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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Fantastic book! The most coherent answer I have yet read to all aesthetic questions, all the more amazing because it doesn’t answer them… it just is the answer, or the art that lives in the book is the answer. Anyhow, it’s about an Orthodox Jew who is born with an incredible, uncontrollable gift for painting. His parents don’t understand this non-Orthodox gift, this “waste of time.” He should be learning Torah & traveling around the world helping other Hasidim, not scribbling on walls & on the pages of sacred books! But the Rabbi eventually realizes that this is Asher’s gift, & sends him to study with a great (but non-religious) artist. Asher’s parents are more and more alienated, especially when he begins painting models in the nude and studying crucifixes—because “I can’t get that expression anywhere else.” Brilliant and heartbreaking.
I didn't like this as much as the Chosen, but it's a good novel.
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Typically, any book on Goodreads with an average rating over 4 stars is a pretty safe bet. However, this novel left me feeling underwhelmed. I did not find Chaim Potok to be a strong writer. First, the narration is redundant and banal. "I did this. Then I went here. It looked like this. Then I went there. And I did that." I lost track of how many times it was mentioned that he used the bathroom in the middle of the night. I also feel like the author had a goal for every character to say the name "Asher" at least once per page.
The book is supposed to be this story of tension between Asher and his parents as he creates art, which is apparently a disgrace to the Jewish tradition. However, there is not enough backstory to fully understand the Jewish beliefs around art. The parents are upset and angry without really knowing the full context. It just seems ridiculous. And due to the redundant narration, the story is devoid of sufficient emotion to make the end really come together in a powerful way.
I wanted to see how it turned out, and I was hoping something would change in the writing style, but I would not be worse off without this book.
The book is supposed to be this story of tension between Asher and his parents as he creates art, which is apparently a disgrace to the Jewish tradition. However, there is not enough backstory to fully understand the Jewish beliefs around art. The parents are upset and angry without really knowing the full context. It just seems ridiculous. And due to the redundant narration, the story is devoid of sufficient emotion to make the end really come together in a powerful way.
I wanted to see how it turned out, and I was hoping something would change in the writing style, but I would not be worse off without this book.
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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.
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
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes