Our 2018 Season
Led by Gail Robinson
This season we enjoyed lively discussions of Jewish-themed books from a variety of genres—we spoke about everything from how gentrification or Jewish conversion exposes hidden prejudices to how one can survive antisemitism and still keep true to oneself.
All are welcome at Books of Jewish Interest (BJI). Participants are expected to read the book listed for the date. We have wonderful discussants for each of the books. The leader presents an informative summary of the book’s story or thesis, provides questions to stimulate the discussion, and brings a snack for about 15 people. This season, we were lucky enough to have three of our authors participate via phone and one participate in-person.
Thank you to our co-sponsor, Bethlehem Public Library for hosting the 2018 season of BJI. The Library has conference call capability, handicapped-accessibility, and plenty of parking.
All Other Nights, Dara Horn
Wednesday, July 11 2018 at 2p
Leading the Discussion: Jacki Katsman
The complex world of Judah Benjamin, Secretary of State in the Confederacy and other Jewish Americans during the Civil War is chronicled in Dara Horn's vibrant and compelling third novel, "All Other Nights," which examines the tenuous relationships of American Jewish spies—between each other, to their religion and to their country—during the Civil War. Dara presented her thriller via phone.
Purchase on Amazon
Purchase at Abe’s Books
Also available at the Bethlehem Public Library
Russ & Daughters: Reflections and Recipes from the House that Herring Built, Mark Russ
Wednesday, July 25 2018 at 4p
Leading the Discussion: Steve Monsein
The former owner/proprietor of the beloved appetizing store on Manhattan’s Lower East Side tells the delightful, mouthwatering story of an immigrant family’s journey from a pushcart in 1907 to “New York’s most hallowed shrine to the miracle of caviar, smoked salmon, ethereal herring, and silken chopped liver”. Mark presented his book by phone.
Purchase on Amazon
Purchase at Abe’s Books
Also available at the Bethlehem Public Library
Green, Sam Graham-Felsen
Wednesday, August 1 2018 at 4p
Leading the Discussion: Jack Karp
Green is a classic coming-of-age story set in 1992 – 1993, told by six-grader, David Greenfeld. David lives in Boston’s historic Jamaica Plain neighborhood along with his parents and his younger brother. He is one of the only white students at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, where he tries his best to fly under the radar of his peers, who pick on him for his clothes, his newly pubescent awkwardness, and—sometimes implicitly, sometimes explicitly—his skin color. His best friend is a black classmate, who like David is an outsider. Sam presented his novel in person at Bethlehem Public Library.
Purchase on Amazon
Purchase at Abe’s Books
Also available at the Bethlehem Public Library
Tough Jews: Fathers, Sons, and Gangster Dreams, Rich Cohen
Wednesday, August 8 2018 at 4p
Leading the Discussion: Robert Parker
In an L.A. delicatessen, a group of Brooklyn natives gets together to discuss basketball, boxing, the weather back east, and the Jewish gangsters of yesteryear. Meyer Lansky. Bugsy Siegel. Gurrah Shapiro. Louis Lepke, the self-effacing mastermind of Murder, Inc. Red Levine, the Orthodox hit man who refused to kill on the Sabbath. Abe "Kid Twist" Reles, who looked like a mama's boy but once buried a rival alive. These are just some of the vibrant, vicious characters Rich Cohen's father reminisced about and the author evokes so pungently in Tough Jews. Rich presented his book via phone.
Purchase on Amazon
Purchase at Abe’s Books
Also available at the Bethlehem Public Library
The Family Markowitz, Allegra Goodman
Wednesday, August 22 2018 at 4p
Leading the Discussion: Ed Cowan
This novel is based on short stories originally published in the New Yorker Magazine. Centered on a middle-class American Jewish family, The Family Markowitz touches on themes ranging from religiosity to ageing and homosexuality to intermarriage. The novel tells the story of four main characters: Rose Markowitz (the matriarch), her sons Ed and Henry, and her daughter-in-law, Sarah. Through these characters, the reader meets many other members of the family including Ed's four children, Henry's wife, and Rose's stepdaughter.
Purchase on Amazon
Purchase at Abe’s Books
Also available at the Bethlehem Public Library
Other Books of Jewish Interest Seasons
We have saved our past series logs for your knowledge base. Meetings are open to anyone and everyone interested in participating in a reading group. The actual dates for each book will depend on volunteer and Author availability. Please call (202) 744-4646 or email Gail Robinson at gailkr48@gmail.com if you have any questions.