Do you lay awake at night wondering what comes next? Has someone close to you recently passed on and caused you to think about where exactly they passed on to...? Afterlife written by Jonathan Morgenstern and based on the teachings of Rabbi Sholom Kamenetsky, will answers those questions and more.
Judging the Book by its Cover - a first glance review:
This cover is brilliant! Life is a road, with a curve or two, but we can't see where it is headed. All we can see is the powerful sun that shines on us from beyond the horizon. That is a great metaphor for the afterlife, the World to Come, etc.
Some Details I Liked:
This book is well sourced. It has footnotes as applicable on the pages, as well as a Hebrew appendix in the back of the book.
It has clear sub-titles and charts to help ensure that the information is easily understood.
Who This Book is For:
I felt that this book was pretty much inline with what I learned in Bais Yaakov and grew up with since. Therefore, I'd recommend it for someone with less of a strong Jewish education. It is also the perfect read before speaking with people who might ask about the seemingly abstract concept of the afterlife.
Who This Book Isn’t For:
This book is written with the Jewish view and the Jewish view only. I would not share it with a non-Jew, just because its not relevant.
What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better:
There were some inconsistencies in the ways terms were written. Some had the sefardy/modern taf, while others used the ashkenazy saf. Its not a big deal, but the pronunciation does have an impact on the intended audience, so it should be one way or the other.
In Conclusion:
This book explains the Afterlife based on 3,000 years of Jewish tradition and scholarship, in just over 100 pages. It is also newly available in paperback.
If you ever wanted a handy-dandy guide to the Jewish Year, this is it! By this, of course, I mean "The Jewish Holiday Handbook" By Doron Kornluth. Its straightforward and accurate. Best of all, it fits in your hand!
Judging the Book by its Cover - a first glance review:
The cover, as you see, is quite pleasant to the eye. It has snapshots of the four seasons which occur throughout the year. Simple, but elegant. Truth be told, the Jewish Holidays have enough going for them, especially in this book, that they don't need an elaborate cover presentation.
Some Details I Liked:
I very much liked the layout of the chapters. Each chapter discusses a holiday over a maximum of 20 pages. At the end of the chapter, is a section with "Fast Facts", followed by another section with "Questions for Discussion". There are also a few "I Didn't Know That" blurbs thrown in throughout the book.
Overall, the layout of each topic and sub-topic is done in an easy to read manner.
Who This Book is For:
This book was clearly written with a lot of thought and wisdom. I say that because it translates the Hebrew terms, allowing a beginner to Judaism to grasp the basics, but at the same time, it has many deep insights, which allow even a seasoned Jew (no pun intended) to appreciate the times of the year.
Who This Book Isn’t For:
I guess really anyone that doesn't care about holidays, prefers to think that Chanukah is just about latkes or that Passover is just about Matzah, should not pick up this book. :)
What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better:
I was disappointed by the Table of Contents. You see, the book completely skips over the following three minor Jewish Holidays - Tu b'Shvat, Tu b'Av and Lag b'Omer. While I understand that prayers are not different on those days, but they are marked days on the Jewish calendar. Perhaps there can be an expanded edition...
In Conclusion:
Whether you want to brush up just before a holiday or you are going to experience it for the first time, this is one book you'll want to have within an arm's reach.
This book is an original, unique recounting of a woman and her family's trek to Yiddishkeit. The Mountain Family goes from Mrs. Berger's childhood through grandmotherhood covering many diverse situations, locations and trepidations.
Judging the Book by its Cover - a first glance review:
The cover is enough to say that this is not your typical nonfiction Artscroll book. It doesn't give away much more than that its a book about a family that lived in a cabin and now has a connection to religious Jews and Jerusalem.
Some Details I Liked:
I liked the large span of time that the book covered. Obviously, it is hard to consolidate memories and key events, but it was done very well. The years flowed into each other, yet the next stage always held a distinction of maturity compared to the one prior.
Who This Book is For:
This is a great family book. It touches on some of the emotional challenges that Mrs. Berger went through, but doesn't dwell on them. At first, I felt that it took away from the depth of the story, but then I appreciated that I could recommend the book to younger readers without being concerned about over exposure.
