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My Mother's Son
My Mother's Son, the meticulously-crafted debut novel from David Hirshberg, is a story told by a radio raconteur revisiting his past in post-World War II Boston, the playground and battleground for two brothers whose lives are transformed by discoveries they never could have imagined. From the opening line of the book, When you're a kid, they don't always tell you the truth, the stage is set for this riveting coming-of-age story that plays out against the backdrop of the Korean War, the aftermath of the Holocaust, the polio epidemic, the relocation of a baseball team, and the shenanigans of politicians and businessmen. Hirshberg deftly weaves together events, characters, and clues and creates a rich tapestry of betrayal, persecution, death, loyalty, and unconditional love that resonates with today's America.
357 pages, Hardcover
Published May 15, 2018
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1779 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
March 26, 2021
Update -- This book is a $1.99 Kindle special today -- I thought it was great -- and good price to boot!
“My Mother’s Son” is a highly pleasurable novel...engrossing and irresistible!
We are transported back to the 1950’s through the voice of Joel, who for forty-seven years had worked as a radio raconteur. Upon retirement, Joe writes his memoir.
“Reflected in it is a story both personal and universal that I skirted around gingerly for all these years, a memoir about betrayal, disease, gambling, death, bribery, persecution, kidnapping, war, politics, escape, loyalty, forgery, unconditional love, depression, Marines, theft, girls, and a dog”.
For most of Joel’s growing years in Boston, if you had asked what he wanted to be when he was growing up... he might have said a baseball player, veterinarian, an accountant, a furniture dealer, or a doctor.... but the reality was he had no idea of what he was going to do - for those 47 years - or what he wanted to be - until he did it. Yet as we follow along - side by side - as the 13 year old Joel tells us his story - it doesn’t seem surprising that Joel did in fact become “The Guy On The Radio”.
The first sentence of this novel is powerful and profound but grows even richer in meaning as we journey through the delightful storytelling by debut author David Hirshberg.
“WHEN YOU’RE A KID, THEY DON’T AWAYS TELL YOU THE TRUTH”.
This book is a family-saga fiction story — with fabulous characters: Joel’s older brother by 2 years, Steven, mom, dad, Auntie Rose, ( with her wonderful inserted diary readings), Uncle Jake, Old Uncle A, Papa, Noodge Mauer, Myandrew, Frankie, Morone, Mr. Perini, Mr. Carlson, Susie, BlueDog,etc.......
This novel is also literary fiction- historical fiction - and Jewish fiction..... taking place in Boston 1952...during the polio epidemic- the world of baseball: ( The Boston Braves relocate to Milwaukee and all the drama it entailed)...post-WWII Boston, the aftermath of the Holocaust, The Korean War, Jewish experiences in America, and overall American Culture through our politicians, businessman and daily life.
The heart of this story - is a personal profound lie- which Joel discovers through the process of living itself. I found it deeply moving - and am still thinking about it.
“To be a kid, baseball is leather mitts, rubber balls, wooden bats, insignias,
pennants, parks, and hotdogs. Polio is doctors, hospitals, shots, paralysis, wheelchairs, and lowered voices. War is salutes and metals, pretend battles, make-believe deaths, days off from school, guns, and parades. Politics is elections, Speeches, buttons, flags, handshakes, history, and rallies.”
“These were the things I knew, for sure, in Boston in 1952. They were truths. They were no less true than the knowledge that my parents wouldn’t lie to me, that the mystery of girls would never be revealed to me, that death came only to the old, and man’s best friend was a dog.”
“By the end of that year, I can tell you that I still believed the thing about the dog”.
Emotionally satisfying!!!!! I cried quietly about 10 minutes ‘after’ I had finished reading this book. The richness is substantial! - enough to make this woman cry.
This book will be released in stores of May - 2018!
*A little bonus for me.....I was born in the year 1952
“My Mother’s Son” is a highly pleasurable novel...engrossing and irresistible!
We are transported back to the 1950’s through the voice of Joel, who for forty-seven years had worked as a radio raconteur. Upon retirement, Joe writes his memoir.
