Pre-Shabbat Jewish Literary Links
Every Friday My Machberet presents an array of Jewish-interest links, primarily of the literary variety.
Shabbat shalom.
Pre-Shabbat Jewish Literary Links
Every Friday My Machberet presents an array of Jewish-interest links, primarily of the literary variety.
- On the Forward site: Katherine Locke recommends “7 YA and Romance Novels for Jewish Book Month.” (The headline is a little misleading–for instance, the list includes Molly Antopol‘s The UnAmericans. And picture books. But. Still.)
- Big week at the day job: Fig Tree Books officially published a new edition of Edward Lewis Wallant’s classic novel The Pawnbroker. And Literary Hub published the accompanying new foreword by Dara Horn.
- If you follow me on Twitter you’ve probably already realized that I’m a devotee of Tablet‘s Unorthodox podcast. This week’s episode includes a “sneak preview” of Tablet‘s “about-to-drop” print magazine (which, of course, I’ve already subscribed to).
- Quick notes for those of you interested in reading new Jewish poetry on a regular basis. I think I’ve already pointed you to the Haaretz Poem of the Week feature. Also worth checking out: poetry published in Jewish Journal.
- And though I don’t plan to order a print for my own apartment’s walls, I did chuckle when I saw this cartoon in this week’s New Yorker.
Shabbat Shalom.
Words of the Week
Where once he had told me about the Jewish ritual practice of the bar mitzvah, he was largely MIA as I studied for mine. My mother toiled with all the financial and logistical preparations. Ultimately, he snuck into the synagogue and heard me daven. But he quietly absented himself from the party.
Source: Seth Gitell, “America’s Best: Raised By A Green Beret With PTSD” (HuffPost)
Pre-Shabbat Jewish Literary Links
Shabbat shalom.
From My Bookshelf: Poetry for Jewish Book Month
As you may already know, tomorrow brings the beginning of the 90th year of Jewish Book Month. And in anticipation, I’m sharing a few poetry titles that are on my tbr list.
But first, a quick look back on my latest read: Inspired by sample poems written by Dan Pagis (1930-1986) about the biblical characters Adam/Eve/Cain/Abel—poems distributed by instructor Amy Gottlieb in a class I’m taking at the Drisha Institute—I spent a chunk of last weekend reading Variable Directions, a full collection of Pagis’s work translated by Stephen Mitchell. And I’m very glad that I did.
Now that I’ve returned Variable Directions to the library, here are three additional poetry titles awaiting my attention.
