June always makes me nostalgic for the days of staying up late, frantically re-reading the Harry Potter series in anticipation of that summer’s book or movie release. Now, it has become the time for finally beginning to make my way through the reading list I’ve accumulated throughout the school year. If, like me, you find yourself with a bit more free time on your hands (and hopefully a comfy hammock or other great reading spot), here’s a list of books I’ve enjoyed recently– some new and some old, some Jewish and some not– that are all worth a read.
“People of the Book“ – Geraldine Brooks
This novel is perfect for lovers of rare books and Jewish history alike, combining historical fiction with book preservation. “People of the Book” switches back and forth between the present and the past, moving between the story of Hanna, a book conservator studying a rediscovered Haggadah, and the stories of the people who held the rare book before her. Based on the real Sarajevo Hagaddah, one of the oldest Sephardic texts in the world, “People of the Book” imagines the book’s many brushes with death, from before the Spanish Inquisition to the Bosnian War. Full of secrets and plot-twists, “People of the Book” tells a story of resilience through an ancient text.
“Home Fire” – Kamila Shamsie
“Home Fire” is such a fast-paced and suspenseful novel that I read it in one day. Each chapter follows a different member of two British Muslim families grappling with issues of identity, security, and citizenship. For those interested in classics, Shamsie bases the book on Sophocles’ tragedy “Antigone.” However, regardless of whether you are familiar with the Greek play or not, “Home Fire” is a gripping story of what happens when love intersects with religious and political conflict.
“Hope: A Tragedy” – Shalom Auslander
The world is full of debates about Anne Frank and what her story means. Shalom Auslander disregards all rules and imagines what would happen to someone who finds the Holocaust victim alive, in America, in his attic. Simultaneously dark and comedic, “Hope: A Tragedy” questions how we view optimism, disaster, and Jewish history. The book is a humorous read full of cynicism and philosophy – and if you like your novels rich with philosophical musings, definitely also check out Nicole Krauss’ book “Forest Dark”.
“Salt Houses” – Hala Alyan
I went looking for stories outside of what is normally recommended to me and found a fantastic and important read in “Salt Houses.” The book tells the story of a Palestinian family, each chapter switching between characters, over decades from before the Six-Day War to the present day. It is a story of family, nostalgia, and the search for and creation of home. Also, if you like “Salt Houses” and are looking for other great books on similar themes, “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi similarly tracks the diverging path of an African family across generations.
“The Brothers Ashkenazi” – Israel Joshua Singer
For those with a bit more time on their hands, “The Brothers Ashkenazi” tells a fictional story of the Jewish community in Lodz, Poland, across decades spanning from the end of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century. I originally read this book in my Modern Jewish Political Theory Class, which offered a welcome escape from reading abstract political philosophy. This book also imagined the political reality and lives of Jews at that time in a way the theory never could. If you’re a fan of or are yet to explore the Russian novel or Yiddish literature, “The Brothers Ashkenazi” is a quality choice.
Here are some of the books on my shelf that I can’t vouch for yet, but am hoping to get to in the next few weeks.
“Kaddish.com” – Nathan Englander
I’m a fan of Englander’s past work, including “Dinner at the Center of the Earth” and “What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank.” Plus, the title is so intriguing that I need to check it out.
“The Golem and the Jinni” – Helene Wecker
After a dream I had last semester about a dybbuk attacking me, I’ve become interested in the history of Jewish myths and magic, so I couldn’t resist a novel about a golem in New York City.
“Conversations with Friends”– Sally Rooney
My friend said this was one of the best books he’s read recently for the unique way it tells a Millennial story. He works at a bookstore, so I trust his opinion.
Rebecca Tauber ’21 is a junior at Williams College majoring in English and history and minoring in Jewish Studies. She is an executive editor at The Williams Record and started its first podcast, Press Record.
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