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kstephensreads's review
This was a beautiful coming of age story- insightful and poignant. The backdrop of struggles among American Jewish communities during and following WWII was fascinating, as well.
ehayden6's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ellyeah23's review
3.0
At first I wasn't excited to read The Chosen, but once I began the book I really enjoyed it!I now have a better understanding of the Jewish culture and customs.I loved the symbolism in the book, and the many meanings within simple quotes. I overall really enjoyed The Chosen!
cdjdhj's review
3.0
I had very high expectations for this book that several people told me they liked. I did not connect with this book at all, until the very end, when I saw similarities between one of the main characters and one of my own children. I have read a couple of books about Judaism, but didn't have near enough background or historical knowledge about Judaism, different Jewish Sects (like Hasidim) or Zionism to really get into this book. I found much of the book tedious and boring, although there were some interesting parts and I certainly did learn some things I didn't know before.
mandyfish's review against another edition
5.0
I read this when I was an adolescent, but the story of the friendship and the religious differences is something that has stayed with me as an adult. It really is an unforgettable story, and I was fascinated to learn about the world of the Hasidic jews and of the divisive nature of the establishment of Isreal.
jakub_oliver's review against another edition
emotional
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
From my Progressive Jewish background, I have long had a deep dislike for the Hasidic and Haredi Jewish communities. I feel there are many valid reasons to feel this way: their oppression of women, their cult-like separation from normal society, the fact that in Israel they form an impenetrable, cancerous voting bloc that always advocates for only the most despicably extremist legislation, and all underscored by an exclusivist, snobby attitude that they, and they alone, follow the sole correct type of Judaism. Moses, after all, famously wore a button-up white shirt and a fedora.
As it turns out, I share this attitude with Reuven Malther, the protagonist of Chaim Potok's The Chosen. The baseball match that opens the novel takes place between Reuven's Modern Orthodox Jewish school, and a Hasidic school, and (as the blurb of my edition says), "nearly becomes a religious war" as the Hassids call Reuven and his friends apikorsim, a derogatory term for a Jew that does not follow the commandments. But then, Reuven and Danny Saunders, the especially aggressive batsman of the Hasidic team, unexpectedly become friends. The way Potok paints their friendship is beautiful, and Danny Saunders is such a real and complex character. Over the course of the book, Reuven never entirely loses his distaste for Hasidism (and neither did I), but Danny, his Father the Hasidic Rebbe, and his followers are beautifully humanized to him and to the reader. Compared to, say, Netflix's Unorthodox, this felt like a much more nuanced and human portrayal of the Hasidic Jewish Community.
The writing style is very straightforward, and this irked me a little sometimes (I want to see the conversations, not just have them reported back to me!) But this is clearly a classic for a reason. (And I will forever be in awe of how Potok managed to make Talmud study seem cool and exciting.)
As it turns out, I share this attitude with Reuven Malther, the protagonist of Chaim Potok's The Chosen. The baseball match that opens the novel takes place between Reuven's Modern Orthodox Jewish school, and a Hasidic school, and (as the blurb of my edition says), "nearly becomes a religious war" as the Hassids call Reuven and his friends apikorsim, a derogatory term for a Jew that does not follow the commandments. But then, Reuven and Danny Saunders, the especially aggressive batsman of the Hasidic team, unexpectedly become friends. The way Potok paints their friendship is beautiful, and Danny Saunders is such a real and complex character. Over the course of the book, Reuven never entirely loses his distaste for Hasidism (and neither did I), but Danny, his Father the Hasidic Rebbe, and his followers are beautifully humanized to him and to the reader. Compared to, say, Netflix's Unorthodox, this felt like a much more nuanced and human portrayal of the Hasidic Jewish Community.
The writing style is very straightforward, and this irked me a little sometimes (I want to see the conversations, not just have them reported back to me!) But this is clearly a classic for a reason. (And I will forever be in awe of how Potok managed to make Talmud study seem cool and exciting.)
prettyprincesscutie's review against another edition
emotional
informative
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? Yes
3.5
westceno's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
5.0