Jewish Book Club discussion

Nominations are open for January 2026
Something different??
In the last eight months I have been seeing books about Asia in the hands of readers.
We are looking for seven-eight nominations for a "jewish themed book about Asia." And... I'm hoping to be inundated with nominations by our members so I am not adding a stop date. Thank you in advance.
Remember.. author cant nominate their own work and one nomination per member.
One of my favorites books is "Ten Green Bottles: The True Story of One Family's Journey from War-Torn Austria to the Ghettos of Shanghai" by Vivian Jeanette Kaplan

A sidebar-
Asia includes over 40 countries, typically categorized geographically into East, Southeast, South, Central, and West Asia. Examples include Japan and China in East Asia, the Philippines and Vietnam in Southeast Asia, India and Pakistan in South Asia, Kazakhstan in Central Asia, and Turkey and Iraq in West Asia.

( in my recent blast, I meant to write authors cant nominate "their" own work. Never, every would I only use the word "his")

A House in Lahore: Growing up Jewish in Pakistan(2022) - Hazel Selzer Kahan

The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China (2020) - Jonathan Kaufman

Growing up Jewish in India: Synagogues, Customs, and Communities from the Bene Israel to the Art of Siona Benjamin (2021) - Ori Z. Soltes

Pepper, Silk & Ivory: Amazing Stories about Jews and the Far East(2014) - Marvin Tokayer

Four of them? Awh Jazzy... thank you. So good to hear from you.
I havent sent the nomination out in the blast yet- usually the first choice has always been taken when theres more than one.
You have a bit of time to choose before its sent.
Going to wait due to the time change.

Thank you thank you! It's so good to be back and so good to see you

I read Growing Up Jewish in China (2012) - Dolly Beil
and can recommend that one, but I will be reading a different one. I'll decide which one looks the best after seeing which one I will/can get!

The Far Side of the Sun by Daniel Kalla. This is the first in an excellent series. I actually missed the characters when it was over!! Historical Fiction......Shanghai

Jazzy wrote: "Thank you thank you! It's so good to be back and so good to see you

I read Growing Up Jewish in China (2012) - Dolly Beil
and can recommend that one, but I will b..."

Ok Jazzy, sounds like a plan. Let me know your opinion of what you will be reading. Always interested!!!

Lauren wrote: "The Far Side of the Sun by Daniel Kalla. This is the first in an excellent series. I actually missed the characters when it was over!! Historical Fiction......Shanghai"

Good morning Lauren.
Thank you for your nomination. Very much appreciated.
Love Daniel Kalla, although I havent read this one. Looks to be similar to Ten Green Bottles.

Stacey B wrote: "Lauren wrote: "The Far Side of the Sun by Daniel Kalla. This is the first in an excellent series. I actually missed the characters when it was over!! Historical Fiction......Shanghai"


From: Shanah Khubiar- Nomination
Womb of Diamonds: A True Adventure From Child Bride Of Syria To Celebrity Businesswoman Of Japan Paperback – by Ezra Choueke

Thank you Shanah for this nomination.
Im grateful the group is receiving wonderful choices.
Going to vett all books over the weekend.

Just as an FYI...
If a book is jewish themed, the author does not have to be jewish. We applaud those authors.

Nomination from Hermien
Shanghai Diary by Ursula Bacon

Nominations as of today.

1) Waiting for Jazzy's decision

2) The Far Side of the Sun by Daniel Kalla.

3) Womb of Diamonds: A True Adventure From Child Bride
Of Syria To Celebrity Businesswoman Of Japan, by Ezra Choueke

4) Shanghai Diary, by Ursula Bacon

5). 'The Star on the Grave' by Linda Margolin Royal.

6). Kerry wrote: "Children of Radiation: A Buried Inheritance by Joe Dunthorne"

I'll nominate 'The Star on the Grave' by Linda Margolin Royal.

Thank you so much Kerry.

( Another Kerry)
Kerry wrote: "Children of Radiation: A Buried Inheritance by Joe Dunthorne"

Thank you so much Kerry. Going to vett with others.
This was somehow deleted from original thread. I found it again this morning.

*** Vetted ****
All books nominated as of today have been vetted and in various libraries. Some have audio as well.
Costs are fair on all except for two paperbacks- "Shanghai Diary
and The Far Side of the Sun" which range from from $33. - $48.
These do come in Kindle for less.

Stacey B wrote: "*** Vetted ****
All books nominated as of today have been vetted and in various libraries. Some have audio as well.
Costs are fair on all except for two paperbacks- "Shanghai Diary
and The Far Si..."

Stacey, I just looked into Shanghai Diary: A Young Girl's Journey from Hitler's Hate to War-Torn China by Ursula Bacon. While the paperback is expensive, Amazon is showing the hardback (used, I guess) as available for just over $6, and AbeBooks has the hardback for less than $5 (including postage but not tax). Don't know why the paperback is high, but that can be ignored,. given the availability of the hardback!

Per Amazon, looks like it's The Far Side of the Sky by Daniel Kalla. "Sky," not "Sun." Yes, 1st book of the Shanghai series (3 books). Again, hardback is cheaper, $5 or$6 on Amazon or AbeBooks (including postage), with paperback in the $10 - $12 range, and inexpensive also on Kindle. So both are quite affordable, although not in my local library.

Jan wrote: "Stacey B wrote: "*** Vetted ****
All books nominated as of today have been vetted and in various libraries. Some have audio as well.
Costs are fair on all except for two paperbacks- "Shanghai Diar..."

Agreed.
Didnt think HB were popular anymore other than children's books, gifts, or coffee table books.
I assume our readers look up their own personal format preference, so I am going to vett books beginning next month for suitability and libraries only.
The book costs for our members overseas are in a completely different range which I cant even begin to quote.