From My Bookshelf: THE PEOPLE AND THE BOOKS

The brilliant Adam Kirsch has a new book out, and it’s a must-read for anyone who’s truly seeking to educate themselves in Jewish history and literature. Here’s the wrinkle: Unless you’ve already benefited from a pretty comprehensive Jewish education, The People and the Books will likely make you want to place on your own to-read list each of the 18 “classics of Jewish literature” that it analyzes. And since some of titles discussed—take the Zohar, for instance—total thousands of pages and require multiple volumes, that list is going to get much, much longer.

I’ve decided to begin with a less ambitious goal. Having read through Kirsch’s new book, and recognizing my own reading preferences, I’m going add to my tbr list only five of the titles discussed in The People and the Books. For now.

The five I’ve chosen: (more…)

Pre-Shabbat Jewish Literary Links

Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
Every Friday My Machberet presents an array of Jewish-interest links, primarily of the literary variety.

  • Lots to admire (and mull over) in Rachel Kadish’s “What Elie Wiesel Taught Me About Being a Writer.”
  • Intriguing opportunity for emerging Jewish artists (including writers) to gather in Warsaw under the guidance of Asylum Arts and POLIN Museum of the History of the Polish Jews. Apply by October 24. No fees.
  • ICYMI when it appeared in the Practicing Writer newsletter, my recent Q&A with Rachel Hall, author of Heirlooms, is now preserved for posterity in my collection of author interviews.
  • Attention, young Canadians (ages 18-29). Here’s an essay contest for you, from the Canadian Jewish News. No entry fees. Cash prizes. Deadline: October 27, 2016.
  • Last, but maybe not least: my second piece on Literary Hub, contesting suggestions that Jewish writing is “over.”
  • Shabbat shalom.

    Pre-Shabbat (and Pre-5777) Jewish Lit Links

    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Every Friday My Machberet presents an array of Jewish-interest links, primarily of the literary variety.

  • Let’s begin with some inspirational quotations from Israeli statesman Shimon Peres, who passed away this week.
  • The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle is running a short story contest (and you don’t *have* to be from Wisconsin to enter it). No entry fee. Cash prize.
  • There’s a problematic new book for children on the market: Shmelf the Hanukkah Elf. Read Marjorie Ingall’s take over on Tablet and listen to this Book of Life podcast for the details.
  • I’m holding out for my print copy to get here, but the latest issue of the Jewish Review of Books is now online (limited free access for non-subscribers).
  • And last, but least: This week brought an extra-special edition of the Fig Tree Books newsletter, with all sorts of preview content from Abigail Pogrebin’s forthcoming My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew. The perfect way to approach the forthcoming Jewish New Year!
  • Speaking of Rosh Hashanah–let me wish you all a Shanah Tovah–as well as a Shabbat Shalom.

    Pre-Shabbat Jewish Literary Links

    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Every Friday My Machberet presents an array of Jewish-interest links, primarily of the literary variety.

  • “Amy Gottlieb’s debut novel, ‘The Beautiful Possible’ (Harper), is one of the most Jewish of stories, if one considers novelist Rebecca Goldstein’s definition of a Jewish book as one in which Judaism matters on the page. In a style that feels natural, Gottlieb weaves Jewish wisdom, texts and storytelling into narrative and dialogue; many sentences have the cadences of prayer.” So begins Sandee Brawarsky’s marvelous review for The Jewish Week.
  • And I keep singing the praises of Rachel Hall’s magnificent new collection of linked stories, Heirlooms, which is the subject of this highly informative Q&A with Deborah Kalb.
  • Happening next month in North Carolina: “Faith in Literature: A Festival of Contemporary Writers of the Spirit.” It looks a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Lucky attendees!
  • ICYMI: My wonderful colleague Michelle Caplan, Editor-in-Chief for Fig Tree Books, will be attending the upcoming BinderCon in New York. Here’s some information about her–and the kind of work that she’s seeking to acquire–that may be helpful to anyone with a manuscript on American Jewish experience.
  • And we’ll close with a weekend-reading recommendation: the latest issue of JewishFiction.Net.
  • Shabbat Shalom.

    Pre-Shabbat Jewish Literary Links

    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Every Friday My Machberet presents an array of Jewish-interest links, primarily of the literary variety.

  • This week brought the August edition of the Jewish Book Carnival, “a monthly event where bloggers who blog about Jewish books can meet, read and comment on each others’ posts.”
  • On my tbr list: Lara Vapnyar’s latest novel, Still Here. (See Adam Kirsch in Tablet for an preview.)
  • On Hevria: “Exile and Redemption,” a beautiful poem by Rachel Kann.
  • Someday, I am truly going to learn Hebrew. Annette Gendler’s experience is an inspiration.
  • Also inspiring: a Canadian Jewish News article about a book-publishing program for young campers with special needs.
  • Shabbat shalom.