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I like to treat myself to a book for YomTov. There are so many on the market I wonder If we can share suggestions of good books?
I think there’s an old Sholom Aleichem story about two men who met on the street. Mr. A says “Hello” and Mr. B says “You belong teef in erd (deep in the ground)”. Mr. A is shocked and asks “I just gave you a friendly hello, what did I say to deserve such a vicious reply?”
So Mr. A explains, “Look, if I’d replied in a friendly manner, then you’d ask me how I’m doing. I’d say things are fine and we’d make small talk for a minute. Then you’d ask where I’m going and I’d say I’m going to the mikve on avenue moishe. You’d say ‘THAT mikve? – only schnorrers go to that one, the mikve on avenue shmeel is the one to go to’. Then I’d say that your mikve is only frequented by stuck up snobs, and you’d say people like me belong back in the ghetto, and I’d say you belong teef in erd. So instead of wasting all that time, I just cut to the chase and got the conversation over with. Now I will be able to get home from the mikve in time for Shabbos.”
I think we know where this type of thread goes… So should I make a book suggestion or should I just cut to the chase?
Cut to the chase.
BS”D
There is a frum E-book online now free of charge. It is about descendants of Anusim who discover their Judaism. Do a search on Frumebook or Nissan Davidi.
Yay one of my favorite topics! The Will by Chaim Greenbaum is really good.
From “Mrs. Try”:
The Double Life of Chanie Greenberg by Menucha Beckerman
A Daughter of Two Mothers by Miriam Cohen
“Highly recommended. These are can’t-put-down page-turners – Mrs. T”
Also good:
Escape From India by Avigail Myzlik
With This Ring by Sarah Kisner (I’m in the middle of the book, so far so good – Mrs. T)
the weakest link, the fortune seekers. r u looking for a novel? stories that tug at the heart is a great book not a novel but very good
ok i recently read The Will, i think it was the most amazing book i ever read!!! icot, i read the double life, didn’t excite me, had like 5 pages in a row just talking about how she davened! but the actual plot was very good! a daughter of two mothers is good, as well as behind the walls, by the same author!! escape from india is being passed all over my family, everyone said it was amazing!! estherh, what kind of books do you like? holocaust? historical novel? just a regular novel that takes place nowadays? mysteries???
I don’t think that it will be easy to find, but you could read the memoirs of Gluckl of Hamelin.
She was a Jewish woman born in the 1640s, if I recall, and kept a diary of her life. It provides an amazing picture of a Jewish community in those times, as well as many other parts of Europe, as her husband’s business was wide ranging.
Personally, I go for some of the older books like the unanswered cry, far from a place called home, even like conquer thge darkness… these books are shorter so you don’t have to stay up all night to finish them. Also, they are good for some of the kids. happy reading!!!
Switched Identities and The Gordian Knot and The Inquisition are all really good!
In the Spider’s Web by Chaim Eliav and Aleph Shin by Sender Zeyv- I think they’re brilliantly written with a lot of research and info packed in (suspense novels).
Anything written by Avner Gold- yes, those “children’s” books. Guess what- they’re not only for kids. IMHO they have a deeper level- read it when you’re 12 and read it again when you’re older… two different stories. Plus, if you like history, you’ll love these.
Nachman Seltzer- excellent and talented writer (short stories and suspense novels).
1. Gateway Diaries; 2. Partners in Torah, Partners in Eternity- personal accounts from people who came back on the derech.
Anything written by Yechiel Spero
‘Adventures in the Produce Aisle’ for a real LOL.
So many of today’s Jewish books (including some recommended above) are so poorly written, I can’t believe they were published. The grammar and cliches make me cringe.
Mirrors and Windows is my all-time favorite. It gets an A+ for content and good English!
I’ve been waiting for a thread like this! One of my favorite books is a slightly older one called “A Promise Fulflilled”. I can’t remember the author right now, but it’s a really interesting book, not the typical Jewish novel of bombs and terrorists.
If you like a historical type novel that is very interesting and schmoozy with lots of pictures then this was an amazing hit in my family –
A TALE OF TWO WORLDS
Rabbi Dovid and Rebbetzin Basya Bender – the bridge between the Yeshiva-Bais Yaakov worlds of pre-War Europe and post-War America
starwolf, I read Glukl of Hamelin too.
If you’re interested in Jewish history/ historical fiction, you might like the works of Marcus Lehmann, including _The Adopted Princess_ & _Bustenai_.
