Jewish Book Club discussion

It’s that time to nominate books for April 2025. Most of us will have something else on our mind in April- Passover. That is why we decided to get the nominations and poll done early in case anyone wants to get a head start reading. We also decided on a lighter, hopefully fun, topic that will help you get through that cleaning. Passover is a chag more associated with home than the synagogue. We decided for our genre: Jewish family saga. What is a family saga: a story of a family that usually spans three of more generations. For our nominations purposes, we are hoping for fiction nominations. If anyone comes up with a nonfiction book that stays within the parameters of family saga, that is ok as well. Please, refrain from Holocaust related books. Passover is stressful enough without having to read about the shoah. A saga speaks to the endurance of the Jewish people and really that is what Passover is about. Looking forward to your nominations.

As an example, The Nesting Dolls by Alina Adams
- we previously read this book in the group

Reserved for nominations

1. The Family Carnovsky by Israel J. Singer

2. Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar

3. The Brothers Ashkenazi by Israel J. Singer

The Family Carnovsky - used editions available on bookfinder.com

Good news, Perlie. The Family Carnovsky is available at my library, at Abebooks- there are many copies for under $10, book finder, and Amazon. I am accepting this as nomination #1.

Across So Many Seas A Middle Grade novel by Ruth Behar follows four different 12 year old girls in the same family through the dispora over hundreds of years.

Julie wrote: "Across So Many Seas A Middle Grade novel by Ruth Behar follows four different 12 year old girls in the same family through the dispora over hundreds of years."

Thank you so much Julie for the nomination.
Have to vett it. Wont take long. :)

Julie, this sounds fascinating. I checked and it’s available at libraries in all forms, Amazon used and kindle and in Spanish if anyone is interested, and Thrift Books, Abe Books, etc. This will be nomination #2. Looking for 4-5 more.

Stacey B wrote: "Julie wrote: "Across So Many Seas A Middle Grade novel by Ruth Behar follows four different 12 year old girls in the same family through the dispora over hundreds o..."

Ok Julie, Brina and are in sync here. Great find.
Paperback is $9.99 and kindle is $10.99.

Hi!!

I propose

The brothers Ashkenazi
by Israel J. Singer

In the Polish city of Lodz, the brothers Ashkenazi grew up very differently in talent and in temperament. Max, the firstborn, is fiercely intelligent and conniving, determined to succeed financially by any means necessary. Slower-witted Jacob is strong, handsome, and charming but without great purpose in life.
Despite all attempts to control their destinies, the brothers are caught up by forces of history, love, and fate...


Anyway I read The family Karnowski and it's amazing...I'll post my review if it's chosen🙂

Alessandra wrote: "Hi!!

I propose

The brothers Ashkenazi
by Israel J. Singer

In the Polish city of Lodz, the brothers Ashkenazi grew up very differently in talent and in temperament. Max, the firstborn, is fierc..."


Good morning Alessandre- or evening- :)
Thank you so much for this nomination. Very much appreciated. I need to vett this, per usual and I know the book, but not the costs or if in libraries. Pretty famous book. You and Perlie are on the same page. Give me a little while. TY

Stacey B wrote: "Alessandra wrote: "Hi!!

I propose

The brothers Ashkenazi
by Israel J. Singer

In the Polish city of Lodz, the brothers Ashkenazi grew up very differently in talent and in temperament. Max, the ..."

Alessandre,
The Brothers Ashkenazi accepted :)
It is in "most" libraries as well as Amazon . New- appx $19.00 / Kindle $7.99. Abes Books for
$ 5.00 +used- depending on which language and copy.

Just as an FYI, Brina and I are aware there have been two "different" books nominated by the same author. We value every members input and nominations.

Yes and if you can get us 3-4 to more nominations that would be great.

Im going to hope that this past long weekend is the reason we are not inundated with nominations. :(

We are still looking for 3 nominations. I’ll amend and say nonfiction as well provided it’s not a Holocaust book. Please try to get these in by Sunday. Thank you.

kantika by Elizabeth Grazer. Multigenerational saga spans continents and starts in the early 20th century.

Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr. A mystery/thriller about locating a painting stolen 75 years earlier by the Nazis and toggles back and forth in time.

Exodus by Leon Uris about the founding of Israel

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks is a fictionalized account of the real Sarajevo Haggadah and goes back and forth through time following the book as the expert in book restoration seeks to restore it

Briana- we are looking for a family saga, non Holocaust.

Kantika and People of the Book we have read and Women on Fire is a Holocaust book. If you have a family saga, I will save a spot for yoj. Thanks.

Briana wrote: "kantika by Elizabeth Grazer. Multigenerational saga spans continents and starts in the early 20th century.

Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr. A mystery/thriller about locating a painting stolen 75 years ..."

Briana, I saw Brina's comment, but I just have to tell you, that Woman on Fire" was one of my most favorite books!!!! You have good taste. :)

Isaiah we don’t allow authors to nominate their own books as interesting as this one sounds. Can you please cut and paste this post on the authors announcing their work thread. Thank you.

Brina wrote: "Isaiah we don’t allow authors to nominate their own books as interesting as this one sounds. Can you please cut and paste this post on the authors announcing their work thread. Thank you."

Hi Brina! Got it, I'm deleting my post now. Thanks and best wishes.

Brina—

I'm a follower of Margulies, and I would like very much to nominate his book, Diaspora. It's a moving exploration of the Jewish diaspora experience, and I believe it will be as impactful to this forum as it was for me. DIASPORA

Hi Benjamin- you got Stacey B. - another moderator. :)
This group had a severe issue once before of having friends nominate their author friends book. It was done in a very unkosher way behind our backs, upsetting members and the mods, so I applaud you for honesty and I can see that you both are not "friends". I marked this book to read not too long ago, so I know know it spans eight generations. Hence, the title :)
Brina wont be able to respond to this post until tomorrow night. Our other mod is on sabbatical , but may just pop in.
Hold your thoughts for a bit. Have a great evening.

Stacey B— Thanks for the response to me! Definitely not looking to upset this community, and I absolutely don't want the author to hate me for that either. While it's an honest nomination I think it's best if I withdraw it seeing this may be a response! Kindly, Benjamin

Benjamin wrote: "Stacey B— Thanks for the response to me! Definitely not looking to upset this community, and I absolutely don't want the author to hate me for that either. While it's an honest nomination I think i..."

Benjamin,
You are truly impressive. You wouldn't have upset the group- we would have nipped it in the bud ahead of time. I highly doubt Isaiah would be angry after he read your post. Maybe a bit disappointed, yes, but his book will stand on its own.
Thank you...for now.
Best,
Sracey

If nominations are still open I suggest Howard Fast’s The Immigrants or Belva Plain’s Evergreen.

Alan, please choose one. Today is the last day for nominations and we will set up the poll tonight.

I set up the poll based on the nominations we got plus an add on. Thank you for your nominations. Stay tuned for something different for the next month’s nomination cycle. We think that everyone will enjoy and appreciate it.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

I’ll be offline for Shabbat. Just a reminder that Sunday is the last day to vote on the poll. One of the other mods may or may not update the mod’s choice book for March. If not I will do it on Sunday. Have a great shabbos!

Last day to vote!