Dreams Delayed - A Modern Fairy Tale

Dreams Delayed is a modern day novel that zooms in on the deep emotions of a bride who has to deal with a tragic event. The story goes from dreamy to nightmare and back to a happily ever after.

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover of Dreams Delayed is simple, but elegant. It has a slice of a bride's wedding picture, which fades into the white cover that also features an engagement ring on top of a wedding ring. This gives the feeling of having a clean, white slate. The two rings are significant because an engagement does not always guarantee a wedding.

Some Details I Liked:

Ariella Schiller is quite talented in expressing each of the character's feelings. There are quite a few poems that I felt like copying onto a paper for my fridge. 

Who This Book is For:

This book is great for high schoolers and beyond. As much as the main character is a female and quite feminine, there are also male characters that are portrayed well.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

I would not recommend this book to anyone that is engaged or has single children learning in Israel. While the hashkafa in the book is detailed and strong, we are living in a hard time for Israel. It is hard to read fictional encounters that are so close to the morbid reality. 

In Conclusion:  

If you enjoy getting lost in someone else's dream and then reading through their hardships, in order to celebrate with them in the end, this is the perfect book for you.

Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Story Solutions - Picture Books

This new series of children's books is written and beautifully illustrated by Esti Hess. Titled "Story Solutions", each book has a unique storyline to help children deal with issues, like disappointment or ridicule.

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

Each cover has a clear title and big, but simple picture portraying the main character of the story. I like how each book is a different color. It is also nice that some books are from a boy's perspective, while other books have a girl.

Some Details I Liked:

I liked how the books speak about emotions directly and help children understand what is happening in their life. I love how every other page is a picture depicting the scene described on the page next to it, making it easy for the child to follow along.

Who This Book is For:

My nearly 3 yr old daughter loves these books and I think they are appropriate for new readers as well. My daughter looks at the pictures all the time, but specifically for bedtime she likes to hear the stories over and over again.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

Some of the books do have a more creative side, like talking animals or other objects. This is not a negative thing at all, but it is important to know that the stories may include interactions that can only happen in the wonderful world of fiction.

In Conclusion:  

These are great books to have in the house so that children are equipped with solutions to scenarios, possibly even before the problem exists.

Disclaimer:

I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

A Fragile Thread

Are you one of those Friday night novel lovers looking for a good realistic, but juicy story? A Fragile Thread is about multiple members of a family which are all slightly hanging, but end up tied together in a beautiful tapestry. This includes some shalom bayis trouble, financial pressure, shidduchim, high school, special needs and fertility issues spread throughout the various characters.

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover is excellent. It has a house with a canvas of thin threads over it. The idea is that things are strained until the very last strand and are not quite staying together.

Some Details I Liked:

I loved the characters and the issues. It is always fun to be able to relate to characters, but in this book I could almost hear the characters speaking. There is one scene in a supermarket and it is described so well that I totally visualized it as I was reading.

Who This Book is For:

This book is great for someone looking for a modern day novel which mentions email scams and the “ayin hara lady” as details in the subplots. 

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

A few words of caution. This book definitely goes into detail about struggles between spouses. It also speaks about making the right life decisions with daas Torah’s approval. I personally thought both were great and written in very good taste, but I understand that not everyone would.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

I felt a little sad for the parents and would have enjoyed reading more from their perspectives.

In Conclusion:  

A Fragile Thread is a splendid Yael Mermelstein novel and it was a pleasure to review it. 

Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Blood Brothers, a Cuban Adventure

Tired of the typical US novel? Blood Brothers is set in Cuba of the 1980's. It is the first of Esther Rapaport's Foreign Destinations series. 

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

I like when the cover accurately reflects the story within it. This cover does that very well. Obviously not every detail is there, but you can get a sense of the settling from the old buildings and vintage cars. There are also hints to the plot with the tube of blood, the cigar and the horses.

Some Details I Liked:

This is a smooth, realistic read with a little bit of a happily ever after, but still leaves you a little sad that life was so hard for so many not so long ago or far away.

