Sisters of Fortune by Esther Chehebar

August 1, 2025

Sisters of Fortune by Esther Chehebar

Nina, Fortune, and Lucy Cohen are sisters. They live in an insular community of Syrian Sephardic Jews in Brooklyn. Fortune is engaged to be married and while Saul isn't the man of her dreams, she knows he will provide a stable comfortable life for her. Youngest sister Lucy is a high school senior dating a man in his 30s (which her parents don't think is inappropriate - go figure), while oldest sister Nina, still single at 26 and considered to be past her "sell-by" date, is trying to break out of her restrictive life.

I'm not usually a fan of women's fiction but this was an interesting look at a community I knew nothing about, a group of Sephardic Jews originally from Syria who all settled in the same Brooklyn neighborhood, which is what I enjoyed a lot more than the constant family drama. The ending felt rushed: there is no resolution to Fortune's flirtation with the grocer's son, and Nina does a 180 as soon as a potential husband appears on the horizon, falling back instantly into all the stuff she hated. Plus, Lucy's perfect marriage is already starting to show cracks, as she notices how her much older husband enjoys talking with her college educated sister and her friends, and her high school friends who attend college have already moved past her. Lots of discussion about the importance of food in their culture and traditions. If you like women's fiction, this will probably appeal to you.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger

July 10, 2025

Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger

Lila Pereira is an unconventional mother, focusing on her career as the executive editor of a major newspaper and leaving the raising of their daughters to her husband Joe and household help. But her youngest daughter Grace yearns for a regular mother who goes to PTA meetings, bakes cupcakes and takes her to soccer practice. After Lila's death, Grace receives a letter that Lila left her, telling her to go find out what really happened to Lila's mother, who disappeared when Lila was a toddler. Grace realizes how little she actually knows about her mother's family and wonders if you can ever know yourself if you don't know your past.

Part 1 is Lila and Joe's story, and I loved it. But the last 2/3 of the book is mostly about Grace, the youngest daughter, a real whiner and completely unlikeable, probably the least interesting character in the book. When I first started reading it, I thought it would appeal to readers who enjoyed Ann Patchett or Ann Napolitano, but the last two thirds morphed into something more like Sally Rooney, with a bunch of characters under 30 who are completely self-centered and unaware (putting your life on hold for five years to start a podcast???? Or "I can't ask her to marry me until she gives me the signal"???? What does that even mean????). It takes until around the 85% mark for the search for Lila's mother to begin, and then it is anti-climatic. Disappointing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Dirtbag Queen by Andy Corren

February 17, 2025

Dirtbag Queen by Andy Corren

Corren's irreverant memoir of Renay, his outrageous Jewish redneck mother who raised six kids (sort of) by herself after she split from her husband, isn't like any other memoir you've read. Everyone in their town near Fort Bragg knew Renay, manager of the local bowling alley, gambler and party girl, collector of strippers, card players, bowlers, and other strays who needed a place to sleep for the night. While Renay may not have excelled at cooking, keeping house, or hanging onto money, she lived life to the fullest.

The Dressmakers of Auschwitz by Lucy Adlington

January 25, 2025

The Dressmakers of Auschwitz by Lucy Adlington

An astounding story of a designer dressmaking salon run out of Auschwitz concentration camp, mostly staffed by Jewish women, patronized by the wives of high-ranking Nazis and SS officers. The Nazis were well aware of the importance of clothing to elevate or degrade people, and even in the middle of a war and clothing shortages, they and their families wanted to be well-dressed. (The Nazi culture was so bizarre, wanting to obliterate anyone who didn't fit their mold and keeping meticulous records about how they did it, yet using the talents of those same people when it suited them.) 

Sewing literally saved the dressmakers' lives, while at the same time allowing them to participate in sabotage in the camp. Many parts about the horrors of camp life and the way the inmates were treated were hard to read, but the stories of these smart, courageous women need to be told. The author had the privilege of interviewing the last surviving seamstress while researching this book. Stellar in-depth research. Recommended for readers interested in women's history and the Holocaust.

Berta Kohut and her sister Katka, two of the seamstresses of Auschwitz who survived the war

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

June 10, 2024

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

Paris 1942 - Eva Traube is a graduate student at the Sorbonne when the Nazis begin to round up the Jews of Paris. Eva's father is arrested by the Nazis, but Eva and her mother escape to the Vichy area which was technically Free France. Eva begins to work with the French resistance, forging documents to help Jewish children escape to Switzerland. But the work becomes increasingly dangerous, and Eva soon finds herself immersed in more clandestine activities.

