Go on over for a roundup of links to other blog reviews and posts about Jewish Books. Apparently this carnival is on the 15th of every month, hosted at a different blog each time.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Jewish Book Carnival
Go on over for a roundup of links to other blog reviews and posts about Jewish Books. Apparently this carnival is on the 15th of every month, hosted at a different blog each time.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Jewish Literature Challenge 2010-2011
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NOTE: I am holding this challenge again because it's seems to be fairly popular but this will be a self run challenge. I won't be posting linkies for reviews or offering related posts or anything. The only thing I will be doing is approving comments for this blog and adding any new members who wish to post on this blog.
What: Reading books by Jewish Authors or about Judaism
When: December 1, 2010 (First Night of Hanukkah) to April 26, 2011 (End of Passover)
Who: Anyone who wants to participate! Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike
Where: Right here of course! You can also post your picks and reviews to your own blog if you have one.
Levels
- Read 1 book that fits the criteria
- Read 3 books that fit the criteria.
- Read 5+ books that fit the criteria.
Sign the comments on THIS post to join the challenge. If you have a blog, you can leave your url if you want. I will NOT be doing a participants list this time. If you don't have a blog just mention you are joining.
You still have the option of being a member of this blog. This allows you to post you reviews here which helps make a good directory of Jewish Literature. You don't have to have a blog to join this one but you do have to have a blogger profile. Get one free at http://www.blogger.com
If you want to be added to the blog, please include your email address. (put it like this to prevent spam: yourname AT yourdomain DOT com) in your comment.
Are you wondering more about what books are okay?
Fiction, Non-fiction, memoirs, Adult books, Teen books, Children's books, books about the Holocaust, books about anti-semitism, books about Jewish Life, Jewish Culture, Jewish Customs. Books by Jewish Authors no matter what the subject.
See side bar for links that might help or check out the archive to see what participants read in the past.
Anything else?
Books don't count if you read them before the start date so keep that in mind.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Nick and Norahs Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Nick and Norahs Infinite Playlist
Pages: 192
Pub Date: August 28, 2007
Author Website/Blog: http://www.davidlevithan.com/index.html http://www.rachelcohn.com/
Synopsis: It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who's just walked in to his band's show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.
Just brilliant. As always the book is better then the movie. The movie made me tear off my nails and eat them it (figuratively) it was so painful. I dont think Ive ever been truly bored to tears. The book made up for it. The book always makes everything so much better. This book was slow at the beginning but the end made up for it. It really showed that things arent as they seem. Granted I gaged a bit when Norah talked about Tukan Olam which is a jewish idea that the world is broken and we need to put the pieces back together again. I really enjoyed that the story showed the true feelings of the characters. It wasnt some cheesy novel where all they wanted to do is fall in love. THis was a great well written story.
Pub Date: August 28, 2007
Author Website/Blog: http://www.davidlevithan.com/index.html http://www.rachelcohn.com/
Synopsis: It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who's just walked in to his band's show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.
Just brilliant. As always the book is better then the movie. The movie made me tear off my nails and eat them it (figuratively) it was so painful. I dont think Ive ever been truly bored to tears. The book made up for it. The book always makes everything so much better. This book was slow at the beginning but the end made up for it. It really showed that things arent as they seem. Granted I gaged a bit when Norah talked about Tukan Olam which is a jewish idea that the world is broken and we need to put the pieces back together again. I really enjoyed that the story showed the true feelings of the characters. It wasnt some cheesy novel where all they wanted to do is fall in love. THis was a great well written story.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
You Are SO Not Invited To My Batmitvah by Fiona Rosenbloom
You Are SO Not Invited To My Batmitvah by Fiona Rosenbloom
Pages: 208
Pub Date: August 29, 2005
Synopsis: Stacy Friedman is getting ready for one of the biggest events of her young life--her bat mitzvah! All she wants is the perfect BCBG dress to wear, her friends by her side, and her biggest crush ever, Andy Goldfarb, to dance with her (and maybe give Stacy her first French kiss .). But of course, things never work out quite the way you'd like them to.. Her stressed-out mother forces her to buy a hideous beaded sequined dress that she wouldn't be caught dead in. Her mitzvahs are not going at all well. And then the worst thing in the entire world happens--Stacy catches her best friend, Lydia, making out with Andy! And thus she utters the words that will wreak complete havoc on her social life ...You are so not invited to my bat mitzvah!
