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On “Jewish” Writing: Reflections on Tablet Magazine’s New Fiction Series

by Erika Dreifus on
11

As someone who spends a lot of time reading, writing about, and promoting Jewish literature—including, and perhaps especially, Jewish fiction—I’m mystified by the direction that Tablet magazine appears to be taking with its new fiction series.

Tablet, as you may know, bears the trademarked tag line, “a new read on Jewish life,” and describes itself as a “daily online magazine of Jewish news, ideas, and culture.” It’s a magazine that I admire and enjoy; I was delighted when it added original fiction to its mix this fall. But that delight has turned to puzzlement–and a degree of dismay. (more…)

Jewish Book Carnival (Plus an Announcement About My Newest Role)

by Erika Dreifus on
2

It’s mid-month, which means that it’s once again time for the Jewish Book Carnival, organized by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL). Please click through to find all the posts on Jewish books and writing that the Carnival contributors are sharing this month.

You’ll see, too, that we’ll be hosting the Carnival right here on My Machberet next month. And there’s one more exciting announcement included in the Carnival: Yours truly will be the AJL’s Facebook Writer-in-Residence during the month of December. Don’t miss any of those posts and discussions! “Like” the AJL’s Facebook page today!

Free Summer Program for High-School Students: Great Jewish Books

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled
News from the Yiddish Book Center:
Great Jewish Books Summer Program

A week-long exploration of literature & culture for high school students
at the Yiddish Book Center, Amherst, MA

The Great Jewish Books Summer Program brings together eighteen rising high school juniors and seniors to read, discuss, argue about, and fall in love with some of the most powerful and enduring works of modern Jewish literature. Participants study with some of the nation’s most respected literary scholars, meet prominent contemporary authors, and connect with other teens from across the country. When asked what the highlight of the week was, one of last year’s students said, “The whole week was a highlight!” Enough said. This summer’s program runs from July 28 – August 4, 2013. The program is entirely free for accepted students, including tuition, rooms, meals, and a stack of incredible books. Applications are due March 15, 2013. Apply Now! Email greatjewishbooks@bikher.org with any questions.

Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
Every Friday morning My Machberet presents an assortment of Jewish literary news from around the Web.

  • This week I had the great pleasure of reading Jami Attenberg’s new novel, The Middlesteins (thank you, NetGalley!). I hope to write a full post about it at some point. Suffice to say that I recommend it highly. For now, I’ll point you to the ever-sage Adam Kirsch for a detailed review.
  • A reliably beautiful post from Richard Chess, writing about Michael Chabon, stories, Israel, and so much more.
  • The California-based Jewish Women’s Theatre seeks submissions for its “Culture Klatch”: “Be a part of this culture klatch by submitting your play, monologue, poem, essay, story, song, etc. to the Jewish Women’s Theatre. Material will be read in the JWT signature Salon Theatre with a professional cast.” (via the WomenArts Theatre Funding News)
  • Baltimore Jewish Times is advertising for a Senior Writer.
  • Forgive me if I’ve posted this before, but it seemed new to me when I read it this week: another profile in the press about JewishFiction.net, where I’ll have a piece appearing before too long.

    • Shabbat shalom.

    Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

    by Erika Dreifus on
    1
    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen

    Every Friday morning My Machberet presents an assortment of Jewish literary news from around the Web.

  • Lots of great book coverage in The Forward this week (including, if I may be so immodest as to point it out, my review of a new English translation of Hans Keilson’s first novel).
  • Superb essay by Etgar Keret (translated by Sondra Silverston) on Keret’s “new house in the old country.”
  • Michael Lowenthal has a new novel out, and he talks about it in a wide-ranging interview for The Rumpus that touches on “American politics, gay parenting, and Jewish literature.”
  • Because my early childhood summers were spent at Brighton Beach; because my life, too, is so much about passing stories along; because I, too, treasure moments spent in the company of my mother and my niece–for all of these reasons I loved Jami Attenberg’s post for The Prosen People. (See also Ron Charles’s enthusiastic review of Attenberg’s new novel.)
  • Finally, The Wall Street Journal ran a nice piece this week spotlighting The Blue Card, the organization to which I am donating portions of the profits from sales of my story collection, Quiet Americans.

    • Shabbat shalom.