From My Bookshelf: A Wedding in Great Neck, by Yona Zeldis McDonough

Today marks the release date for A Wedding in Great Neck, the latest novel by Yona Zeldis McDonough. My Machberet wishes Yona a hearty Mazel Tov!

Some of you may recognize Yona for her role as fiction editor for Lilith magazine. I can still remember picking up the phone in my kitchen 10 years ago when Yona called to let me know that she and the magazine wanted to publish my short story (which the magazine retitled “Polar Region”). Yona is responsible for affirming and advancing the work of so many fiction writers, especially those of us on the emerging end of things. We owe her a lot.

Which is one reason why I was so happy to be offered a complimentary advance reading copy of A Wedding in Great Neck, and why I’m equally pleased to give it a public shout-out here. If you follow me on Goodreads, you know that I read this hefty book in all of two days. It’s a family story–reminiscent of tales spun by Jonathan Tropper and Joshua Henkin–that takes place in a brief span (in this case, a single wedding day). There are lots of Jewish characters, some of whom you’ll likely respond to more positively than others. (Personally, I wanted to shake teenaged Justine more than once, especially each time she began spouting off against Israel.)

Here’s wishing Yona and her new book much success as they meet the world together.

4 thoughts on “From My Bookshelf: A Wedding in Great Neck, by Yona Zeldis McDonough

  1. Erika,
    Thanks for posting this. I remember hearing Yona speak at the Jewish Book Council event for writers a few years ago. The book sounds terrific.
    Linda

  2. I read her children’s chapter books for a book review, and it was wonderful. If her adult book is as good, as her children’s book it should be wonderful. I can’t wait to read.

  3. Adding it to my to-read list.

  4. Erika Dreifus says:

    I’m glad to have piqued so much interest! Thank you all for the comments.

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