Who This Book is For:

Although the main characters are boys, I think this book can be enjoyed by all. It has a lot of adventure, but also has plenty of emotion.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

It's not called blood brothers for nothing. There are a few sort of gory parts, where injuries are described. Also it's a bit scary when referring to the Cuban Authorities.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

I was a little disappointed with the ending. I won't spoil it here, but I will say that there are many ways to be a great person and sometimes being in a unique position can be greater than doing the norm.

In Conclusion:  

It was interesting to learn about Cuba and what families there and their relatives abroad went through. Very creative and well done.

Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Fear of Falling

Every family has its own ups and downs. In Fear of Falling, two women, named after the same ancestor, experience falls in the physical, spiritual and emotional realms, and then they work to get back up from them all.

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

I'm noticing that I really like Aviad Ben-Simon's style for designing covers. This cover shows a bunch of frames, with a few glimpses of what the characters saw in the book.

I like how the book is typeset in general, but specifically with the scenic picture of mountains at the start of each chapter.

The book is very easy to get into and those details just enhance it further.

Some Details I Liked:

This is a well thought out multi-generational, international (Israel, Europe and North America) novel. 
Throughout the story there are slight messages regarding various interpersonal opportunities for growth.
It has a sweet ending, which ties almost everything together with a few good, subtle lessons.

Who This Book is For:

This is a little more of a (teen) girly book. It deals with well described emotions including: trauma, regret, anxiety and well, fear.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

I have to admit that as a mother of a baby, the point that a fall off the couch, under the watch of a babysitter, caused brain damaged was quite scary. The author writes clearly that its not common, but could happen. Either way, just a warning that maybe it's not a good book for a recovering new mother :-)

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

I think there was room for some of the characters to own up to their actions in a better way, but then again, the fact that they didn't made the story all the more realistic.

In Conclusion:  

This is a nice, but slightly intense novel without any serious espionage or shidduchim. It's well written and 100% kosher.

Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Outdated

Ever think about whether shidduchim is right for you? Why not just meet a nice person on your own, right? Outdated is a brilliant novel that goes through a single man's dating life. Nathan Wolff also shifts between the perspective of the main character's "not really girlfriend, but significant female" and his own.

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover looks well, outdated. It is a hand drawn scene of a male on a horse holding flowers for the old fashioned dressed female.

Some Details I Liked:

I loved the storyline. The setting switches between "the city", "the country", and a few places in between. Also, the shift in crowds are described well via nuances.

Who This Book is For:

This book is primarily meant to explain the emotional benefit of shidduch dating instead of investing in a friend and not having clarity. In the form of a novel, the author explains the shidduch process and the reasons for each step.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

This book is not for someone who won't appreciate someone who "flipped out" or became more "black hat" than his family. It is not so romantic, but the book does try to illustrate potentially sticky scenes which would be conflicting to ones emotions, such as a touch or looks of infatuation.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

The only thing I didn't like was that the book ended on a sad note. The author could have continued the story and concluded with a Simcha.

In Conclusion:  

Even though I went through that process and am well out of that "parsha" it was still an enjoyable and engaging book.

Lord Get Me High - Psalm 27 Explained

Psalm 27 is said every day from the 1st of Elul through Simchas Torah. Lord, Get Me High! goes through the 14 passukim and Rabbi Elchanan Shoff brings out a short, but meaningful lesson on each one. 

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

With less than 100 pages, after the acknowledgements, introduction, etc., this book seems like a quick read, but due to the depth and concentration of material, it is not. It is however written in a way that is easy to understand and appreciate.

"Lord, Get Me High!" has a bit of a pun to it. The actual psalm starts off with G-d is my light, but the running theme of the perek is to get close to the One Above.

Some Details I Liked:

I like that this is an organized work. There is a wide range of sources and they are well documented in the foot notes. Each chapter includes a balance of relevant stories, divrei Torah and words of encouragement. 

Who This Book is For:

I recommend Lord, Get Me High! for anyone looking for an "Elul/Tishrei pick me up" that is in English and not too hard to keep up with, even if read a few pages at a time throughout the season. 

It is also a great resource for any teacher, one-on-one learning partner or youth group leader who is looking for inspiration to share, but doesn't have the time to go digging for it.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

If someone is not ready for Teshuva or to read sentences like "To love what we accomplish religiously is such a precious thing.", then this book is not for them. Lord, Get Me High! is no doubt a spiritual-growth oriented book, so only those looking to enhance their religiousness should read it.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

I would love to see a similar book for other Psalms that we say regularly. 
For example, Psalm 23- The Lord is my shepherd, which is said by the third meal on Shabbos or 
Psalm 30 -... I will exalt you, Lord... which is said for Chanukah.

