I had a nice break from school due to the Jewish holidays and got to spend a lot of time reading. I have met my 2024 goal of reading 110 books! I am again listing my favorites first.
Please do let me know if you’ve read something great!
For Such a Time as This: On Being Jewish Today by Elliot Cosgrove — EXCELLENT exploration of being Jewish in America after October 7. Listened to Rabbi Cosgrove read it on audio.
The Gates of Gaza: A Story of Betrayal, Survival, and Hope in Israel’s Borderlands by Amir Tibon — Israeli journalist whose family lives in Kibbutz Natal Oz on the Gaza border. Very details account of October 7. Wow. This is my favorite so far of all the October 7 accounts. Many of the details from this book are included in other people’s stories.
10/7: 100 Human Stories by Lee Yaron — A combination of journalism and humanism looking at the people on the margins of society, beyond political agendas, and how their lives and histories of their neighborhoods connect. Some of these stories have so many names involved that it’s hard to keep up with. Still, it’s a way of bearing witness. Excellent.
The Bohemians by Jasmin Darznik — This is historical fiction about the portrait/documentary photographer Dorothea Lang, who lived in a small area in San Francisco filled with writers, performers, and artists. I didn’t know some of the history about Chinatown, the Barbary Coast, etc. Great story with two excellent main characters.
Khirbet Khizeh by S. Yizhar — An account of one young soldier of the day that Israeli soldiers expelled Palestinian villagers. Hard to read, knowing what happened.
The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck — Surprisingly good for a random group of characters brought together. There was a little emphasis on Jesus in there at the end that was odd.
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney — First I just want to say that I’m so disappointed that Rooney refuses to have her novel translated into Hebrew and also signed a letter in The Times of Israel with over 1,000 other writers boycotting Israeli cultural institutions. So backwards. However, even MORE artists wrote a letter countering that letter. Her novel is a slow-moving but compelling story of two brothers following their father’s death.
There Is No Messiah — And You’re It: The Stunning Transformation of Judaism’s Most Provocative Idea by Rabbi Robert N. Levine — Very compelling and easy read about taking personal responsibility for doing good in the world.
Elevator Pitches for God: 70 One-Page Essays by Thought Leaders on Why They Believe by Ron Kardos and Bruce Licht — I heard them on a podcast and was interested in hearing what people wrote about their beliefs. Pretty good!
The Marriage Box by Corie Adjmi — I think I heard of this one in the LIBBY book – it’s from the perspective of a teenager in a Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn, the pressure to marry at a young age, as well as the struggle to leave that stifling environment.
Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow by Elizabeth Lessergrowth and healing. Lesser describes her first marriage and founding of the Omega Institute, then the dissolution of that marriage, and her second marriage… as well as her kids. I liked hearing stories of some of her retreat participants, and I also love the idea of working on our rough edges with a compassionate and forgiving heart. A little bit strange.
Peggy by Rebecca Godfrey — The life of Peggy Guggenheim, from child to strong woman, through her relationships with family and men and art. She encountered sexism and antisemitism throughout her life. Peggy by Rebecca Godfrey — I did’t know ANY of this about Peggy Guggenheim! Her Jewish idenitty was esp int
One Plus One by Jojo Moyes — OMG this book had me sobbing. I don’t know how Jojo Moyes does it. I loved the characters – all 4 of them – and am still thinking about them.
The Seamstress of Sardinia by Bianca Pitzorno — Nothing special, but a good audiobook about a young seamstress trying to make a living in Sardinia.
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty — A woman on a plane makes predictions of when and how other passengers will die… and the stories of those passengers. Kind of a different type of book but still good.
We Were Dreamers: An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story by Simu Liu — I don’t watch Marvel movies, so I had no clue who Simu is. Still, his telling of the struggles his parents endured to bring him to live in America are poignant. His upbringing was typically harsh, but he found his path and it was delightful to listen to him tell the reader what he loves.
Women Are The Fiercest Creatures by Andrea Dunlop — This novel tells of three different women’s romantic involvement with a manipulative man. The characters and their struggles are remarkably real, and how they eventually intermingle is compelling.
Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller — Only so so… it’s a cute and entertaining way to address common issues of racism, book banning, antisemitism, and misogyny.
The Grace Kelly Dress by Brenda Janowitz — A sweet story about three generations of women who wear the same wedding dress. A little too predictable but still enjoyable.
The Cast by Amy Blumenfeld — I learned of this novel from Blumenfeld’s short essay in On Being Jewish Now. Her characters are real in that they are human and flawed, but trying their best to be true to themselves and those they care about. The story touches on mortality, friendships, marriage, and parenthood. I thought it apt that it doesn’t wrap everything up neatly at the end.
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt — A tour of human nature and history from the perspective of moral psychology (intuition v reason; morality v harm)
What This Comedian Said Will Shock You by Bill Maher — I realize this was recently published, but it was surprisingly the same as if I’d read it 5 years ago.
Jumping in Puddles: A transformational memoir by Chana Margulies — This was another I discovered in Libby’s compilation. A young girl journals as she goes through cancer and becomes more religious.
