Fabulous Small Jews

by Joseph Epstein

Paperback, 2004

Status

Available

Call number

F EPS Fab

Genres

General Fiction

All Topics

Fiction

Collections

ADULT COLLECTION, Adult Fiction

Publication

Harper Perennial (2004), Edition: Reprint, 352 pages

Description

Witty, "utterly compelling" short stories about Jewish men of a certain age, by the New York Times-bestselling author of Snobbery (San Francisco Chronicle Book Review). Set in Chicago and populated by characters ranging from lawyers and professors to scrap metal dealers, this collection of insightful and entertaining short fiction examines the crossroads and turning points of life, and the challenge of growing older and feeling suddenly adrift in a radically changed world. "Epstein's narrators tend to be tough, hardworking, and solitary men who have survived poverty, the Holocaust, ruthless competition, and impossible domestic situations only to confront old age and a jittery new world that to their pragmatic eyes seems neurotic, flimsy, indulgent, and vacuous. Yet Epstein's heroes--guys like salesman Moe Bernstein, dry-cleaner mogul Artie Glick, a bartender, a scamming ex-con, and a few soulful academics--do not despair. They maintain their sense of humor, they take chances, they open their hearts, and they find life sweeter than ever before. As rich in clever banter as in philosophic musings, Epstein's funny and wise stories celebrate independence, the inner life, generosity of spirit, and rolling with the punches." --Booklist "Epstein, always a graceful writer, also happens to possess a stand-up comic's gift for punch lines." --The New York Times Book Review… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Heduanna

The stories in this book break all the rules my high school teachers taught me about writing stories: they are all told by a third-person narrator, there is far more telling than showing (I'm pretty sure at least one story in this book contained no dialogue at all).

But Epstein transcends these

rules. His characterisation, in particular, is wonderful. These protagonists are not heroes; they are grandfathers, sons, husbands, employees, thieves, d**ch*b*gs, & jerks. And they're all fascinating.

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LibraryThing member SeriousGrace

In a nutshell: "Artie Glick in a Family Way" is about a man who, at at fifty-seven, finally grows some you-know-whats and becomes an adult. After growing up in the shadow of a difficult father only to have him die in surgery, Artie substitutes this father for a just as difficult therapist. Twice a

week for fourteen years Dr. Lieberman has been milking Artie's feelings of inadequacy; for Artie was never good enough for his dad. Let's count the ways in his dad's eyes: he doesn't have business sense. He has already failed at marriage once. He has never started a family. It is only after Glick's girlfriend announces she is pregnant does Artie finally realize he could have a much different life.

I think "The Executor" was my favorite story from Fabulous Small Jews. It was short, simple, and direct...but with a twist. Kenneth Hopkins is a Princeton student with a Jewish poet for a mentor. His time with Professor Bertram is profound, but not as life altering as his meeting with Mrs. Bertram. But, their meeting isn't what you think.

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