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Publication
Picador (2005), Edition: First, 389 pages
Description
Deborah Green is a woman of passionate contradictions, a rabbi struggling with her own doubts and desires. Her life changes when she visits the hospital room of Henry Friedman, an older man who has attempted suicide. His parents were murdered in the Holocaust when he was a child, and all his life he has struggled with painful questions. Can happiness come after such loss, or does the very wish profane the dead? Can religious promises ever be fulfilled? Deborah's encounter with Henry draws her into his world, which includes his wife, Helen, a photographer fiercely devoted to her husband but frightened by him, too; his son, Lev, a science reporter who left his fiancée at the altar; and Lev's best friend from childhood, Neal, whose life fell apart after a psychotic break. As Deborah and Lev fall in love, they strive to bind themselves to something sacred in the midst of modern chaos.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member WittyreaderLI
This religious, Jewish oriented book contains characters which are pretty interesting: a woman rabbi, but also contains a little too much religious undertones.
LibraryThing member jessieep
I loved this book. I took it on vacation and was really inspired to step my own observance. I identified with the protagonist: we're both 30ish, single, struggling with finding our place at work, and slightly depressed. I love this book!
LibraryThing member suesbooks
Not that believable a story, but provided for much thought-provoking discussion
LibraryThing member mbergman
The main character of this remarkable novel is a very theologically reflective female rabbi. If a book about a Christian clergy were this positively theological, it probably couldn't get published (though I guess the recent books by Elizabeth Strout & Haven Kimmel may belie this assumption). As
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with most good books about Jewish subjects, the Holocaust looms large in the background. This book is also another example of how good writers are treating the events of 9/11/2001 subtly rather than heavy-handedly. The book takes place over a year ending in the fall of 2000. At that point the rabbi marries, & she & her groom plan to move to Israel. The groom's parents worry that the couple will not be safe in Israel. Meanwhile, they are happy that their other son is moving back to New York City to take a job with a financial firm with offices on the upper stories of the World Trade Center. Nothing more is said about it, but what we know as readers confirms on of te book's main themes: that life takes strange turns that don't conform to our best-laid plans. We also learn much about the importance of ritual acts even when our faith does not keep up. Show Less
LibraryThing member SqueakyChu
For those of you following my reads of Jewish interest, I am sorry to say that I did not find favor with this book that most other readers seem to have truly loved. I keep trying to figure out exactly what it was that bothered me. Perhaps it was that I was disappointed that the story I started to
The book really has two main characters: Deborah Green, a Reform female rabbi, and Lev Friedman, the son of an elderly man who, in the first chapter of this book, is contemplating suicide. I liked neither of the main characters. The rabbi was crass and annoying. The guy was a pale, fiery redhead who was not memorable in any way. I suppose this was the story of how a rabbi could be imperfect, but I saw this book as a romance that was not a romance. I felt as if I were missing in totality what the developing relationship between Rabbi Green and Lev was all about. What was the attraction? How did it develop? I really had to push myself to finish this book. I still wonder what all the hoopla about it was all about.
For someone interested in learning about Jewish culture, there were possible items of interest, none particularly engaging to me because they were all items with which I was familiar. In the narrative, there was a sprinkling of Hebrew words which I understood, but those who do not know Hebrew would not understand.
I found the rabbi to be a particularly disagreeable person. It’s not that rabbis don’t cuss or have sex, it’s just that Rabbi Green’s choice of places and times to do so were bizarre to me (for example, in a counseling session with an upset individual). How unprofessional! Other small things bothered me a lot. In one case, the rabbi throws a live hermit crab down the toilet. Why? Suffice it to say that I am very glad that Rabbi Green is not my rabbi, and I no longer have to read about her.
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read, of an elderly depressed man, was not the story at all. Maybe it was that I didn’t want to read about a rabbi’s love interest.The book really has two main characters: Deborah Green, a Reform female rabbi, and Lev Friedman, the son of an elderly man who, in the first chapter of this book, is contemplating suicide. I liked neither of the main characters. The rabbi was crass and annoying. The guy was a pale, fiery redhead who was not memorable in any way. I suppose this was the story of how a rabbi could be imperfect, but I saw this book as a romance that was not a romance. I felt as if I were missing in totality what the developing relationship between Rabbi Green and Lev was all about. What was the attraction? How did it develop? I really had to push myself to finish this book. I still wonder what all the hoopla about it was all about.
For someone interested in learning about Jewish culture, there were possible items of interest, none particularly engaging to me because they were all items with which I was familiar. In the narrative, there was a sprinkling of Hebrew words which I understood, but those who do not know Hebrew would not understand.
I found the rabbi to be a particularly disagreeable person. It’s not that rabbis don’t cuss or have sex, it’s just that Rabbi Green’s choice of places and times to do so were bizarre to me (for example, in a counseling session with an upset individual). How unprofessional! Other small things bothered me a lot. In one case, the rabbi throws a live hermit crab down the toilet. Why? Suffice it to say that I am very glad that Rabbi Green is not my rabbi, and I no longer have to read about her.
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LibraryThing member Bookish59
This book is a wonderful read with plenty of substance. Deborah is naturally strong, positive and spiritual; loves her life as junior rabbi of a NYC Reform temple dealing with challenging situations, accepting people's flaws and hypocrisies.
Henry, as a Holocaust survivor, while managing to live
The two story lines come together, when Deborah meets Henry and worried family in the hospital. Her visits help Henry and give her time to get to know Henry's younger son, Lev. She is impressed by how gentle and sensitive he is with his father while her optimism, beliefs and wit attract him.
Questions about faith, family and love are raised in an enjoyable and at times VERY funny book.
Henry, as a Holocaust survivor, while managing to live
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life with his wife and two sons, never stops agonizing about his lost parents and sister, and his aborted childhood. But a stroke stirs up depressing thoughts and memories, and he decides he's had enough. The two story lines come together, when Deborah meets Henry and worried family in the hospital. Her visits help Henry and give her time to get to know Henry's younger son, Lev. She is impressed by how gentle and sensitive he is with his father while her optimism, beliefs and wit attract him.
Questions about faith, family and love are raised in an enjoyable and at times VERY funny book.
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Subjects
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2005-07-14
Physical description
389 p.; 5.5 inches
ISBN
0312424272 / 9780312424275