Tuesday, December 24, 2013

The Deeper Meaning, Answering Everyday Questions with Torah-based Thought

Did you ever wonder what it is exactly that makes books and movies so appealing? The Deeper Meaning by Uri Kestenbaum explores that subject and much more through a Torah lens.

The Deeper MeaningJudging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The picture on the cover looks like it was taken in Rosh HaNikra, which is a great place to just sit and contemplate life as you listen to the water. 

The font in the book is a little on the large side, in both English and Hebrew. There are 14 chapters, maximum 20 pages each, including a title page, dedication page and foot notes. So at 190 pages, it is a faster read than it appears.

Some Details I Liked:

The topics are great. I have asked myself most of the questions before and very much appreciated reading answers based Pirkei Avos, Ramcha"l, R' Dessler and others.

Who This Book is For:

I would recommend this book to high school students or mature middle schoolers. As an adult, most of it was basic, although I enjoyed the review. 
It is a good book for a discussion group in an informal learning setting. 

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

As mentioned before, this book has Hebrew text in it. It does have the translation below it, but I would still recommend that recent ba'alei teshuva look elsewhere for understanding of these concepts. 

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

I didn't appreciate the voice of the book. It seems like it was transcribed from shiurim. If I was reading the book out-loud, it would sound as if I was lecturing. That is just how I took it.

In Conclusion:  

I enjoyed gaining a new perspective on common struggles. Some points, I highlighted and hope to remember next time someone challenges me. This is a great book for families, as well anyone that hosts teens or deals with them.

Disclaimer:


I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Tempest in the Tea Room, a Hot Mystery from Libi Astaire

Tempest in the Tea Room is a really cozy in bed, enjoyable read. Libi Astaire wrote this book so skillfully, that you fell like you are back in time to 1811 in London, England. It is a tasteful mystery, with just the write amount of humor and sub-plot.
Tempest in the Tea Room
Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

I love the size of this paperback! It is perfect for traveling or curling up with at home.

The cover is simple, yet elegant. It follows the same design as the previous two Ezra Melamed mysteries. 


Some Details I Liked:

This might sound trivial, but I adore authors that can finish what they started in a book. Libi Astaire, starts with one scene and follows up with that idea at the very end.

This book is written so well that as I read it, I was able to visualize almost every part. When the girls had their sewing party, I was ready to get out my needle and thread. With the scene in the graveyard, I could feel his (can't give away who :P ) chills.

Who This Book is For:

This book is light reading and great from the middle elementary school to the middle-aged reader. It has Judaic references, as well as mentioning Hashem, but I think a non-Jew could easily enjoy this book.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

This book is not a serious whodunnit. If you are looking for a surprise ending, this isn't the book for you. It also isn't gory or too intensely suspenseful.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

I guessed the culprit pretty early on, but still enjoyed the story-line

In Conclusion:  

This is a lovely historical novel. 

Disclaimer:

I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Unexpected Gifts, a Lovely Novel that Increases Appreciation of Life

At a certain point, you'd think every novel would be similar. Not so with Azriela Jaffe's Unexpected Gifts. This is a real life novel with a touch of the unexpected, wrapped up really well. 

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover was so enticing, that I couldn't even save it for my usual Friday night, post-meal treat. The fact that there isn't any hint to what the gifts might be is brilliant, in my opinion. Very often, authors try to portray half the story in the cover and it loses some effect, but here it is all up to the reader's imagination!

Some Details I Liked:

I liked that this novel has a lot of reality mixed into it. From dating, drinking, weight-issues and charity, this book has a lot of non-typical Jewish novel struggles. It also has a good balanced perspective on those issues, somethings are fine and dandy, but not everything is. 

Who This Book is For:

Being that this book has those real life issues, I would say it is most appreciated by adults that can understand them. The issues are all dealt with, with proper perspective and nothing too graphic, but I do not think that a younger individual would be interested in reading about them.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

This book isn't for someone who would be shocked to read a romantic proposal or has never heard of liposuction. 

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

I'm really not sure there was anything that would have made this book better. It has a great plot, well developed characters and is easy to read.

In Conclusion:  

If you are looking for a more open-minded, but still kosher and enjoyable, Jewish novel, this is the book for you. 

Disclaimer:


I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Best Secret Revealed: A Year in Israel

I could not have titled this book better. Adele Chabot breaks down or rather, builds up, the year in Israel in her book, The Best Secret Revealed. She goes through many different aspects that she enjoyed and gives tips to other students on how to also have that great experience.
The Best Secret Revealed
Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

This was one book that I had my eyes on, ever since I first saw it advertised. The cover is simple, yet intriguing. It made me want to climb with Adele and get to see the expansive view that she saw. 

