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Reviews tagging 'Violence'
People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present by Dara Horn
12 reviews
earthie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
I truly found this book both enlightening and sobering at once. It made me feel more connected to my feelings of today, as well as my relationship with my past - my intergenerational past filled with heartbreaking tragedy and resilient community.
This book put words to the things that I have been feeling and trying to not feel all at once. It made me feel a far-distant home and as I finish this book in the evening of Seattle, I wonder about those across the world waking as I say the evening shema.
This is a book I would recommend to everyone with the dad awareness that those whom most need to read it never will.
The audiobook I found to be phenomenal, but I could see how it would be difficult to physically read as I found myself drifting off at times in my own thoughts, including investigating name changes in my own family history.
I think the reviews that accuse the author of her bias and not understanding the placement of Jews from an intersectional perspective are being overly critical of a piece of literature in a way that, ironically, would not (and has not) been done by writers of other identities. See, Barbara Smith literally stating that she is an antisemite in "Yours in Struggle" (though then going on to praise Jewish feminism's position: supporting Israel & criticizing it's government publicly and loudly). Horn does, in fact, ignore some aspects of intersectionality -- but this is a book of short essays, not a place where one can have nuance for every single point of argument. To address every single potential point or counter-argument would result not in a book of short essays, but a Talmudic conversation of conversations -- perhaps one we should have, but with respect for one another and a base understanding that no one is supportive of killing children (which Horn also addresses this point, in how she must caveat anything she says to ensure folk do not assume her evil while others are given the benefit of the doubt in not being evil).
The argument that whiteness is ignored, I would partially agree on -- in the sense that Horn does not go out of her way to discuss race (even when talking about Chinese Jews). She focuses more on the religious aspect of Judaism and physical markers of the religion, rather than physically unchangeable markers of Judaism - what some of the critics would consider as a stereotypical Long Island Jew who benefits from certain privileges based on being white-passing, versus the Ethiopian Jews and other MENA Jews that the author talks about, who I would guess would not benefit from that same white privilege the critics so gracefully blanket all Jews with. And lastly, if your critique of this book includes your inability to even finish a book (or get more than a chapter in) before leaving a review calling the author a dirty Zionist, you might want to take a look at a mirror about your own antisemitic beliefs and try to comprehend the views and points of others without aligning every piece of media you read with whatever single hot-button issue it is that today is disturbing.
I went to the comments section filled with dread and was met with sorrow from both those failing to see the point and from those seeing the point and feeling the same communal sadness.
This book put words to the things that I have been feeling and trying to not feel all at once. It made me feel a far-distant home and as I finish this book in the evening of Seattle, I wonder about those across the world waking as I say the evening shema.
This is a book I would recommend to everyone with the dad awareness that those whom most need to read it never will.
The audiobook I found to be phenomenal, but I could see how it would be difficult to physically read as I found myself drifting off at times in my own thoughts, including investigating name changes in my own family history.
I think the reviews that accuse the author of her bias and not understanding the placement of Jews from an intersectional perspective are being overly critical of a piece of literature in a way that, ironically, would not (and has not) been done by writers of other identities. See, Barbara Smith literally stating that she is an antisemite in "Yours in Struggle" (though then going on to praise Jewish feminism's position: supporting Israel & criticizing it's government publicly and loudly). Horn does, in fact, ignore some aspects of intersectionality -- but this is a book of short essays, not a place where one can have nuance for every single point of argument. To address every single potential point or counter-argument would result not in a book of short essays, but a Talmudic conversation of conversations -- perhaps one we should have, but with respect for one another and a base understanding that no one is supportive of killing children (which Horn also addresses this point, in how she must caveat anything she says to ensure folk do not assume her evil while others are given the benefit of the doubt in not being evil).
The argument that whiteness is ignored, I would partially agree on -- in the sense that Horn does not go out of her way to discuss race (even when talking about Chinese Jews). She focuses more on the religious aspect of Judaism and physical markers of the religion, rather than physically unchangeable markers of Judaism - what some of the critics would consider as a stereotypical Long Island Jew who benefits from certain privileges based on being white-passing, versus the Ethiopian Jews and other MENA Jews that the author talks about, who I would guess would not benefit from that same white privilege the critics so gracefully blanket all Jews with. And lastly, if your critique of this book includes your inability to even finish a book (or get more than a chapter in) before leaving a review calling the author a dirty Zionist, you might want to take a look at a mirror about your own antisemitic beliefs and try to comprehend the views and points of others without aligning every piece of media you read with whatever single hot-button issue it is that today is disturbing.
I went to the comments section filled with dread and was met with sorrow from both those failing to see the point and from those seeing the point and feeling the same communal sadness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Genocide, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Xenophobia, Murder, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse, Torture, Trafficking, Child death, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Deportation, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Mass/school shootings, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, War, Slavery, and Violence
Minor: Suicide and Excrement
jkamler's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Gun violence, Antisemitism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Mass/school shootings
unsuccessfulbookclub's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Genocide, Murder, Violence, Xenophobia, War, Religious bigotry, Hate crime, Grief, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
leandrathetbrzero's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Looking for a book to read for Jewish American Heritage Month?