I was off World War II fiction for a while because there was SOOOOO much of it, but I'm glad I read this one. I really liked the story line and most of the characters, except for Eva's mother. The mother is beyond annoying - she ruined a lot of the book for me (partially because I could hear my own mother's voice in a lot of what she said). If you can, skip any scenes that focus on Eva's mother - I think the author could have left her out altogether without any detriment to the narrative, since Eva had plenty of challenges without her. Recommended to readers who enjoyed The Nightingale or the Alice Network.

Resistance fighters in France

People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn

June 22, 2024

People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn

Dara Horn has written several historical novels that feature Jewish characters in unexpected roles, such as Confederate spy. In this nonfiction work, she explores the inexplicable ways that Jews have been persecuted throughout history, up to and including the recent rash of attacks against synagogues and Jewish neighborhoods. Winner of the National Jewish Book Award. Recommended for anyone interested in exploring Jewish history.

The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer

December 6, 2023

The Lost Van Gogh by Jonathan Santlofer

In Paris in 1944, an artist paints a portrait of his wife over a Van Gogh painting, hiding the original work from the Nazis. Over 75 years later, the picture resurfaces in upstate New York, where a woman named Alex Verde buys it at an antique store. When they discover the hidden Van Gogh, Alex and her boyfriend Luke Perrone, an artist and art history professor, can't figure out how the painting got there. They enlist the help of an INTERPOL agent and follow him to Amsterdam, where the police and INTERPOL are trying to catch a major dealer in stolen art looted by the Nazis.

I didn't enjoy this book that much because it's more of an espionage novel than a book about art theft, and I can never figure out what's going on in spy books. Everyone has a code name, everyone is spying on everyone else and double-crossing them. The reader gets quite the tour of Amsterdam, complete with a visit to the Anne Frank House, plus we get a lecture on looted Nazi artwork. Some of the main characters appeared in Santlofer's previous novel The Last Mona Lisa. Overall, just meh.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Amsterdam

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

November 29, 2023

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

In 1972, just before Hurricane Agnes sweeps through, the Pennsylvania State Police find a skeleton at the bottom of an old well in the Chicken Hill district of Pottstown, PA. They question Malachi, an old Jewish man who lives near the site and has lived in the area since the 1930s, because some Jewish artefacts are found with the bones, but he claims to know nothing about it. After the hurricane destroys most of the neighborhood, Malachi is gone and the police never learn who the skeleton is.

Loved the author's two previous novels The Good Lord Bird and Deacon King Kong, and I greatly enjoyed this novel as well. Set between the two world wars, the story focuses on the residents of the Chicken Hill neighborhood, a low-income area populated mainly by Jews and African Americans but with a recent influx of Italian immigrants, and how they manage to co-exist and interact, helping each other out. The story reads almost like a collection of short stories, where a character is the main actor in one story, but may be a peripheral character in another (think Olive Kitteredge). It's the neighborhood of Chicken Hill that is the connecting factor that brings them all together. Some readers have complained about the large number of characters, but that didn't bother me at all. Be advised, the mystery of the skeleton plays very little part in the story (although you do find out at the end who it is) - I had a good idea about halfway through. One of the best books of 2023. Highly recommended for readers of literary fiction.

Pottstown, PA - I couldn't find a good picture of Chicken Hill, although there are some online archives

Don't Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino

October 17, 2023

Don't Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino

Returning home after her second year in college (which her father allowed her to attend primarily to find a husband), Marilyn Kleinman is confined to living under her father's rules again, which include attending services every Saturday. After being caught kissing their rabbi's son in front of the whole congregation, Marilyn finds herself shipped off to spend the summer with her great-aunt Ada who is the best-known matchmaker in Philadelphia. It's either that or marry the rabbi's son, who she barely knows. Marilyn isn't expecting much from the summer, but Ada turns out to be a lot different than she expected. In a good way.

