This is a first in a long time. I read not one, not two but three books in May! OK, they were slim volumes, but still! 😉
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields, Please Say Kaddish For Me was a page-turner. Though a most difficult subject, Rochelle managed to weave throughout all the horror, a lot of beauty. Her characters were, except for one, all easily fallen in love with. Through her blog, I was able to read many of her character studies and learnt that this story was based on a true one. All the more difficult. A story of survival, of love, of moving forward despite the hardships and pain, Please Say Kaddish For Me was at times cringe-worthy followed by joyful tears. I couldn’t put it down.
As a result of not being able to put it down, I found myself in the month of May with 16 more days to read! So, I remained in the Jewish experience by finally reading Elie Wiesel’s Night. I could not put this one down either. I can’t believe I had it in my bookshelves for so many years without picking it up. Go figure. 16-year-old Elie, deeply religious, ends up going through many concentration camps with his father, slowly losing his beliefs. The horrible things he goes through and manages to survive are just beyond imagination. This one too, I gobbled up in no time.
Still had a few days left in the month so I picked up Michael J. Fox’ sliver of a book A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Future. I needed some lighter reading… I had read his “Lucky Man” years ago and knew I was in for a good read. I didn’t realize this was a book directed at graduates (kind of ironic, considering he never graduated high school; well, he did get his GED). His goal was to encourage graduates to recognize opportunities and go with the flow in life. He compares formal education of various subjects (economics, physics, geography, to name a few) to real-life learnings. I enjoyed it. Took me a day and a half to read it but I had no choice. I had cakes to make!
Sooo… what to read for June?
Time for dreaming. Summer is ’round the corner, after all. Having read the first two “Tuscany” books by Frances Mayes, I know I am totally going to love Every Day in Tuscany. Between her lovely prose and her wonderful recipes, I’ll just imagine myself there – until I get there for “realz”!
Well done
Thanks, Derrick.
The photo for this post really caught my attention. When I was doing my Masters in Theology we did a module on Christian-Jewish relations and the lecturer recommended reading books by Elie Wiesel. With everything else I had to do I never got around to it so thanks for the reminder. I’ll add him to my never ending to-read list!
Michael J Fox’s book sounds great too, I’m going to have to hunt that one down.
Well done for reading so many books – hope you enjoy dreaming of Tuscany (and that you get there in person as soon as possible)! 🙂
I hear you about the never ending “to read” list! “Night” was a very quick read (only 120 pages) and I don’t know why I took so long to finally pick it up. I think I had to be in the mood for this type of book, though.
The Fox book was a mere 100 pages! He does write well, however.
Oh, Cathryn, if you knew just how much I want to get there… I’ve been buying a “Tuscany” calendar for four years in a row. Will continue to do so until I’ve reached the destination! Almost made it three years ago – right up to purchasing the airline tickets but had to get refunded as my father was ill… sigh…
Oh I love shorter books. I can be such a slow reader sometimes, so knowing that both of these are less than 200 pages is very exciting!
I’ve never been to Tuscany but have visited a few other places in Italy and I know you’ll love it when you go there. And you will get there! 🙂
Hey there Cathryn! Well here ya go… I’ll have to go through my other books to suggest more for you! 😉
Oh I will. I promise you, I will!
Thanks for the pointers, Dale.
Lots to be said for slim volumes. Often the best written as well edited.
You know, Jean, since I’ve started writing the 100-word stories with Friday Fictioneers, I’ve definitely learnt to appreciate short and sweet!
Interesting perspective!
Looking forward to reading your thoughts about the Frances Mayes book. What I wouldn’t give to live in Tuscany.
You and me both, Janet. Having read her first two “Under the Tuscan Sun” and “Bella Tuscany”, I don’t even doubt it will be as wonderful. I’m only on page 10 or so and am already dreaming… I picture myself in some Nonna’s kitchen, kneading pasta dough with her, among other things; picking grapes to make wine; picking olives, curing them or pressing them into olive oil… (yeah, no, I don’t dream of living there at all!!!)
Ahhhhhh …. living in Tuscany … ahhhhhh …. just the thought is … ahhhhhh …. Oh … good morning Dale!
Ahhhhh….
Buongiorno Signore!
Here’s one of the places I imagine living … http://tinyurl.com/q9cmm3x …. ahhhhhh
Oh si! Si! ahhhhh for sure!
There’s something about that valley that touches me. See the arching bridge on the right? (Second row?) … well … guess what .. yep … https://afrankangle.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/on-an-old-bridge/ … 🙂
Beautiful. You went in a most wonderful year – the year of my birth!
You are a young pup! 😉
I like to think so!
PS: You’ll love the pics in that post.
I did indeed….
I always love a peek at what my friends are reading! My husband just read “Night.” I can’t bring myself to do it…yet.
It is not a joyful read, that’s for sure but well written and honest. Rochelle’s book felt more like a story, though based on truth. Very graphic details at certain points but also some beauty.
Night is such a disturbing book and his quote about the first night in camp has stayed with me since I first read it years ago.
It is indeed. That he is still around today is a testament to his resiliency…
Rochelle’s novel is next on my too-read list. That Michael J. Fox book sounds just the ticket for my son to read just now. Thanks for the recommendation.
My pleasure. I hope you enjoy as much as I did!
Have just put Please Say and several Elie Wiesel books on the “to read” pile….. all sorts of titles in that pile…. well several piles dotted around the house between boxes of things belongng to Youngest and his spouse…..
As for Tuscany….. I have ancestors from Moltraiso on Lake Como so I suppose that it would have to be Lombardy for me…..
I know what you mean, David. I’ve piles of books every where!
Frankly, I would visit anywhere in Italy, just have a soft spot (sight unseen) for Tuscany… rather an obsession, I would say!
Did you ever read Loving Frank? Great book and hard to put down!
No, I did not. Yet. Sigh… another book to add to the ever-increasing pile(s)! Thanks Kay!
I agree -a terrific book!
I’ve enjoyed Mayes’ books, too and your others sound just as comprlling for different reasons. I have s book on Israel history to read this summer, and have read quite a few by holocaust survivors. Thanks, Dale. Your salad looks delivious!!
I love getting and giving reading ideas!
It actually was my breakfast (that I have almost every day) slice of toast, 1/4 avocado smeared, a few halved grape tomatoes, a poached egg and a handful of lettuce…actually it can be breakfast or lunch!
That sounds way too delicious to be healthy 😍
You would think, eh? Depending on the bread… 😉
I love Elie Wiesel’s works… ❤ btw, he was born in Romania, like me… 🙂
I will be reading more eventually! You were? How interesting!
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