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nanaisha's review against another edition
5.0
" You are very good. A good painter and a good person. Be careful. The world is not nice to good people."
" Then be a great painter Asher Lev, that will be the only justification for all the pain you will cause"
this book was so good at the beginning and it became even better during. when I was on the last page of the book, the only thing I could think of was "wonderful"
this book is quite literally a masterpiece to me. the pacing from the beginning was okay, slowed down and bit and picked up again. there wasn't really a dull moment as the breaks in pace really felt like intermission preparing us for what came next. through out the book, there was this air of tension and suspense that just made me want to keep reading and reading and reading, and when I got to the last lap, I couldn't put the book down because of how I anxious I was to see what happened next. this is an absolute gem of a novel and honestly, books about artists when well done are my faves because anything about a photographer, painter, sculptor? I'm on my knees for it, so I was very happy reading this and I really really enjoyed it.
some of my notes while reading this
he had too much responsibility. he was just 11 and wad getting you're not responsible, other people's feelings. at that age I feel like a child's only responsibility is to be good and do well in school. you shouldn't have to worry so much about everyone else. I feel like that's one of the times in life that humans are actually entitled to be selfish
his parents, dad especially treated him like drawing was a disability instead of camly talking to him and making him learn to control his compulsiveness when it came to drawing
" Then be a great painter Asher Lev, that will be the only justification for all the pain you will cause"
this book was so good at the beginning and it became even better during. when I was on the last page of the book, the only thing I could think of was "wonderful"
this book is quite literally a masterpiece to me. the pacing from the beginning was okay, slowed down and bit and picked up again. there wasn't really a dull moment as the breaks in pace really felt like intermission preparing us for what came next. through out the book, there was this air of tension and suspense that just made me want to keep reading and reading and reading, and when I got to the last lap, I couldn't put the book down because of how I anxious I was to see what happened next. this is an absolute gem of a novel and honestly, books about artists when well done are my faves because anything about a photographer, painter, sculptor? I'm on my knees for it, so I was very happy reading this and I really really enjoyed it.
some of my notes while reading this
he had too much responsibility. he was just 11 and wad getting you're not responsible, other people's feelings. at that age I feel like a child's only responsibility is to be good and do well in school. you shouldn't have to worry so much about everyone else. I feel like that's one of the times in life that humans are actually entitled to be selfish
his parents, dad especially treated him like drawing was a disability instead of camly talking to him and making him learn to control his compulsiveness when it came to drawing
talita_koum's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Interesting and unexpected story revolving around strong family ties/faith tradition. Beginning is delightful, ending is controversial - both hold reader’s attention very well, although quite slow in the middle. Themes of faith/tradition, loyalty, agency and self expression.
michele_arany's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
maxinraye's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
braddy7's review against another edition
4.0
Reading #1 - 2010
I relate to Asher Lev's journey of feeling out of place in my faith community and the struggle to find my identity.
Reading #2-2017
I was entranced again by the struggle and angst. Potok continues to be a favorite author, the way he delves into father/son relationships, religious loyalty, and the tension of the individual within a group. This time of reading I was more aware of the usage of the past tense as Asher Lev tells his story. I also loved the way in which the end mirrors the beginning and his use of the window and keeps coming back to the ending until that becomes the climax of the story.
I relate to Asher Lev's journey of feeling out of place in my faith community and the struggle to find my identity.
Reading #2-2017
I was entranced again by the struggle and angst. Potok continues to be a favorite author, the way he delves into father/son relationships, religious loyalty, and the tension of the individual within a group. This time of reading I was more aware of the usage of the past tense as Asher Lev tells his story. I also loved the way in which the end mirrors the beginning and his use of the window and keeps coming back to the ending until that becomes the climax of the story.
macwar's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
jrfrostreads's review against another edition
5.0
An absolutely wonderful story told against the backdrop of the rich culture of the orthodox Jewish community.
jenmkin's review against another edition
4.0
Another book that sparked my love of characters who are trying to find their identities
villianess's review against another edition
3.0
Asher Lev borders between obsession and passion. I found that although his art got in the way of normal life it wasn't much different than his father’s obsession/passion of traveling for the Rebbe. Both characters took what they did to the extreme. Leaving Revkeh always in the middle, caught between the love she held for both husband and son.
Mothers are always trying to keep the family together, mend the rifts, and waiting patiently for time to heal, but in the end more often than not siding with their partner.
Asher Lev and his family are very focused, not only about what they are doing but also with their religion. That is a driving force that Asher has to define where he fits within that religion. What his father was doing was not for him and yet he did find his calling... it was as an artist.
Given the time frame this book was set in, there were many revolutionary uprisings. People were moving in different directions. Looking back some were good and some were bad, each person had to decide which for themselves.
I could relate with the passion of his work, being so driven to do what you are inspired to do. Sometimes all else has to take a back seat, even family, as hard as that maybe.
My favorite quote:
"Seeds must be sown everywhere. Only some will bear fruit. But there would not be the fruit from the few had the many not been sown."
Mothers are always trying to keep the family together, mend the rifts, and waiting patiently for time to heal, but in the end more often than not siding with their partner.
Asher Lev and his family are very focused, not only about what they are doing but also with their religion. That is a driving force that Asher has to define where he fits within that religion. What his father was doing was not for him and yet he did find his calling... it was as an artist.
Given the time frame this book was set in, there were many revolutionary uprisings. People were moving in different directions. Looking back some were good and some were bad, each person had to decide which for themselves.
I could relate with the passion of his work, being so driven to do what you are inspired to do. Sometimes all else has to take a back seat, even family, as hard as that maybe.
My favorite quote:
"Seeds must be sown everywhere. Only some will bear fruit. But there would not be the fruit from the few had the many not been sown."