More than Matzoh Balls: My Search for Jewish-American Identity

by Linda Brody Bakst

This is a reflective memoir of Jewish-American identity, tracing the author's coming-of-age in mid-20th-century Brooklyn through family history, cultural assimilation, faith, and trauma inherited from the Holocaust. It blends personal narrative, generational history, and social commentary, written in clear, emotionally grounded prose. The tone is intimate yet accessible, combining family nostalgia with sociocultural insight.

286 pages, Paperback

Published February 15, 2026

Reviews

[Annaliese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a loving tribute to the author’s family and a hopeful look towards her (and their) future. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the present day with that of the past.

I highly recommend this book to those seeking insight into other viewpoints and experiences.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a memoir, but it is also more than a memoir. It follows the author’s life from a childhood in Brooklyn searching for her place in the world through her adulthood, and the at times challenging merging of her and her husband’s Jewish-American identities and traditions. But this book also traces the Holocaust experiences of her husband’s parents and her grandparents, and the legacy and lessons that trauma has left for the next generations.

The stories are heart-rending and important, and understanding diasporic Jewish identity and experience is particularly relevant given the stark rise in anti-semitism over the last couple of years. But the stories are also relatable; the search to understand who we are and where we come from, how we find community, what our values are and how we convey them to our children are universal. Brody Bakst’s writing is engrossing and evocative. She weaves these stories together deftly, and though the subject-matter is often heavy, there is also joy and humor. Stories like these are vital and help us understand ourselves; this book is certainly well worth a read.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do family traditions and history shape a person’s quest for identity? Bakst’s memoir delves into these issues with grace and honesty. Her quest to find her place in the world as a Jewish American takes us from her childhood in Brooklyn in a multi-family household to building a life with her husband in Pittsburgh, PA and upstate New York and beyond. Her stories draw from her own extended family experiences as well as those of her husband, whose parents were Holocaust survivors. In telling these stories, Bakst examines the role her Jewish heritage has played in her life while navigating her coming of age, marriage and family, having a career, and contributing to her community. Her journey is well worth taking.

[Nicolette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through alternating chapters, the book explores how identity is shaped by the past, weaving in essential stories from the author’s in-laws, Holocaust survivors whose experiences reverberate across generations. While Jewish-American identity anchors the narrative, the author reaches far beyond it, examining identity across age, gender, and family roles. The result is a thoughtful, highly readable take on how inherited history informs who we become.

I am honored to have received an ARC of this special publication.

[B E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like so many good memoirs, “More than Matzoh Balls” brought laughter, tears, reflection, and inspiration. From tensions over bridesmaids’ dresses to heart-wrenching love stories to survival amid the horrors of the Holocaust, the author weaves generations of stories together, and the resulting tapestry mirrors the layered and complex narratives we carry within ourselves.

Linda’s writing is funny yet thoughtful, smart yet down-to-earth. I found myself taking stock of my own story, as well as the stories of those who came before me. Through her search for community and identity, the author not only finds herself, but also offers lessons on how to be a loving daughter and partner, a compassionate mother, and a deeply caring person.