My Name is Asher Lev

Title: My Name is Asher Lev
Author: Chaim Potok
Genre: fiction
Pages: 384
Rating (out of 5 stars): *****
Reviewed by: Jenn
Description: Asher Lev is a Jewish boy in Brooklyn who has an incredible gift for art. Unfortunately, in his culture, artistic talent is viewed as futile at best and a curse from the "other side" at worst. His father is a very observant and dedicated Jew, and he especially finds Asher's "gift" revolting. Asher then has to struggle between his art and his religion, and he feels very strong pulls from both sides of the battle.
Thoughts: This is probably the most compelling book I have read in over a year. I felt helplessly drawn to it, almost like Asher is helplessly drawn to his art. It provides a glimpse into the life of a real artist who honestly can't help but be true to the art that is crying out from within him, despite traditions he might break and people he might hurt. For me, it was an excellent dialogue about the relationship between religion and any sort of passion (I have often wondered about similar conflicts, e.g. Can Mormonism and Thoreau's transcendentalism mesh?). It definitely had me torn. I read, eagerly hoping that Asher would be able to reconcile the dichotomy, not only for his sake but for my own peace of mind as well. The book also provided an interesting perspective on family, Christianity, and friendship.
Disclaimer: This book has some discussion about painting nudes. In my opinion, it was done tastefully enough, but don't say I didn't warn you. Nothing else is offensive.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Title: For Whom the Bell Tolls
Author: Ernest Hemingway
Genre: War/Classic/"Lost Generation"
Pages: 495
Rating (out of 5 stars): ****
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Robert Jordan is an American expatriate fighting in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) for the Republicans (the rebels attempting to overtake the government). For Whom the Bell Tolls follows Jordan for 4 days behind enemy lines as he works with a guerilla band to blow a bridge. The plot explores the tensions that war creates between loyalty, courage, fear, love, and friendship.
Thoughts: Hemingway is definitely on my list of top 5 writers, so I was bound to like this book from the first. If you are looking for an introduction to Hemingway, I'd suggest A Farewell to Arms over For Whom the Bell Tolls, but that is mostly because A Farewell to Arms is more universal in its appeal. For Whom the Bell Tolls is harsh and frank, which is what I most like about Hemingway in general. I was impressed with how the plot deals with tough issues (such as how loyal a soldier must be to The Cause) through normal conversation and the stream-of-consciousness thoughts running through the character's minds. Another aspect of the book that I thoroughly enjoyed was how Hemingway writes in English but makes the spoken sentences Spanish-sounding. Essentially, he translates the Spanish directly word for word rather than for meaning, adding a realistic foreign flavor to the book.
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, this book deserves a strong caution. It is a war book, and so there is a fair amount of ruthless gore involved. There is also some swearing (more if you know Spanish--Hemingway doesn't translate most of the words). Lastly, there are a few intimate scenes, which, in my opinion, Hemingway deals with delicately enough not to be offensive.

Seedfolks

Title: Seedfolks
Author: Paul Fleischman
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 69
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***1/2
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: This novella tells the story of how a garden in the middle of Cleveland brings together people of all races and ages. Each of the thirteen chapters is written in the voice of a different person who happens upon the garden.
Thoughts: If you ever want a good, short dose of goodness in literature form, pick this book up. I highly recommend it. Jenn read it to her seventh graders, so it is written on their level, but I found the story compelling, moral, and fun all at the same time. You have to admire Fleischman's ability to tell each character's story within the larger story of the garden. I think that it's a great piece of prose.
Disclaimer: Of course, this book is utterly clean. :)

Letters to a Young Poet

Title: Letters to a Young Poet
Author: Rainer Maria Rilke
Genre: Philosophy
Pages: 109
Rating (out of 5 stars): **1/2
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: During 1903, Rilke had some correspondence with a young poet who was attending university and wanted advice on how to be a good poet. The book has ten letters written by Rilke with advice on how to be an artist and find inner truth.
Thoughts: If you know much about poetry, you've probably run across Rilke sometime. If you don't (like me), you might look him up here. Many say he is the greatest German-language poet of the 20th century. This very short book has his advice on how to discover that talent within yourself to write or create other forms of art. I found the book at times too abstract for me to understand, but there were certain parts that certainly resonated with me very much. It was definitely a worthwhile read, although I'm not a deep enough person to understand all of what it was about. The best quote: "The point is, to live everything."
Disclaimer: None.

On the Street Where You Live

Title: On the Street Where You Live
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Genre: Mystery
Pages: 432
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Emily Graham justed moved to Spring Lake, NJ from upstate New York where she had been victimized by a stalker. She was looking forward to being able to relax in her new home, which just happened to be her great-great grandmother's. But, no sooner does she arrive than she begins receiving more scary letters and photographs. She soon learns that a murder is about to take place and she must stop it!
Thoughts: While Jenn was teaching a unit on mystery novels to her 7th graders last year I checked this book out on CD mostly because I'd heard of Mary Higgins Clark but had never read any of her novels. I was not at all disappointed in this book, and I think Clark justly has a good reputation. Almost every character in the book had a motive to commit the murder, and I was very drawn into the plot's twists and turns. By the end of the book I was completely engrossed in the mystery, and was sufficiently surprised at the outcome. At times I felt that the plot could have moved a bit faster, but overall I really enjoyed it.
Disclaimer: As with most murder mysteries, there is a bit of gore, but nothing more.