an unfavorable opinion of the author or book. Something, that if explained, or later addressed in a satisfactory manner could ch..."

Thanks, Jordyn. I came back to say 'strike that,' b/c I guessed I did know what you meant, but turns out I didn't in full, after all.

The different reactions any of us might have are interesting and could be instructive!

I grew up in the south and without extended family and not very embedded in any Jewish community, and I have heard a lot, so it might make me sad to hear that character's reaction but not surprised. Nor has it ever occurred to me that it would be the author's duty to change what she sees in order to instruct viewers. I think it's the author's duty to describe, and still could be a revelation to many people who aren't Jews who are in denial. Maybe b/c where/when I grew up, people were so genteel that such things were kept in the dark, and in the dark things fester. Kept me from knowing how in the world to deal with anything for many years.

But mainly not a red flag for me b/c I could clearly distinguish between the character's views and the author's. It's when I can't that it bothers me. An example: In Stephen King's Under the Dome, the liberal Christians are the good guys and the fundamentalists are the bad guys. And he had the liberal female pastor refer to the Christian New Testament as "the more enlightened Testament." And that still bugs me b/c so many people really think that, so I couldn't help think that may be what he thinks, too. Still bothers me!

So,--different settings, different history, different reactions?

Thank you for chiming in!

Jan- in your comment dated Oct 16th- where you said "Remember we were told how lucky were are and theres no anti-semitism"?
I was never told that. I was born and raised in a large city in the Midwest w/ many many jews. But I was a targets for the sixth grade anti semitic bullies and its teacher as well. Some of my girlfriends parents wouldnt allow me in their home and made fun of our cars callingthem Jew Canoes. In eight grade, my social studies teacher told our class that if you were Jewish by birth, you could never be the president of the USA. Moving on to college in Florida, I was asked many times if I was one of those New York Jews. I had no idea what that meant. My boyfriend left one night and never came back, bc I was Jewish. My father was a guest at someones club, and asked to leave by the manager in front of the member bc he was jewish.
There as always been antisemitism in our country. It begins at the dinner table.
I am also very aware that reviews and comments can be bought, which is why they are rumors until proven otherwise. Flags can removed, but the remarks can not.
2009 was a long time ago; long enough to understand sensitivity and tolerance. Was it necessary, as there is so much material to include it while no other references are made about any other religions etc.

I came from Russia and live in Texas. Worst things i had fo endure were christians who tried to convert me multiple times, and from one evangelical christian i had to hear that i wasnt a real Jew because my family werent practicing, and many times I would get passed over as a romantic partner because i wasnt a nice christian girl.

For those wondering why not a Jewish man, if you lived with my father you would understand.

Stacey wrote: "Jan- in your comment dated Oct 16th- where you said "Remember we were told how lucky were are and theres no anti-semitism"?
I was never told that. I was born and raised in a large city in the Midwe..."

Wow, Stacey and Aurora, how did we get from "What are you reading" to a major discussion of antisemitism? Did I start it all? In my comment No. 46, I talked about the mention of Jews in the book and by the character Olive Kitteridge that I hadn't discussed in my review. Ordinarily, in the past, before I was talking on here, I would have gone on and discussed it right in the review itself. I don't even know if it's better that I discussed here instead. I don't even know which is better to do. A lot to still think about, and I just don't have time to do it tonight. Just wanted to say something, though, since the conversation has veered quite a bit.

Stacey, one point. Other prejudice (not only agst Jews) does come up in the book.

Abraham

Hi, A.J. This is the discussion for readers. If you would be so kind, in the future please see the thread for Authors Announcing Their Work. I'm not the moderator -- I'm asking this in her absence -- we're trying this to make this group viable. Thanks for your understanding!

My apologies, I thought I was on the Author thread.

Understood. 👍

I have Marge Piercy's The Art of Blessing the Day: Poems with a Jewish Theme.

It's not unusual for me to discover a writer I've never heard of before. I heard of Marge Piercy simultaneously from three different directions. She had a poem in Moment Magazine recently. She has a novel suggested for one of our 2020 books to read for this book club. And the emeritus rabbi of my congregation read a poem that turned out to be the first one in this poetry collection and by the same name. I took all this as a sign to get this book.

Since I'm not too good at reading poetry, I only get poetry books that seem to be special and accessible.

Has anyone read Naomi Reagan's new book
"An Unorthodox Match "??

Stacey wrote: "Has anyone read Naomi Reagan's new book
"An Unorthodox Match "??"

I guess no-one read this yet?
I am fond of this author. She hasn't let me down. :)
I finished it a few weeks ago and enjoyed it.
Learned quite a bit about the Orthodox community in Ny.

I did read her book :) loved it. Would posting a link to my book review be okay?

Of course-
Put it under the listed topic of "authors announcing their books"

Stacey wrote: "Of course-
Put it under the listed topic of "authors announcing their books""

Aurora wrote: "I did read her book :) loved it. Would posting a link to my book review be okay?"

Here is where it goes after all. Stacey is promoting you to author! I think. Correct me if I'm wrong, Stacey!

Jan wrote: "I have Marge Piercy's The Art of Blessing the Day: Poems with a Jewish Theme.

It's not unusual for me to discover a writer I've never heard of before. I heard of Marge Piercy simulta..."

Marge Piercy is a blast from the past for me.... I know her from "Gone to Soldiers" an old favorite from the 80's! excellent saga (which would also be a great book club book!) I haven't read anything by her lately. Sounds like she' been writing in a very different direction! Sci Fi and poetry!?! wow

Excuse my error- I guess I did promote Aurora- Congrats :)
I did not see her word "review" . Read it w/o my contacts in.
In my mind I was two steps ahead; I thought that she finally decided to author a book in lieu of working as a reviewer.

In response to An Unorthodox Match. I Have not read as of yet. I put it on my want to read list from your suggestion.

I have read The covenant and The Sister Weiss in the past. Both very different books but very well written. What you are describing sounds similar to Sister Weiss, which gave a strong look into the Brooklyn Hasidic community.

The Orthodox theme is -similar, yes; though it comes through two opposite lenses. One being insular, other being _____.
If I write anymore, I will spoil it. :)

debra luger wrote: "...Marge Piercy is a blast from the past for me.... I know her from "Gone to Soldiers" an old favorite from the 80's! excellent saga (which would also be a great book club book!) I haven't read anything by her lately. Sounds like she' been writing in a very different direction! Sci Fi and poetry!?! wow."

Ha ha, you just made me go to Amazon -- actually, it was eBay -- and buy another book of her poems, Debra! She seems to have written everything -- novels, plays, essays, poetry. I can't remember if there's a memoir. I bought a used book of poems about Detroit for my son-in-law who's from there.

I take my poetry slow, maybe one per day. I'm just learning.

I read the graphic novel The Hard Tomorrow by Eleanor Davis a few weeks ago. My review, if you're interested: /review/show...
The main character is Jewish. I love the artwork. It seems to me the author must be Jewish also because she made the protagonist so real and not some kind of symbol of something. Of course, I don't know that (whether the author is Jewish), but that is what I thought.

I am reading the nonfiction book Year Zero: A History of 1945. My husband and I have been reading it out loud at dinner and have been on it for a long time and in the final third now. It looks at what it was really like after the war, for the winners and losers, in the countries that were occupied during the war and those that weren't, in western and eastern Europe, Asia etc, and it replaces our mythology about the aftermath with a more accurate picture. We've been reading it forever but I'm learning a lot.

Jan wrote: "I am reading the nonfiction book Year Zero: A History of 1945. My husband and I have been reading it out loud at dinner and have been on it for a long time and in the final third no..."

Jan
Your post about Year Zero interests me as I studied what life was like in the Netherlands in 1945 for both the Dutch and returning Jewish holocaust survivors when writing my book Mendelevskis Box.
Much has been written, quite rightly, about the holocaust but little about the aftermath of people trying to rebuild their lives and no mention is ever made of it in schools here in UK

The link below is a review / precis of my book by Liesbeth Heenk of Amsterdam Publishers who specialise in WWII, Holocaust and Jewish memoirs (their catalogue of memoirs in particular is outstanding members here would enjoy many of the titles I'm sure). My effort is fictional of course but I hope it depicts life in late 1945 in Amsterdam for a young Jewish survivor

I would welcome your comments (or criticisms) or those from anyone else in this group should you read it



/book/show/4...

Incidentally I like Burumas work very much His 'Murder in Amsterdam, the death of Theo Van Gogh and the limits of tolerance' is outstanding (but no Jewish links though)

Please, please, please read this, Roger:

A note to authors: during the Jewish Book Club's "wild, wild west" era with no active moderation, authors were promoting their books all over the site. Now that we're returning to our stated purpose of literary discussion, we have created an "Authors Announcing Their Work" thread dedicated to, yes, announcing your work. But remember this is a site for book discussion and not the place for pursuing buyers or readers. Please don't start new threads about your book or turn other discussions to your book.

Last night The Jewish Council held their annual "Author Book Awards" event in NYC
I am posting a few of the winners.
To see other winners and finalists, go to jewishbookcouncil.com

JEWISH BOOK OF THE YEAR
"America's Jewish Women: A History from Colonial Times to....
by Pamela Nadell

FICTION
"Fly Already"
by Etgar Keret

DEBUT FICTION
"Naamah"
by Sarah Blake

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
"Gittel's Journey: An Ellis Island Story
by Lesle'a Newman

YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE
"Someday We Will Fly"
by Rachel DeWoskin

BOOK CLUB AWARD
"The World That We Knew: A Novel"
by Alice Hoffman

AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND MEMOIR
"Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy,..."
by Dani Shapiro

BIOGRAPHY
"Touched with Fire ; Morris B. Abram and the Battle against Racial.."
by David E. Lowe

CONTEMPORARY JEWISH LIFE AND PRACTICE
"How to Fight Anti-Semitism"
by Bari Weiss

EDUCATION AND JEWISH IDENTITY
"Antisemitism Here and Now"
by Deborah Lipstadt

MODERN JEWISH THOUGHT AND EXPERIENCE
"Legacy of Blood: Jews,Pogroms, and the Ritual Murder in the...."
by Elissa Bemporad

AMERICAN JEWISH STUDIES
"The Foundations of American Jewish Liberalism
by Kenneth D. Wald

HISTORY
"The Guarded Gate: Bigotry, Eugenics, and the Law That Kept..."
by Daniel Okrent

HOLOCAUST
"The Unwanted: America, Auschwitz, and a Village Caught In ..."
by Michael Dobbs

***I am seeing a common denominator within many of these books.

Thank you, Stacey!
....Been thinking: should we have a folder for Other Book-Related Discussions, such as announcements of awards etc? Probably I should mention that over in the Feedback discussion, but putting it here at the moment!

Stacey wrote: "Last night The Jewish Council held their annual "Author Book Awards" event in NYC
I am posting a few of the winners.
To see other winners and finalists, go to jewishbookcouncil.com

JEWISH BOOK OF ..."

Thanks for posting these. I'm so bummed Etgar Keret won the fiction award. Really? I used to be a huge fan but it was the book for ke that just made me to of him and I saw a couple of other reviewers who had similar reactions. He's fresh and interesting and quirky and fun when you first discover him but it tires... And I've read so many other fantastic Jewish fiction last year. My absolute favorite book of the year and I've been raging since i read an early review copy (then I actually won a signed finished copy from JBC!) Was Goldie Goldbloom's On Division. Definitely give her a read. I noticed several people had been discussing the new Regan book. Read that too and I have a lot of complex feelings about Regan overall (uh look up the many accusations and legal cases against her for plagiarism if you want to be conflicted too... But also I find some of her writing really.... Simplistic?) Anyway I feel like Goldbloom's book is a far superior alternative to Regan and found myself saying as much as the Regan books end up being the it Jewish book club or women's society reads, I really hoped the Goldbloom book would be (guess I'm a decade in the past and everyone has been hooked on Hoffman now. Ha. But I still remember the hype over The Covenant and that's the one that really disappointed me. Recent Regan books have been a lot better, in my mind).

Anyway, personal feelings aside, I definitely do think most Regan fans would love Goldbloom's On Division. Goldbloom is Hasidic and so are her characters in On Division. While I've seen plenty of Hasidic folks who don't agree with Regan's depictions I've been told the Hasidic response to Goldbloom has been positive. But sort of similar themes, the interpersonal challenges of living in such a tightknit community where reputation means so much. Also thought On Division was an amazing character study. Didn't always like what happened in the book but the book got me so deeply inside the main character's head that I could understand her choices, if that makes sense? So much talent to be able to write a character like that, I think.

But enough from me. Curious, what was everyone else's favorite Jewish fiction book of 2019?

Hi. Thank you for such an insightful response. I read one of Keret's
books not that long ago, enjoyed it and have this one on my TRL.
I had no idea about Naomi Reagan's issues. Really?? You shocked me on that one.
I did read "On Division", but at this moment I am so tired that I am confusing books in my head.
I will pick this up again in the morning after my second or third cup of coffee, and also explain what I know about the JBC award choices.
Have a peaceful night.

I feel like Keret is best in small doses because what makes him so unique kind of becomes formulaic if you read too many in a row. There’s certainly other authors who lose their sparkle that way too, but perhaps because his whole thing is short, often very short, stories, it’s even easier to hit that point. Then again, how many authors are ever able to put out the volume of short stories he has. So I’m still a fan but Fly Already kind of let me down. I think his memoir, The Seven Good Years (which I believe one a JBC award as well and is the book that made him big at least here in the states) is his best work.

Regarding Naomi Regan... so I googled again and oof the original plagiarism case is complicated and was appealed several times (she lost and was eventually forced to edit passages out of Sotah) and it’s hard to know what to think but... it’s also not the only case and that’s pretty damning in my mind. Lots of stuff out there though and from what I could tell the cases all occurred in Israel and even the results of the second one were... nuanced? I think that kind of thing is usually hard to prove but... interesting to know nonetheless. And I remain conflicted and unsure what to make of it. Drink an extra cup of coffee when you go digging into it!

Late, but promised is the continuation of the above discussion. Distractions pre-empted my coffee fix this morning.
I haven't had a chance to look at any info. regarding Naomi Reagen, but I did enjoy her latest book.
More so, on that subject, I'm hoping to be fair with myself when it comes to separating a book from it's author.
I'm sorry you were disappointed in "Fly Already" as a winning novel.
I went back to look at the books you compared, making sure I don't confuse the books.
Both were good; yet I found it difficult for comparison due to different subject topics. Yes, Keret understands his formula of short quick reads, which work for his audience.
I do, understand you are not complaining about the judging process, just disappointed.
What I know, as you probably do about the JB Council is ..
There is a publishing time line for books being submitted, a diversified panel of judges, and a professional outline of criteria set for those judges to follow.
And.. similar to the "Academy Awards", decisions discussed in choosing a subject that hasn't been overdone and pertinent in todays climate, especially with YA.
Because JBC is connected with so many authors and publishers, they hold an annual conference with over 240 authors in attendance promoting their books to a large audience. Its a fabulous marketing tool for them, but it is not free, nor are guaranteed sales..
Incidentally, many authors with name recognition, as well as many authors whose names we may not know...yet, do not attend for a variety of reasons. That said- I might assume that to qualify for an award, the author must be a member; not to say that Goldbloom isn't; but may have not met the criteria.

****P.S. - did you recognize the common denominator in many of the winning books?
///////
So, knowing there are many authors in our GR group who have attended a JBC conference, who could jump in right about now to elaborate or correct me? :)

What is the Talmudic or Yiddish version of "killing the goose that laid the golden egg?" My point while it can seem like a great idea to promote or advertise our own work or that of a friend on the Jewish Book Club, that's short-sighted. Who was utilizing this site back when it was so taken over by author promotions and not much else? We're just beginning to get going again! So we're not some huge impersonal space. We're real people trying to talk books. If we build it they will come. But if we turn it into an infomercial, not so much!

With that, welcome to the Jewish Book Club, Judy. In fact, welcome to ŷ������ as well. I'm so glad you enjoyed the book.

I saw you also read The First Mrs. Rothschild. I'm quite curious about that one, and if you review it, I'd love to read it.

A fellow member of one of my other book clubs gave me several books to put in my Little Free Library. One of them is The Puttermesser Papers, and it didn't make it into the Little Free Library, not yet, anyway. Another golem story!

Just finished the book "An Innocent Bystander: The Killing of Leon Klinghoffer" by Julie Salamon. Excellent read and highly recommend to this group. I learned so much from this book and her research was impeccable.

That terrorist attack was heinous and cruel.
If I am not mistaken, the PLF hijacked the ship to____?
demanding that Israel release jailed Palestinians, or they would kill the hostages beginning with an American first?
I am very curious about the information you learned.
Could you share a few facts with us???

I’m listening on audio to The Red and the Black by Stendhal. So far no Jewish characters but that’s fine. I’m a huge fan of literature pre-1900 but it’s been a while so it is wonderful to be returning there. Authors certainly took more time to tell their stories.

Downloaded the Alice Hoffman for the march read.

Let us know how you liked the audio version.
Curious if you are finding it more dramatic this way.???

I've just finished reading 'Remembering Jewish Amsterdam' by Philo Bregstein and Salvador Bloemgarten translated fom the original Dutch edition by Wanda Boeke and published by Holmes and Meir of London and New York.
It's an evocative mosaic of the memories of 77 Jewish narrators who talk about all aspects of their lives in Amsterdam between 1900 and 1940. Trades, professions, unions and clubs, synagogues, neighbourhoods, living conditions, music and sport it's all there giving a fascinating insight into little known aspects of Jewish life in those years

Based on your description of this book, it looks like you found interesting and different info than what one would expect in European countries.
Could you give an example?
Thank you for this update.

Stacey-a great narrator does wonders for a book. You can
check samples of any book read on audible.com. I know one
of the people doing the voices on the Hoffman book, by
reputation and he's a very beloved actor.

I finished "The Inn at Lake Divine" yesterday, though haven't rated it yet.
It was time for me to read a random book; something a little outside the box from my norm.
Chose the book "The Fifth Avenue Society" by Rachel Hauck.
and began reading it at 3am.
omg..does anyones spouse have sleep apnea? :)
Actually, this book jumped out at me -when perusing my TRL.
I suppose I may know why when I finish it.
The synopsis looked innocent enough to be different, for me.

Just got, The Splendid and the Vile, by Eric Larson. I am
so excited to read it.

I have it too. lmk what you think of it.
Welcome back to JBC.
You have been MIA for a while.
Hoping you are well, andI am so happy see your name here again!!!

I am about to finish The Pawnbroker which was written by my friends father, Edward Lewis Wallant. Unfortunately this author died when he was only 34 but if not today he would be compared to Phillip Roth? Bernard Malamud and Cynthia Ozick.

This book is beautifully written but so sad. The story of a survivor from Bergen Belsen concentration camp, this man works as s Pawnbroker in Manhattan with his sister, her husband Nd their two children. Things should be ok for this man but he is beset by memories and anger. I highly recommend this book.

Nancy from NJ wrote: "I am about to finish The Pawnbroker which was written by my friends father, Edward Lewis Wallant. Unfortunately this author died when he was only 34 but if not today he would be compared to Phillip..."

Nancy, I am going to be requesting nominations of classics of Jewish literature for our next poll, by which I mean the Jewish American writers of the last century, Israeli/translations from Hebrew, translations from Yiddish, and classics from the German-Jewish and Wiemar eras (and maybe other eras too). Meant to do it earlier but too much has been going on. Hopefully Sat. night or Sunday. Perhaps you'll consider nominating The Pawnbroker!

I also will be suggesting nominations that aren't the most familiar works by the various authors.

I haven't read that one but saw the movie, although maybe not such as to really understand!

I will certainly nominate The Pawnbroker for the next time period. There were parts of this book which were so beautifully written and I would love to discuss this with others.