The Golden Age Shtetl: A New History of Jewish Life in East Europe by Yohanan Petrovsky-Shtern

When you think of a shtetl, what comes to mind? For many it might be Anatevka of “Fiddler on the Roof” fame, for others it might be the brief glimpse you get of the Mousekewitz family home at the beginning of “An American Tail” or the shtetl too small for a name in “When the… Continue reading The Golden Age Shtetl: A New History of Jewish Life in East Europe by Yohanan Petrovsky-Shtern

When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb

I blasted through this book mostly in a single night. It is not only incredibly well written, but also a very fun read that is maddeningly hard to put down. The characters are rich and extremely memorable and the plot never wavers even when there are multiple subplots to intertwine, but let’s back up a… Continue reading When the Angels Left the Old Country by Sacha Lamb

Solomon Gursky Was Here by Mordecai Richler

“Solomon Gursky” is an unexpectedly weird book, but one I would highly recommend to anyone with a taste for unique Franklin expedition fiction. As a novel, “Solomon Gursky” is part Franklin mystery, part Jewish family drama, and part critique of capitalist dynasty families. A lot of effort has been put into portraying the expedition accurately… Continue reading Solomon Gursky Was Here by Mordecai Richler

Uncommon Charm by Emily Bergslien & Kat Weaver

I knew I had to read “Uncommon Charm” the moment I saw it. For one, it’s a set in the 1920s, a fantastic era; two, there is a Jewish character; three, it was a gothic comedy that promised ghosts; and four, the cover art is by one of my all time favorite artists. I didn’t… Continue reading Uncommon Charm by Emily Bergslien & Kat Weaver

The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe

“The Memory Librarian” is a fantastic dive back into the world of Janelle Monáe’s 2018 concept album “Dirty Computer.” In addition to giving us more of Jane, Zen and Ché, we get to see what the rest of the world is like, from impoverished children to the people at the very top who monitor society.… Continue reading The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe

Not a lot of Reasons to Sing, but Enough by Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre

What can artists do in difficult times? That is the question this book grapples with.  Dealing with challenging topics through allegory is a very hit or miss thing, with misses more likely than hits in my experience as a long time X-Men fan. Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre, on the other hand, hits and hits hard.… Continue reading Not a lot of Reasons to Sing, but Enough by Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Telling me something is gay historical fantasy is like, the fastest way to get my attention when it comes to getting me to read a book. I am gay, I love historical fiction, I love fantasy and the supernatural. Which is to say, when the English translation of “Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation”—“Mo Dao Zu Shi”… Continue reading Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski

So, you’ve watched “The Witcher” on Netflix and are wondering if it’s worth getting into the books. In my humble opinion, yes, yes it is. Now, you shouldn’t go in expecting to read exactly what you watched. That sort of thinking makes no one happy. My recommendation, having only read “The Last Wish” thus far,… Continue reading The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski