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Review
"A beautiful, thoughtful portrait of the anxieties and paradoxes of modern Jewish life." --Linda Grant
"For an exploration of Jewish identity, I strongly recommend Andrew Sanger's novel The J-Word." --Ruth Gledhill, The Times (London)
"The most fantastic novel I've read for many a year. It was just as good second time round." --Chas Newkey-Burden, oyvagoy.com Chas Newkey-Burden, oyvagoy.com
"A fascinating exposure of the vagaries of Jewish identity and its impact on individual lives. A considerable achievement." --Hampstead & Highgate Express, London
"A charming tale... a delightful read. A vivid picture of the perplexing muddle that is the Jewish population today."
--The Jewish Chronicle
"For an exploration of Jewish identity, I strongly recommend Andrew Sanger's novel The J-Word." --Ruth Gledhill, The Times (London)
"The most fantastic novel I've read for many a year. It was just as good second time round." --Chas Newkey-Burden, oyvagoy.com Chas Newkey-Burden, oyvagoy.com
"A fascinating exposure of the vagaries of Jewish identity and its impact on individual lives. A considerable achievement." --Hampstead & Highgate Express, London
"A charming tale... a delightful read. A vivid picture of the perplexing muddle that is the Jewish population today."
--The Jewish Chronicle
Synopsis
'Did I say I was Jewish? I should be Jewish all of a sudden?' Argumentative, Yiddish-speaking, 80-year-old Jack Silver has reluctantly returned to Golders Green to care for his 10-year-old grandson, Danny. Unpredictable and outspoken but warm-hearted, Jack is resolutely secular and repudiates everything Jewish. His profoundly troubled son, now a successful middle-aged journalist, has followed in his footsteps, while the brilliant young Danny has been kept in ignorance of his heritage. When Jack is beaten up by an antisemitic gang, it changes everything. He and Danny secretly set out to outwit and track down the thugs and bring them to justice. The hunt takes Jack into memories of his own childhood and the two unlikely heroes discover a shared identity spanning generations that eventually draws the whole family together.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The J word of the title is "Jewish". Of course, in modern Britain, that should be two words as so many struggle and juggle with their cultural and religious identities. How much of a Jew and how much of an Ish. This intelligent novel from Andrew Sanger manages to take a perfect snapshot of life in contemporary Jewish London, with its protaganist, a man who is certainly more comfortable with his Ish. With delicious irony, the character of Jack, whose efforts to deny his Jewish identity delineates the storyline and backdrop of this well-paced, well-written and well-considered adventure, is the most traditional of Jews: you can feel the shrug that accompanies every line he utters as yiddish as his lexicon (thoughtfully translated in the novel's forensic glossary) and his wry otherness, as this self denying anti-hero returns to London's haimishe heartland. The plotline device turning on overt anti-semitism and prejudices, carries the action at a page-turning pace, yet does not overshadow what is essentially a superb musing on the wider themes of identity. The relationship between grandfather and grandson, and the missing link in the absent generation that connects them, develops and flourishes well. However, on re-reading this book the other evening, the other relationship - that of Jack and his late wife Miri - is the warmth that allows us to love and understand the central character himself. A great read and an even better re-read.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This thrilling, readable story of how an old man seeks justice (without the help of the police), following an antisemitic attack, is a page-turner -- and a wonderful insight into secular Jewish life and attitudes.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A very thought-provoking novel and, above all, a gripping read. This story of modern Jewish identity is also a mirror to prejudices within and around the relatively complacent world of Golders Green anglo-jewry. Anti-semitism does not only come from outside the Jewish community. Despite this darker theme underscoring the tale, the book is nonetheless life affirming and a validation of self knowledge in confusing times. Three generations of a family are affected by the events of a few days in north London, and two of those generations learn major life lessons. Read it in one weekend, remember it for months to come.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Talented Author of Jewish Fiction
I reviewed the print version of this book when it first came out, and I can really recommend it. The full-length review appears here:... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mike Gerrard
Quite simply superb.
I read this book whilst in the Royal Free Hospital - slap in the middle of the part of North London where most of the events in the story take place, which added a certain piquancy... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Paul Cattigan
The modern jewish condition
A very satisfying journey through the compromise of modern Jewish identity in Britain. Not too introspective. Instead, you get quite a pacey story with as much plot as ideas. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Benj R
A very satisfying read
An affectionate portrait of a family falling apart at the seams, and the healing that can come from belonging. I really enjoyed this book.
Published on 3 Oct 2009 by Fiona Robyn
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