Around the Year in 52 Books discussion
Weekly Topics 2022
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22. A book with a Jewish character or author
I will always champion Montreal's two best Jewish writers/poets: Mordecai Richler and Leonard Cohen.Barney's Version
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang (This one is a charming kid's book - not his usual about Jewish life in Montreal)
The Favourite Game
Book of Longing
The Flame
I'd like to BIO and use a book with both a Jewish character and author (which isn't hard to do, many Jewish authors also write their characters as Jewish).My options are The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant or Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland.
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Nancy wrote: "I'd like to BIO and use a book with both a Jewish character and author (which isn't hard to do, many Jewish authors also write their characters as Jewish).My options are [book:The Boston Girl|224..."
I read the Boston Girl last year and I really liked it. It would also fit the prompt about a book set during 1900 -1951.
My first choice is All Other Nights, a book about a Jewish soldier in the Union Army, by Dara Horn. I'm glad to see that it was listed on a few of the lists in message 1. Some other Jewish authors I want to read - Nicole Krauss, Franz Kafka, Primo Levi, Philip Roth, Michael Chabon, and Stefan Zweig. I also found ~20 more authors from the lists provided above! (Thanks Emily!) I found a non-fiction book that I will have to fit in somewhere, if not this prompt - The Impossible Exile: Stefan Zweig at the End of the World by George Prochnik.Books I recommend:
Mandelbrot the Magnificent by Liz Ziemska (Mandelbrot was Jewish)
Herman Wouk's The Winds of War & War and Remembrance
Philip Roth's American Pastoral
The Bielski Brothers: The True Story of Three Men Who Defied the Nazis, Built a Village in the Forest, and Saved 1,200 Jews by Peter Duffy
The Cats In Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse (picture book)
We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler by Russell Freedman
I'm debating whether to count atheists like Richard Feynman and Isaac Asimov, since they were raised Jewish or if I should chose an author who is a believer.
Laurel wrote: "I'm debating whether to count atheists like Richard Feynman and Isaac Asimov, since they were raised Jewish or if I should chose an author who is a believer."Judaism is a heritage as well as a religion so I'd say non-practicing Jews would certainly count.
The Saturday Wife - Naomi Ragen Goodbye, Columbus and Five Short Stories - Philip Roth
The Weight of Ink - Rachel Kadish
I recommend Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, The Chosen and My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok and People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks.
I've been meaning to read The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker for awhile, and this book is both by a Jewish author and featuring a Jewish character, so makes a good BIO option!
Mossad: The Greatest Missions of the Israeli Secret ServiceHannah's War
Ninth House
Exile Music
We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast
I’m leaning towards The Weight of Ink or The Golem and the Jinni, which both have Jewish authors and Jewish characters. I’m pretty sure both also meet the qualifications for my BIO option to use a book that doesn’t involve Nazis or the Holocaust.
I'm thinking of reading Have a Little Faith: a True Story by Mitch Albom for this one. I wanted to choose a nonfiction book that doesn't take place during WWII/Holocaust, and this one has been sitting on my shelf for quite some time.
Right now I'm planning on reading Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman.To Recommend: Earlier this year I read The Orchard by David Hopen and really enjoyed it. It is also a "coming of age" book of sorts, and a bit heavy at times, but very interesting. A unique thing about this novel is that is highlights the differences between a more orthodox Jewish life and a more relaxed/contemporary version of Jewish life that is still religious (and not just a heritage).
Naomi Novik is Jewish so any book by her, not just Spinning Silver, completes the prompt. I'll probably go with A Deadly Education by her.
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I have also been meaning to get around to A Deadly Education. This might finally be the push I need!
I definitely recommend Michael Chabon for this prompt! He's my favourite author. He's Jewish and most (if not all?) of his books feature Jewish characters, usually the protagonist. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay is particularly fantastic.
I'm planning to read People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, but a few favorite Jewish authors include Amos Oz, Saul Bellow, Michael Chabon, Nathan Englander and Gary Shteyngart. And the late great writer/poet Leonard Cohen, as Dubhease mentioned above.Some great books featuring Jewish characters include The Yiddish Policemen's Union, American Pastoral, Apeirogon (just read and loved) and Black Box.
For those who have read books by Naomi Novik - Which Naomi Novik books are your favorites?
I really liked His Majesty's Dragon, but I haven't tried her others.
I highly recommend The Golem and the Jinni and The Hidden Palace They have several Jewish characters and the books show a lot about their lives and culture in early 1900's New York City. This would also work for the 1900-1950 prompt, non-human character, and others.
I'm reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz right now and so far it's pretty good.
I want to read:
The Marriage of Opposites or other books by Alice Hoffman.
The Weight of Ink
Apeirogon
others:
Night - maybe for <220 pages
The Happiest Man on EarthEddie Jaku
Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance
The Mathematician's Shiva
In Amazon's First Reads for November are two novels that could meet this prompt. Figured I'd share now, so people can grab a free book for this prompt (the second novel also works for the set in 1900 - 1950 & continent prompts).One is literary fiction:
Bed Stuy by Jerry McGill
The other is a Historical Fiction book set in Japan in the 1940's, with a Jewish character:
The Last Rose of Shanghai: A Novel by Weina Dai Randel
Here is the summary from Amazon since The Last Rose of Shanghai listing on here has nothing:
(view spoiler)
I've just learned that Lemony Snicket, the author of A Series of Unfortunate Events is Jewish AND the characters of this book series are Jewish too!