“Reflected in it is a story both personal and universal that I skirted around gingerly for all these years, a memoir about betrayal, disease, gambling, death, bribery, persecution, kidnapping, war, politics, escape, loyalty, forgery, unconditional love, depression, Marines, theft, girls, and a dog”.
For most of Joel’s growing years in Boston, if you had asked what he wanted to be when he was growing up... he might have said a baseball player, veterinarian, an accountant, a furniture dealer, or a doctor.... but the reality was he had no idea of what he was going to do - for those 47 years - or what he wanted to be - until he did it. Yet as we follow along - side by side - as the 13 year old Joel tells us his story - it doesn’t seem surprising that Joel did in fact become “The Guy On The Radio”.
The first sentence of this novel is powerful and profound but grows even richer in meaning as we journey through the delightful storytelling by debut author David Hirshberg.
“WHEN YOU’RE A KID, THEY DON’T AWAYS TELL YOU THE TRUTH”.
This book is a family-saga fiction story — with fabulous characters: Joel’s older brother by 2 years, Steven, mom, dad, Auntie Rose, ( with her wonderful inserted diary readings), Uncle Jake, Old Uncle A, Papa, Noodge Mauer, Myandrew, Frankie, Morone, Mr. Perini, Mr. Carlson, Susie, BlueDog,etc.......
This novel is also literary fiction- historical fiction - and Jewish fiction..... taking place in Boston 1952...during the polio epidemic- the world of baseball: ( The Boston Braves relocate to Milwaukee and all the drama it entailed)...post-WWII Boston, the aftermath of the Holocaust, The Korean War, Jewish experiences in America, and overall American Culture through our politicians, businessman and daily life.
The heart of this story - is a personal profound lie- which Joel discovers through the process of living itself. I found it deeply moving - and am still thinking about it.
“To be a kid, baseball is leather mitts, rubber balls, wooden bats, insignias,
pennants, parks, and hotdogs. Polio is doctors, hospitals, shots, paralysis, wheelchairs, and lowered voices. War is salutes and metals, pretend battles, make-believe deaths, days off from school, guns, and parades. Politics is elections, Speeches, buttons, flags, handshakes, history, and rallies.”
“These were the things I knew, for sure, in Boston in 1952. They were truths. They were no less true than the knowledge that my parents wouldn’t lie to me, that the mystery of girls would never be revealed to me, that death came only to the old, and man’s best friend was a dog.”
“By the end of that year, I can tell you that I still believed the thing about the dog”.
Emotionally satisfying!!!!! I cried quietly about 10 minutes ‘after’ I had finished reading this book. The richness is substantial! - enough to make this woman cry.
This book will be released in stores of May - 2018!
*A little bonus for me.....I was born in the year 1952
April 14, 2018
4+ stars .
What a fantastic debut! This novel is in the form of a memoir narrated by Joel, a retired radio show host. It is the story of a young Jewish boy growing up in the 1950’s in Boston so by its very nature it a a story of the Jewish experience, about the Holocaust - through the story of Joel’s Uncle Jake and how he escaped being sent to the camps. This story is many more things, though. With its fantastic sense of time and place, we get a depiction of some of the major events shaping the country in the 50’s - the polio epidemic, the Korean War. It’s an intimate portrait of Boston in the 50’s replete with corrupt politics at $5 a vote, with gambling payoffs, and the Boston Braves departure to Milwaukee. Joel and his brother Steven are very much in the thick of things, although not at first knowing what’s behind them, as they deliver envelopes full of money for their Papa and his friends. It’s a coming of age novel as Joel gradually discovers what’s been happening as well as the other secrets held by his family.
I enjoyed so many things about this book. What a cast of colorful characters- Myandrew, Noodge Maher, Frankie, Morone, Murph Feldman, Derby Canurbi, Chief Stinkowski, Papa, Uncle Jake and Auntie Rose whose diary entries are interspersed throughout. And I can’t forget the connections with real life people such as Honey Fitz, Tip O’Neill, JFK. These real people connecting with the fictional characters was reminiscent of books by E.L. Doctorow. I might have given this a full five stars, but I thought the politics and baseball stuff was a little drawn out in the middle. This story is about so many things, not the least of which is family and unconditional love. Highly recommended!
I received an advanced copy of this book from Fig Tree Books through Edelweiss.
What a fantastic debut! This novel is in the form of a memoir narrated by Joel, a retired radio show host. It is the story of a young Jewish boy growing up in the 1950’s in Boston so by its very nature it a a story of the Jewish experience, about the Holocaust - through the story of Joel’s Uncle Jake and how he escaped being sent to the camps. This story is many more things, though. With its fantastic sense of time and place, we get a depiction of some of the major events shaping the country in the 50’s - the polio epidemic, the Korean War. It’s an intimate portrait of Boston in the 50’s replete with corrupt politics at $5 a vote, with gambling payoffs, and the Boston Braves departure to Milwaukee. Joel and his brother Steven are very much in the thick of things, although not at first knowing what’s behind them, as they deliver envelopes full of money for their Papa and his friends. It’s a coming of age novel as Joel gradually discovers what’s been happening as well as the other secrets held by his family.
I enjoyed so many things about this book. What a cast of colorful characters- Myandrew, Noodge Maher, Frankie, Morone, Murph Feldman, Derby Canurbi, Chief Stinkowski, Papa, Uncle Jake and Auntie Rose whose diary entries are interspersed throughout. And I can’t forget the connections with real life people such as Honey Fitz, Tip O’Neill, JFK. These real people connecting with the fictional characters was reminiscent of books by E.L. Doctorow. I might have given this a full five stars, but I thought the politics and baseball stuff was a little drawn out in the middle. This story is about so many things, not the least of which is family and unconditional love. Highly recommended!
I received an advanced copy of this book from Fig Tree Books through Edelweiss.
May 22, 2018
4.5 charming stars to My Mother’s Son! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟.5
Thank you to my friends, Elyse and Angela, for this wonderful recommendation. I am ecstatic after reading this book.
Joel worked as a radio host for over 40 years, and he is our narrator with the present day being the 1950s (one of my favorite time periods of which to read because both my parents were children during that time). Joel tells us the story of his life in post WWII Boston.
Hot button issues of the time form the historical backdrop of this endearing story and include the Korean War, the polio epidemic, the years after the Holocaust, and all the various political scandals.
My Mother’s Son is a carefully woven tale of the same topics that know no time and place- betrayal and hate, and on the flip side, steadfastness and immense love. I took off half a star just because some of the baseball stuff was a little draggy to me (I’m just not a baseball fan). Otherwise, this is book gold!
Thank you to David Hirshberg for this lovely debut, as well as Fig Tree Books and Edelweiss for ARC. My Mother’s Son is available now!
My reviews can also be found on my blog. www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Thank you to my friends, Elyse and Angela, for this wonderful recommendation. I am ecstatic after reading this book.
Joel worked as a radio host for over 40 years, and he is our narrator with the present day being the 1950s (one of my favorite time periods of which to read because both my parents were children during that time). Joel tells us the story of his life in post WWII Boston.
Hot button issues of the time form the historical backdrop of this endearing story and include the Korean War, the polio epidemic, the years after the Holocaust, and all the various political scandals.
My Mother’s Son is a carefully woven tale of the same topics that know no time and place- betrayal and hate, and on the flip side, steadfastness and immense love. I took off half a star just because some of the baseball stuff was a little draggy to me (I’m just not a baseball fan). Otherwise, this is book gold!
Thank you to David Hirshberg for this lovely debut, as well as Fig Tree Books and Edelweiss for ARC. My Mother’s Son is available now!
My reviews can also be found on my blog. www.jennifertarheelreader.com
October 8, 2025
In 2011, Joel is an aging radio host who is retiring and telling us the story of his youth. It is set mostly in 1952, when he was thirteen years old and first became aware of his family’s hidden secrets. It incorporates events of the time, such as the Korean War, the polio crisis, and the departure of the Boston Braves baseball team to Milwaukee.
The narrative moves back in time to relate stories of his aunt and uncle’s meeting in Europe. His family is Jewish, and they escaped just prior to the outbreak of World War II. He has been told different versions of their story by different family members. Many of the historical episodes reference topics that are still relevant today, such as immigration, epidemics, and government corruption.
I cannot recall how this book ended up on my list, but Hirshberg's writing reminds me a bit of Philip Roth. This novel conveys an atmosphere of an earlier time, especially the Jewish-American experience in the 1950s. It is a quintessential coming-of-age story, where Joel starts out with the naiveté of a child, and comes to realize that adults around him have not been completely open with him. It is a wonderful debut, and I highly recommend it.
4.5
The narrative moves back in time to relate stories of his aunt and uncle’s meeting in Europe. His family is Jewish, and they escaped just prior to the outbreak of World War II. He has been told different versions of their story by different family members. Many of the historical episodes reference topics that are still relevant today, such as immigration, epidemics, and government corruption.
I cannot recall how this book ended up on my list, but Hirshberg's writing reminds me a bit of Philip Roth. This novel conveys an atmosphere of an earlier time, especially the Jewish-American experience in the 1950s. It is a quintessential coming-of-age story, where Joel starts out with the naiveté of a child, and comes to realize that adults around him have not been completely open with him. It is a wonderful debut, and I highly recommend it.
4.5
September 4, 2020
If I had been told when I started reading this book that I would give it one of my rare 5+ star ratings, I would have been incredulous. As it turned out, I became spellbound and did not want this recounting to end! There were many reasons for this reaction. First, it was because I grew up around the time the author relates as his childhood in the very same neighborhoods he so faithfully mentions! I can vividly picture things he has alluded to, like Braves Field, and the departure of this baseball team from Boston. A painful loss, felt by almost all. I remember being confined from many activities each summer due to the polio epidemic and the birth of the “Jimmy Fund” for childhood cancer,although Hirshberg named the “Timmy Fund”for polio. There are many other historical events discussed that meld with the story and my memories. I knew of “Honey Fitz” (somewhat), of the young Presidential nominee described and much more. Of a more personal item was the observance of certain Jewish holidays and customs typical of the time and populace. Also, it is probably expected that I would frequently encounter victims and/or survivors of the Holocaust which the author movingly described.
It is interesting to note that David Hirshberg is a pseudonym and grew up in New York, particularly because he has described the geographical sites so accurately. I was particularly impressed by his ability to impart the attributes of All of his characters of the time so vividly and their manners of relating to each other. He caused many a chuckle for me as I read “Mother's” admonishments, such as “”YOUR FATHER WORKED DAY AND NIGHT SO YOU COULD HAVE A NICE LIFE”! This captured parental thinking frequently given as warning by many of most ethnic groups. Hirshberg's young brothers' activities, somewhat comparable , but often dissimilar to mine, recalled a very different time for youngsters. Children would often spend hours flocked together without adult supervision, safely and with many subsequent, lifelong, friendship bonds and learned skills- some of which were suspicious. Of course dangers lurked in unexpected places! Much of this was viewed throughout the novel.
Although I have completed my reading of this book, it satisfied many outstanding features for me. Mr. Hirshberg, I wish I knew who you truly are!
It is interesting to note that David Hirshberg is a pseudonym and grew up in New York, particularly because he has described the geographical sites so accurately. I was particularly impressed by his ability to impart the attributes of All of his characters of the time so vividly and their manners of relating to each other. He caused many a chuckle for me as I read “Mother's” admonishments, such as “”YOUR FATHER WORKED DAY AND NIGHT SO YOU COULD HAVE A NICE LIFE”! This captured parental thinking frequently given as warning by many of most ethnic groups. Hirshberg's young brothers' activities, somewhat comparable , but often dissimilar to mine, recalled a very different time for youngsters. Children would often spend hours flocked together without adult supervision, safely and with many subsequent, lifelong, friendship bonds and learned skills- some of which were suspicious. Of course dangers lurked in unexpected places! Much of this was viewed throughout the novel.
Although I have completed my reading of this book, it satisfied many outstanding features for me. Mr. Hirshberg, I wish I knew who you truly are!
