A Narrow Bridge by J.J. Gesher, Prospect Park Books, © 2016; ISBN 9781938-849824; 278 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – This novel tells of the aftermath of a fictional terrorist bus bombing in Brooklyn that takes the lives of Jacob’s young family. Jacob, a young cantor and teacher in an Orthodox shul, witnessed […]
Kindness knows no race Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. HarrisonThe Goldfinch by Donna Tratt; Little, Brown; © 2013 By Dorothea Shefer MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — I finished ploughing through this tome and had to immediately go back and read the first few pages, as the book starts by plunging the reader into a strange, surrealistic almost nightmarish scenario of a person (man? woman?) constrained
A novel both brilliant and tedious Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Dorothea Shefer-VansonLA JOLLA, California (Press Release) — One theme of the upcoming San Diego Jewish Book Fair will be the world of entertainment. Here are some highlights: Saturday, October 29 at 7:00 pm Rich Cohen The Sun & the Moon & the Rolling Stones This book is the journey of the Rolling Stones from a guy
Show Biz one theme of upcoming Jewish book fair Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, San Diego County
Nine Essential Things I’ve Learned About Life by Harold S. Kushner; Anchor Books (c) 2015; IBSN 9780804-173452; 171 pages, $15. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO — Rabbi Harold Kushner, famous since he wrote When Bad Things Happen to Good People, has a personal ritual which I found fascinating. “Before I sit down to write,
Kushner offers mixture of theology, practical advice Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish ReligionSAN DIEGO — Here are some of the events at the upcoming San Diego Jewish Book Fair that readers may wish to note. All these events will be held at the Lawrence Family JCC, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. Tuesday, November 1 10:00am Yoga/Meditation with Rabbi Benjamin Shalva Spiritual Cross Training: Searching Through Silence, Stretch, and
Some noteworthy SD Jewish Book Fair events Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, San Diego Calendar
American Trivia: What We All Should Know About U.S. History, Culture & Geography by Richard Lederer and Caroline McCullagh; Gibbs Smith Publisher; © 2012; ISBN 9781423-622772; 144 pages, including some silly riddles at the end; $9.99 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Abe and Bea Goldberg attended an event at which co-author Richard Lederer
Jews well represented in volume on American trivia Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison
Chasing Dreams and Flies: A Tragicomedy of Life in France by Dorothea Shefer-Vanson; © 2016, books on Kindle; 253 pages. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Dorothea Shefer-Vanson is an author and writer whose freelance stories are regularly published by San Diego Jewish World, among other publications. Normally she and her husband Yigal reside in
Novel tells of British expats in rural France Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Dorothea Shefer-VansonLA JOLLA, California (Press Release) – San Diego’s internationally recognized San Diego Jewish Book Fair celebrates its 22nd year with an intriguing mix of more than 30 leading authors in their fields including: Jennifer Weiner, Rich Cohen, Shep Gordon, Samuel M. Katz, Todd Buchholz, Dov Waxman, Daniel Oppenheimer, Nina Tassler, Peter Himmelman and Fred Kaplan.
Authors galore at SD Jewish Book Fair Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, San Diego Calendar
Cruel Beautiful World by Caroline Leavitt; Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill; © 2016; ISBN9781616-203634; 354 pages; $26.95 By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – This is a story of two sisters and their “aunt” who are thrown together after the parents of the two sisters are killed in a car crash. When the younger sister,
Novel portrays loves of a family of three women Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. HarrisonJiang Chengbo looks at an ancient book in his bookstore(R). Two customers pick up books in Jiang’s bookstore (L). [Photo/Yangtze Evening News] A 90-year-old man who runs a 117-year-old antique bookstore inherited from his grandfather has become an internet celebrity, Yangtze Evening News reported. Jiang Chengbo, the owner and third generation successor of the bookstore,
90-yr-old becomes internet celebrity for running 117-year-old bookstore Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, InternationalNehemiah: Statesman and Sage by Dov S. Zakheim, Maggid Books., New Milfored, CT, ©2016, ISBN 978-1-59264-369-1, p. 246, $27.95 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D. WINCHESTER, California – In 586 BCE, Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, overlooking the city of Jerusalem, capital of the Judean monarchy, standing on Mt. Scopus, the present home of the Hebrew University, watched as his
Nehemiah, a builder with political savvy Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Fred Reiss, EdD, Jewish History, Jewish Religion
The Wondering Jew: My Journey into Judaism by Ellen Brazer; TCJ Publishing; ISBN 9780693-739945; 188 pages including book club questions, $12.95. By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO – Novelist Ellen Brazer (Clouds Across the Sun; So It Was Written; Hearts of Fire) has authored a primer on the Jewish religion, perhaps as much for her
A Jewish primer laced with spiritual encounters Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish Religion
Fascinating: The Life of Leonard Nimoy by Richard Michelson, illustrated by Edel Rodriguez; Alfred E. Knopf publisher; ISBN 9781101-933329; 28 pages, including author’s note, $17.99. SAN DIEGO – With all the ongoing celebrations of Star Trek’s 50th anniversary, the youngsters in your life may be wondering what all the hoopla is about. This short well-illustrated
A Leonard Nimoy biography for kids Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
LA JOLLA, California (Press Release) – To launch San Diego’s 22nd Annual San Diego Jewish Book Fair, a preview event will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, October 20 with #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner, author of soon-to-be-released, Hungry Heart: Adventures in Life, Love, and Writing. The event will be held at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center in
Author Jennifer Weiner to launch S.D. Jewish Book Fair Read More »
Books, Poetry & Short Stories, San Diego Calendar