book review | Heidi Slowinski

Jewish Voices on Autism

Posted on April 18, 2022 Leave a Comment

According to the CDC 1% of the world’s population, or about seventy-five million people has an autism spectrum disorder. In honor of Autism Awareness Month, I’ve compiled a list of books featuring Jewish writers and Jewish characters featuring people and characters impacted by autism. This is the fourth installment in my monthly series, celebrating the […]

[Book Review] Ten Years Gone by Jonathan Dunsky

Posted on April 13, 2022 Leave a Comment

By Jonathan Dunsky A survivor of the Shoah, Adam Lapid immigrated to Israel, working as a private detective. Tasked with a seemingly hopeless case, Lapid has a soft spot for a mother seeking her missing son. He finds himself attempting to untangle a web of secrets, lies, and deception that could put him in mortal […]

March 2022 Wrap Up

Posted on April 6, 2022 Leave a Comment

Welcome to my March Wrap-Up! I am two books away from the finish line on my 2022 reading goal. I’ve had the opportunity to review nine wonderful books this month and have included links to my weekly reading lists as well. You’ll also find my March Short Story and my reading list celebrating Women’s History […]

[Book Review] Choosing Hope: The Heritage of Judaism by David Arnow

Posted on April 6, 2022 Leave a Comment

By David Arnow Dr. Arnow’s new release explores various sources of Jewish text and tradition that provide the primary sources for seeking hope in an ever changing world. The book considers nine sources including: Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), the Exodus, HaOlam HaBa (the World to Come), Israel, and Jewish Humor, among others. Dr. Arnow […]

[Book Review] One-Legged Mongoose: Secrets, Legacies, and Coming of Age in 1950s New York by Marc J. Straus

Posted on April 6, 2022 Leave a Comment

By Marc J. Straus Straus’s memoir opens in 1953 when, at the age of 10, his parents decide to take him out of public school and transfer him to Yeshiva, along with his younger brother. After enduring Anti-Semitism in public school, his community, and the Boy Scouts, Straus finds himself in a caring and nurturing […]

[Book Review] Jacobo’s Rainbow by David Hirshberg

Posted on March 30, 2022 Leave a Comment

By David Hirshberg Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement and the war in Vietnam, Jacobo leaves his home in New Mexico for college where he joins efforts to register Black Americans to vote. But when his work lands him in jail, Jacobo is faced with a choice to be released on condition […]

[Book Review] The Flip Side of Love by Ashley Amber

Posted on March 30, 2022 Leave a Comment

By Ashley Amber James Letta is going on tour to promote a new album in the UK. Accompanied by his girlfriend, Spirit, the pair decide to take in the sights between interviews and shows. But something goes awry when Spirit’s magic traps the couple in a loop, reliving the same day. The only way out […]

[Book Review] The Resurrector by Moshe Mikanovsky

Posted on March 23, 2022 Leave a Comment

By Moshe Mikanovsky The Levi family is sitting shiva – the Jewish tradition of observing a week-long period of mourning. The family has been shattered by the death of the middle son, Nir. The loss brings back together a father, elder son, and daughter whose relationships have been damaged following the loss of the children’s […]

Celebrating Women’s History Month with Jewish Authors

Posted on March 21, 2022 Leave a Comment

In honor of Women’s History Month, I’ve compiled a list of books celebrating Jewish Women. As I was working on this list, I tried to pull from a variety of experiences. While this is by no means a comprehensive list, I hope I’ve managed to represent a number of view points across different time periods. […]

[Book Review] Tetterbaum’s Truth by S. R. Claridge

Posted on March 16, 2022 Leave a Comment

By S. R. Claridge Book 1 in the Just Call Me Angel series, Angel Martin takes a job at Tetterbaum’s Pub. A distraction as she nurses a broken heart when her boyfriend, Tony, suddenly disappears. What Angel doesn’t realize is her new place of employment is a favorite hangout of members of the mafia in […]