Some Details I Liked:

The most outstanding part of this book is that almost any person that went to Israel for the year, no matter how religious the program, can relate to most of Adele's experience with experiences of their own, but at the same time, these anecdotes are all unique and fresh.

I very much enjoyed how the book is broken down into parts - Everyday Life, Trips, Shabbat and Holidays. These are four distinct areas that most affect the year in Israel experience. 

Who This Book is For:

This is a great read for anyone contemplating the year or has children that are. It is also fun for anyone that has "done" the year in Israel. I would even go as far to say that it is a good starter for someone that wants to visit Israel and needs some pointers on good places to visit.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

This book was written by a sfardi girl, so obviously there are some points that a yeshiva guy couldn't relate to, but nothing drastic. 

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

As much as I could relate to most of the book, I did feel that my year in Eretz Yisrael had much more that Adele didn't mention. Including those experiences would have changed the audience of the book somewhat, but I think if done right, it would have been ok. For example, what happened to Purim and Pesach? (I'm assuming she was back in NY)

In Conclusion:  

This is a great, easy read that can be super enlightening. It is perfect cover to cover and also to read here and there. If I didn't already live in Israel, this book would make me super homesick.

Disclaimer:


I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Monday, November 25, 2013

The Rabbi & the Nuns, Another Rabbi Dr. Twerski Classic

Rabbi Dr Twerski is a pro at dealing with addicts, especially book addicts ;-)
Seriously, The Rabbi & the Nuns is another great work with a new twist. It covers the same important information regarding mental health awareness, but from a direction that most people wouldn't imagine.
The Rabbi and the Nuns
Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover is very straight forward. It is a picture of "The Rabbi", who has become a familiar, comforting face to many.
His Rabbi and Dr. status, which is explained in the beginning of the book, landed him the position in which he was able to provide support to Nuns and others that needed it.

Some Details I Liked:

I very much enjoyed learning about the sacrifice that many nuns make and that way of life, from a psychological perspective.
Some concepts in this book are struggles for most people, but Rabbi Dr. Twerski presents them in a very clear, enjoyable to read manner.

Who This Book is For:

One part that I really enjoyed about this book, is that it shows how the Rabbi was able to be spiritually inclined while respecting other human's religions. In that sense, this book can be read by any growing, G-d acknowledging individual. There is mention of Judaism related concepts, but it is all clearly explained without assuming that the reader has prior Judaic knowledge.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

I wouldn't give this book to a serious addict without follow up from a professional. The ideas are not meant to treat addiction, but rather to spread awareness. And that applies to other mental health sufferers as well.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

So, being that I have read many of Twerki's other books, I have to say that some (but no where near all) stories were familiar. Needless to say, they were still interesting to read again. :)

In Conclusion:  

This book came out just in time for Chanukah. It is a great gift for your spiritual, but not religious or religious, but non-Jewish, or Jewish, but non-religious or Jewish and religious friend or family member. It is great to be read in one sitting and also chapter by chapter. 

Disclaimer:


I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Reviews #21 - 25, including two future releases!


  • Learn Torah, Love Torah, Live Torah 
  • Let My Nation Descend 
  • In the Splendor of the Maggid book
  • The Soul of Chanukah
  • Future release from Menucha Publishers!

Monday, September 16, 2013

The Easy-Shmeezy Guide to Yiddish - Dos iz a gutteh zach!

Were you ever in a crowd of chassidim and "excuse me" wasn't doing the trick? Well, if you had your copy of The Easy-Shmeezy Guide to Yiddish, you would have known to say "antshuldikt" and then "a dank" when they let you pass. 

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The Easy-Shmeezy Guide to YiddishThis book is as handy and dandy as it looks! It is small enough to be held in one hand or fit into a purse, but large enough to be used for a quick reference. It is just over 150 pages for learning and then a glossary, which is followed by information about the Yiddish Academy.

The inner format of this book is amazingly clear. Each Yiddish word or phrase (written in Hebrew alef-bet with punctuation) is transliterated and translated using the English alphabet.

Some Details I Liked:

I really enjoyed the order that the book is written in. It starts off with the basics - "yes, no, please and thank you" and then continues on with the most common words/phrases in topics until the reader has enough of a vocabulary to understand paragraphs. 

R' Moshe Sherizen slowly lets the grammar seep in by putting in "Rule" boxes every couple of topics. 

Who This Book is For: 

This book is great for all ages. It was really done well enough that almost anyone can pick it up and gain Yiddish knowledge. I would say it is best for someone that can practice the pronunciation on a native Yiddish speaker. I think it is also a great tool for any businessman that wants to impress his Yiddishe clients. 

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

So, if you know Yiddish already, well, this book won't be so useful. 
It isn't a thesaurus or a high level dictionary, but it is definitely fun to see how much Yiddish you know, without even realizing that it is Yiddish. For example, almost every Yente or Macher knows how important it is to be a mensch if you want your Mammeh to kvell mit nachas! 

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

I would love if this book came with a CD or audio download. That way audio learners can appreciate it as well.

In Conclusion:  

If you need a super easy, geshmak way to redt Yiddish, dos iz da booch far dir!

Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Rebbetizin Kanievsky, A legendary mother to all

Just a few years ago, no female's trip to Israel was complete, without a visit to Bnei Brek for hafrashas challa with Rebbetzin Kanievsky. Artscroll put together this masterpiece with a clear history of who she was and how she got there.

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover is simple, but elegant. With the title in gold, it shows respect and with the image of the simple Kanievsky apartment, it shows their humbleness.

Some Details I Liked:

I loved how this book portrayed the normal side, as well as the holy side of the Rebbetzin. She did work outside the home, but she was also there for her family.
There were also a bunch of stories that I have repeated to others to give over the inspiration and keep perspective of priorities in life.

Who This Book is For:

This book is great for someone who wants to understand what it means to be righteous from birth and grow to be even more than that. It is pleasant, light, inspirational reading.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

I would not give this book to someone who is looking to be just like the Kanievskys and take upon themselves some of the practices without the understanding behind it. Great people do great things. Sometimes doing great things makes people great, but only when done right.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

There were some stories that I would have left out because I felt that not everyone could appreciate the level, but for the most part those details were put into perspective.

I also disliked the lack of pictures in the book. I understand that for modesty, personal pictures were limited, but even a picture of the line of women that would wait for a kiss or kind word from the Rebbetzin would have added a lot. 

In Conclusion:

So, if you or your daughter can't relate to all the Gedolim books or books, this is a great book with a female role model to read about. I am proud to say that I met Rebbetzin Kanievsky and hope that in some way, I can emulate her greatness.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

The Elephant In The Room, Short Essays of Large Importance

Mosaica Press did well with R' Eisenman's The Elephant in the Room. (He already put out another book with them, For Everything A Time) This book is short thought provoking compositions, regarding current events, but age old concepts.

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover is done very well. It depicts the shadow of the elephant that hides in nearly every room or news topic. It shows that the book is not your typical Jewish publication. 

Some Details I Liked:


Each article or entry in this book is original. R' Eisenman gives over many personal accounts, perspectives and brainstorms first hand. His words reveal his sensitivity to others and how events do and should affect us.

Who This Book is For:


This book is great for someone looking for a good read, but doesn't have time to read cover to cover. With the individual essays, you can read just a few pages and enjoy the material, within a few minutes. 

Who This Book Isn’t For:  


This book touches on some sensitive points. If you don't like getting teary eyed or you'd rather sweep issues under the carpet, then you should just ignore the elephant in the room.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 


The only issue with this book is because it discusses current events, in a few years, it will be outdated. Hopefully, the interpersonal issues discussed will also be a thing of the past.

In Conclusion:  

Rabbi Eisenman did a great job in shedding light onto issues that are usually kept in the shadows. He does so with a literary fineness that is hard to come by. 

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Bnos Tzalafchad, The Daughters Victorious

If you love Torah stories and always wanted to imagine them more vividly, The Daughters Victorious is for you! Romantic, emotional and full of Torah, this historical novel is an amazing read for a more mature audience. 

The Daughters VictoriousJudging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover shows a painting of the five daughters of Tzalafchad presenting to a council. One of the daughters is in front, representing the group. That is Milka, the oldest daughter & main character in the story.

Some Details I Liked:

This book has a beautiful balance of fact and fiction woven together to give a glimpse of what might have been. Rabbi Wexler uses his knowledge and imagination to recreate what it might have been like camping in the desert and living with greatness. 

Who This Book is For:

This book is for someone that is familiar with the Torah passages and would appreciate the nuances that the author expounds upon.
There is also quite a bit of halachic detail as far as permitted relations (although no explicit acts are described) and family purity, so I would suggest that only religious, married women read this book.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

This book is not for someone who will take it as fact or near fact. Rabbi Wexler lists whatever is taken from true sources and beyond that, it is his theories. 
It is important to remember that we do not know the personalities of these great people from generations ago and we can not begin to imagine what their life was for sure like. 

What I Didn’t Like Book/Would Have Made it Better: 

This book was very sweet. I know I say this a lot, but a prequel to this story would be amazing. That way, we can understand how Tzalafchad got to be who he was and then appreciate this book more.

In Conclusion:  

It takes talent to take an over 3,000 year old episode and make it easy to relate to nowadays. This story kept me glued through the ending and satisfied after reading it, something that I rarely get from most novels.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Do You Know Hilchos Shabbos?, read this book and find out!

Are you looking for a very practical way to review the laws of Shabbos observance? The new release, Do You Know Hilchos SHABBOS? , is a perfect read for the entire family. It is written in question answer form, in order of each of the 39 melachos. All the questions are close to real life situations that can happen in any Jewish home. 
Do You Know Hilchos Shabbos?
Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover is very clear with some colorful pictures that make you wonder what the connection is. This book takes what might be considered random items and organizes their significance in terms of Shabbos, Melachos and Muktza.
I think the key words on the cover are "Practical" and "Whole Family" and they really speak for themselves.

Some Details I Liked:

I always want to brush up on my halachic knowledge and sometimes get intimidated by thick seforim or books that just have on law after another with complicated scenarios that I'm not quite sure if they apply to me or not.
This book breaks each melacha down with a slight overview and then goes through the practical examples that are very applicable nowadays. 

Who This Book is For:

This book is a great review for anybody that thinks they know Hilchos Shabbos or knows that they know most of them, but finds themselves in situations that could be problematic. For example, what issues can come up with changing a baby's diaper? Or even what to avoid doing just before lighting candles on Friday evening? These questions have complex and simple answers that Rabbi Fletcher presents in a very clear manner.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

Being that this book is a review, I would not suggest it for someone who is not yet familiar with what makes Shabbos holy and all the fences that keep it that way. Rabbi Fletcher cites his sources, which are both contemporary, such as Rabbi Ribiat shlit"a's and HaRav Yehoshua Yeshaya Neuwirth zt"l's sets of seforim, and talmudic. I would suggest that a true beginner refer to one of the above sets to gain a full tutorial before relying on this book.


What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

It sounds funny, but I do think that illustrations would be a great asset to this wonderful work. Being that it is written for the whole family and there are situations that can be understood easier with a picture, I feel that images would be a nice enhancement.
I also felt that it was lacking consistency with the transliteration. So you have to understand the korea, kriyah, and keria, all mean tearing.

In Conclusion:  

I recommend this book as a gift, as bedtime reading, as Shabbos table sharing and an all around good read. It is definitely a powerful, easy to use tool to gauge what you know and what you need to know in terms of Shabbos observance.

Disclaimer:

I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Coming Soon: Book Reviews 16-20


  • Do You Know Hilchos Shabbos?
  • The Daughters Victorious
  • The Elephant in the Room
  • Reb Kanievsky
  • The East Shmeezy Guide to Yiddish


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

As Long As I Live, A Man's Fight For Life

As Long As I Live was translated from the Hebrew book, Es'haleich. It is an incredibly inspirational story told by the man himself. R' Aharon Margalit was physically sick as a kid, but that did not stun his emotional, mental and spiritual growth at all. Read about how he overcomes many hard situations in life and continues to thrive even under testing conditions.

As Long as I Live
Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:


After reading the story, I appreciated the cover. It portrays a respectful man, busy, concentrating on documents at his desk. R' Margalit describes several instances through out the book where he had to sit and examine the facts. He is an organized individual, both in his thoughts and actions.

Some Details I Liked:

Aside from the actual story-line  I very much appreciated the tips at the end of the book. When writing a book, it is hard to tell the story and make sure that the lesson is taken the right way. This book has a clear life lesson and pointers to carry-out that lesson. 

Who This Book is For:

This book is for people struggling that are looking for chizuk and encouragement. By struggling, I mean in any sense. R' Margalit writes about serious spiritual, emotional, mental and physical struggles and how he overcame them.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

Someone looking for especially light or depressing reading. This book is full of ups, but does have some downs. The beauty of the book is that all the downs are put in perspective and used a weights to help build strength.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

I have to admit that it took me some time to get "into" this book. It is at least 60 years that are written about from cover to cover, some episodes dwelled on and others just mentioned in passing. I also had trouble with the fonts changing from regular to italics, but that is just a personal preference issue.

In Conclusion:  

As long as I live, I think I will read this book a few more times and apply the lessons from it, many, many more times. This is an inspirational story with a happy ending, lots of positive throughout the hard parts and written by the person himself, giving it a special authentic feel.