In Conclusion:  

Although this book is somewhat seasonal, I definitely would also read this book for inspiration during the rest of the year. Lord, Get Me High! is a seriously great work.

Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

First Family, From Gan Eden and on

If you want to get a peek into how life was at the beginning, First Family is the book for you. It is a smooth read which takes the reader through the complex issues of Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel.

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover correctly doesn't show the faces of the original family, rather it has their silhouettes. I believe that there are midrashim that say that they were much taller and even the children were born the size of adults. But the concept is clear regardless. It shows the first parents and their first children alone amidst nature.

Some Details I Liked:

The author, Alice Langholt, has a Masters Degree in Jewish Studies and was able to keep the story line true to the text. 

The way the characters "express themselves" is so clear that when Eve tells Adam that she has life inside her, I literally had tears of joy in my eyes for the continuation of humanity.

Who This Book is For:

This book is great for those that want to feel more connected to the Biblical characters. First Family is written in first voice, switching between all the players, including GOD. It is done well, with respect to each one.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

There are some parts of the book that hint to things, in what I felt was refined, but should still be mentioned before recommending the book. For instance, Eve experiences monthly bleeding or how she expresses that the baby comes out from the same place.

The killing of Abel is described in somewhat gory details. Again, I enjoyed the dramatic way it is written, but wouldn't recommend it to someone who would be bothered by that.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

I would have enjoyed getting the Garden of Eden's or the earth's perspective as well.

In Conclusion:  

The book is typeset nicely and easy to read, ending at just the right part, making it a nice read for this time of year or anytime. I think a lot of people would benefit from more books like this one.

Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Heavenprints - A collection of Inspiration

After reviewing G-d Winked, I was excited to see that Sara Yoheved Rigler put out another book - Heavenprints. Both books have a similar layout, beginning with inspirational stories and ending with meaningful thoughts for specific times throughout the year.

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The subtitle is "Stories of finding Hashem in our lives, and living our lives with Hashem". When I first saw the title, I thought it was a book of "Hashgacha Pratis" stories, but it is actually a conglomerate of miraculous tales, everyday inspiration and straight out lessons on G-d's role in our lives.

Some Details I Liked:

I enjoy Mrs. Rigler's writing style very much. She sprinkles similes, such as "Leah broke the tearful silence with an exhortation lofty as Sinai", throughout her stories, adding to the drama of the already interesting episode.

I also liked reading about her family background. How decisions that her grandparents made had an effect on her life. After all, everything is from Heaven.

Who This Book is For:

This book is for any growth oriented, observant Jew. It has a glossary in the back for all Jewish terminology, but someone that already has the understanding of the concepts would appreciate the book more.

Unlike G-d Winked, Heavenprints is published by The Shaar Press and distributed by Artscroll. Therefore, it includes less detail of Mrs. Rigler's personal life, such as what happened in the ashram, as well as her medical tribulations.

With that said, the concepts in the book are still quite mature. For example, understanding the relationship between G-d, you and the person that hurt you. There are diagrams that show how the hurt is from G-d and how ideally we should forgive the person that hurt us wholeheartedly because they are just a messenger. 

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

This is not a light read. Although it is pretty easy to pick out the stories, the intention of this book is to be a tool of inspiration. It is for someone that is looking to live a more G-dly life and to better connect with Hashem. I would not hand this book to a newly observant Jew.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

I was a little disappointed when I read in the introduction that much of the book is just reprints of articles featured on aish.com, in the Ami magazine and other common publications. There is also some overlap from Mrs. Rigler's other books. 

In Conclusion:  

Heavenprints is a great book for spiritual growth. It has quotes from Rebbetzin Heller and inspiration from Holy Woman, Rebbetzin Chaya Sara Kramer. The chapters span years and touch on various events that happened during those times, adding historical value to the publication.

Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Forever in Faith, the Sassover Rebbetzin's Story

Some WWII memoirs are written to share the horror of what took place, Forever in Faith, focuses on G-d's kindness through the horror. I feel that it is crucial to be realistic about what happened, but also to maintain the perspective that all is for the best, even in the trickiest of times. A second important aspect to always keep in mind, is that as observant Jews, we must rise above the cruelty and act properly, in all situations. Both of those points are portrayed over and over again throughout the Sassover Rebbetzin's incredible story.

Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

For starters, I think that the title is perfect for this book. Each anecdote is one of faith whether it was a life threatening situation or a small choice. 

The actual cover has a lot of depth to it. Flowers on barbed wire, showing life in a place where death reigns. That is exactly what the book is about. There are times when the Rebbetzin was with other Bais Yaakov girls and able to blossom in a group, but other times, she was a lone flower bringing color and a pleasant aroma to those around her.


Some Details I Liked:

This book is based off of Rebbetzin Bluma Teitelbaum's memories that she recorded for her children towards the end of her life, so it is written in her voice.

I enjoyed reading the children's memories of their mother that are added at the end of the book. It makes the book not only a Holocaust memoir, but also the biography of a great woman.

Who This Book is For:

This is a great read for anyone who wants to understand more of what Jewish people went through during WWII in Europe. The Rebbetzin shares experiences from being in school with anti-Semitic non-Jews at the start, to working outside the ghetto, living in the ghetto, getting separated from her family, being transported from one camp to another, as well as going on a Death March. She explains how the hardships didn't end right away. How the Russians were just as bad as the Germans and that there wasn't any guarantee for survival even though the war was officially over. 

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

Even though the relaying of what happened is quite detailed, it is still written in a refined way. However, there are some gory details on pages 108, 109, 145 and 146. So I would say, if you have a weak stomach, instead of skipping the book completely, just skip those pages, as the message of the book is important to anyone that is looking to learn more about the Churban of Europe.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better:

Being that this is a person's story, as she recorded it, albeit edited and put together by her son, I don't feel that I can suggest what could be done differently.  

In Conclusion:  

Whether you are looking for a book suitable for a sad time, like the three weeks and nine days or just to gain more of a perspective of the Shoah, Forever in Faith is a keeper. I would compare this book to To Vanquish the Dragon by Pearl Benisch, as they are both memoirs of Bais Yaakov graduates who despite the atrocities, they were able to maintain their self-image of bnos Yisrael. 

Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.

Sundays@10: The Serial in a Book

A few years ago, Dov Haller wrote a serial for Mishpacha magazine called Sundays@10. Now you can read it in its full version and follow R' Shmuel Wohlberg as he goes through the school year with some interesting challenges. 


Judging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review: 

The title of this book is a little ambiguous. The "@" instead of "at" indicates there is internet related content. After reading the book, I think it is a clever title because ultimately the Sunday meetings are where the plot unfolds.

The images of books next to the image of a tablet also shows how this book brings up the subject of "old school vs new school", quite literally and figuratively. It explores the concept of the generation gap in chinuch and parenting in general, but not in an intense way.

Some Details I Liked:

I liked how Dov Haller made this novel as real as possible. All the geographical locations are existing places.  Subtle phrases like "What am I, Fiveish?", making reference to Oorah's mascot, help the reader connect to the characters easily.

Without spoiling the ending, I liked how the message of the book was not to stoop down. It is a theme throughout the book, but even more so with the twist at the end.

Who This Book is For:

This was sent to me as a novel for adults, but I think it is good for teens as well. There is a lot of small lessons that are dropped in conversations between the characters of various stages of life. Between the elementary school boy, the daughter in seminary, the kollel newlyweds and the older generation couples, there is a nice variety of well portrayed characters.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

Because Sundays@10 does discuss internet, I would only give this book to children who know what a blog, usernames and email is. While everything in the book is written with good context, an immature child might get ideas and miss the main point which explains the dangers.

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

I would have enjoyed an epilogue to find out if the children of the mechanchim end up making changes in their life. Also if the dinner brought in enough money for the school, etc.

In Conclusion:  

This is a non-typical, but very much needed novel. There aren't any spies, war stories, shidduchim, criminals, people becoming frum or finding new identities. It is about dealing with issues of today that could be happening in your community, school or home. 

Disclaimer:
I received this book for the purpose of reviewing it, but that it no way changed the way I read it and reviewed it.