June 6, 2020
As someone who usually prefers stories by or about women, this gripping novel about 2 brothers in 1952 Boston genuinely captured my attention and is now one of my favorite books of 2020!
Although most of this story took place in Boston in the 1950s, the plot also reached back to describe events in 1922 and 1938 (in Germany, around Kristallnacht), and provided brief but helpful follow-ups during the 5 or 6 decades after the Korean War. These gave the book a unique feeling of completeness that was ultra-satisfying. Everything felt wrapped up and resolved...well, sort of.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the story was that I was never quite certain what was “true” because the author would cleverly reveal another “truth” later, using childhood innocence, or other “excuses,” to explain the earlier “misunderstanding.” The story also incorporated a coming-of-age theme, with deep insights into the characters. But the plot was also filled with plenty of action...politics, baseball, gambling, war tales. I couldn’t wait to pick it up again in the morning!
Extremely highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction, murder mysteries, and YA. Thank you NetGalley for providing the book in exchange for my honest review.
Although most of this story took place in Boston in the 1950s, the plot also reached back to describe events in 1922 and 1938 (in Germany, around Kristallnacht), and provided brief but helpful follow-ups during the 5 or 6 decades after the Korean War. These gave the book a unique feeling of completeness that was ultra-satisfying. Everything felt wrapped up and resolved...well, sort of.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the story was that I was never quite certain what was “true” because the author would cleverly reveal another “truth” later, using childhood innocence, or other “excuses,” to explain the earlier “misunderstanding.” The story also incorporated a coming-of-age theme, with deep insights into the characters. But the plot was also filled with plenty of action...politics, baseball, gambling, war tales. I couldn’t wait to pick it up again in the morning!
Extremely highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction, murder mysteries, and YA. Thank you NetGalley for providing the book in exchange for my honest review.
March 6, 2018
This book is about two brothers growing up in 1950s Boston. A loving Jewish family with a mysterious past. The examining of events, planned and unplanned. Scars, obvious and hidden. Doing what needs to be done to survive, and help others survive. The anguish and guilt of surviving. Relationships. Loyalty. Family. Shattered dreams, first loves, baseball, and a dog. It is clever and entertaining and tinged with humor and pain. Beautifully constructed. Amazing language. Highly recommend.
April 1, 2018
What a delightful and well-written book. Reminiscent of Moonglow by Michael Chabon (who is one of my favorite authors). The multi-generational story telling was extremely engaging and the characters tugged at my heartstrings. Not knowing what was truth and what was 'story-telling' added a layer of enjoyment. Again - thank you Goodread Giveaways!!!
June 29, 2020
My Mother’s Son is a coming of age story for a Joel, a young Jewish boy, growing up in Boston. The majority of the story takes place over the summer of 1952. It is during this particular summer that Joel realizes “When you’re a kid, they (adults), don’t always tell you the truth.” They tell you what’s convenient for them. This was certainly more easily achieved (by parents) in 1952, long before the internet.
The story expands from, looking at what is happening in Joel’s own family, to include also their neighborhood, metropolitan Boston, Washington DC, and the war in Korea. It (the summer of ‘52), was a season of major upheavals, especially for baseball in Boston, the Braves were leaving 😞.
The story is written like a memoir, and it is during that summer that Joel discovers three (very significant) family secrets. There are some extremely heartbreaking passages, but these are definitely counterbalanced by plenty of lighter moments.
The book is broad in scope so you really become immersed into the early 50’s. Hirshberg throws in Hebrew, Yiddish, as well as some Irish and Italian. I really enjoyed everything about this book and I highly recommend it. Thank you @netgalley for my copy in exchange for my review. #5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@hershy1949 #bostonbraves #kennedy #fens #hamburg #ostrich #southie #eastboston #baseball #foulball #kristallnacht #thetroubles #nightofbrokenglass
The story expands from, looking at what is happening in Joel’s own family, to include also their neighborhood, metropolitan Boston, Washington DC, and the war in Korea. It (the summer of ‘52), was a season of major upheavals, especially for baseball in Boston, the Braves were leaving 😞.
