From My Bookshelf: Molly Antopol’s “The UnAmericans” (and an Interview with the Author)

UnAmericansEarlier this year, I published an article listing five “Jewish books” scheduled for publication in 2014 that I was already especially eager to read. Molly Antopol‘s  The UnAmericans was one of those titles. As I wrote at the time: “I’m not the only one with high expectations for this debut collection of short stories. Anointed by the National Book Foundation as one of its ‘5 Under 35’ honorees, Antopol and her book (which W.W. Norton will release in February) have received plenty of pre-publication buzz. “My stories move from McCarthy-era Los Angeles to modern-day Jerusalem to communist Prague,” Antopol has said in an interview, adding that many of the stories were inspired by her family history.

Well, I purchased a copy for my Kindle and began reading. And I was just as impressed as I expected to be. Molly and I connected online, and I asked her if she’d be willing to answer a few questions for My Machberet. (more…)

Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

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

  • Tablet is celebrating National Poetry Month, “sharing stories about poetry and poets from our archives all month.”
  • Speaking of poetry–you know how director Darren Aronofsky has a new movie out about Noah and the flood? Well, thanks to The Forward, we can also read a poem Aronofsky wrote about that story back in seventh grade.
  • “My Memoirs Made Me Jewish, or How Jewish Is Enough?”–guest post by Nancy K. Miller for The Whole Megillah.
  • J-Job alert: The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington is looking for a Writer/Editor. Application period closes April 9.
  • Shabbat shalom.

    Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

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

  • On the Museum of Jewish Heritage’s blog: an excerpt from Simon Schama’s The Story of the Jews.
  • A column by Rabbi Fishel Schachter inspires Rebecca Klempner to reflect on writing for children.
  • I’m always happy to find a new story by Etgar Keret. (Thanks, Tablet!)
  • The Forward‘s Arty Semite blog features “Eve and Lilith Back at the Garden,” a poem by Lynn Levin.
  • Next week brings the next Jewish Book Council/Jewcy Twitter Book Club. On Wednesday, April 2 at 1:30 pm ET, Jean Hanff Korelitz will be talking/tweeting about her newest book, You Should Have Known!
  • Shabbat shalom.

    Jewish Literary Links

    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Every Friday before Shabbat, My Machberet presents an assortment of Jewish-interest links, primarily of the literary variety. I plan to be offline for the next several days, but I’ve already found too many great links to skip this week’s post altogether. Enjoy what I’ve found, Shabbat Shalom, and see you next week!

  • Can’t wait to really dig into this series on the future of Jewish theater. (h/t Mosaic magazine)
  • Cynthia Ozick writes brilliantly on Bernard Malamud. Also worth your time: Mark Athitakis on the same.
  • Moment magazine presents Lauren Watel’s utterly affecting short story, “The Nothing of History.”
  • The Book of Life hosts the March Jewish Book Carnival.
  • This Sunday in NYC: “Jewish Poetry Now: A Reading and Discussion Celebrating The Bloomsbury Anthology of Contemporary Jewish American Poetry,” (free event).
  • Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

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

  • Via JewishFiction.Net: a Purim-related excerpt from the forthcoming translation (by Jeffrey M. Green) of Aharon Appelfeld’s Suddenly, Love.
  • Publishers Weekly interviews Boris Fishman, whose debut novel A Replacement Life I am looking forward to reading.
  • Not sure how long this discount will last, but you can currently register for The Whole Megillah Seminar on Jewish Story for $99.
  • Interesting story from Tablet on Halban, “the best little Jewish publishing house in London.”
  • New Moment magazine contest, “Become a Senior Critic,” invites book and movie reviews from those 70+. Prizes: publication & gift subscriptions. Enter by August 1.
  • Shabbat shalom & chag Purim!