Devil Out of Texas by Roger Raffee, 2016; Amazon Publications; 456 pages; now on Kindle. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Author Roger Raffee, a fellow San Diegan, has written a novel—and I’ll repeat that word “novel”—purportedly about a great-great grandfather who was a sure-shooting, fast-drawing Texas Ranger who could snuff out a […]
Tales of a Jewish lawman in the Old West Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, USABy Mimi Pollack LA MESA, California — Many of us lead very busy lives, and there are many self help books out there to help people find ways to cope. However, it is nice to find one that gives concise advice on ways to make your life less stressful, healthy and even lighten your footprint
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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Mimi PollackWhere the Jews Aren’t: The Sad and Absurd Story of Birobidzhan, Russia’s Jewish Autonomous Region by Masha Gessen, Nextbooks, Schocken, New York ©2016, ISBN 978-0-8052-4246-1, p. 147, plus notes, published sources, and index, $25.00 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – In 1908, about a decade after the first Zionist Congress, the British government offered territory
A history of the Soviet Union’s failed Jewish republic Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History
Dreidels on the Brain by Joel Ben Izzy; Penguin Young Readers Group; © 2016; 318 pages, $17.99. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – With Chanukah soon approaching, this is an enjoyable school boy’s story about Jewish holidays, magic performances, not knowing that a girl you like reciprocates your crush, an ailing father, and a
Novel mixes modern story into ancient Chanukah tale Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. HarrisonAuthor Debbie Levy pens children’s biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg to illustrate how ‘change happens one disagreement at a time’ By Cathryn J. Prince NEW YORK — Author Debbie Levy likes to tell stories about history and humanity. Her newest children’s book “I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark” is no different. The first
Parents won’t object to reading this supreme tale to their kids Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short StoriesBob Dylan was announced as the winner of the Nobel Prize in literature on Thursday morning. Dylan was awarded the prize “for having created new poetic expressions within the American song tradition.” The American musician had long been rumored to be considered for the prize, but literary watchers considered his name among those in the
Bob Dylan wins the Nobel Prize in literature Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, USABy Dorothea Shefer-Vanson MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — Writers have different ways of developing their ideas into a novel, and after my fourth novel was published, the editor of San Diego Jewish World asked if I would tell how I go about the process. He suggested that I use my most recent novel, Chasing Dreams and Flies, a Tragicomedy of Life
Where do authors get their ideas? Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-VansonA Narrow Bridge by J.J. Gesher, Prospect Park Books, © 2016; ISBN 9781938-849824; 278 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – This novel tells of the aftermath of a fictional terrorist bus bombing in Brooklyn that takes the lives of Jacob’s young family. Jacob, a young cantor and teacher in an Orthodox shul, witnessed
Kindness knows no race Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. HarrisonThe Goldfinch by Donna Tratt; Little, Brown; © 2013 By Dorothea Shefer MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — I finished ploughing through this tome and had to immediately go back and read the first few pages, as the book starts by plunging the reader into a strange, surrealistic almost nightmarish scenario of a person (man? woman?) constrained
A novel both brilliant and tedious Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-VansonLA JOLLA, California (Press Release) — One theme of the upcoming San Diego Jewish Book Fair will be the world of entertainment. Here are some highlights: Saturday, October 29 at 7:00 pm Rich Cohen The Sun & the Moon & the Rolling Stones This book is the journey of the Rolling Stones from a guy
Show Biz one theme of upcoming Jewish book fair Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, San Diego County
Nine Essential Things I’ve Learned About Life by Harold S. Kushner; Anchor Books (c) 2015; IBSN 9780804-173452; 171 pages, $15. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Rabbi Harold Kushner, famous since he wrote When Bad Things Happen to Good People, has a personal ritual which I found fascinating. “Before I sit down to write,
Kushner offers mixture of theology, practical advice Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish ReligionSAN DIEGO — Here are some of the events at the upcoming San Diego Jewish Book Fair that readers may wish to note. All these events will be held at the Lawrence Family JCC, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. Tuesday, November 1 10:00am Yoga/Meditation with Rabbi Benjamin Shalva Spiritual Cross Training: Searching Through Silence, Stretch, and
Some noteworthy SD Jewish Book Fair events Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, San Diego Calendar
American Trivia: What We All Should Know About U.S. History, Culture & Geography by Richard Lederer and Caroline McCullagh; Gibbs Smith Publisher; © 2012; ISBN 9781423-622772; 144 pages, including some silly riddles at the end; $9.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Abe and Bea Goldberg attended an event at which co-author Richard Lederer
Jews well represented in volume on American trivia Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
Chasing Dreams and Flies: A Tragicomedy of Life in France by Dorothea Shefer-Vanson; © 2016, books on Kindle; 253 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Dorothea Shefer-Vanson is an author and writer whose freelance stories are regularly published by San Diego Jewish World, among other publications. Normally she and her husband Yigal reside in
Novel tells of British expats in rural France Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson