5 comments about Sepharad.

1. Sepharad, the modern Hebrew for Spain, is unlike any other book I have ever read. And, it is extraordinary. Munoz Molina, a highly respected, award-winning Spanish writer, has written a novel comprising 17 short novellas; each stands on its own and, yet, there are interwoven themes and characters throughout. The book is told in a variety of narrative voices; sometimes it is Molina himself -- the writer writing about the writing of this book -- and sometimes it is an unknown voice telling a story to another person. Part of the thrill of reading this book is in anticipating and then figuring out who is telling the story contained within a particular chapter.
   
   What is the book about? Well, let's see. Not an easy question to answer. As the title suggests, it is a book about Spain's Jewish diaspora of 1492 and what has resulted in response to that exile. It is about displacement and a sense of otherness. It is also about the Holocaust. It is about Stalin and the systematic purges of the Russian population. In short, it is about history and the effects of exile. The characters are both fictional and drawn from real life; Primo Levi, Jean Amery, Leon Trotsky, Franz Kafka, Eugenia Ginsburg all make appearances in Molina's astounding book.
   
   This is not an easy book to read. You will not pick it up and think to yourself, 40 pages in, Oh, I get it now; i see where the plot is going. In some ways, there is no plot. Or perhaps more to the point, the narrative arc is one of complex, winding paths circling an end point rather than a straight line heading towards a destination. But, if you're prepared to do some thinking and to work hard at your reading, you will be rewarded BIG TIME. There is so much here. So many deep and fascinating thoughts.
   
   I have to be honest. This is not a book for everyone. You have to be a dedicated reader and you have to work hard. You will DEFINITELY be rewarded. The words and thoughts will stay with you long after you have regretfully finished the final amazing chapter.



2. From everything I had read about this book, it was a novel relating how jews who had been expelled from Spain in 1492 (the Sefardim) faired during the second world war and were affected by the Shoah. Though there are two stories about people going to Auschwitz and one about going to the Gulag (and the comparison of how little difference between Hitler and Stalin), most of the stories relate to a man who used to live in a small town in central Spain, and some people he knew or made up to be from there.
   
   Though this is not a novel, it is more of a pastiche of stories that have some interconnections and people between them. More than anything else, this is the story of exile, and how people don't leave who they are when they move to another country. People may always be looking to go somewhere that they think is better, but they never lose their love for the place the came from. This is especially true for people who have been driven out from their homes, so that the Spanish Republicans who crossed over to France, have the same memories and dreams as the Jews who were exiled by Ferdinand III in 1492.
   
   The stories (each chapter can be read independently) are all about the strength in people that they don't realize they have. People find the strength to go on after being exiled, or shipped off to a concentration camp. The memory of lives lived and those not lived still stir peoples emotions even fifty years after the time when decisions are made.
   
   The translator should be congratulated for the way she was able to keep the tone of the stories and the ambiance of the words.



3. Sepharad is a thoughtful and poignant embodiment of the consequences of totalitarianism in various forms in 20th century Europe, of the exile from roots and from the self that totaiatrinism creates, and of exile in general. Technically it is remarkable for fluid changes of point of view. In the same page a character may be called he, ("He watched us from his balcony", I, ("I returned to my balcony...") and you ("You look down form your balcony on the family across the street.") - all so smoothly I hardly noticed it. This technique echoes the theme of the vulnerability of identity



4. Munoz Molina has crafted an utterly brilliant novel that weaves a number of different stories together into a tapestry both sad beyond words and strangely uplifting. His work evoked memories of Solzhenitsyn's finest passages about life in Satlin's camps. Munoz Molina demonstrates how the human spirit can rise above degredation and despair to find dignity and hope. A wonderful achievement.



5. I've never read anything quite like Sepharad. I thought a bit about W.G. Sebald's work while reading this wonderful book, however, Munoz Molina -- or his exceptional translator -- is more of a poet. The stories that comprise this novel are all about displacement -- enforced and circumstantial -- in a way that is clearly unique to post-WW II Europe. They are stories of wandering while standing still. I was very moved by the book and intend to recommend it to all of the intelligent readers in my world.

5 comments about Amando a Pablo.