The story is written like a memoir, and it is during that summer that Joel discovers three (very significant) family secrets. There are some extremely heartbreaking passages, but these are definitely counterbalanced by plenty of lighter moments.
The book is broad in scope so you really become immersed into the early 50’s. Hirshberg throws in Hebrew, Yiddish, as well as some Irish and Italian. I really enjoyed everything about this book and I highly recommend it. Thank you @netgalley for my copy in exchange for my review. #5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@hershy1949 #bostonbraves #kennedy #fens #hamburg #ostrich #southie #eastboston #baseball #foulball #kristallnacht #thetroubles #nightofbrokenglass
July 13, 2018
Rarely do I read a novel that is so richly complex, delicately entwined, and vividly crafted in such a way as to create the feelings I experienced while reading.
Set the 1950’s, the story transports readers in time with intimately detailed flashbacks and flash-forwards that made me think I was watching a well-directed film. It takes the reader on a historic journey, from the aftermath of the Holocaust to the Korean War, and through the polio epidemic. Author David Hirshberg expertly weaves together events and characters, which creates a richly imagined coming-of-age story that speaks to the hidden truths of family, the strength of love, the importance of loyalty and the lengths at which one might "tikkun olam".
This is a book worth reading. If you liked Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, or the writing style of Philip Roth, you will enjoy this novel. I give high praise to Hirshberg's debut novel!
Set the 1950’s, the story transports readers in time with intimately detailed flashbacks and flash-forwards that made me think I was watching a well-directed film. It takes the reader on a historic journey, from the aftermath of the Holocaust to the Korean War, and through the polio epidemic. Author David Hirshberg expertly weaves together events and characters, which creates a richly imagined coming-of-age story that speaks to the hidden truths of family, the strength of love, the importance of loyalty and the lengths at which one might "tikkun olam".
This is a book worth reading. If you liked Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, or the writing style of Philip Roth, you will enjoy this novel. I give high praise to Hirshberg's debut novel!
May 19, 2018
I did not think this would be a 5 star book when I started it. It began in a haphazard manner, with lots of tangents, but by the middle of the book, the fascinatingly anonymous other (David Hershberg is a pseudonym) drew all the threads together in such an engaging, beautiful tapestry that I was charmed and enamored enough to pick my favorite quote, from the bottom of page 310: Fictional characters have lives as well...they inhabit our spaces and we interact with them; it's still a give-and-take, just to in the same sense as what's going on here...But never forget that a made-up person can speak to us just as well as someone who's here in the flesh. There's no difference whether you can hear something the the point of view of first person actual or third person fictional if it interests you, moves you, or gets you to think about things from another perspective.
Read
October 13, 2018a truly wonderful book. i wasn't sure at the beginning (don't know why i am so critical) but then was captivated by the story of the young men growing up and all their misunderstandings of adult behavior. Some of it was terribly funny. It reads like a memoir but it's a novel.
August 16, 2020
Though reviews have been mixed, I found My Mother's Son to be an absorbing novel of growing up Jewish in Boston in the early 1950s. There is a lot going on in this book, from the typical friendships of a 12-year-old, to political machinations, a host of colorful characters of varied ethnic backgrounds, nostalgic family tales, as well as the impact on some of the novel's characters of the Holocaust, polio, and the Korean War — as well as murder and mystery. Oh, and there is a circus and an ostrich too, adding a rich layer of near-surrealism into the mix. It all adds up to a rich tapestry, sometimes with spot-on dialogue but at other times with characters who speak quite unlike the working class regular folks they are supposed to be. Somehow that doesn't detract from the proceedings, though. What does diminish the novel's impact is the occasional philosophizing on the nature of truth - does it really matter if a raconteur's stories are real or not? - as well as the heavy-handed ending where the narrator contrasts the '50s with 21st-century realities, a clear example of "telling, not showing." Overall, though, it works quite well, delivers emotional impact, and carries the spirit of Jean Shepherd's radio monologues, in fact crediting him in the acknowledgments.