This book was just perfect. It reminded me of everything MY Batmitvah wasnt. I absolutely loved that. My Batmitvah was a small affair and no one really cared. Meanwhile with this oh its a Batmitvah so its like a stinkin wedding! And also only a few of my friends had one. In this book there was every single person she knew having one, EVEN if they werent jewish! In real life, sadly its not cool to have a Batmitvah. But in this book there were people throwing faux batmitvahs. Ridiculous! Right? This book also showed that you shouldnt freak about right or wrong with a batmtivah. Just enjoy it!
Pub Date: August 29, 2005
Synopsis: Stacy Friedman is getting ready for one of the biggest events of her young life--her bat mitzvah! All she wants is the perfect BCBG dress to wear, her friends by her side, and her biggest crush ever, Andy Goldfarb, to dance with her (and maybe give Stacy her first French kiss .). But of course, things never work out quite the way you'd like them to.. Her stressed-out mother forces her to buy a hideous beaded sequined dress that she wouldn't be caught dead in. Her mitzvahs are not going at all well. And then the worst thing in the entire world happens--Stacy catches her best friend, Lydia, making out with Andy! And thus she utters the words that will wreak complete havoc on her social life ...You are so not invited to my bat mitzvah!
This book was just perfect. It reminded me of everything MY Batmitvah wasnt. I absolutely loved that. My Batmitvah was a small affair and no one really cared. Meanwhile with this oh its a Batmitvah so its like a stinkin wedding! And also only a few of my friends had one. In this book there was every single person she knew having one, EVEN if they werent jewish! In real life, sadly its not cool to have a Batmitvah. But in this book there were people throwing faux batmitvahs. Ridiculous! Right? This book also showed that you shouldnt freak about right or wrong with a batmtivah. Just enjoy it!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The Devil's Arithmetic - Jane Yolen
When I began looking for books for the Jewish Literature Challenge, I thought immediately of Jane Yolen's The Devil's Arithmetic. It follows the story of a young Jewish girl named Hannah Stern. Hannah is tired of her Grandpa ranting about the Holocaust, and wishes she could spend Seder with her Gentile friends.
When her family asks her to symbolically open the door to invite the prophet Elijah in, she finds her self in the Poland of 1942. Everyone there thinks she's a young girl named Chaya, who survived the cholera that killed her family. She tries to explain to them that she's from a different time & place, but they think she's still feverish from her illness.
She slowly acclimates to her new surroundings, but during her uncle's wedding, the Nazis come to relocate the entire village to a concentration camp. Hannah tries to warn them of the dangers they face...starvation, gas chambers, hard work...but they don't believe her. After all, how would a young girl know of such things?
This book is a sobering look at just some of the realities of the Holocaust. It was the 1989 winner of the National Jewish Literature Award for children's literature. It's a very fast read, and its skillful writing pulls you into the story line immediately.
When her family asks her to symbolically open the door to invite the prophet Elijah in, she finds her self in the Poland of 1942. Everyone there thinks she's a young girl named Chaya, who survived the cholera that killed her family. She tries to explain to them that she's from a different time & place, but they think she's still feverish from her illness.
She slowly acclimates to her new surroundings, but during her uncle's wedding, the Nazis come to relocate the entire village to a concentration camp. Hannah tries to warn them of the dangers they face...starvation, gas chambers, hard work...but they don't believe her. After all, how would a young girl know of such things?
This book is a sobering look at just some of the realities of the Holocaust. It was the 1989 winner of the National Jewish Literature Award for children's literature. It's a very fast read, and its skillful writing pulls you into the story line immediately.
Friday, June 11, 2010
How's everybody doing?
Well how's everyone doing? Sorry to those I never sent invites to. I've now sent them. If you're read a book, please add your review here or email it to me and I'll add it. Remember we're trying to create a blog of review of Jewish books or books by Jewish authors.
Check in, tell me how you're doing. Have you read any books?
Check in, tell me how you're doing. Have you read any books?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Jewish Literature Challenge 2010
NOTE: I forgot to start this challenge when I was supposed to so JLC 2010 will run different months this time. It ends in September but will start up again with JLC 2010-2011 on Dec 2 (Hanukkah.)
Also read carefully even if you participated before as I've changed a few things.