1. Virginia Vallejo has the heart of a lionese! I loved her story and read the book in a matter of hours,it's a gripping narration splendidly told.. I have to say that I truly enjoyed her aristocratic vision(despite of my personal rejection for all forms of oligarchic power) and perception( not less human by the way) of these terrible years that tore a country apart. And the least I can do is to congratulate her for having the courage( armed with her heart and intellect) of publishing this book in order to denounce the endless corruption that flagellates our societies in Latin America. Bravo Virginia!
   Virgina Vallejo tiene el corazon de una leona! Me encanto su historia, lei el libro en cuestion de horas.Es una narracion cautivante contada con esplendor.De veras me fascino su vision aristocratica(pese a mi desprecio por toda forma de poder oligarquico) y su percepcion(no menos humana claro) de estos anos terribles que partieron a un pais en pedazos. Lo menos que puedo hacer es felicitarla por tener el valor( armada solo con su corazon e intelecto) al publicar este libro; de denunciar la corrupcion sin fin que flagela a nuestras sociedades en Latinoamerica.Bravo Virginia!



2. This book lacks of political analysis and her composition is very mediocre . It is a rose novel about a lady with a huge ego.



3. This book is incredible. I think it is a beautiful love story with a versatile and ambitious man, but that's how he ended his days. The author kept the good memories of him and tried to erase the bad ones. The entire book is very well narrated with a lot of class and intelligence.



4. Este es el mejor libro que me he leido en mucho tiempo, tiene de todo: romance, pasión, erotismo, suspenso, corrupción, venganza, historia, humor por cantidades. Y el lenguaje es bellisimo. Ya entiendo por qué los presidentes de Colombia le han hecho la guerra a esta mujer tan valiente y por qué calló durante años: si hubiera abierto la boca antes estaría muerta y no tendriamos quien nos contara las verdades. Es una historia trágica pero muy divertida, y las escenas de amor son impactantes.



5. This is an unconventional love story, and also one on greed and power. Pablo Escobar didn't deserve Virginia Vallejo's love and courage, of course. That monster was very smart to choose her to write his biography. The story is filled with joy, humor, political corruption, compassion and sense of History. Great reading for both men and women!

5 comments about The Two Kinds of Decay: A Memoir.

1. Sarah Manguso, afflicted at age twenty-one (in 1995) with a Guillain-Barre-like syndrome called CIDP, wrote The Two Kinds of Decay after seven years of remission from her illness. (p 2) "For seven years I tried not to remember much because there was too much to remember, and I didn't want to fall any further behind with the events in my life." Of the disease, the reader learns (p 19) "The condition may resolve spontaneously, relapse and remiss indefinitely, or progress and terminate in death." Talk about an uncertain future. In this succinct, simply-written story of a life, Ms. Manguso tells all: of her initial symptoms (numbness in her feet); treatment (and mis) including hours spent undergoing apheresis (p 10) "the process of separating blood into its components" and the painful procedure of having a permanent line surgically implanted in her chest (the apparatus shown on the cover); interactions with hospital staff, friends, family and complete strangers; the effects of the various treatments on her body; and just plain living with a rare, rotten, debilitating condition. Of a doctor, who tries to quantify her high level of suffering, she writes (p 83, 84) "he didn't understand yet that suffering, however much and whatever type, shrinks or swells to fit the size and shape of a life." Near the end of the book she shares (p 171) "Having spent my twenties expecting to die, I turned thirty and arrived in the afterlife with nothing left to do." She's done a lot since then, notably: running, writing, living and loving. She ends with a line explaining the title (I won't spoil it) and shares what she learned from years of agony, (p 183) "This is suffering's lesson: pay attention." The nine sentences that follow are equally excellent. Also good: Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox, Mountain Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder and There is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene.



2. This is a short book about Sarah Manguso's experience with a strange autoimmune illness, which began suddenly during her freshman year at Harvard. You could easily read it in an afternoon, but it might take longer since there are so many beautiful passages to go back and read again.
   
   She has said that she intentionally did not write about the disease after it began; it must have been too difficult. In reading this book, I got the impression that as she wrote, she was actively rediscovering and redefining her illness and what her life became in the wake of being sick.
   
