Nominations for our book of September 2026 > Likes and Comments
Slate of Nominations:1) To Be a Jew Today: A New Guide to God, Israel, and the Jewish People
2) As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us
3) Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi's Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging
4) The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living
5) Always Carry Salt: A Memoir of Preserving Language and Culture
6) Conversations with My Rabbi: Timeless Teachings for a Fractured World
7)
My nomination is for The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living by Dara Horn.
Perlie wrote: "My nomination is for The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living by Dara Horn."Hi Perlie-
I just saw the release of this book will be in September- 26th unless the date changed. Im going to keep this as a sidebar and use it for something else later, when this circulates in more more libraries.
My nomination is:Jews Make the Best Demons: 'Palestine' and the Jewish Question by Eric Rozenman.(This is my first time attempting to add link so hope it works.)
Beryl wrote: "My nomination is:Jews Make the Best Demons: 'Palestine' and the Jewish Question by Eric Rozenman.(This is my first time attempting to add link so hope it works.)"
Ha, it worked Beryl.
Thank you for this nomination.
Going to vet it now- if there is no problem, I will add it to above.
Beryl, The five libraries I checked did not have this book, but that doesnt mean its not worthy of a nomination, as members can buy it in kindle, pp or used. So, Im going to add it.
Stacey, thank you. Disappointed it’s not in libraries. Commensurate with our discussions on Jewish literature and arts, I certainly have concerns regarding library availability of Jewish books. The other nominations are interesting and I added the ones I haven’t already read to my ‘to read’ list. I appreciate learning from our group suggestions.
Stacey B wrote: "Perlie wrote: "My nomination is for The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living by Dara Horn."Hi Perlie-
I just saw the release of this book will be in..."
Hi, Perlie, Stacey, and everybody: I just checked Amazon, and they say Sept. 1. It's pricey ($29 for the hardcover, and that's with Amazon Prime and no additional shipping.) Your local bookstore which you may enjoy supporting will be a little more, and they and your library may have some lag time. Kindle is $14.99. So, we could go ahead and say for people to consider the price when voting. I'm sure many may be eager to read Dara. What do you all think? Should we go for it this month or hold for a later month? Your opinion?
Stacey B wrote: "Beryl, The five libraries I checked did not have this book, but that doesnt mean its not worthy of a nomination, as members can buy it in kindle, pp or used. So, Im going to add it."
Wow, so in 2018 he was already asking if it's time for us to leave! 😮
Amazon show that this one is pricey, too, for the hardback: $26.85, and used isn't that much better, but (for those who like it) the Kindle is just $9.99. Not in my library either.
So for this one, too, we can say for voters to make price part of their determination -- and in that case, shouldn't we also accept Dara Horn's book too (above)?
Jan wrote: "Stacey B wrote: "Beryl, The five libraries I checked did not have this book, but that doesnt mean its not worthy of a nomination, as members can buy it in kindle, pp or used. So, Im going to add i..."
I was speaking of Beryl's nomination of Jews Make the Best Demons: 'Palestine' and the Jewish Question. And I should have said paperback (not hardback) -- but still that same price.
I'm interested in Dara Horn's book. I lean toward waiting for it in library. As for my nomination since it's obviously older, it will probably not get into libraries. Yes, I've read Mr. Rozenman's articles, essays for a while and he continues to voice concern over events for a long time. I will look for a book more readily available.
Here is another choice if you would like to change my nomination. I believe this book is in some libraries. Recent Simon & Schuster 8/19/2025. Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World's Mightiest Empire by Barry Strauss. History with new scholarship and discoveries and relating the past to the present.
Beryl wrote: "Here is another choice if you would like to change my nomination. I believe this book is in some libraries. Recent Simon & Schuster 8/19/2025. [book:Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Agains..."Beryl, thanks for your flexibility! I've already added your first nomination. I agree with Stacey's conclusion. Your alternate is a little cheaper and it's in my library at least, but actually the first one has the more enticing title, by my lights. Great that you know so many options and they'll be needed, but we don't have to change, unless you strongly want to.
