You don’t have to be Jewish to love the San Diego Jewish Book Fair, as my friends Jae Kremer and Jean Johnson can attest. Each year, it just gets better and better, attracting big-name authors of best-selling books and helping America’s Finest City (hey, not my idea) take the emphasis off the “beach” in its “beach culture” status.
This year, I spent two days at the Book Fair and got to hear four really fantastic authors talk about their new books. What I love most about reading is being transported to places I’ve never been and immersing myself in different countries, time periods, situations. Thanks to this quartet, I started out in the midst of a modern day act of domestic violence, met the real-life characters of Manhattan’s diamond district, then traveled back to ancient Masada and the pioneer days on the South Dakota plains. What a whirlwind!
Randy Susan Meyers took the stage at the first luncheon to talk about her debut novel, The Murderer’s Daughters. This is a harrowing story about two sisters who witness their mother’s death at the hands of their father, and it spans 30 years as the girls grow up and try to come to terms with the tragedy. While Merry regularly visits their father in prison, Lulu refuses to have anything to do with him. Reading this book made me weep for the children of domestic violence, who are affected so profoundly even if they’re not the ones being physically assaulted.
Although the book is fiction, the author and her sister experienced a similar incident as children, when their father threatened to kill their mother. Randy says she doesn’t remember the actual event but believes it must be buried deep in her subconscious because her sister told her she nailed it in the book.
Randy, who, by the way, is hilarious despite her devastating subject matter, shared stories about working with abusers. Someone asked her why she worked with the men rather than the victims, and she explained that in order to solve the problem, it’s vital to treat the cause – which was enlightening. Although it seems so obvious, it’s something we don’t seem to focus on.
I had the chance to talk to Randy for a few minutes and she is a doll. She is all about empowering women, and I’d love to work with her on something.
Next up was Alicia Oltuski who brings the mysterious diamond district of New York City to life in her fascinating book, Precious Objects: A Story of Diamonds, Family, and a Way of Life. I remember walking along 47th Street as a teenager and always feeling intimidated by the close-knit community of merchants who seemed to communicate in their own way – and no wonder. According to Alicia, whose father is one of those merchants, this is an industry which is run on trust. Deals are closed with blessings rather than contracts, and if you’re an outsider, you’re going to have to prove yourself before you’re allowed in.
Alicia told us about working for her father and having to transport valuable jewels in a chest pack strapped under her clothes so no one would see them. She told us about the panic buttons and trap doors that are a necessary part of the business. And she told us about an eclectic bunch of characters – a dealer who impersonates Elvis, a pair of brothers who are diamond detectives – who truly make her stories sparkle.
The elephant in the room was finally addressed when someone asked her why she wasn’t wearing any jewelry herself. It was apparent that the audience had expected her to walk in, dripping diamonds, yet her ears, neck, wrists were completely unadorned. She laughed and said that her father had always been so worried about her safety, it was just easier to travel this way. The only gem accompanying Alicia that day was her book – and, trust me, it’s dazzling.
Two days later, I was back at the Book Fair, waiting on a long line to eat lunch with the one-and-only Alice Hoffman. Her new novel, The Dovekeepers, has been called “a masterpiece,” and, according to Alice herself, it’s the one – of all her 28 books – that is closest to her soul. Set in ancient Israel, it’s based on the true events of Masada and is told from the points of view of four amazing women. In signature Alice Hoffman style, it’s filled with love, magic, secrets and emotion.
One of the highlights of Alice’s talk – besides hearing her read her own beautiful words – was listening to her relate her grandmother’s advice. She promised to post this on her website at some point, and it’s worth waiting for. It’s funny, wise and enlightening – just like Alice herself.
It was such an honor to meet Alice, and you’ll be happy to know that she autographed a copy of The Dovekeepers for me to give away. Just leave a comment below, and you’ll be entered to win. (She also signed my beloved, dog-eared copy of Practical Magic, but that’s mine!)
My last event of the Jewish Book Fair was a talk by Anna Solomon, whose debut novel, The Little Bride, had totally blown me away. I was so shocked by the premise – Jewish mail order brides? Jewish pioneers in the Midwest? – that I zipped through the eye-opening tale and couldn’t wait to hear her tell the backstory. It turned out to be as intriguing as the book!
Anna was warm and personable as she explained that the idea for The Little Bride came when she was Googling herself (!) and discovered another Anna Solomon on a website called “Stories Untold: Jewish Women Pioneers.” She had the same reaction I’d had – Jewish pioneers?? – and started doing research.
The Little Bride introduced me to a whole new world which I truly had never known existed. The descriptions are so vivid and the characters so rich, I’m still thinking about the book weeks later. This is a great book club choice because there is so much to discuss. Invite Anna to be your special guest — and please invite me, too, because it was so much fun to meet her and I’d like to spend more time with her!