Who This Book Isn’t For:
It was also nice how the author maintained terminology that pertained to her at that time in life. For example, her kids are referred to as their names from birth until the book discusses when they chose their new names. To me, it added to the reality of the book, but I can imagine that some might not appreciate the detail.
What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better:
As much as this story is extreme and that is what made it print-worthy, I would love to read a autobiography of a giyores who was coming from a more easy to relate to background.
What helped the book a lot was to read one daughters synopsis of the whole situation. It would have been nice if all or almost all the children could have contributed. Additionally I am curious to read the father's story...
In Conclusion:
This is a great new nonfiction and possibly inspiring book. Definitely not something that someone just imagined and wrote up, but almost as exciting and unbelievable.
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.
Do you want a sweet novel with a good message for personal character development? Broken Mirrors is exactly that! Read about how four diverse families come together and how each reacts to a situation.
Judging the Book by its Cover - a first glance review:
The title of this book is great, because it is referring to twins that are no longer the reflection of each other. It is also about looking at oneself in the mirror and seeing how you appear in the situation, which might be different than you'd like to appear.
Some Details I Liked:
I liked how the author developed the characters' thoughts to describe their inner struggles.
There were also subtle hints to how the righteous get their way and cheaters never prosper.
Who This Book is For:
This book is more a girly book. It is well written, so that a younger reader can enjoy it and an older reader will truly appreciate it.
Who This Book Isn’t For:
This book is not for those looking for academic reading. It is a true novel in the sense that it is made up and has a happy ending. It does mention President Kennedy's death and how it was shocking, so it has a bit of historical fact mixed in.
What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better:
It seemed to me that the characters in the adoption agency were not developed to the same point as the more main characters in the story. It was hard to know if they were Jewish or not, young or old, etc.
In Conclusion:
This is a very nice read. Enjoyable and satisfying!
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.
Did you ever open a Chumash and wonder "What's Beyond the Bible Text?" This book is full of background and questions in order of the Parsha. It is great for group reading as well as individual learning.
Judging the Book by its Cover - a first glance review:
This book is a professional text. It is well researched and put together in a clear fashion.
The cover uses the word "Bible" and not Torah or Chumash, as does the rest of the book. So, expect to read about Joseph instead of Yosef and Isaac instead of Yitzchok, etc.
Some Details I Liked:
I enjoyed the concept of the book a lot. To ask questions and probe for deeper understanding of familiar information.
Who This Book is For:
Being that the names are written in the Anglicized version, I would say that this book appeals to those that are comfortable with that terminology. It is also for people with understanding of the text already, as well as the general events of the Parsha.
Who This Book Isn’t For:
This book is not for young readers, as it discusses every topic in the Bible equally, including why people would be considered tamei after intimate relations.
What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better:
So, I would have liked some answers or at least the start of one, rather then ending each chapter with a bunch of questions.
In Conclusion:
For the right crowd, this can be an unbelievable tool to start Torah discussion at the Shabbos table or the classroom.
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.
A Fortunate Find is exactly what this book is! Written by Rivkah Small, this is an adorable, mystery chapter book. It starts off continuing from (I'm assuming) the previous Double Trouble mystery book, but it is easy to follow along.
Judging the Book by its Cover - a first glance review:
The cover is clearly designed for kids and the book is about kids. It shows some scenes of the story, just enough to pique interest.
The book is a nice size paperback, perfect for smaller hands, as well as more mature ones.
Some Details I Liked:
I liked the plot a lot. The fact that the mystery was somewhat Torah-based, but not really and that there was good ethic in it as well. There is also some funny lines that seem to have gotten in there for the inevitable more mature reader.
Who This Book is For:
I would suggest this book to any newer reader that is starting on chapter books. The font is large and the vocabulary is pretty basic. It is also what I would consider "intelligent literature", aka, fun, light reading.
Who This Book Isn’t For:
This book is more boy oriented. If your daughter likes reading about girls, then this isn't a good read for her.
It has a little bit of a scary part at the near end, as do most mysteries. It isn't too graphic, but a child might imagine it more intensely.
What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better:
So being that this book isn't catered to adults, I can't really complain about it much. I would enjoy reading the rest of the series.
In Conclusion:
This is a great investment. I would even suggest it as a gift for any young reader in your life.
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.
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.
Judging 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.
