soul food good reading relax BOOK CLUBS

THE JOYS OF READING.

There is nothing in the world like a good book, a few hours and silence around you. I love the feeling that there is the book and myself..........no phone..........no door.........no cooking on the stove.......just the book in my hands.
I guess the old school love the book, the paper, the type of printing and the simple joy of reading from the page. Our kids seem just as at home on the web, with an electronic book and the constant screen. I personally prefer the choice of where to sit and be comfortable for a few hours.


I always enjoy the Book Club and the fact that all of us read different books,If we read the same one, we seem to extract and find a different meaning to the same story. The books that relate to a culture where we grew up, or the work we did, the life style we lived, our religion and upbringing, all influence what we glean from the book.
Some people like history, others fantasy, science fiction or just a silly romance with all the sentiments and clichés built in..

HERE ARE SOME OF THE BOOKS I DISCUSSED AT A RECENT BOOK TALK. THEY SEEM TO COVER THE GLOBE AND YOU WILL ENJOY READING THEM.

"UNCLE PERETZ TAKES OFF'' by YAACOV SHABTAI.
Here is a collection of short stories written by a master of Yiddish Literature. As we celebrate the 100th Birthday of Tel Aviv, sit down and enjoy a journey back in time, when the world seemed smaller.

"TOUCH THE WATER, TOUCH THE WIND" BY AMOS OZ.
This is an old book, written when Amos Oz was half his age. This is Amos Oz week in Israel. As our wonderful writer turned seventy, we celebrate the amazing books he has written. We have had the joy of reading them all. Try to find this one, it is written in 1975 and tells the story of Pomeranz, who comes to live in his homeland. It is told with sensitivity, and deep understanding of the man and his dreams. The descriptions of early Tiberius and the early days in Israel are wonderful.

'THE ALMOND PICKERS'' by SIMONETTA AGUELLO HORNBY.
This is set in Sicily in the sixties. It is a thriller, a family saga and story that you will love.


'WATER FOR ELEPHANTS' BY SARAH GRUEN.
Jacob Janowski is in a retirement home. He tells his fascinating story of his life in a circus. A well written story of a life so different to the ordinary man.

'THE PIGEON AND THE BOY' BY MEIR SHALEV.
A moshav in 1948 and here the masterly story teller takes us into a world of beauty, love, dedication and written with the ambience and atmosphere jumping off the pages. One of the most wonderful books I have read lately.

''THE WHITE TIGER' BY ARAVIND ADIGA .
This is an amazing story set in Delhi. The tale of different class systems, corruption, bribery, survival, pursuit of wealth and all in all a very clear picture of a different people. While on the subject of India, the next book is by the author of the book QUESTION AND ANSWER , that became the film "SLUM DOG BILLIONAIRE.'
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'SIX SUSPECTS' BY VIKAS SWARUP.

The story of Vivek Rai, the playboy son of the Home Minister, who murdered Ruby, because she refused to serve him a drink in a trendy restaurant. In New Delhi.

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'SHADOW OF THE WIND' BY CARLOS RUIZ ZAFON.

Barcelona in 1945 Intrigue, mystery ….a must to read.

'ALI AND NINO' AND' THE ORIENTALIST'

These two are linked. 'ALI AND NINO' was written by Kurban Said. The story is in Azerbaijan. It is a love story of a Muslim man and a Christian Georgian girl. The descriptions of the towns, desert, cultural differences, eating and living and traditions, are fascinating reading. The author is really a Jew…………………….and to know the full tale of the mystery you have to read,

'THE ORIENTALIST" BY TOM REISS.
Here Tom Reiss tells us the background of Kurban Said, who he really was, what he did
,how he lived and wrote his stories. I cannot reveal more, read and enjoy the journey.


'CODE RED IRAN" BY SYDNEY CHASKELSON.
This by Sydney Chaskelson and is a thriller that you will enjoy.
Syd comes from Johannesburg and Israel. Israel features a great deal in the book

'THE SPACE BETWEEN US' by THRITY UMTIGAR.
The setting is Bombay A story of compassion , of two woman, who are forced to make difficult choices. The life of the priviledged is harshly measured against the life of the powerless.




HAVE A GREAT SUMMER AND THE PLEASURE OF A GOOD BOOK TO READ.


LOVE AND LIGHT , RONA