Stacey has pointed out in the past that if people want a book, they'll get it, and as long as we make the price part of what people should consider when voting, we've done our part.
Jan wrote: "Stacey B wrote: "Perlie wrote: "My nomination is for The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living by Dara Horn."Hi Perlie-
I just saw the release of thi..."
I think we should add it. Perlie- what say you?
Beryl -- my apologies in advance, but I think I may have miscommunicated. I'm thinking the issue in these two cases isn't so much the availability but what kind of book I meant to be asking for. I'm actually seeking a book on the Jewish people that would be supportive or meaningful for us during the holidays in September -- so actually the last words of Dara Horn's upcoming book -- "A Love Story" -- may better fill the bill than one that may center on fearfulness, need to escape, or fighting (for example, one like The Escape Artist). So I meant a book that would be good to be reading during September even if it isn't an explicitly religious book. Not going to take anything out or off tonight, though. (I am going to see if I can get that group-wide message out though.)
Sorry for the bumpy nominations ride!
Perlie wrote: "My nomination is for The Final Solution to the Jewish Question: A Love Story for the Living by Dara Horn."These all sound like great options, and address what's on everyone's minds! I'm happy to try any and all.
I guess the other question is whether your library will carry these books! Mine doesn't have Jews Make the Best Demons: 'Palestine' and the Jewish Question and that seems to be in keeping with their ratio of anti-Zionist books :-((( [However, it does have [book:Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World's Mightiest Empire|220160506], which I placed on hold.Apropos that, I read https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/i-gat... this morning, and it tallies with what I'm observing. Last year's AJS conference actually held a session to address this issue !
Thank you Perlie for update and information!Jan, thank you, I understand better now. I wholeheartedly support your desire for our September reading during High Holy days. I happily support your, Stacey’s, and groups desires.
I’m just so grateful we have our group and this venue to ‘gather’ even with its platform flaws.
Beryl wrote: "Thank you Perlie for update and information!Jan, thank you, I understand better now. I wholeheartedly support your desire for our September reading during High Holy days. I happily support your, ..."
Thank you Beryl
Be happy!!!
Okay. Sent out the group-wide message but I don't see any new responses from it. (Out of nearly 1500 members! Maybe everybody's keeping their heads down. Well, I can see how that might be. Also people may be busy. Or stressed, such as myself, for example. )Anyway, in keeping with my explanation of wanting more uplifting might be the word, so, yes, more uplifting books to vote on for September's book, I'm going to take out the "Jews Make the Best Demons" book, hoping it and the 2nd option will be nominated again at another time. And I'm going to put in the new Dara Horn book, since it does have that "Love Story" in the subtitle.
...And hoping for more nominations. (Beryl, don't give up. Make another one❣️)
Jan, I will. I’m certainly ready for ‘uplifting’!
Jan wrote: "Okay. Sent out the group-wide message but I don't see any new responses from it. (Out of nearly 1500 members! Maybe everybody's keeping their heads down. Well, I can see how that might be. Also peo..."Jan-
Somethings up-
I didnt receive the group message. If I didnt, I wonder how many others didnt.
Here's another choice. Looks like it could be uplifting, fun, interesting and available in libraries. I look forward to hearing what you think; if I need to keep searching.Always Carry Salt: A Memoir of Preserving Language and Culture by Samantha Ellis, 2026.
Beryl wrote: "Here's another choice. Looks like it could be uplifting, fun, interesting and available in libraries. I look forward to hearing what you think; if I need to keep searching.[book:Always Carry Salt..."
I read that one Beryl-
Good pick.
Thank you. I thought I saw that you read it; so I hesitated. Then I saw that you'd read several of the choices I looked at :-)
Stacey B wrote: "Jan wrote: "Okay. Sent out the group-wide message but I don't see any new responses from it. (Out of nearly 1500 members! Maybe everybody's keeping their heads down. Well, I can see how that might ..."Hi, Stacey. Goodreads did give me the usual message that it had been sent, and I did receive a copy in my inbox. Check the time: 10:29 PM Eastern Daylight on the 20th. So it was 2 days ago.
Beryl wrote: "Here's another choice. Looks like it could be uplifting, fun, interesting and available in libraries. I look forward to hearing what you think; if I need to keep searching...."What a beautiful cover, Beryl. It's a go. Probably Amazon's price (with Prime) is the best option, and similar for Kindle.
Always Carry Salt: A Memoir of Preserving Language and Culture by Samantha Ellis
I thought nominating one's own book was not allowed.
Dvora wrote: "I thought nominating one's own book was not allowed."Hi Dvora-
You are correct, it isnt. What author or book are you referring to? Did we miss something?
Ohhh, I see what you are referring to. We did not add it to the nomination list way above this. I havent had a chance to write Cydney and tell her, as she may not know.
Cydney wrote: "Try my book, By Way of Conshocken! Eastern European Jewish immigrants entering the USA in the late 19th/early 19th century whose descendants follow paths that intersect with war, family, immigratio..."Good morning Cydney-
By by chance, have you posted this under "Authors Announcing their Work"? This is a great place for PR, regardless of the release date. Most groups dont allow for authors to nominate their own work. Ha, we would have two full pages of nominations. :) There are times when we base nominations for authors /books, as we laud our authors. Thank you.
hmmm.. so is it kosher to have the author nominate her own book (no) but then someone else nominate her book (yes?) and then someone second the nomination?I feel like I'm in The Trial
So to sum up the activity above three authors nominated their own books which is not allowed, one person joined Goodreads to nominate one of these books. Fine!They all sound like good books and I'm looking at them to read but as the Moderators say they should be in Authors Announcing Works.
It seems fine to me if somone else nominates their book. No?
Alan wrote: "I hereby nominate her book. Alan"errr,, what is "her book"
I would like to nominate Conversations with My Rabbi: Timeless Teachings for a Fractured World. I have heard exceptional things about this book; it's about the Jewish people and the uplifting messages we need in these difficult times! It was written by Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who had only one chapter left to write in this book when he was murdered in the Bondi shooting. It's pretty new, but many are talking it! I live in Wisconsin. Some of the books nominated above are not available in the Midwest area, so not available for me, and I am on a buying freeze for books. (Please look at the WorldCat system! ) Thanks.
Liza wrote: "I would like to nominate Conversations with My Rabbi: Timeless Teachings for a Fractured World. I have heard exceptional things about this book, and was told it's very uplifting! W..."Thank you Liza- I need to vet it before adding it. For some reason it sounds familiar that it could have been on our list. If it was nominated and dint win, it's fine.
Stacey B wrote: "Liza wrote: "I would like to nominate Conversations with My Rabbi: Timeless Teachings for a Fractured World. I have heard exceptional things about this book, and was told it's very..."Stacey B wrote: "Liza wrote: "I would like to nominate Conversations with My Rabbi: Timeless Teachings for a Fractured World. I have heard exceptional things about this book, and was told it's very..."
Liza, This book works. I was concerned it was about the shooting. Not the case- Looks good and in libraries.
Denise S wrote: "hmmm.. so is it kosher to have the author nominate her own book (no) but then someone else nominate her book (yes?) and then someone second the nomination?I feel like I'm in The Trial"
Us too :)
Alan wrote: "The one you referred to"
**** Morning to all. Im hoping you will read this with acknowledgement and insight. Please
see Jan's description of nominations at the top.
( Message #1 ). Also Messages # 33 and #35
Im sure she will jump in at some point.
The last thing we want to to do is discourage members from nominating books or participate in discussions.
I suppose Im going to be a killjoy right about now- which makes a moderators job hard.
