- Paperback
- Publisher: Penguin Books (1977)
- ASIN: B003LUXFUI
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Although a continuation from 'My Name Is Asher Lev' this book stands in its own right. You are soon drawn into the conflict between Asher and his Jewish heritage. It soon becomes clear that both sides can't live with each other but equally can't live without each other either. But prehaps the greatest battle is fought out inside Asher's head. The solution is multi-layered and the reader is unsure which way it will go until the final part of the book. That said the book is probably 50 pages too long. There is a distinct element of drift just before the concluding scenes.
Overall this is a fascinating book, which if nothing else will open your eyes to a world seldom seen,or understood, by most of us.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
In the continuation of asher Lev's story the reader is compelled to read on to find his final destiny. The twists of the tale gradually dawn on the reader as the book opens out, but you are kept in suspense until the last few pages.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Benjamin
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Twenty years on from when we left Asher Lev we now find him married with two children and living in France. He, and is work, are suffering in the wake of some strongly critical reviews of his latest Paris show. Then he receives news of his uncles death, and he and his family return to Brooklyn.
The story follows Asher's turmoil as he confronts a number of problems on his return from exile: his relationship with his fellow believers, difficulties with his cousins over his uncles will, and more significantly his period of artist's block and the potential prospects for his beloved son, the five year old Avrumel. His turmoil over the last is all the more intense as only he seems able to appreciate the situation, namely that their religious leader the Rebbe is getting old and having no son of his own will need to select a successor, the obvious choice is Asher's Father, but as Asher is obviously unacceptable as his father's successor the role would fall to Avrumel. Here a parallel is drawn with Abraham and Isaac, is Asher prepared to sacrifice his son, he must confront the issue: his art or his son.
This is a beautiful and at times mystic story, Asher often drifts into a dream like state having visions of past, present and possibly future events. The characters are superbly drawn, Avrumel is a delightful young lad; Asher's father seems much more human now; and with Asher we really get inside the mind of an artist. The Rebbe too is a remarkable man, full of wisdom, never laying down the law but giving guidance through reasoning and suggestion.
The story follows Asher's turmoil as he confronts a number of problems on his return from exile: his relationship with his fellow believers, difficulties with his cousins over his uncles will, and more significantly his period of artist's block and the potential prospects for his beloved son, the five year old Avrumel. His turmoil over the last is all the more intense as only he seems able to appreciate the situation, namely that their religious leader the Rebbe is getting old and having no son of his own will need to select a successor, the obvious choice is Asher's Father, but as Asher is obviously unacceptable as his father's successor the role would fall to Avrumel. Here a parallel is drawn with Abraham and Isaac, is Asher prepared to sacrifice his son, he must confront the issue: his art or his son.
This is a beautiful and at times mystic story, Asher often drifts into a dream like state having visions of past, present and possibly future events. The characters are superbly drawn, Avrumel is a delightful young lad; Asher's father seems much more human now; and with Asher we really get inside the mind of an artist. The Rebbe too is a remarkable man, full of wisdom, never laying down the law but giving guidance through reasoning and suggestion.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE GIFT OF ASHER LEV
I read "My Name is Asher Lev" and am glad I did because obviously it leads into this second part which is equally captivating and is a wonderful description of artistic,... Read more
Published 3 months ago by PETER HOLZAPFEL
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gift of Asher Lev
I purchased this book as a gift for a friend. She loved it. I had previously read it and felt it was beautifully written and gave an insight into the more strict forms of Judaism.
Published 5 months ago by Carol Mackenzie
5.0 out of 5 stars
exceptional
There are a few books that I read and re-read until I can absorb them completely. This - along with the first Asher Lev book - is one of them. Read more
Published 9 months ago by casita
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compelling
Twenty years on from where we left Asher Lev we now find him married with two children and living in France. Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2008 by Benjamin
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