What: Reading books by Jewish Authors or about Judaism
When: February 27, 2010 (Purim) to September 10, 2010 (Rosh Hashanah)
Who: Anyone who wants to participate! Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike
Where: Right here of course! You can also post your picks and reviews to your own blog if you have one.
Levels
- Read 1 book that fits the criteria
- Read 3 books that fit the criteria.
- Read 5+ books that fit the criteria.
Sign the comments on THIS post to join the challenge. If you have a blog, you can leave your url if you want. I will NOT be doing a participants list this time. If you don't have a blog just mention you are joining.
You still have the option of being a member of this blog. This allows you to post you reviews here which helps make a good directory of Jewish Literature. You don't have to have a blog to join this one but you do have to have a blogger profile. Get one free at http://www.blogger.com
If you want to be added to the blog, please include your email address. (put it like this to prevent spam: yourname AT yourdomain DOT com) in your comment.
Are you wondering more about what books are okay?
Fiction, Non-fiction, memoirs, Adult books, Teen books, Children's books, books about the Holocaust, books about anti-semitism, books about Jewish Life, Jewish Culture, Jewish Customs. Books by Jewish Authors no matter what the subject.
See side bar for links that might help or check out the archive to see what participants read in the past.
Anything else?
Books don't count if you read them before the start date so keep that in mind.
Monday, June 1, 2009
See you next year!
This challenge is over (and has been for a month) but I just wanted to make sure anyone passing by this blog was sure of that. Check back at the beginning of December for signups for 09-10
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Jewish Literature Challenge 2008-2009
*This is a sticky post, scroll down for newest posts*
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NOTE: Changes from last year are in red.
What: Reading at least 4 books by Jewish Authors or about Judaism
When: December 21, 2008 (Beginning of Hanukkah) to April 27, 2009 (End of Passover)
Who: Anyone who wants to participate! Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike
Where: Right here of course! You can also post your picks and reviews to your own blog if you have one of course.
How: Sign the comments on THIS post to join the challenge. Tell me if you want to be added to the blog. If so, include your email address. (put it like this to prevent spam: yourname AT yourdomain DOT com) Once I've added you, you can post your picks here and when the time comes, post your reviews here too.
NOTE: Also please post on your blog your intention to do this challenge. You can add a list of possible books now or at a later date. Put the url to your specific post about the challenge in the comments.
Are you wondering more about what books are okay?
Fiction, Non-fiction, memoirs, Adult books, Teen books, Children's books, books about the Holocaust, books about anti-semitism, books about Jewish Life, Jewish Culture, Jewish Customs. Books by Jewish Authors no matter what the subject.
Monday, April 27, 2009
My Challenge Wrap-Up
Today is the last day of Callista's Jewish Literature Challenge, but I'm not quite done. I'm in the middle of Peter Beagle's A Fine and Private Place, and I'm also listening to Night, by Elie Wiesel, on my iPod, but am not quite finished with it, either. So I'll continue to read and listen to these final choices even though the official challenge is over.
The books I have completed for this challenge are:
- In the Name of Sorrow and Hope, by Noa Ben Artzi-Pelossof
- The Devil's Arithmetic, by Jane Yolen
- My Grandmother's Stories, by Adele Geras
Challenge Complete (3M from 1morechapter.com)
I really loved participating in this challenge again. I enjoyed all my books, especially Petropolis, but the highlight of the challenge was watching the film Ushpizin. I loved it!
- Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels
- Zlateh the Goat and Other Stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer
- Petropolis by Anya Ulinich
- Natasha and Other Stories by David Bezmozgis
Film from Israel: Ushpizin
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Pattie's list **wrap-up**
My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
Suite française by Irène Némirovsky
Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Fax Me a Bagel by Sharon Kahn (I read one other book in this series last year!)
Suite française by Irène Némirovsky
Alternate selections (in case I can't finish the above books, or decide differently):
The Book Thief by Marcus Zuzak (BEGUN)
The Hidden Life of Otto Frank by Carol Ann Lee (Dad gave me his copy)The Family Fortune by Laurie Horowitz
Wrapping up:
I finished three and began a fourth. I know I won't finish The Book Thief by tomorrow, but I am reading it. It is very good so far.
Thanks again for the opportunity to contribute, even in a small way, to this blog.
Shalom.
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