Sweet and heart-warming, perfect for when you need something light and fun. This is a great choice for a beach or vacation read.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Jersey Shore, circa 1960

The Men Can't Be Saved by Ben Purkert

July 24, 2023

The Men Can't Be Saved by Ben Purkert

Seth is a junior copywriter at a large firm that specializes in branding - not logos or marketing campaigns, but brand identification (think "I'm lovin' it" or "The San Francisco Treat"). After writing a successful tag line for an obscure product, he considers himself to be a creative genius. But then an account executive that he disparaged leaves the firm, taking the company's most profitable account (that Seth also disparaged) with him. With over half of the firm' revenue gone, most of the staff is let go, including Seth. The only job he can find is as a barista, which he considers to be beneath him. With time on his hand, he is left to ponder his life: what does work do to us? who is he without his job? what does it mean to be a Jew? does he have a substance abuse problem or just an addictive personality?

What does work do to us, particularly to men? Seth is an anti-hero whose identity is tied to his job, and when he is let go from his job, he can't quite let go of it. Seth is also obsessed with other things: sex, drugs, his self-perceived brilliance. But he does become more self-aware by the end of the book, also more aware of those around him, able to see others' needs as well as his own. He is assisted in his growth journey by his friendship with an Orthodox rabbi as well as a co-worker. Humorous and a fast read. Reminded me somewhat of American Psycho, but without the violence and killing.

(I seem to be on a roll with books featuring Jewish characters - this is the third book in a row.)

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas

July 22, 2023

Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas

Thomas Llewellyn has hit rock bottom, with no family or friends, unable to find employment, homeless. As a last resort, he answers an advertisement for an assistant to an enquiry agent, which involves some danger. Cyrus Barker is an unusual employer to say the least, taking on cases that need to be investigated discreetly. Shortly after he is hired, Cyrus and Thomas agree to investigate the murder of a young Jewish scholar, found stabbed and crucified in the Aldgate district of London. The crime is stirring up unrest, particularly among the city's lower classes. Even though he knows that there may be some danger involved, Thomas will need all his wits to stay alive.

This is a departure from the usual cozy Victorian mystery, where two spinsters or a couple investigate crimes usually among the middle or upper classes. The tone and atmosphere here are much more hard-boiled, featuring sectors of the London populace that are usually ignored in more genteel mysteries. The main characters are interesting and unique without being overly eccentric. While I suspected the motive, I did not guess who the murderer was, which was part of the reason I liked it. It's unfortunate that prejudice against the Jew and other minorities is still going on, over a century later. The first book in a series. 

Aldgate slums, late 19th century

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin

July 22, 2023

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin

Zofia and her best friend Janina live in Warsaw. While they are preparing for war, neither girl believes that war will come to their city. Zofia's happy place has always been books, and she loves her job at the Warsaw public library. But then the Nazis occupy the city, and their lives change in ways neither could have imagined. As a Jew, Janina and her family are forced to move to the Warsaw ghetto. When the Nazis begin to first confiscate and then destroy books, Zofia and her friends are determined to hide as many books as possible, even if it costs them their freedom or their lives. At the same time, they work to make sure that the citizens of Warsaw and the ghetto have access to books.

A tribute to literature, the power of books, and the ingenuity of the people of Warsaw and the Warsaw ghetto. People under the age of 40 frequently don't understand the power of books, having grown up with the Internet, cellphones, and cable TV.

Another book that makes me proud to be a librarian. If you enjoyed The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek, this title will appeal to you. People who love books will always find a way.

Librarians rock. Never forget it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

Farrell Covington and the Limits of Style by Paul Rudnick

May 20, 2023

Farrell Covington and the Limits of Style by Paul Rudnick

Wealthy Farrell Covington and Jersey Jewish boy Nate Reminger met during their first term at Yale and fell in love, and stayed that way for the next 50 years. Farrell has buckets of style - of course, he has the mega-millions to pay for style - and Nate can't quite believe that Farrell wants to be with him. But Farrell's family refuse to accept that their son is gay and go to great lengths to separate the pair. But their love persists, overcoming everything that comes their way.

The first two thirds of the book were good, very entertaining, but then it started to go off the tracks. One of the characters develops AIDS (it's the 1980s) and then the story starts to get loopy. Really - if you're diagnosed with AIDS or any terminal disease, would you run off and leave your long-term beloved partner for TWO YEARS? And the reason the character goes off is actually pretty stupid - you have to be a mega-rich person to think that it's important. I wouldn't but I'm hetero, so I checked with some of my gay friends and they all agreed they would never do that. Falls kind of flat at the end. Disappointing.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Postcard by Anne Berest

April 14, 2023

The Postcard by Anne Berest

In 2003, a Jewish woman living in Paris receives a postcard, bearing only the names of four family members who died at Auschwitz concentration camp in 1942. Years later, she tells her daughter Anne the story of her grandparents and about receiving the postcard. Anne becomes obsessed with tracking down the postcard's sender, exploring her family's history while also musing on what it means to be a Jew today as well as historically.

