BOOK REVIEW: ASHER LEV

My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok explores a Hasidic Jewish community in post war New York and the conflicts the central character, a burgeoning young artist, creates and feels. The protagonist describes his young life in a very enclosed community and how his artistic talent and its pursuit cause strife and anguish for those around him. It begins with:

My name is Asher Lev, the Asher Lev, about whom you have read in newspapers and magazines,

about whom you talk so much at your dinner affairs and cocktail parties, the notorious and legendary Lev of the Brooklyn Crucifix. I am an observant Jew. Yes, of course, observant Jews do not paint crucifixions. As a matter of fact, observant Jews do not paint at all--in the way that I am painting.

This is a compelling and profoundly interesting semi-autobiographical book which gives deep insights into the lives of the Hasidic Jews, as well as the world of art. Its characters all seem to be either martyrs to their own compulsions and strict beliefs, or to the people around. While these characters can sometimes be hard to identify with, they are portrayed by the author with a certain amount of pained love, which delivered through the first person narrative makes the relationships intimate, believable and human.

A thoroughly well written and good read.

The 2011 ORANGE Prize for Fiction Longlist

• Lyrics Alley by Leila Aboulela

• Jamrach's Menagerie by Carol Birch

• Room by Emma Donoghue

• The Pleasure Seekers by Tishani Doshi

• Whatever You Love by Louise Doughty

• A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

• The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna

• The London Train by Tessa Hadley

• Grace Williams Says it Loud by Emma Henderson

• The Seas by Samantha Hunt

• The Birth of Love by Joanna Kavenna

• Great House by Nicole Krauss

• The Road to Wanting by Wendy Law-Yone

• The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht

• The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer

• Repeat it Today with Tears by Anne Peile

• Swamplandia! by Karen Russell

• The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin

• The Swimmer by Roma Tearne

• Annabel by Kathleen Winter

HISTORY: Civilization: The West and the Rest By Niall Ferguson

An interesting article about Niall Ferguson about the rise of the west. Have a look:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/0312/1224291927981.html

EVENTS UPDATE - World Book Night

Check out our website which now features an "Events" page. The lastest coverage is of World Book Day and our World Book Night reception.

Click here to view http://www.villagebooks.ie/events.html.

WORLD BOOK NIGHT - Saturday 5th March

 The first World Book Night takes place this year. To celebrate, Emma Walsh, a World Book Night ‘giver’ is giving away FREE copies of Heaney's poetry. 

Join us in the bookshop on Saturday 5^th March at 5.30pm when you can peruse the shelves with a glass of wine and collect your World Book Night book!

WORLD BOOK DAY

Thursday 3rd March

This month, all school children will receive the annual World Book Day Vouchers. These vouchers are worth €1.50 and children can use them in exchange for a FREE World Book Day Book or to contribute to the cost of a book of their choice. Village Books is stocking all the World Book Day books so pop in to collect yours!

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

   Look at the great review of this book (which I reviewed some weeks ago) in the Weekend Supplement of the Irish Times to quote "a novel that is an early contender for one of the great novels of the year".  I couldn't agree more.  This review is buried in Declan Burkes, Crime Beat, it deserves greater acknowledgement.