"I Loved My Mother On Saturdays" and Other Tales from the Shtetl and Beyond by Roslyn Bresnick-Perry
From Roslyn Bresnick-Perry's childhood in the shtetl to her immigration to New York and life into adulthood with a career in the fashion industry, this book cannot simply be considered a collection of short autobiographical stories, or even a transcript of the dynamic family history she has been relating orally to audiences for decades. Written mostly in the first person, which gives the reader a feeling like she is right there in your living room, a few major themes of Bresnick-Perry's stories include adventures in adjusting to Jewish life in America and ups and downs in her relationship with her mother (as illustrated in the book's title). As the captivated reader will discover once the author admits it to herself, the author's life is storytelling, which she eventually decides to make into her real career, and a very successful one it is. Recommended for all types of Jewish libraries.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
New Book Review: jobnik!
jobnik! by Miriam Libicki
jobnik!, a compilation of the first six issues of graphic artist Miriam Libicki’s self-published comic series, captivates the reader with the story of an American girl’s adventures in the Israeli army during the 2000 Intifada (which appears to have been based on her own army experiences). Miriam does not quite fit into the mold of your “typical” chayelet—quiet, emotional, and forever romantic, but a good girl at heart—as well as still trying to find her place in life religiously and socially. Miriam’s storytelling style is honest and real and draws the reader in from the very first panel. This memoir is unique in that it is one of only a handful of Jewish-themed graphic novels in publication, but a format which hopefully other writers will take note of. The illustrations bring the reader into the story much more than simply putting words on a page can and they truly feel like they are experiencing it there with her. Highly recommended for all types of Jewish libraries in the adult section.
jobnik!, a compilation of the first six issues of graphic artist Miriam Libicki’s self-published comic series, captivates the reader with the story of an American girl’s adventures in the Israeli army during the 2000 Intifada (which appears to have been based on her own army experiences). Miriam does not quite fit into the mold of your “typical” chayelet—quiet, emotional, and forever romantic, but a good girl at heart—as well as still trying to find her place in life religiously and socially. Miriam’s storytelling style is honest and real and draws the reader in from the very first panel. This memoir is unique in that it is one of only a handful of Jewish-themed graphic novels in publication, but a format which hopefully other writers will take note of. The illustrations bring the reader into the story much more than simply putting words on a page can and they truly feel like they are experiencing it there with her. Highly recommended for all types of Jewish libraries in the adult section.
New Book Review: The Blessing of a Broken Heart
The Blessing of a Broken Heart by Sherri Mandel
Sherri Mandell was just another writer and mom trying to find meaning and happiness for herself and her family after making aliyah when in 2001 the unthinkable happened: her oldest child, 13-year-old Koby, was murdered by terrorists only half a mile from their home in Tekoa. With an amazing gift of eloquence and unshakeable faith in God, Mandell weaves stories of Koby's life together with musings on the powers of healing and religion in order to try to make some sense of the tragedy. Highly recommended for all types of libraries.
Sherri Mandell was just another writer and mom trying to find meaning and happiness for herself and her family after making aliyah when in 2001 the unthinkable happened: her oldest child, 13-year-old Koby, was murdered by terrorists only half a mile from their home in Tekoa. With an amazing gift of eloquence and unshakeable faith in God, Mandell weaves stories of Koby's life together with musings on the powers of healing and religion in order to try to make some sense of the tragedy. Highly recommended for all types of libraries.
New Book Review: Approaching an Auschwitz Survivor
Approaching an Auschwitz Survivor: Holocaust Testimony and its Transformations by Jurgen Matthaus, ed.
Approaching an Auschwitz Survivor takes a unique approach to understanding the Holocaust. Instead of simply compiling stories of many survivors, this book takes the testimony of one survivor, Helen "Zippi" Tichauer, and has it analyzed by Holocaust scholars who have known her personally. Zippi's detailed testimony covers over fifty years, from her time in Auschwitz to meeting and marrying her husband in a DP camp, surviving the war and making a new life for herself in New York, but at the same time making sure that her story would never be forgotten. Five scholars who have interviewed Zippi independently of each other analyze different aspects of her story: order, death, and survival in Auschwitz, comparative humane aspects of camp life, translating and transforming Zippi's first testimony dating back to 1946, postwar Jewish life, and the role of survivors for classroom teaching. These scholars have put together a fascinating read about not only how survivor testimony better helps in the understanding of the Holocaust itself, but delving into the deeper meaning of collecting testimonies and their value in history. Highly recommended for all types of libraries.
Approaching an Auschwitz Survivor takes a unique approach to understanding the Holocaust. Instead of simply compiling stories of many survivors, this book takes the testimony of one survivor, Helen "Zippi" Tichauer, and has it analyzed by Holocaust scholars who have known her personally. Zippi's detailed testimony covers over fifty years, from her time in Auschwitz to meeting and marrying her husband in a DP camp, surviving the war and making a new life for herself in New York, but at the same time making sure that her story would never be forgotten. Five scholars who have interviewed Zippi independently of each other analyze different aspects of her story: order, death, and survival in Auschwitz, comparative humane aspects of camp life, translating and transforming Zippi's first testimony dating back to 1946, postwar Jewish life, and the role of survivors for classroom teaching. These scholars have put together a fascinating read about not only how survivor testimony better helps in the understanding of the Holocaust itself, but delving into the deeper meaning of collecting testimonies and their value in history. Highly recommended for all types of libraries.
