Reviews

The Gift of Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

bobbo49's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 The second part of Asher Lev's life and struggle with the conflicts among family, religion and artistic vision. I cannot imagine that Potok didn't intend a third, and final, volume, except by accepting that there is no true path to reconciliation for the disparate loves of Asher's life. Gripping, powerful, cause for reflection on the struggles and joys of life. 

quitejessi's review

4.0

A worthy sequel to The Gift of Asher Lev. This book feels less fleshed out than the first - the presence of pivotal characters and symbolism were missing from this one. Asher still grapples with the intersection of art and religion, and much of the novel is devoted to this idea. However, the novels circles around a much smaller point: Asher's family. Readers of the first novel will enjoy seeing the dynamics between Asher and his parents. It could stand alone, but it is better with the background of the first. However,

Spoiler

the novel ends with a whisper, not a bang. The end feels unfulfilling, but it also makes sense for the characters. I wanted Asher to be able to make art in Brooklyn, where his family lives, but he, the exiled artist, is separated from his religion and his family once again at the end of this novel.

chichi27's review

4.0

The sequel to My Name is Asher Lev, this book picks up with Asher as a grown man with a wife and two kids. His uncle just passed away, and he stuggles more with his faith, family, and profession as an artist. It was certainly well written, it just lacked the direction of the first book.

storymi's review against another edition

2.0

Het was niet vervelend om te lezen, maar ik was er ook niet helemaal bij of zo. De emoties en gebeurtenissen zitten verweven tussen uitgebreid beschreven alledaagse gebeurtenissen. Ik las veel stukken een beetje op de automatische piloot.
Af en toe mooie quotes.

Spoiler

Het einde was droevig en werd ergens nog droeviger toen ik ineens de dubbele betekenis van de titel begreep. Na een tijdje nadenken vond ik hem ook niet nodig. Ik snapte Asjer Lev niet helemaal, volgens mij had de keuze minder drastisch gekund.

mia_angeline's review

5.0

Much slower than the first but still really good. I like what the title does now that I’ve finished. 

ricefun's review

5.0

This book is so great that it makes it difficult to move onto any other reading, I just want to savor it. I appreciate the artistry of writing, and the visual arts that went into this book.

patlo's review

5.0

I love the world and tensions that Chaim Potok draws me into. This story continues with the world of the previous book My Name is Asher Lev, twenty years later. Asher Lev is married and has a daughter and a son, is living in exile from the Brooklyn Ladover community in the south of France. He's experiencing artistic tension after some harsh criticism at his last show. When his beloved uncle dies, he and his wife and children return to Brooklyn for the mourning.

That is the stage set for The Gift of... On it plays out similar themes to the prior book, plus artistic integrity, the difficult choices of a husband and father and son and disgraced member of community. Potok creates a world so real that I wanted to visit the Ladover in Brooklyn, and especially to see Lev's paintings and drawings and am disappointed that I cannot.

The two novels (and I am now convinced that they both must be read; do not stop with the first) draw the reader deeply into questions of community and tradition, creativity and identity.

A small note. After completing the first novel, I really wanted to dive more deeply into art appreciation (the first novel in particular teases the reader through an art history with just enough touchpoints so as to be tantalizing). After completing the second, I purchased family membership in my city's art museum so that we can go visit and learn.

janadykstra's review

4.0

Not quite sure how i feel about this book. I enjoyed it Hence the 4 stars, but it is just so melancholy like no one is ever happy or has any joy. I’m curious if that is just how Potok writes or if that is truly the atmosphere of the culture he writes about. Nevertheless, it was another beautiful read where i could feel Asher lev even though there is no true description of what i should be feeling.

pakastajaelvi's review against another edition

3.0

I wasn't that happy with the ending, the book seemed to dry out towards the end. Also what happened troubled me a little. Anyhow I still liked the book and how it depicts life in religious Jewish community. I do realize it's fiction but the life in the Ladover community in the book seems realistically drawn.

als_adventures's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Not as good as the first. Some very beautiful passages and themes of family and the next generation. This is less about art, and more about the choices we have to make. Perhaps I should reread this one when I have more choices to make.