Interested in reading some fiction that depicts Judaism in a realistic and interesting way? Check out these five fantastic novels.
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The Chosen by Chaim Potok
The story of Danny Saunders and Reuven Malters follows the friendship of two Jewish boys living in Brooklyn after World War II. Reuven is an Orthodox Jew, which makes him feel like an outsider at times, but Danny is a Hasidic Jew, a group that stands out for its religious conservativeness and old-fashioned dress code – long beards, long coats, and side curls. The two boys must face very different obstacles before coming of age, and their differences in practicing the same religion uncovers a lot of tension. The drama comes from whether their friendship will survive these trials. “The Chosen” is on many high school and college required reading lists – and for good reason. The heart-wrenching tale hits close to home for many teenagers and young adults. However, dated references and obscure Jewish culture can bog the reader down. It is probably best read with Google or Wikipedia handy.
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The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
This book details an amazing slice of American history – the dawn of the comic book age. Author Michael Chabon uncovers the drama behind this seemingly innocent past time – cutthroat power plays, ethical controversies, and ruthless politics. Woven into this tale is the story of what it was like to be Jewish in 1930-1950. Samuel Klayman (later Sam Clay) is a second generation immigrant, well-versed in American ways. His cousin, Josef Kavalier, was the only child in his family to escape Nazi-occupied Prague. Tension over this difference in heritage as the two boys grow up and found a successful comic book empire colors their interactions, marriages, and business.
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The Devil’s Company by David Liss
To be a Jew in the 1700’s meant living under the fear of hate crimes, expulsion, and constant movement. One of the few places where Jew’s were not persecuted (as much) was England. “The Devil’s Company” and the other two novels of the series (“A Spectacle of Corruption” and “A Conspiracy of Paper”) tell the story Benjamin Weaver – a Portuguese Jew, ex-boxer, and skilled thief-taker living in London. Weaver’s job is like a private detective, to solve mysteries and bring criminals to justice. Because of his job and his race, Weaver lives somewhat apart from society, but not enough to keep him out of troubles and adventure! The attempt at Victorian-style writing by author David Liss can be distracting, but the plots are fast paced and the history of Jews, England, and colonial America is educational and interesting.
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Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
This novel deals primarily with the struggle of one Jewish American to reconcile his family's experience in the Holocaust. Young Jonathan Safran Foer (Coincidence? I think not) travels to the Ukraine in the hopes of finding the woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis. On his quest, he is aided by Alex Perchov, an often comical Ukrainian translator, and Alex's grandfather, who serves as their driver on the trip. The entire book is written through a series of letters between Alex and Jonathan, which jump from past to present, chronicling Jonathan's family over the course of many generations. If you would like to read a Holocaust novel that breaks many of not only the standard rules of Holocaust writings, but also the standard rules of fiction, check out "Everything is Illuminated."
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The Red Tent
Dinah, daughter of biblical characters Jacob and Leah, is mentioned only briefly in the Bible, but in “The Red Tent” her tale is stretched to full novel length. Author Anita Diamant clearly spent a lot of time in pain-staking research of what life was like in 2,000 A.D., around the time Judaism was founded by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The title of this book refers to a tent where women were banished during their monthly cycles. In this tent, Dinah uncovers much of the drama and intrigue of the novel. Anyone interested in biblical history and early Judaism will enjoy the details of this book, but the stilted writing and terrible dialogue may put off many readers.
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Jillian Interlichia is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and a writer on online schools for Guide to Online Schools.