[ha-Safran]: Responses to 5 books

[library]

Andrea,
I agree that Steinberg's As A Driven Leaf is a compelling novel of 
ideas.  Rabbi Steinberg seemed to me unusual, as an early 
Reconstructionist who had probed the ideological and religious 
concerns attributed to his inwardly tormented protagonist, Elisha ben 
Abuyah.  I loved Steinberg's complex characterizations of the ancient 
rabbis and his portrayals of Greek and Roman culture and society.

Generally at our synagogue library, only those interested in fine 
literature and philosophy have expressed an interest in reading As A 
Driven Leaf.  At a book group discussion, several of the women 
complained that the book was too "dense" or "dull" and that they had 
had trouble finishing reading it!

Regards,
Melinda Herman


Melinda Herman
Librarian
Beth El Synagogue
Northfield Road at North Avenue
New Rochelle, NY 10804
(914) 235-2700, ext. 227

Re: [ha-Safran]: Responses to "5 Books"

[Lee Jaffe]

Growing up in the 60s my Jewish identity was bracketed by

The Source
Exodus
Portnoy's Complaint
The Chosen

I've filled that narrative out a bit since but those were my foundation stones.

So here is my more rounded out list.

I'll add another vote for As A Driven Leaf ... also

Tanakh, preferably the Artscroll for its index and  appendices .. I 
notice that only one other person mentioned the Bible, but only the 
five books of Torah  ... but I'd want it all

Portnoy's Complaint, because it covers all the bases of the seamy 
underbelly of the Jewish-American experience

The Chosen, Potok, because after Portnoy you will want to believe in 
something good about being a Jew...

Exodus, Uris, the founding narrative of the State of Israel, pretty 
much everything I know about those times

If you gave me a little more room on the bookshelf, I'd want to add, 
in no particular order:

A Tale of Love and Darkness, Amos Oz
To Pray As a Jew, Donin
Home to Stay, Daniel Gordis
Living a Jewish Life, Diamant/Cooper
Jews Without Money, Gold
A Bintel Brief, The Daily Forward
The Source, Michener
A Pigeon and A Boy, Shalev
Past Continuous, Shabtai

-- Lee Jaffe, UC Santa Cruz


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[ha-Safran]: Responses to "5 Books"

[Andrea Rapp]

The titles which received multiple "votes" were As a Driven Leaf, 
Night,  Diary of Anne Frank, and Sarna's American Judaism.
   Some 1-voters were: Eban's My Country, Dershowitz' Case for 
Israel, Dimont's Jews, God, and History, Sandmel's The Hebrew 
Scriptures, Telushkin's book of Ethics (actually, there are 2 of them 
now), Rise of David Levinsky, Victor Frankls' Man's Search for 
Meaning, Outwitting History, and Songs for the Butcher's 
Daughter.  Oh yes, All-of-a-Kind Family got a vote, and 2 authors 
were mentioned simply as authors: Heschel and Ozick.
As a Driven Leaf is my favorite "novel of ideas," but I've found 
that when I've recommended it to patrons, it seems to fall flat.
If anyone is interested to reply, I'd love to hear responses from 
those who share my love of the book as to the factors that endear it to you
Andrea





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Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author
and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL)
===
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SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu
Ha-Safran Archives:
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