   Ms. Manguso is an award-winning poet, and the fantastic writing alone is worth the price of admission. The chapters are often only a page or two, the paragraphs only a few lines. The writing is simple and insightful--whether she is discussing a mundane detail, humiliating experience, or a scientific technicality. She is capable of being heartbreaking in one sentence and uplifting in the next.
   
   I should admit that I am a medical student (final year), so perhaps I got a double benefit. Her description of illness is fantastic. If I had learned about this disease from a textbook, it would have been just one of hundreds of cold facts in my brain. But from her description, I began to imagine a mysterious illness that went beyond mere words. I am sure that I now have a better understanding of patients with long-term disease. Moreover, for anyone who has to deal with illness, Sarah Manguso has likely put into words some of the complicated, frustrating feelings that accompany repeat trips to the doctor and hospital.



3. 
   An elegant little prose narrative of a rare fatal disease, told by the patient, a poet, who has been in remission for 7 years, and who seems to be a very bright young woman with a clear knack for writing, and for understanding. I bought this book entirely because my hero Garrison Kieller reported in a column that he was reading it. Then I found that the rare autoimmune disease described was almost the same as the one my wife suffered through 5 years ago - now 2 years in remission. The treatments have improved significantly in the short time between, and Sarah's were much more experimental. Written in almost poetic style, with short chapters and short sentences of well chosen word, spaced for effect, this worthwhile little book is a special sharing of the life of an extraordinary young woman, told with humor and candor at a time of sadness, fear, pain, love, and learning.



4. This book is a compelling read. It's a testimony to one woman's resiliance when the terrible thing happens to her, not to some stranger.
   
   Manguso has the courage to revisit her devastating illness, and the wisdom to find the ironies, the lessons, and even the humor in her experience.
   
   Through her sharing of the story of those terrifying sick years, she lets us see the indomitable spirit and the sense of humor that enabled her to survive them and heal.
   
   She juxtaposes pictures of illness against the lyrical beauty of her writing. I find new treasures whenever I reread it.



5. Ms. Manguso has written a medically graphic but affecting account of her battle with an auto-immune disease. Written in brief paragraphs with short chapters, the author is clealy recalling a bad dream that she rather not recall. A poet, her writing is lyrical and conversational. Once the reader starts her story, you will not put it down and it is easily read in one sitting. But it is a book that you will come back to.

5 comments about No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life.

1. The next time you think that life has dealt you a bad hand, you should pick up this story about Kyle Maynard, the congential amputee athlete. I found the story very inspirational and motivating. While I was hopeing that Kyle would talk more about other aspects of his life, like career, it was impressive reading about how he trained for football and wrestling. There is also the amazing amount of faith and caring from Kyle's friends and family.
   
   Next time that you get self-conscious over a blemish or do not feel like exercising, take a few minutes to flip through this book about an amazing human being.
   
   Doug Setter, author of Stomach Flattening



2. Kyle's story is one that helps you to believe in love of family and power of the human spirit.



3. This book is truly inspiring!
   Read it, with a box of Kleenex tissue handy. This book will put iron in your spine!
   Then buy copies for everyone in your family . . . and friends . . . and.
   Do not! Repeat- Do not miss out on the rich blessing this book delivers.



4. It is a great book. It proves that the mind can overcome any physical disablilities.



5. Very great story. It's one thing to tell a kid that they can do anything they put their mind to when they're born with a body that's not "normal".
   
   But it's another thing for a man like Kyle to SHOW people that it's possible. He's served as an inspiration to at least 2 of my patients and their families, because they can see the possibilities of life as an adult, defining and projecting who you are as a man, rather than letting society tell you who you are supposed to be.
   
   Excellent read. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Walking Through Walls: A Memoir.

1. I see that this book has gotten lots of rave reviews, so clearly I'm in the minority, but I didn't like this book. At all.
   
   It took me 2 months to get through this book, when a book of this size would normally take me no more than a day or two. It bored me so thoroughly that I just couldn't seem to force myself to read it for more than a few pages at a time. It seemed like the author just kept going back to the same things over and over. I recommend using the "Look Inside" feature here on Amazon to get a taste of this book before you buy, as I personally just can't recommend it.



2. I will admit right off that I simply could not finish reading this memoir, after choosing this book based on what at first appeared to be an intriguing premise - a man's recollection of his childhood, growing up with a flamboyant and eccentric father who eventually became a self-proclaimed psychic healer.
   