I have a copy of _A Tale of Two Worlds_, but haven’t read much of it yet.
jewishsoul, Thank you! Thank you! Looks like I’m not the only one that can’t get past the first couple of pages. Most of today’s Jewish books are written so badly that you have to reread lines to get what the author is trying to say and so predictable that I can tell you what the ending is just by reading the back. (Or it’s so far-fetched that the entire last 100 pages are spent explaining who was a double- and triple-agent so that it can make some sort of sense.)
A couple of the better-written ones are The Gordian Knot, The Spider’s Web, and Eye of the Storm. The Will was also a really good one, like some people already mentioned, and so was The Judge (same author? I don’t remember).
South African Journeys by Gita Gordon, this book of fiction, was written a few years ago, it’s about 2 yound women from Europe, who go to South Africa to meet their prospective grooms. One of the girls is not happy with her future husband so she wants to switch to the other man. Some how their lives are intertwined.
That was one book I enjoyed.
A few months ago, I purchased a book called “A different World” it’s the true story about a convert who becomes Chassidish. Very interesting story.
Miracle ride, was released a few months ago. This book, based on a true story,is about a young woman and her challange of having an illness. She eventually meets her bashert as well. It was very heartwarming and I loved how this woman dealt with her illness with honesty and wit. A few of her stories made me laugh.
LAer, Chaim Greenbaum wrote The Will (great book!) and it was translated into english by Libby Lazewnik who also wrote The Judge. (another great one)
Daughter of Two Mothers was also very good.
Adventures in the Produce Aisle and Recipe for Disaster (both humor)
*side note: Theres a book for (approx) 4th grade reading level called Shaindy Strikes Again. Its great for a kid who doesn’t like reading because its VERY funny. I’m not sure if its still available in stores but its worth checking a library for.
Wow my favorite topic!!! Ok where should i start?
Like mazal77 said, miracle ride was an amazing book: inspiring yet funny and written very well. its one of my favorites.
many books by chaim eliav are good but my favorite one is The Persecution.
If you’re interested in something other than a novel, Rabbi Frand’s new book “It’s never too little, its never too late, its never enough” was excellently written and very inspiring – good for the yamim noraim.
I cant think of anything else at the moment which is urprising cuz i read most of eichler’s 😉 but if i think of anything else i’ll post later.
Happy reading!
Dual Discovery – awesome!
I hope to get hold of the Bender bio too.
And I also second the new Ruach Ami books.
My Life on Wheels.
Stories that Tug at the Heart, the newest R’ Pruzansky book.
The Stars Will Guide You (not sure of the title, by Miriam Walfish, currently serialized in Hamodia), more for kids but a great read.
This might not be upbeat reading but definitely moving and teshuva inspiring – Princes Among Men (again, not sure of the title) about Merkaz Harav talmidim, and David Avdi, about Dr. David Appelbaum, Hashem yinkom demam.
The newest Horizons, Mishpachas, Binas, other weeklies etc. if you don’t already get them.
estherh–I had the honor of listening to shiurim by Rav Schwadron in my youth.
The presence of greatness was unmistakable.
??? ????? ????
Rachel613,thanks. I didn’t know Rabbi Frand gave out a new book and I really enjoyed the ones he’s written in the past. I guess this solves my “what to read” dilemma for the first few hours… Any other personal growth books recommended?
JewishSoul:
wish i did but to be honest i dont usually read those books. my brother bought the Rabbi Frand book and i had nothing else to read so i picked it up. it was really good but in general i like novels more. idk if your interested in tznius..it kinda depends on your gender:)…but i heard that there’s a new book “6 diaries” about tznius thats good.
Sorry i cant be of any more help but enjoy the Rabbi Frand book!
Just One Jew is supposed to be great (heard from a very chashuve rebbetzin). Forgot about that . And others, I’m sure.
My apologies for my typographical error in my post (last line) regarding Rav Schwadron.
i have not read a book in some time, but here are a few i’ve read that are great!
all Rabbi Yechiel Spero books-Touched by a Story 1, 2, & 3 & i think even 4
Visions of Greatness-all them
Pyrimid Base
Calculated Risk
The Will
Most Wanted
Eli Schekter Books are great
The Will? Is that Hill or Beans?
wb 42
Every Man A Slave Historical Novel, on the long side, but everyone I know who started it enjoyed it ’till the end (and I’ve recommended it to a number of people). Set before and during the Civil War, it depicts a frum Jew in the South who purchases a slave Al Pi Halacha and the relationships that develop. It’s well written and seemingly well researched (my knowledge of history is weak, but those in the know have agreed).
I second that- Every Man a Slave by Sender Zeyv is an excellent choice (same author as Aleph Shin- well researched books, very well written.)
42: or Will Hill!
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