↓ This book inspires me to read ↓
1. The Five Books of Miriam: A Woman’s Commentary on the Torah by Ellen Frankel
2. If All The Seas Were Ink: A Memoir by Ilana Kurshan
3. Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor by Yossi Klein Halevi
Dara Horn encourages her readers to reflect on their own knowledge and preconceived notions about Judaism and historical antisemitism. Through a mixture of personal stories, research, and collected interviews, she investigates why oppression and violence toward Jews makes such a compelling, marketable narrative to non-Jewish populations. A moving, informative read, People Love Dead Jews searches for the answers to modern society’s obsession with the death of Jews.
My advice is for you to read the first chapter, which focuses on Anne Frank, everyone’s “second favorite dead Jew” as described by Horn and the person whose life on which many of us (particularly Americans) base our understanding of Jews. That chapter will convince you to read the rest and expand your knowledge about the historical oppression of Jewish people. Horn travels the world both physically and through her research of primary documents and interviews of people from various backgrounds. I feel equally more informed and motivated to keep educating myself on Jewish and Jewish American heritage. I was moved to tears multiple times, and I cannot express how grateful I am that my library had a copy of this book in its collection. I can assure you that I will be adding it as a recommendation in the Staff Picks section as often as I can!
See more on this title and others at my booktube
↓ This book inspires me to read ↓
1. The Five Books of Miriam: A Woman’s Commentary on the Torah by Ellen Frankel
2. If All The Seas Were Ink: A Memoir by Ilana Kurshan
3. Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor by Yossi Klein Halevi
Dara Horn encourages her readers to reflect on their own knowledge and preconceived notions about Judaism and historical antisemitism. Through a mixture of personal stories, research, and collected interviews, she investigates why oppression and violence toward Jews makes such a compelling, marketable narrative to non-Jewish populations. A moving, informative read, People Love Dead Jews searches for the answers to modern society’s obsession with the death of Jews.
My advice is for you to read the first chapter, which focuses on Anne Frank, everyone’s “second favorite dead Jew” as described by Horn and the person whose life on which many of us (particularly Americans) base our understanding of Jews. That chapter will convince you to read the rest and expand your knowledge about the historical oppression of Jewish people. Horn travels the world both physically and through her research of primary documents and interviews of people from various backgrounds. I feel equally more informed and motivated to keep educating myself on Jewish and Jewish American heritage. I was moved to tears multiple times, and I cannot express how grateful I am that my library had a copy of this book in its collection. I can assure you that I will be adding it as a recommendation in the Staff Picks section as often as I can!
See more on this title and others at my booktube
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Genocide, Violence, and Hate crime
razzberry_pi's review
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
2.25
Some of the chapters, specifically "Everyone's (Second) Favourite Dead Jew", "On Rescuing Jews and Others", and "Dead American Jews, Part Three: Turning the Page" were interesting and well researched explanations of the Christian obsession with dead jews.
However, a large majority of the chapters are tainted by the authors very clear pro-Israel feelings. On multiple occasions she conflates antisemitism and antizionism, including comparing the BDS movement to Nazi Germany while refusing to make the same comparison with mass shooters. Additionally, the author makes some shitty comments less/dif erently observant jews, impling that they are essentially collaborators with antisemites and degrading yhe the jewish people.
However, a large majority of the chapters are tainted by the authors very clear pro-Israel feelings. On multiple occasions she conflates antisemitism and antizionism, including comparing the BDS movement to Nazi Germany while refusing to make the same comparison with mass shooters. Additionally, the author makes some shitty comments less/dif erently observant jews, impling that they are essentially collaborators with antisemites and degrading yhe the jewish people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Antisemitism, Genocide, Torture, and Gun violence
Moderate: Sexism, Hate crime, Mass/school shootings, Xenophobia, and War
emzconklin's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.5
“Sometimes your body is someone else’s haunted house.” From the very first line, this book of essays gets to the heart of what it is like to live in a world that doesn’t treasure lives of Jews until they’re gone, unless they’re teaching us something. And even then, treasure isn’t exactly what we’re doing.
Antisemitism is on the upswing in the present year of 2023 and it’s never exactly been low. This book remains all too necessary. It challenged me in a lot of ways; I hope everyone reads it and engages with those challenges.
Antisemitism is on the upswing in the present year of 2023 and it’s never exactly been low. This book remains all too necessary. It challenged me in a lot of ways; I hope everyone reads it and engages with those challenges.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism and Murder
Moderate: Violence and Gun violence
lcdavenport's review against another edition
3.5
I will admit, I should've probably read the synopsis of this better than I had. I thoroughly enjoyed Horn's first chapter, regarding how people talk about Anne Frank. I don't think enough people are willing to say that the reason Anne says that she still believes there are good people is because she hadn't yet met the people who would murder her. I wish that Horn had maybe talked more about why people like the concept of Jews more than they like the existence of Jews, if that makes sense.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Hate crime, Gun violence, Antisemitism, Murder, and Violence
leslie_overbookedsocialworker's review
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Genocide, Violence, Death, Hate crime, Deportation, Gaslighting, and Grief
ecn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, and War
ashleysimon's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Religious bigotry, and Violence