   The book is simply very poorly written - insufferable, really - with sophomoric observations and a tendency toward hyperbole that just beggars belief. The author's characterization of himself and his family is grandiose and narcissistic, and other characterizations of peripheral characters are presented with such a sense of superiority that I found myself rapidly coming to dislike the author, which is not a good sign, when you reach that point so early on in reading the book.
   
   In short, what might have been an engaging memoir is let down by an extremely off-putting writing style. I would not recommend this book to anyone.



3. As I write this, my best friend is lying in the ICU, and we don't know if he's going to make it. The irony of finishing this delightful book, which chronicles the life of the extraordinary interior designer/psychic healer Lew Smith, while someone close to me could sorely use his skills, is inescapable. Lew Smith's improbable story, refracted through his son Philip's eyes, is impossible to put down. This is a warm, wry and ultimately astonishing book that I originally thought might simply be an interesting diversion. It was that, but it also proved to be much, much more. Lew is an unforgettable figure, as are the spirit guides who come to surround him. So too, is the author himself, who evokes the angst of living with his unusual father (it's hard for an adolescent boy to harbor secrets when his father is psychic), yet tempers it with the wistfulness of the adult who recognizes how remarkable his formative years were. Intransigent skeptics may find some of the healing or other acts of paranormal derring-do hard to swallow, but for the rest of us, this is a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable read.



4. When the book arrived I was a bit worried. At over 300 pages, it packed a lot of words. I started reading this memoir prepared for a long journey, but as I started reading, I got so engrossed into the story that I never wanted it to end. Alas, no matter how long a book is, you always get to the end if it's interesting enough.
   
   I really liked this weird memoir, though there is always that question of whether some of it was fabricated to make a more interesting story. In the end, I don't think it really matters. It was one of the most entertaining books I've read in awhile, so I can't really complain.
   
   The father in the story has some pretty amazing abilities which even I can't help but question: if he was so powerful, why is this the first time I've heard of this great man? But I'm very open-minded, so I guess anything is possible. What I did find a bit frustrating was the author himself. When his father punches a hole in a cloud with his thoughts, the author at the time just shrugs and wants to go back inside the house to get high. This did not seem realistic at all. If anybody I knew showed me such a thing when I was a teenager, I would immediately want them to teach me how to do it! There are a lot of situations where the author shrugs his shoulders and really doesn't want his father to teach him anything. To be honest, that kind of reaction was more unbelievable than the supposed powers his father had.
   
   Anther frustrating thing was when the author gets involved in psychiatry and Scientology. When I was seventeen (the age the author gets involved in these things) I knew right from wrong and how not to get into situations like these. Even a complete idiot wouldn't get themselves into those situations.
   
   But all in all, those were pretty minor annoyances when viewing the book as whole. I found it hugely entertaining most of the time, and I'd recommend it to anyone who's interested in psychic healing, pendulum dowsing, spirit communication, or pretty much anything metaphysical or occult.
   
   A pretty entertaining memoir, and I highly recommend it to anyone who's looking for a fun read.
   
   -Ater



5. I enjoy a quirky memoir and boy, is this one ever quirky. Philip Smith grew up in 1960s Miami, the son of an interior decorator to the rich and famous, and an elegant if equally idiosyncratic mother. Smith has quite a few entertaining stories to tell about this early part of his childhood -- like his father's being held hostage by a Carribean dictator who really, really wanted him to decorate the palace -- but believe it or not, the story gets even weirder. Smith's father undertook a spiritual evolution, beginning with changes like a macrobiotic diet and ending up with the ability (according to Smith) to psychically heal people of physical and mental illness.
   
   I know, it sounds pretty crazy. The book is styled as a memoir, rather than fiction or "fictionalized memoir," so I believe that the author believes everything he wrote. You'll have to judge for yourself whether YOU believe it.
   
   In any event, whether you regard it as fact, fiction or something in between the two, Walking Through Walls is fascinating. Smith's father functioned as a high-profile interior designer by day, and faith healer and visionary by night. Smith poignantly talks about his own coming-of-age in an eccentric family, when all he wanted was a dad who drank beer and mowed the lawn instead of one who contacted spirits and cured terminal illness. His description of his father's spiritual evolution is interesting; depending on your familiarity with alternative remedies like homeopathy and flower essences, you may find it shockingly bizarre or merely quirky. Throughout, Smith's affection for his parents and the way that he ultimately comes to terms with his strange childhood and the idiosyncrasies of his parents -- not to mention the peculiar and increasingly powerful abilities of his father -- comes through loud and clear.
   