Milena wrote: "Naomi Novik books in my order of preference:1. Uprooted
2. Spinning Silver
3. A Deadly Education"
Thanks Milena!
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It is fun to see our differences in taste. Uprooted was my first Naomi Novik. Maybe I would agree with Emily if I reread it now.
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Interesting, I have never had a desire to read the Temeraire books. But one of them would be perfect for the Here Be Dragons prompt.
Jordan wrote: "I definitely recommend Michael Chabon for this prompt! He's my favourite author. He's Jewish and most (if not all?) of his books feature Jewish characters, usually the protagonist. "Perfect excuse to finally read that one for me! The Yiddish Policemen's Union is another solid one of his for this prompt.
The Plot Against America works well for this one; it's an alternate history where Charles Lindbergh becomes president and essentially implements Nazi ideals into America. The book follows a Jewish family living through that "reality."
Options from my Owned & Unread Pile:The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner
The Dovekeepers and The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
City of Women by David R. Gillham
As Close to Us as Breathing by Elizabeth Poliner
Gone to Soldiers by Marge Piercy
We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
Books I'd recommend:
The History of Love and Great House by Nicole Krauss
Mr. Rosenblum's List, or, Friendly Guidance for the Aspiring Englishman and The Novel in the Viola by Natasha Solomons
Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky
No One Is Here Except All of Us by Ramona Ausubel
The Gustav Sonata by Rose Tremain
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Milena wrote: "Interesting, I have never had a desire to read the Temeraire books. But one of them would be perfect for the Here Be Dragons prompt."I didn't have a desire to read it either, but it fit a challenge and it was highly recommended by people I trust. His Majesty's DragonIt completely won me over.
All the books in the series fit "dragons," "Jewish author," "alternate history" (Napoleon wars), "non-human character" (Temeraire is a very smart and sensitive dragon), "published at least 10 years ago)," and possibly "set on water." Plus I think there was a travel related prompt that didn't make it in.
I like Alice Hoffman, and I might also try Naomi Novik.The Book of Magic
The Storyteller
The Invisible Bridge
The Red Tent
We were the Lucky Ones.
so many good books waiting in my e-reader/ local library to choose from:People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present
Eight Kinky Nights
Faster: How a Jewish Driver, an American Heiress, and a Legendary Car Beat Hitler’s Best
Hot Rabbi
The Intimacy Experiment
The Matzah Ball
Matzah Ball Surprise
Paper Bullets: Two Artists Who Risked Their Lives to Defy the Nazis
Into the Forest: A Holocaust Story of Survival, Triumph, and Love
Prior to looking at suggestions here, I had absolutely no clue which (if any) of my TBR books fit this prompt or not. Apparently Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman! and The Calculating Stars count, so I guess I'll go with one of those if I stick with my TBR.If I go off my current TBR, The Golem and the Jinni, Number the Stars, and A Series of Unfortunate Events are also ones I'd be interested in checking out.
This link to “Off the Shelf” just appeared in my inbox today with some strong choices: https://offtheshelf.com/2015/11/15-re...
The Story of Yiddish: How a Mish-Mosh of Languages Saved the Jewsis on sale today on eretailers for 1.99 (12-4-2021)
I haven't read it, but it offers a different focus on the language of Yiddish.
Martha - Thanks for the link -- I just bought two books from there!
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A few options:The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
The Trial by Franz Kafka
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
LOL mine is the exact opposite order (although I really enjoyed all of them, plus The Last Graduate)NancyJ wrote: "Milena wrote: "Naomi Novik books in my order of preference:
1. Uprooted
2. Spinning Silver
3. A Deadly Education"
Thanks Milena!"
Melissa wrote: "LOL mine is the exact opposite order (although I really enjoyed all of them, plus The Last Graduate)NancyJ wrote: "Milena wrote: "Naomi Novik books in my order of preference:
1. [book:Uprooted|22..."
I just finished The Last Graduate and really didn't love it. I was listening on audio and maybe I was just distracted.
I would recommend anything by Chaim Potok. I have read many of his books. The Chosen is a classic!
I bought three books last summer that I have been dipping into:
The Blessing and the Curse: The Jewish People and Their Books in the Twentieth Century
A Treasury of Yiddish Stories
The Pity of It All: A Portrait of the German-Jewish Epoch 1743-1933
I read My Mother's Secret. It was a quick heartfelt book that was enjoyable. It was a National Jewish Book Award Finalist. It took place in Poland at the start of WWII.
Around the Year in 52 Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Faithful (other topics)The Bookish Life of Nina Hill (other topics)
The Marriage of Opposites (other topics)
Have a Little Faith: a True Story (other topics)
The World That We Knew (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Faye Kellerman (other topics)Heather Morris (other topics)
Markus Zusak (other topics)
Meir Shalev (other topics)
Helene Wecker (other topics)
More...
Suggestions:
19 Books to Read by Jewish Authors: https://earlybirdbooks.com/19-books-t...
15 Essential Jewish Authors to Hear on Audio: https://www.audible.com/blog/article-...
20 Jewish-American Novels: https://bookriot.com/20-essential-jew...
100 Must-Read Works of Jewish Fiction: https://bookriot.com/100-must-read-wo...
8 Novels About the Contemporary Jewish Experience: https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-life...
20 Books by Black Jewish Authors: https://www.heyalma.com/20-books-by-b...
GR List - The Best of Jewish Authors: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
ATY Listopia: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
What are you reading for this prompt, and do you have any recommendations?