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Congratulations to Book of Life Facebook fan Rick Sternberg of Pittsburgh, PA, who has won our book giveaway (held in celebration of reaching 150 Facebook fans). Rick works at the Community Day School in Pittsburgh and will be donating the book to the school library. We'll hold another drawing when we reach 200 Facebook fans, so if you haven't become a fan yet, do it now!
Rick will be receiving a copy of The Disappearing Dowry: An Ezra Melamed Mystery by Libi Astaire (Zahav Press). I very much enjoyed this historical novel. When I first heard that it was written "in the style of Jane Austen" I admit I was worried: books written in a famous author's style have so much to live up to and can easily fall short. However, this book feels like a loving tribute to Austen rather than a cheap imitation, and avoids becoming an Austen remake by embracing the "cozy" mystery genre as well.
What really sets the book apart is its portrayal of Jewish life in 19th century England. We see an active Jewish community, proud of its heritage yet comfortably British, but also aware of its outsider status. There are few books that explore this setting in a Jewish context, and I found it very refreshing.
I also found it quite refreshing that anti-Semitism was not a strong theme in this book. It would have been so easy for the author to use anti-Semitism as motive for the mystery's central crime. The theme of prejudice dominates much of Jewish literature, and I feel that Libi Astaire breaks the mold by choosing not to follow that path.
I found The Disappearing Dowry to be a light and enjoyable read, one that frequently made me smile. It is written for adults but can easily be enjoyed by kids in middle and high school.
I was sort of amazed that I couldn't find this on Amazon. I know you have a link to Targum but you would think.... or maybe not! Anyway, I was waiting to get it on the off chance I would win, but now it goes onto my "to buy" pile! (Thanks for the contest anyway!)
At Book Expo, left to right: Librarian Etta Gold, Blogger Barbara Bietz, Podcaster Heidi Estrin SHOW NOTES:
What's new in Jewish books for older kids and teens? Follow me around the 2008 Book Expo America conference to listen in on publishers and authors talking about their new and forthcoming titles!
This series includes four episodes: In Part 1 we heard about Jewish pictures books. Part 3 will be about adult books, and Part 4 will be about books (for all ages) relating to the Holocaust.
Again, thanks to all the publishers who graciously agreed to be interviewed on the spot! By the way, many of these books have not yet been published, so you may not be able to find the individual titles online. I've provided links to the publishers so you can keep an eye on until the books become available!
Click the play button on this flash player to listen to the podcast now:
Or click MP3 File to start your computer's media player.
CREDITS:
Our background music is provided by The Freilachmakers Klezmer String Band.
Books mentioned on the show may be borrowed from the Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel. (Or if they're too new to be in the library now, they will be once they are published!) Browse our online catalog to reserve books, post a review, or just to look around!
Your feedback is appreciated! Please write to [email protected]! Or even better, if you know of any new Jewish kids' or teen books I missed seeing at Book Expo, please post a comment!
2 Comments on Book Expo, Part 2: Jewish Kids/Teen Books, last added: 6/18/2008
Thanks so much for including me in this wonderful line-up of guests! Your interviews have helped bring BEA to those who may not have attended. It's wonderful to hear folks talk about their books with such passion!
Hi, Heidi... While I attended to my chores tonight, I listed to your entire podcasts - parts 1 & 2 - and I am so-o-o impressed! I love the format of your just going from one to another. It's just so entertaining and so informative and so easy to listen to and enjoy. Thank you! Thank you!
Here is a special Hanukkah treat for you: a complete online version of the holiday classic, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel, provided by Lookybook. To hear from Eric himself about the inspiration for Hershel, you can read this post from my Library Blogathon or you can listen to the very first episode of The Book of Life from December 2005, when Eric was a featured guest. Enjoy!
I'd like to know how you guys feel about those shiny red stars over at GoodReads.com. I enjoy being part of GoodReads because when one of you raves about a title, it's so easy to pop that book onto my "To Read" shelf. And, so easy, once those books have moved from that shelf to the "Finished!" section, to dutifully rate them with star levels from one to five. But I don't like it.
