Itemize Books In Pursuance Of In the Beginning
| ISBN: | 044900113X (ISBN13: 9780449001134) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Literary Awards: | Premio Grinzane Cavour for Narrativa Straniera (2001) |
Chaim Potok
Paperback | Pages: 416 pages Rating: 4.08 | 2583 Users | 159 Reviews
Commentary Supposing Books In the Beginning
A superbly written story of a exceptionally intelligent young Jewish boy, David, his family, and their struggle to establish their lives in the United States, and to aid other Jewish families who wish to leave Poland and settle in New York. The family thrives in the US in the prosperous 1920's, though the school-age David is bullied by anti-Semitic local boys, and he is haunted by whispered secrets of his father's past as a militant activist among Jews in the "old country." We follow this family through the Great Depression and into World War II, as its members learn of the Nazis' cruelty to family and acquaintances they left behind in Europe. It seems like this is primarily the story of the Jewish experience in NYC in the 1920's -1940's. Then in the final portion of the book, there is a completely new plot twist as the author focuses on David's decision to lay aside his orthodox beliefs to pursue secular Biblical criticism, thereby shocking his family and friends at a time when they were still reeling from the reality of the Holocaust.Each of the main characters are completely life-like and compelling. Their story is told from an uncommon perspective, and gives you an empathy and understanding for their conflicts even though their culture is foreign.
I was a bit disappointed in the change of focus near the end, and thought the conclusion seemed almost too abrupt after such deep emotional involvement. I was left wishing I knew the rest of the story!
Be Specific About Out Of Books In the Beginning
| Title | : | In the Beginning |
| Author | : | Chaim Potok |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Anniversary Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 416 pages |
| Published | : | September 10th 1997 by Ballantine Books (first published 1975) |
| Categories | : | Fiction. Literature. Jewish. Religion. Judaism. Historical. Historical Fiction |
Rating Out Of Books In the Beginning
Ratings: 4.08 From 2583 Users | 159 ReviewsCritique Out Of Books In the Beginning
Good ReadI hated this book, and then I loved it. It was the most boring book I have ever read, and then it was so exciting. I cannot categorize it because I can find no category for it. It is the story of a brilliant minded Jewish boy who with his family is grounded in his faith. It hurts his family and his church when he becomes a secular Bible scholar. The author's writing mechanics were excellent. The symbolism was rich. The author takes the reader through a multitude of happenings thatStunning, as Potok always is, though more slowly paced and deliberate than others that I've read. The final pages resonate deeply with current issues in Mormonism regarding history, truth, and faith.At the risk of draining the power of this quote without the context of the 430 pages preceding it, here is one of my favorite moments: "I am not bothered by questions of truth. I want to know if the religious world view has any meaning today. Bring yourself back an answer to that, Lurie. Take apart
It was ok, but not great.The Chosen was a much better book.I felt bogged down a lot of the time by lengthy descriptions of everything the Am Kedoshim society said and did, and I didn't understand much of it, as I'm not Jewish. I felt as though it did nothing to move the plot along.I also fee that many of the characters were rather flat and static. Even though they all grow up over the course of the story, I feel that their essential personalities don't really change all that much. I suppose
In The Beginning is quite different in style than Potoks earlier novels. The story is told through -somewhat non-sequential flashbacks. We see a lot of David as a young boy, but then it moves quickly through his adolescent years. He is brilliant, bookish, and intellectually rebelliousthough in a quiet and confident way. It shifts back and forth from great narrative and descriptive detail to more emotional impressions. It is a lot in Davids head sometimes when he sick with fever or lost deep in
My
Ive read a few Chaim Potok . In fact, the Chosen is one of my favorite books and movies. This book was extremely slow and very depressing. David is a sickly child, but extremely intelligent and with an overly active imagination. His family came to America after the first world war and continue to suffer a fair amount of anti-Semitism in New York. The story follows him through his young life into his decision to study Talmud and his faith outside of the conventions set up by his family.
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