Great article. Thank you for highlighting these books. I’d already read Randy Susan Meyer’s–with enormous admiration, and now look forward to the other three that you summarized with such aplomb here. Thanks!
Thank you for opening the possibility that my time would be well spent at the Jewish book fair. I now feel sorry I missed it and will download some of the books you reviewed on my IPad!
I love, love, love your book reviews…. More for the “be sure to read” file! Any thoughts about starting a STYLESUBSTANCESOUL book club??? Thanks!!
I enjoyed the “Murderer’s Daughters, and have been a fan of Alice Hoffman’s work, for a long time.
A book club would be wonderful! But…I’m going to shoot the moon, and try to finagle a Library Adoption drive. I know our funds have been cut so severely, we have NO budget this year AT ALL for books or other new materials.. In January, staff hours will be cut back, and some will very probably be laid off. We’ve been very fortunate to have some patrons that have been buying books, reading them, and donating them, while they’re still on the New York Times best seller lists. Best Sellers don’t always include great literature, though.
Just an idea. Ours is surely not the only library that’s faced big cuts, and even if I help your library, and not just mine, I’m sure that there will be patrons that will be glad that they were able to enjoy the books.
This is my Library. I work in Tech Services. http://www.newtonlibrary.org/
another book about Jewish pioneers that might interest you is “Rachel Calof’s Story – Homesteading on the Northern Plains”. It takes place in 1894 and tells the story of Rachel’s arranged marriage to an immigrant homesteader in North Dakota. At the time, the U.S. was giving land to Jewish “pioneers”, in this case, to help populate the plains.
I love your reviews, Lois, because it makes me want to read!
Dear Lois,
I will be checking out Jewish Book Fairs – most definitely – after reading your exciting venture!
Thanks for sharing about the Fair and thanks, too, for your terrific writing about four books I must read now!
It was so fun and enlightening attending the Jewish Book Fair with you, Lois. Thanks for introducing me to such a wonderful event!
Thanks Lois – my Books-to-Read list just got longer. Your reviews give us just a taste of the story and that attracts us to want to read more. Your enthusiasm for the books you read is catching.
Thanks for “reporting” on the events you attended. I love going to author events at the Jewish Book Fair, but couldn’t go this year. I enjoyed hearing about all the authors, especially Alice Hoffman who I had wanted to see. The other three books you mentioned will join “The Dovekeepers” on my Goodreads list!
I feel as if I have just experienced the most heartfelt vicarious trip to the Jewish Book Fair! Thank you for inviting me to travel there with you. And what gifts these four amazing women authors have laid out for us! It is hard to choose where to begin.
Thanks, Lois! Great books; as others said, my to-read list just got longer, as it does every time you guys post reviews or interviews with authors. But how does everyone know that YOU wrote this? I can’t find your name on it anywhere! You guys need bylines, so we know who the “I” is!
Lois, Thank you so much for including my book, THE LITTLE BRIDE, in your round-up here. What great work you’re doing!
I wanted to let Sheryl know that the book you mention, about Rachel Calof, is actually the book that inspired me to write my novel! It is indeed an engrossing read and I’m glad that you, too, have discovered it.
Also, to Suzanne at the library, I would be happy to donate a copy of TLB if you tell me where to send it.
And to all: please let me know if you do wind up reading the book. And if your book clubs wind up choosing it, I am happy to call or Skype in to say hi and answer questions!
Thanks again for your hard work, Lois.
-Anna Solomon
Another wonderful day with my pal, Lois. The authors and books were fascinating, but the opportunity to spend the afternoon in the loving embrace of the Jewish community, was priceless. Like a good book, the experience was much more than what was between the covers. I even picked up some Yiddish. Shalom.
Hi-
My mother and I were guest speakers at the Jewish Book Fair last week. We had such a great time reading a few of her letters from my book,”S’Mother : The Story of a Man, His Mom, and the Thousands of Altogether Insane Letters She’s Mailed Him. Can’t wait to do it again for the follow up book, “S’Mother-In-Law”! Thanks!
These books come alive in your review, Lois! Tremendously interesting!
Thank you!
Lois, As usual, your reviews offer just the right amount of titillation and cause my “Books To Read” list to lengthen! Thanks so much for sharing!
Cant wait to read The Dovekeepers! thanks for your recommendations!
I’ve always been intrigued and entertained by Jewish literature. I’ll take any one of these books.
I just finished The Dovekeepers. I’m still in awe. What an amazing story. It’s so rare to read a book that you know will be timeless. Thanks!
I can’t wait to read The Dovekeepers! It’s next on my book club list. The reviews have been stellar – sounds like a great book to curl up w/when the sun goes down on these short winter days! Enjoyed your reviews! I also loved Wendy Mogel’s talk and her writings/point of view make so much sense!
You write great book reviews, Lois. I want to read all four of these. Thanks so much.
New ideas just in time for a long winter’s night! These early dark
evenings inspire me to curl up with a good book….thanks for the
very inspiring reviews/comments!