great jewish books
Joseph Roth’s “Job”: An Interrogation of Jewish Suffering
In "Job," Roth remains insistent in his belief in the possibility of deliverance.
Ben Lerner’s “10:04:” A Look at a Modern Jewish Life
Ben Lerner's "10:04" explores contemporary struggles.
W. G. Sebald’s “Austerlitz:” A Search for Jewish Roots After the Holocaust
In "Austerlitz," W. G. Sebald explores European Jewishness in the post-Holocaust era.
Orly Castel-Bloom’s ‘Dolly City:’ A Sharp-Witted Look at Israeli Society
Orly Castel-Bloom's novel is not for the faint of heart.
Excerpt: ‘Dolly City’ by Orly Castel-Bloom (1992)
The first pages of this novel introduce its terrifying protagonist.
Philip Roth’s “The Counterlife:” A Five-Part Adventure
Philip Roth's "The Counterlife" explores contradictory realities through its protagonist, Nathan Zuckerman.
Excerpt: “King of the Jews” by Leslie Epstein (1979)
Leslie Epstein's controversial novel explores Jewish power dynamics in the Lodz Ghetto.
Vasily Grossman’s “Life and Fate:” A Journalist’s Retelling of the Horrors of World War II
"Life and Fate" brings the reader to World War II-era Russia, where the novel was written.
Excerpt: Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman (1960)
Vassily Grossman's "Life and Fate" was smuggled out of Stalinist Russia, where it takes place.
Bernard Malamud’s “The Assistant:” A Jewish Struggle for an Ethical Life
Bernard Malamud's "The Assistant" explores Jewish identity in Depression-era Brooklyn.