   A fascinating book, with colorful stories and compelling (if straining most readers' credulity) characters, and a whole new spin on the power of positive thinking. Dr. Normal Vincent Peale this ain't.

3 comments about Lady Q: The Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen.

1. What a bunch of fluff to cover up all the lives Lady Q messed up and murdered.
   She knows right from wrong and she still can't get it together.
   Her first child was damaged from all the drug and drink she did.
   She should have to pay for all the extra special education the child needed not the tax payers.
   
   I don't have any sympathy for her. Like I said she knew right from wrong and choose to do the wrong.
   
   Grow up!



2. Never could i imagined being in Sonia's shoes. The pain she endured during her life was painful and hard to believe. I can't believe she lived a life like that. While she told her story of being an abused child, unloved and unwanted, I just wanted to reach through the pages in the book, give her a hug, and rescue her from her painful life. This book is definitley a must read for anyone who is thinking about gang-life. And even if your not thinking about gang life, it's an incredible, heartbreaking story that people must read.



3. I have read both of Reymundo Sanchez books and they were great! But this book... pretty much repeated it self over and over and over again. I dont want to say too much without giving the entire book but I'll let you be the judge. I read the book in 5 days and was just simply not what I expected.

5 comments about My Life at Grey Gardens: 13 Months and Beyond.

1. Welcome back to Grey Gardens! I just received this from Amazon last night, and I am 1/2 through it already!It truly IS a page turner. A must for all fans of these fabulously eccentric,and theatrical ladies.It is a light,diary-entry style read.It will hold your interest, for sure. These women were fascinating characters, Lois Wright included.How wonderful it would have been to know Big and Little Edie.However, we must settle for just reading about them here,in this gem of a tell-all.I agree with the other reviewer....No mention of Jerry Torre (The Marble Fawn), was strange, as he seemed to be an integral part of Grey Gardens machine.



2. Having been a fan of the play and documentary I found this book to be very revealing and touching at the same time.



3. An interesting remembrance of months living at Grey Gardens by an offbeat friend of the Beales. Would be helpful to have read, which I have, or viewed the DVD Grey Gardens before reading this book. An interesting view of these most unusual mother and daughter combination.



4. Jackie O's aunt and cousin lived in a Munster-type mansion in East Hampton. Edith Bouvier Beale (or 'Big Edie') was the sister of Black Jack Bouvier. Edie had a daughter, 'Little Edie', and both lived in harmony and dis-harmony in the ramshackle old house. Author Lois Wright, artist of questionable talent and palm reader, lived with the ladies for 13 months. The book is based on Wright's journal, which she kept during the 1970's. Big Edie, who was bedridden upstairs, had cats and the cats had fleas. Wright described the agony of the fleas, as well as raccoons climbing out of the ceiling (which Little Edie fed daily) and rats that jumped on the author and Little Edie on occasion. Wright wore boots and a hat 24/7 to ward off most of the critters. Newspapers were placed on beds, on floors, even in the Edies bathtub for the cats. Nevertheless, they were allowed to "go" where they pleased. If a cat or kitten died, Big Edie kept it on her bed for a couple of days, covered with a Kleenex. Contrary to past publicity, Jackie O and Ari stepped in and helped her relatives - Ari sending gifts, Jackie paying bills. The eccentricities of the three ladies are well worth reading about in this mesmerizing page-turner (Wright seemed a bit 'off' herself.) Just to let you be aware that there are DVDs available about Grey Gardens, starring the Beales, that are excellent. It brings Ms. Wright's pages to life, which completes their picture.



5. I have to give this book three stars just because the writer shared her experiences with the public. But considering, as she tells us, that she ended up taking two of the many ghosts in the Grey Gardens house with her when she was packing to return to her home...Well, you don't get a lot of objective observation. You don't get much extra insight about Grey Gardens. What she writes about is pretty much what you already saw in the film "Grey Gardens." I hoped to learn more about the rooms and what happened to all the furniture. She treats her stay there as just another day in the life of and with no one in particular. REAL disappointment.

5 comments about Cancer on $5 a Day* *(chemo not included): How Humor Got Me Through the Toughest Journey of My Life.

1. I am not your typical book reader ,but after finding a book about your favorite comedian I could not resist.This was litterally the first book I read in over 20 years.I loved the book and was well entertained.I now have a more insight on how Robert's last decade really was.



2. It's always encouraging when someone beats cancer. And non-Hodgkins lymphoma is especially tough to overcome. Robert Schimmel had the advantage of age, good health, and caring support in his battle. And no doubt his determined sense of humor helped a lot too, besides bringing a welcome uplift to his fellow chemo patients. His book demonstrates that humor grows out of even the direst situation and that horniness survives all assaults.
   
   There are no profound lessons in this volume beyond illustrating that mental attitude can make a bad time a little better. And whether attitude influences healing or not, it usually just feels better to be positive than negative.



3. I started reading after lunch today, and couldn't put it down. The writing is compelling and real, and inspiring in so many ways.
   I am grateful that Mr. Schimmel lived through it all, and even more grateful that his book enriches our lives by reminding us about what really matters. As a survivor myself, and having lost many relatives to cancer, the book had my emotions all over the place...but through it all, the humor prevails. I can't remember ever reading a book that had me laughing and crying at the same time.
   
   This book is in my collection after seeing him on Conan, and it's going to get a lot more readings from here on out. It's a keeper.



4. Humor is a gift, and Robert Schimmel has the gift.
   
   While some readers might think: "Cancer is no laughing matter", Schimmel's story shows how the use of laughter can lead a patient through the terror of cancer diagnosis and the devastating effects of treatment.
   
   If you or someone you know has heard the dreaded words: "You have cancer", get this book. It's absolutely inspiring, and will help you to laugh through your tears.



5. Robert has been one of my favorite comedians since the mid 80s. This is a very touching book. It sounds cliche, but it'll make you laugh and it'll make you cry. Being one of the worlds top comedians he is really able to tackle such heavy topics in a amusing way.
   
   Definitely a must read for anyone experiencing something similar or for any of his fans.

5 comments about The Real James Herriot: A Memoir of My Father.

1. I thought this was a well done biography. However, there is a bit of repeating of what was in Herriot's/Wright's books. All in all a good read.



2. The book arrived in a timely manner in excellent condition. I am enjoying reading about the life of this gifted, gentle and compassionate man and his family and the descriptions of the countryside and the people of Yorkshire/Glasgow and that area. A good read to help me appreciate and aim for a slower, gentler pace of life.



3. This is a good peek into the true life of James Herriot as written by his son. His son gives his own views and anecdotes of James Herriot. I have really enjoyed reading it and getting to know the author and his characters better.



4. How often do we find that the man behind the myth isn't all he's cracked up to be? Well, that most definitely is NOT the case in this loving biography of the world's best-known vet, James Herriot, by his son Jim Wight. (If you're wondering about the different last names, it's because James Herriot was actually a pseudonym for James Alfred Wight, known all his life as Alf.) This is a tribute to a cherished father and, as the author notes, best friend who always considered himself "99 parts vet and 1 part author," which must be why he remained the decent and down-to-earth individual he was, unspoiled by fame and fortune that would have turned the head of a lesser man. I was moved to find that the individual was as nice if not nicer than portrayed in his books and as appreciated by his friends and family as he was by his fans. Anyone who loved the other main characters in the series, namely Siegfried and Tristan, will also enjoy discovering more about them as well. This is a wonderful, heartwarming, well-written biography of a remarkable human being by one of those who knew him best.



5. In addition to answering many questions you might have, this book also fills in gaps you probably don't know exist.
   
   An excellent chronological biography for the lover of all things James Herriot.

5 comments about Dough: A Memoir.

1. I may have gone into this book with a bit too much anticipation, in hopes of juicy family secrets, lies, twists and turns, but in the end I was let down. Every time I picked up the book I was expecting an ascend towards a climax, but it never seemed to come. Despite the reference of money in the title, the author seems to use it simply to tell the story of a run-of-the-mill Jewish-American family, money or none.
   But it was the simpleness of the family, the quirkiness of the characters and the peak inside Jewish daily traditions that kept my interest. It was an easy read, but not something I would pass on to a friend.



