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.