New DVD Review: Circumcise Me
Circumcise Me: The Comedy of Yisrael Campbell
Yisrael (born Chris) Campbell has a life story that seems perfect for a stand-up comedian: born in Philadelphia to an ex-nun and a Catholic teacher but still searching for spirituality, Chris captivates audiences with his fascinating journey from alcohol- and drug-addicted Catholic teenager to Jewish adult, going through Reform, Conservative and Orthodox conversions and finally becoming "Yisrael" and moving to Israel. This DVD intersperses bits of Campbell's comedy act with interviews of himself and his father about his upbringing, conversion and aliyah, marriage, parenthood, the second Intifada, and Jewish and Israeli life in general. His humor is universal and is likely to appeal to all types of audiences. A great addition to Jewish collections containing DVDs.
Yisrael (born Chris) Campbell has a life story that seems perfect for a stand-up comedian: born in Philadelphia to an ex-nun and a Catholic teacher but still searching for spirituality, Chris captivates audiences with his fascinating journey from alcohol- and drug-addicted Catholic teenager to Jewish adult, going through Reform, Conservative and Orthodox conversions and finally becoming "Yisrael" and moving to Israel. This DVD intersperses bits of Campbell's comedy act with interviews of himself and his father about his upbringing, conversion and aliyah, marriage, parenthood, the second Intifada, and Jewish and Israeli life in general. His humor is universal and is likely to appeal to all types of audiences. A great addition to Jewish collections containing DVDs.
New Book Review: The Jews of West Point
The Jews of West Point in the Long Gray Line by Lewis L. Zickel
The United States Military Academy at West Point, the institution which trains leaders of the American Army, is not a place one may think has much of a Jewish presence. Small in number (fewer than nine hundred alumni) since West Point's inception in 1802, the now-late Colonel Lewis Zickel writes in the first part of The Jews of West Point in the Long Gray Line about the history of Jews in the military. The impact has been tremendous that Jews have made on the Army as a whole, which is known to insiders as being very accepting of its Jewish members, and being part of a tiny minority has influenced their own religious outlook as well. Zickel tells his own story in the second part of the book, what led him to join the Army at the time of the Korean War and how he helped create the West Point Jewish Chapel. Mostly positive memories from Jewish West Point graduates of their time there make up the final part of the book, relating how the Chapel's activities brought its members together into a close and active group, even after graduation, and played a part in bringing some of them closer to Judaism. West Point graduate Steve Rotkoff summed it up best: "Judaism made me a better officer and the Army made me a better Jew." Highly recommended for all types of libraries.
The United States Military Academy at West Point, the institution which trains leaders of the American Army, is not a place one may think has much of a Jewish presence. Small in number (fewer than nine hundred alumni) since West Point's inception in 1802, the now-late Colonel Lewis Zickel writes in the first part of The Jews of West Point in the Long Gray Line about the history of Jews in the military. The impact has been tremendous that Jews have made on the Army as a whole, which is known to insiders as being very accepting of its Jewish members, and being part of a tiny minority has influenced their own religious outlook as well. Zickel tells his own story in the second part of the book, what led him to join the Army at the time of the Korean War and how he helped create the West Point Jewish Chapel. Mostly positive memories from Jewish West Point graduates of their time there make up the final part of the book, relating how the Chapel's activities brought its members together into a close and active group, even after graduation, and played a part in bringing some of them closer to Judaism. West Point graduate Steve Rotkoff summed it up best: "Judaism made me a better officer and the Army made me a better Jew." Highly recommended for all types of libraries.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
New Book Release: AutoCAD 2010 3D Modeling Essentials
AutoCAD 2010 3D Modeling Essentials by Munir Hamad
AutoCAD® is a premier PC-based drafting tool that has been used by millions of engineers, draftsmen, project managers, and engineering students since its inception in 1982. AutoCAD 2010 3D Modeling Essentials provides new and seasoned users with simple step-by-step procedures on how to create and modify 3D models, set up cameras and lights, assign materials to objects, render, and print. Use the DVD to set up drawing exercises, view all of the book’s figures in full color, and draw with a trial version of AutoCAD 2010. Forty-five exercises throughout the book simulate the creation of a full real-world project from concept to completion, without overlooking any of the fundamental commands and functions of AutoCAD® 2010.
AutoCAD® is a premier PC-based drafting tool that has been used by millions of engineers, draftsmen, project managers, and engineering students since its inception in 1982. AutoCAD 2010 3D Modeling Essentials provides new and seasoned users with simple step-by-step procedures on how to create and modify 3D models, set up cameras and lights, assign materials to objects, render, and print. Use the DVD to set up drawing exercises, view all of the book’s figures in full color, and draw with a trial version of AutoCAD 2010. Forty-five exercises throughout the book simulate the creation of a full real-world project from concept to completion, without overlooking any of the fundamental commands and functions of AutoCAD® 2010.
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