2. Mort Zachter did a fabulous job on this memoir. The title weaves the history of the family bakery with the surprise inheritance of millions.
   
   Mort and his family grew up in New York and struggled. His two eccentric uncles ran a bakery that was the center of family life. They were tightwads and so it was a surprise to Mort when he learned of the family fortune.
   
   It sparks a multitude of questions which I hope will be addressed in subsequent works.
   
   It also may make your quirky relatives look tame...
   
   Other reviews have spoken about the content but I believe it is best to let readers discover the secret ingredients in this gem for themselves.
   
   It is a short but powerful read and I recommend it.



3. From the first sentence to the last, I was engrossed in this book. I have a fondness for personal stories, especially stories about Joe and Jane Commonperson, which is what this book is about - some average guys who work hard their whole lives at what seems to be a business that doesn't make a whole lot of money, but over their 60 years or so career, they save millions of dollars.
   
   Their story is told from the perspective of their grand-nephew, Mort Zachter (the author), who is now an adult and inherited most (all?) of their money when they died.
   
   Bouncing back and forth between the real time of today in the last few years of his uncle's life, as he succumbed to Alzheimer's, and into the past, Zachter tells the story of an immigrant family that comes to New York City and sets up a bread selling store in the early 1900s. The historical stories are told with love and affection, but never sentimentally - Zachter is willing to point out foibles, tensions, arguments, and even a possible very active sex life for one of his life-long bachelor uncles. On this odyssey through history, trying to piece his uncles' (and thus his family's) history, he touches on the experience of Jewish immigrants, Judaism and religion (and lack thereof), forgiveness, redemption, family squabbles and dysfunction as well as family banding together and supporting one another, disappointment, joy, and so much more.
   
   Throughout the book, Zachter makes mention that what he always really wanted to be was a writer, but his family pushed him to go into business and accounting, which he dutifully did. I'm glad he finally broke down (or, I suppose, inherited up) and decided to be a writer. He is definitely made to be a writer. His use of words and flow of story is beautiful to behold and very easy to read. In the hands of a lesser writer, the back and forth in time would be confusing and obnoxious, but he makes it work.
   
   This book was, for me, an absolute delight to read - many memories of places in my beloved New York City that are not there any more, a compelling literate and beautiful writing style, and an honest historical look at some interesting real people, warts and greatness all. It's so good, I read it in two days - I hated putting it down.
   
   I can't recommend this one enough. I look forward to more books from him.



4. I won't go too much into the summary of the story as there are already many reviews that cover this. I had some mixed feelings about this book initially. I found the concept that the author's uncles amassed a fortune quite interesting and liked how the use of visiting his childhood memories was employed. This helped to make his search for any indications that his uncles were amassing this fortune much more interesting.
   
   But overall, I found that the story was very thought provoking. If I had a similar situation, how would I feel? I think that I say this because I have two eccentric aunts that live similarly. I am not sure if I would be bitter at the fact that a lot of the financial hardships I could have faced could have been avoided. I think that I would be more elated by having inherited a large sum of money.
   
   I gave this book 4 stars because it really did stimulate my imagination and made me think if I had any closet rich relatives. I put this value along the same line as buying a lottery ticket - even though I know I won't win, it was worth a couple of bucks to have that optimism and hope and fantasize what I would do if I got rich.



5. I think everyone fantasizes about having a wealthy relative leaving some money to them after said relative passes on.
   
   Much to the complete astonishment of Zachter, this is exactly what happens, and the compelling narrative explores how the money came to be and why the family lived as if it never existed. Jokes are made about certain aspects of Jewish culture, but this book plumbs the depths of the lives of Jewish immigrants, those stereotypes and reasons for them, and reveals an unforgettable story about an unforgettable family on the Lower East Side of Manhattan (before it became the trust fund playground it is today).
   
   Another reviewer mentions Zachter's surprising windfall and then his profit from telling the story of it, but I'm not even mad because it was a story that needed to be told. Along that vein, for more interesting and funny essays on money from various writers, check out the anthology Money Changes Everything, edited by Jenny Offill and Elissa Shappel!