Part family history, part French history, part Jewish history, part mystery. This is a profoundly moving story of lost loves, survivors, and a family missing vital parts. Not an easy read, but one that will stay with the reader long after the book is finished. This title is sure to win literary prizes and appear on best-books-of-the-year lists. Highly recommended. 

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Prisoners at Auschwitz, the main death camp, where the author's family perished

The Demon's Parchment by Jeri Westerson

November 28, 2019

The Demon’s Parchment by Jeri Westerson

Former knight Crispin Guest was convicted of treason and lucky to escape the king’s justice with his life.  Now living in the Shambles, one of the lowest sections of London, Crispin is known as the Tracker, a finder of lost items, lost people, and occasionally lost truths.  It’s not just the poor of London who seek out Crispin’s services, but also the wealthy and well-born, when they have problems that they prefer to keep confidential or away from the sheriff's notice.  Such is the case when Jacob of Provencal, a Jewish physician at the king’s court, approaches him about locating some stolen documents.  Crispin would prefer not to take the job, but clients are few and far between in the winter of 1384, so against his better judgment, he agrees to find the missing parchments.  But as he begins his inquiries, a suspicion grows that the stolen parchments are somehow connected to the murders of several young boys.

This is another solid entry in Westerson's Crispin Guest historical mystery series.  I enjoy how well-researched these books are, and the colorful descriptions that make the reader feel what it was like to live in London in the 14th century.  In this mystery, we learn more about accepted attitudes and misconceptions of the time, especially with regard to Jews.  We also learn that straight-laced Crispin has a friend who is a cross-dresser and works as a male prostitute!

It might sound strange to call Crispin a noir detective since we tend to think of noir as a 20th century concept, but he has all the characteristics of a Mike Hammer or Philip Marlowe:  he's always down on his luck, consistently short of money so he is forced to take cases that he knows he shouldn't, hooks up with the wrong kind of woman, drinks way too much, gets beaten up with regularity, and most importantly, lives by his own code of honor.  The third entry in the Crispin Guest series is based on a historical serial killer case from the 15th century (serial killers are another thing we tend to think of as modern rather than medieval).  As always, historical figures are skillfully and seamlessly interwoven with Westerson's creations.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

October 14, 2019

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

In 1942, Lale (Ludwig) Eisenberg is deported from Slovakia to the Auschwitz-Birgenau concentration camp.  He begins as a laborer, but when the camp authorities learn that he speaks several language, he is put to work as assistant tattooist, tattooing numbers on newly arrived prisoners.  Mostly he keeps his head down but it becomes more difficult when he is required to starting tattooing numbers on young women, especially when he meets a girl named Gita, also from Slovakia.  One day, his friend the tattooist Pepan disappears and Lale finds himself “promoted” to head tattooist, a position that comes with better living quarters and extra food rations.  Despite his resolution to keep his head down and survive, after observing the guards’ brutality to the prisoners, Lale resolves to do all he can to help and protect Gita, his assistant Leon, and other friends in the camp.

It took me a while to get around to reading this one.  There have been so many books recently about World War II, with a lot of them focusing on the concentration camps (Mischling by Affinity Konar and Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly, to name just two), and let's be honest, it's a depressing topic.  But it is an important topic.  Like so many novels about World War II, this novel is painful to read, but it is also full of hope.  Lale is determined to survive and doggedly plans a future for himself, inspiring others along the way to believe that they too will endure and come out of the camp alive.  I would have liked to know what happened to Leon, Cilka, Jakub, and others, but it fits with the story that there are loose ends.  So many were displaced in the war and lost in the camps that people just disappeared and their loved ones never found out what happened to them.  (Morris recently published a sequel, Cilka's Journey, which is almost pure fiction according to the real Cilka's family.)

There has been a certain amount of controversy about the historical basis of the story, including an error in the number assigned to Gita, the unavailability of penicillin in 1943, and the nature of the experiments that Mengele performed on prisoners.  As some of the Holocaust organizations and museums have pointed out, it is a novel based on one person's memories and recollections, and shouldn't be taken as historical fact.  That doesn't make it any less compelling to read.