June 8, 2020
This is a complementary book I received from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
The story in this book is good. It brings us back to the 1950's before the polio vaccine, WWII was still fresh on everyone's mind and baseball was still the number one sport in America. The story involves two young Jewish brothers who learn of their father's part in the corrupt Boston politics after they unwittingly become part of it, and the one brother finding out a huge family secret. The backdrop of family relatives dealing with the effects of the Holocaust was compelling.
The problem for me is the telling of the story. I found it dragged out so much that I could hardly keep my attention to it. I actually started skimming through it just to get to the end, which seemed like it would never come. I wish much of the rumination on every page and the grandfather's stories had been edited down because they interrupted the flow of the story. It could have been a great book.
The story in this book is good. It brings us back to the 1950's before the polio vaccine, WWII was still fresh on everyone's mind and baseball was still the number one sport in America. The story involves two young Jewish brothers who learn of their father's part in the corrupt Boston politics after they unwittingly become part of it, and the one brother finding out a huge family secret. The backdrop of family relatives dealing with the effects of the Holocaust was compelling.
The problem for me is the telling of the story. I found it dragged out so much that I could hardly keep my attention to it. I actually started skimming through it just to get to the end, which seemed like it would never come. I wish much of the rumination on every page and the grandfather's stories had been edited down because they interrupted the flow of the story. It could have been a great book.
July 29, 2020
I’m afraid this one just didn’t work for me, and after a while I began to find it tedious and unengaging. It was too drawn out, too repetitive, and at times even somewhat incoherent. A bit of editing wouldn’t have come amiss. It’s narrated by a radio host looking back over his life as he prepares to retire, focussing especially on the summer of 1952 when he comes of age as he begins to learn his family’s secrets. The Holocaust is there simmering in the background, which is a familiar trope, and here nothing new was brought to the table. Characterisation and dialogue verged on the stereotypical at times and although I enjoyed the gradual reveal, and admittedly the pacing was good, overall I found myself impatient for the story to finish as the book occasionally seemed to lose focus. It’s not a bad book, by any means, but one that simply failed to draw me in and convince.
May 10, 2020
“My Mother’s Son” was an interesting book. Having grown up in a large city around the same time frame, I could relate to the texture and authenticity weaved by the author as the young narrator describes his Jewish family in post-World War II Boston. Hirshberg’s style was mostly fast-talking narrative and at times I felt like there were almost too many words on a page. But his characters are what make the story. I fell in love with Uncle Jake, Aunt Rose, and Marone/Mordechai. They were engaging, and at the end, I hated to leave them. This is a debut book for author, David Hirshberg. He has more in store for his readers. They are in for a treat. - Sherry V. Ostroff
September 7, 2018
Really enjoyable. A favorite excerpt, below.
July 17, 2020
I read this for book club and enjoyed it. It was kind of like Huck Finn meets the 1984 film Once Upon a Time in America with Robert DeNiro but it is set in 1950s Boston. Working class kids and men, Jewish, Irish, Italian, all intersect and do both legal and illegal business, influence politics, and grow up together, with some stories from WWII survivors thrown in. The dialogue is excellent. I really felt like I was there with them in 1950s Boston. A bit repetitive at times and the narrator is pretty full of himself at times.
August 13, 2020
While I found the dark cover of this book off putting, it turned out to be a great read. In 1952, Joel and Steven ride their bikes all over Boston, unaware that they are part of a quasi-criminal numbers running enterprise founded by their grandfather. Joel becomes a radio talk show host, telling stories of his family and the other characters he encounters. The novel is the record of his life after he retires. There are numerous memorable characters and the author captures the era beautifully.
March 9, 2021
This was a fantastic book. For someone growing up in the Post WWII generation or before, who has spent any time in Boston, the book means puts a lot of both geographical and generational perspective history into the story. Although I am younger by a little bit than the writer, everything brings a personal feeling into every part of the story.
There was so much love, excitement and sadness to every little story which composes the whole.
I've recommended this to several friends of my generation who have all loved this.
A Must READ!!
There was so much love, excitement and sadness to every little story which composes the whole.
I've recommended this to several friends of my generation who have all loved this.
A Must READ!!