For one thing, I feel a need to explain my ratings. Here's one of my quirks: a four-star book is of the same high quality as a five-star one. The fifth star is like one of those silly buttons you buy because you see it and it says something so witty, or brazen, or goofy that it makes you laugh or go UH-HUH! YOU SAID IT SISTER! So you wear it around and feel crazy and proud and silly all at once.
Yup, I bestow a fifth star on a book because it makes me a tiny bit (or maybe a whole lot) unreasonably crazy about it. Notice the unreasonable part. That is actually my rationale: I can't be able to explain---at least not completely---WHY I loved the book in order for it to get the fifth star. Is that insane or what? So I think I'm going to stop rating my reads. The rest of you, go right ahead. I get a big kick out of seeing what you love and what you don't.
Except for those people who give one (or five) stars to a book on their "Not Even Read Yet" shelf. What's up with that? Are they psychic? Or do they have some irrational twinkle distribution system like a prom decorating committee with thousands of glow-in-the-dark stars but only one tall ladder?
But who am I to judge? I have a "Books whose covers I've kissed" category. And a "Don't You Even Put Me in the Same Room with That" prize. How can you express such things when all you've got are five little 's?
7 Comments on Does that look even to you?, last added: 9/12/2007
Sara - I was so glad to see this post. I confess that I've been feeling a little uncomfortable with those stars myself. Maybe it's a peer thing. I've been doing it, but never feeling 100% right about it. You know, I think I may take your lead and leave the star-spangling to others.
Thanks for this thoughtful post. Barbara
jama said, on 9/10/2007 6:52:00 AM
Sara, I haven't registered on Good Reads, and one of the reasons is the star rating system. How do you rate your peers, or worse yet, an author you know personally? I'm even thinking that the Amazon ratings are not as accurate as they could be, when friends/relatives bestow an automatic 5-star rating.
Amy Hanek said, on 9/10/2007 2:17:00 PM
I have not checked this place out. Looks like a goodblog (lol). I would have trouble choosing a star level as well.
Books are three-dimensional, living, breathing things. They deserve more than a star to rate them.
Robin Brande said, on 9/10/2007 3:15:00 PM
"Books whose covers I've kissed"--boy, do I get that.
Intense book love is a beautiful thing.
Kelly said, on 9/10/2007 4:35:00 PM
I kind of agree with you, Sara. I've been hating the stars too. I think I'll leave 'em off. That's simple!
I just gave 2 stars to a book I HATED, but it was also a book I recognized that many people would love. That's hard.
Kris said, on 9/12/2007 11:50:00 AM
Oh, I like the stars! Not because I think each assessment is truly accurate, but if a number of people give 4-5 stars, I can see that it's been a well-received book. Of course, this does not take into consideration friend/family stars. On the other hand, if a book consistently gets 1-2 stars, I can feel comfortable skipping it. At first, I chose 5 stars for books I liked, then realized that 5 stars should really be reserved for the most excellent of books, so I've adjusted my ratings.
Sara said, on 9/12/2007 1:28:00 PM
I agree that the stars can be helpful, Kris, if there are lots of ratings for a particular book. And I'm always interested when someone I know gives a book five stars.
Maybe I'd feel better if I could post my irrational policy next to every one of my "reviews." Or put my arm around the author and tell her everything I DID love, even if the whole book was only a two star.
*FYOL: Find Your Own Link. Also: not alphabetized, ranked, or cited properly. Will be added to on an irregular basis, for no reason. Can't you see I'm trying to read here, people?
0 Comments on A Simple List of Books, FYOL* as of 1/1/1990
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I was sort of amazed that I couldn't find this on Amazon. I know you have a link to Targum but you would think.... or maybe not! Anyway, I was waiting to get it on the off chance I would win, but now it goes onto my "to buy" pile! (Thanks for the contest anyway!)
I hadn't checked Amazon, but I'm surprised too, to hear that you couldn't find the book there.
Sorry you didn't win the freebie, but let me reassure you it's worth ordering. I enjoyed it very much. And it's the first in a series!