Nice Jewish Girls: Growing Up in America

by Marlene Adler Marks, Grace Paley, Laura Shaine Cunningham

“While nearly every Jewish female reader will find herself reflected here, the poignancy of these stories will be felt by readers of all ethnicities.”— Library Journal

Chicken soup and Barbra Streisand, lost fathers and first dates, Hebrew school and Queen Esther, seders and seductions. In this insightful, original anthology, forty-five American Jewish writers explore the richness of their shared heritage, from the tragic to the trivial.
 
In memoirs, fiction, and poetry new and favorite writers like Grace Paley, Amy Bloom, Vivian Gornick, and Laura Cunningham brilliantly reveal the challenges of coming of age as a Jewish woman in America today.
 
What have we lost that our mothers and grandmothers had? Do we still feel close ties to family and community? Can we make a decent pot roast?
 
This spirited collection is full of humor and wisdom, memory and affection—and there isn’t a Jewish girl (nice or otherwise) who won’t find herself reflected in these vibrant pages.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, History

292 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1996

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was published in 1996 and as such some of the stories seem dated. This what the memories can share with you a look back at time and with that you can see how life has moved forward.

There are over forty stories and poems that may cause you to laugh, cry, worry, and basically just wonder. The book tends lend itself to the stereotypical Jewish family life, you will also see that many families go through the same problems and even joy.

As a compilation of stories it is broken down into four parts with themes based on the Jewish prayer "V'ahavta." The word "v'ahavta" means "love." As a prayer it means all the way Jewish people show their love for God.

[Justin Pellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt compilation of memoirs

[Pegi · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with all books of short stories and poems~ some are very good and some leave you wanting better
The Author was a friend who passed away from Cancer number of years ago ~ sad as she was my age ...

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting compilation though many of the pieces were from a generation different than mine---so the issues were interesting but different in a lot of ways than my experiences.

[Adele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some stories were ok; some I did not appreciate. I found the book tolerable, but just barely.