April 4, 2021
“When you’re a kid they don’t always tell you the truth”. So begins the journey of a young Jewish boy in the 1950’s in New York. The journey takes him to around our current time period. I had to be patient with this book but then the story was so compelling. He and his brother are very close and he comes from a loving family but the backstories the grownups tell are so over the top that a child doesn’t know what to believe. A beautifully told story. If you’re a Philip Roth fan, you will really enjoy this book.
December 15, 2021
Having been familiar with the Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, I found this was nothing new except that the venue was Boston instead of Montreal.
So if you were from Boston in the 50's when the Boston Braves were being moved to Milwaukee then I think this would resonate more with you.
Personally I did not care for the characters.
There were some entertaining characters described by the author for sure.
This author's other novel "Jacobo's rainbow" is interesting and insightful.
Keep this author in my mind for future novels.
So if you were from Boston in the 50's when the Boston Braves were being moved to Milwaukee then I think this would resonate more with you.
Personally I did not care for the characters.
There were some entertaining characters described by the author for sure.
This author's other novel "Jacobo's rainbow" is interesting and insightful.
Keep this author in my mind for future novels.
April 30, 2018
My Mother's Son is an engrossing tale of a Jewish boy growing up amidst the melting pot of Boston in 1952. His family's complex history and searing struggles are woven through the book, but their story is revealed slowly and the reader is kept in suspense. The characters are believable and entertaining. The political and historical events of the 1950s will bring back memories to many and enlighten those who are too young to have lived through that era.
June 2, 2018
It took me about 50 pages to get into this book. There are a lot of characters to keep track of which put me off in the beginning. But I'm glad I stuck with it. The characters were colorful, yet believable and I really wanted to keep turning pages to see what happened to them. I found Hirshberg's writing style very engaging. Sometimes I found myself chuckling aloud at some of his comments especially those about grandparents, parents and kids.
June 14, 2018
Boston Braves moving to Milwaukee, Polio, the Jewish escape from Germany, the Korean war... My Mother’s Son, by David Hirshberg is like travelling back to your childhood home and being embraced by family. The story is centered around Joel, a Jewish -American child growing up among Boston immigrant culture. We experience not only his life, but the lives of his brother, parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle, and a host of family and boyhood friends. Excellent read.
April 17, 2019
One of the worst books I have ever read. The writing is clunky, the characters are stereotypes and the plot lines are incoherent. I suggested the book, on the strength of the reviews, to a book group I belong to and ended up having to cancel the meeting because no one was willing to wade through the whole thing after reading a few chapters.
And, please note, a fair number of positive reviews are quotes from the back cover and the publisher's blurb. Beware!
And, please note, a fair number of positive reviews are quotes from the back cover and the publisher's blurb. Beware!
July 1, 2020
This book creeps up on you. The story of a Jewish family in Boston in 1952, with the pols, crooks, many races, stories, and lies. You meet each member of the family (the names sometimes get confusing) and the story unwinds. You laugh, you wonder how much is true, you get pulled in deeper and deeper. Toward the end you are enmashed in a complex story that is unforgettable. This is a sleeper, and highly recommended.
March 9, 2025
What I liked: A memoir of a radio host looking back on his working class childhood in 1950’s Boston. Focusing on Jewish, Irish, and Italians doing both legal and illegal business, influencing politics, polio epidemic, Korean War and some stories of Holocaust survivors thrown in.
What I disliked: The flashbacks and flash forwards were repetitive during the first 2/3 of the book, making the pacing drag.
What I disliked: The flashbacks and flash forwards were repetitive during the first 2/3 of the book, making the pacing drag.
June 13, 2018
A work of fiction which reads like a very believable memoir. Life in the 1950's in Boston around the time the Braves were moving to Milwaukee. A young boy tells the story of his Jewish family - how they came to be in Boston, who they were before, and who they became. Amusing, heartbreaking, hopeful, interesting.
July 12, 2018
It's been many years since I have read a book so intelligently written. It very accurately captures a period of time in American/World history that I am familiar with on a personal level. My very own life was touched by the historical events mentioned in this book and still is to this day. Let us not forget East Boston. Jeremiah 30:22 And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
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