Our group from its inception, like many others, has a rule that
authors and friends of - may not nominate their own books. We
understand with an overflowing heart our authors need to be heard, promoting their books etc, especially living in this disgusting climate.
I'm thinking what may have happened this time was that a few authors saw a book nominated by one of their own and followed suit. Many members dont read all the messages above before they post.
As promised, there will be times when nominations will be member/authored books. In the meantime, to show good faith we have C&P these three books under "Author's Space".
While we are in need of nominations, it would be helpful if you
could give us other nominations.
Again, please dont be angry with the messenger.
--
I like the title of book 1. To be a Jew today? All seem fascinatiNG . Thank you for exponentiant time commitment you endure. I am surprised how some people attack as if you’re a paid employee of Goodreads. One again 🌸🌺🥇THANK YOU for all you do for our benefit.
DR RHONDA
Rhonda wrote: "I like the title of book 1. To be a Jew today? All seem fascinatiNG . Thank you for exponentiant time commitment you endure. I am surprised how some people attack as if you’re a paid employee of Go..."I agree with the title- how apropo.
How sweet and appreciative you are Dr Rhonda- TY
When it comes to authors promoting their books, we understand all to well the difficulty. Ha, maybe we should ask for a raise in salary. :)
I nominate A Jew Today by Noah Feldman.
Stacey B wrote: "Rhonda wrote: "I like the title of book 1. To be a Jew today? All seem fascinatiNG . Thank you for exponentiant time commitment you endure. I am surprised how some people attack as if you’re a paid..."Oh no- I just edited my last comment to you Rhonda. I mistakenly typed how sweet "we" are . I would never say that nor pat myself on the back.
Raymond wrote: "I nominate A Jew Today by Noah Feldman."Hi Raymond.
Thank you so much for the nomination. I saw this book pop up somewhere. Let me vet it now.
Stacey B wrote: "Raymond wrote: "I nominate A Jew Today by Noah Feldman."Hi Raymond.
Thank you so much for the nomination. I saw this book pop up somewhere. Let me vet it now."
Hi, Im back already.
Now I know where I saw the book pop up. It was our first nomination, but with the full title. It was just too familiar :)
Raymond, would you nominate another book instead??
Okay, kiddos.... Sorry that it has taken a while to jump back in. I was away, first for Shabbat. And then I've been involved with trying to get something going on a particular Jewish book that nobody would publish here.... So, no, you can't nominate your own book. And no, you can't get somebody else to nominate it for you. Because actually we're looking for books people have found to be good or are eager to read because they've been hearing about them. That's the goal!
Yes, it's a hard world out there, and yes, Jewish authors are having a hard time getting published. So tell about your book over at Authors Announcing Their Work and not elsewhere on this site. Because actually it ruins the site to have author promotion take over. Take a look at Jewish Book Carnival, if you don't believe me: all author promotion and no readers -- what good does that do? 🤨As I see Stacey has copied and pasted the self-nominations at the correct spot, I'll go on and remove those posts from this nominations thread.
Thanks for the helpful and supportive remarks and the new nominations too, and, others, please don't take it personally if I fuss at the over-eager authors!
...There will be some gaps and non-sequiturs in the comments now that the self-nominators' posts are gone....
To prime the pump, here are two books that were suggested last month: To Be a Jew Today: A New Guide to God, Israel, and the Jewish People by Noah Feldman and As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us. A third one is Angela Buchdahl's Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi's Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging.
We'd like to add four or five more to the slate, if we can!
Tomorrow I have some hurdles -- sore back; grandchildren coming over -- so I will be in and out, but we'll get to your nominations. If you see this announcement, please go ahead. I'll wait until tomorrow evening or Tuesday to send out the group-wide message, though.
As always, one nomination each ... and no nominations by authors or their agents or moms (until we do a special on our own author members!).
Stacey and I are looking forward to seeing your nominations.
Jan