Bitter and Sweet by Sandra V. Feder, illustrations by Krysten Brooker, Groundwood Books, (c) 2018, ISBN 9781554-989959; 30 pages, $17.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Author Sandra Feder notes that Judaism acknowledges a duality in life: with the bitter often will come the sweet, and vice versa. “Sweet wine or grape juice is […]
Two children’s books for Jewish holidays Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion
The Library Book, A coffee table book that stirs the reader’s soul Oliver B. Pollak RICHMOND, California — The Library Book, a 14½x11 3/8 coffee table book, weighs 6 lbs. I saw it in the new books section of the Richmond Public Library and “checked it out.” Then I checked it out at the circulation
‘The Library Book’: Cleverly titled tome about libraries Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Oliver Pollak, Travel and Food
By Goldie Morgentaler LETHBRIDGE, Alberta, Canada — My mother’s best friend when she was growing up in Poland in the 1930s was Zenia Marcinkowska. Zenia would grow up to be an acclaimed novelist in Sweden under the name Zenia Larsson. My mother would also become a writer, the Yiddish novelist Chava Rosenfarb. So this is
Zenia and Chava: Two Lodz survivors – novelists Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History
Braided, A Journey of a Thousand Challahs by Beth Ricanati, MD; She Writes Press, 2018; ISBN 9787-1-63152-441-7; $16.95, 169 pages. By Oliver B. Pollak RICHMOND, California — A physician who specializes in women’s health believes that the preparation of challah for a Shabbat meal, besides having obvious culinary benefits, can be a form of prayer
Challah: good to eat, good to meditate Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Oliver Pollak, Travel and FoodChasing Lost Time The Life of C.K.Scott Moncrieff; Soldier, Spy and Translator by Jean Findlay, published by Chatto and Windus, 2014 MEVASSERET ZION, Israel – As a former translator and great admirer of the works of Proust, both in the original French (a bit of a struggle for me) and in their delightful English version,
Moncrieff’s 40 packed years Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-Vanson
The Cut Out Girl by Bart Van Es, Penguin Random House © 2018; 194 pages plus acknowledgments; $28. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Author Bart Van Es knew about Lien de Jong, the Jewish girl who was provided a home and a new identity with his grandparents during the time the Nazis occupied
Tale of a Jewish girl hidden during the Shoah Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History
The Hazards of Good Fortune by Seth Greenland, Europa Editions © 2018; ISBN 9781609-434623; 614 pages, $20. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Whoever said money can’t buy you happiness would have received resounding agreement from Jay Gladstone, the fictional philanthropist, real estate developer, and professional basketball team owner who is the protagonist of
Novel probes stress between Jews and Blacks Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. HarrisonBy Oliver B. Pollak OCEANSIDE, California — What does family vacation mean? It used to be an oxymoron ranking with giant shrimp, military intelligence, and other improbables. Destination vacations, national parks, beaches, mountains, desert, camping, rv’s, condos, five-star resorts, spas, lodges, ranches with bunk houses, and time shares all compete for our wonderment. We drive,
Reading on my Jewish family vacation Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Oliver Pollak, Travel and Food
By Shor M. Masori SAN DIEGO — Because three of the biggest pop culture staples, Marvel, Star Wars, and Game of Thrones, were absent this year, the recently concluded Comic-Con felt much quieter and much less abuzz with nerd-hype. This quiet is, of course, relative, as to the outside observer it was just as loud
Warner Brothers’ dominates Comic- Con 2018 Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
Story and photos by Shor M. Masori SAN DIEGO — Rachel Bloom (Robot Chicken, BoJack Horseman, her own comedic music videos) and Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada, Morning Glory, 27 Dresses), co-creators of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, told journalists at Comic-Con that the musical dramedy’s final 18 episodes on the CW will deal with “the
‘Girlfriend,’ re-imagined fables enchant Comic- Con Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, San Diego County, Shor M. MasoriWhat Was The Holocaust? by Gail Herman, Penguin Random House, New York, © 2018, ISBN 978-0451533906, 105 pages, $5.99. By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – That there are casualties and atrocities in war for both soldiers and civilians is summed up best by General U. S. Grant, “War is hell!” How about when there is
A Holocaust book for older preteens Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, International, Jewish HistoryBy Oliver B. Pollak SAN FRANCISCO — Erica Peters, author of San Francisco, A Food Biography (2013) and Appetites and Aspirations in Vietnam Food and Drink in the Long Nineteenth Century (2012), gave a presentation at San Francisco’s three-year-old, gorgeously designed, American Bookbinders Museum in the Yerba Buena district, wedged in between Clementina and Folsom
San Francisco cookbooks reflect city’s diversity Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Oliver Pollak, Travel and Food
SAHUARITA, Arizona (Press Release) — More Precious than Rubies by former San Diegan Marilyn Forstot is set during and after the American Revolution. The story follows the life journey of a heroic Jewish woman, Sarah Perez, and her family. The well-researched novel shows early American life from a Jewish perspective and demonstrates the contributions Jews made
A new book for former San Diegan Marilyn Forstot Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, USA
By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Although Ruth Goldschmiedova Sax of Chula Vista conceded that she didn’t grow up with comics, or even know about Superman, whom she subsequently came to admire, she was clearly the hit of a panel on art and the Holocaust that was held Thursday, July 19, at the Comic-Can
Survivor Ruth G. Sax impresses Comic- Con audience Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, International, Jewish History, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, USA