The Linotype Operator

by Michael Robert Wolf

Set in present-day Brooklyn and Manhattan - with historic monuments and institutions as background characters - The Linotype Operator is the story of Orthodox Jewish former Linotype operator David Kaplan and his two daughters. Dutiful and religiously observant Naomi is 48 and single and lives with her father in Brooklyn. Her “prettier” younger sister, Lisa, is married, has two young children, and lives in the suburban community of Englewood, New Jersey. After meeting a handsome non-Jewish man at the Macy’s housewares department where she works, Naomi’s periodic daydreams begin to get the best of her - setting in motion a collision of worlds that can scarcely be contained in either Brooklyn or Manhattan. Sprinkled with wry humor, and including a cast of unusual supporting characters, The Linotype Operator gives the listener a deeply poignant look into parallel New York worlds and lives.

294 pages, Paperback

Published June 17, 2016

About the author

Michael Robert Wolf was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1976, he graduated magna cum laude in English and literature from Temple University. Eventually, he moved to Cincinnati to serve in ministry related activities. In addition to his involvement in Messianic Jewish community work, Wolf is an avid writer of books, plays, and screenplays. His latest book, The Linotype Operator, is published by Finishing Line Press, and will be released in June of 2016. New York Times number one and Oprah selection author Jacqueline Mitchard has written about The Linotype Operator, "It enchanted me in a a way I've been enchanted by only a handful of stories over the last ten years. When I finished it, I wanted to read it all over again." He also wrote the novel The Upper Zoo, published in 2012 by Destiny Image, which rose to number three across all genres at Amazon.com. In addition, he wrote and directed the film The Sound of the Spirit--also released in 2012--which consistently hovers around 8.0 on the Internet Movie Database, and has been shown several times on various television networks around the world. He currently lives in Cincinnati with his wife Rachel, an author and editor of NorthLight art books.

Reviews

[Leah Maines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! I laughed; I cried, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the manuscript when I first read it. I liked it so much that I selected it for publication with Finishing Line Press.

The Linotype Operator
a new novel by Michael Robert Wolf
...

Set in present day Brooklyn and Manhattan—with historic monuments and institutions as background characters — The Linotype Operator is the story of Orthodox Jewish former Linotype operator David Kaplan and his two daughters. Dutiful and religiously observant Naomi is forty-eight, single, and lives with her father in Brooklyn. Her “prettier” younger sister Lisa is married, has two young children, and lives in the suburban community of Englewood, New Jersey.After meeting a handsome non-Jewish man at the Macy’s housewares department where she works, Naomi’s periodic daydreams begin to get the best of her—setting in motion a collision of worlds that can scarcely be contained in either Brooklyn or Manhattan. Sprinkled with wry humor, and including a cast of unusual supporting characters, The Linotype Operator gives the reader a deeply poignant look into parallel New York worlds and lives.

Here are what others have said about this book:

“I don’t know if Michael Robert Wolf’s The Linotype Operator is a great novel or a good novel, but I do know that this unassuming story of a devout Brooklyn Jew and his not-so-wayward daughter enchanted me in a way I’ve been enchanted by only a handful of stories over the past ten years. When I finished it, I wanted to read it all over again.”

Jacquelyn Mitchard
author of #1 New York Times bestseller and Oprah selection The Deep End of the Ocean

"Michael Robert Wolf, in his novel The Linotype Operator, immerses us in a world to which most of us otherwise would not have access, the world of a father and daughter who devoutly adhere to the Jewish Orthodox tradition. There is corruption, intrigue and murder in the Big Apple. Also, filial devotion, sibling rivalry and one family torn by dysfunction, striving for reconciliation. And saga of biblical proportions, complete with sparring religious beliefs, the struggles of Tradition to survive and flourish in today’s bewildering world and a sage-like quest toward revelation. We are entirely drawn in to the minds, hearts and souls of Wolf’s characters as they cast off their demons and strive to attain their dreams. What a journey. Don’t miss it!"

Sherri Felt Dratfield

author of The City and Water Vigils

[Terri Gillespie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique story with quirky, lovable, believable characters. Wolf's second novel is even more rich than his previous book, THE UPPER ZOO. Readers will enter the private world of an Orthodox Jewish family who is about to undergo unexpected changes.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, though it's marred by proofreading errors (it's for its, peak for peek, inauthentic Italian) and some of the main characters are cardboard cutouts, e.g. the schlemiel and the handsome pious gentile detective. I liked the main character, the linotypist's daughter, wishing her well all through the story so much that I read the book in a day as fast as I might a thriller.

[Anycard · Rating 1 out of 5]

couldn't finish it. these are the fakest supposed-to-be-Orthodox-Jewish characters I've ever read about.