Posts about shalom auslander written by notes to my muses. The book chronicles auslanders upbringing as an orthodox jew and his efforts to break free from this world. Foreskins lament by shalom auslander books on tape. Shalom, shalom abandoning judaism to become a jewish writer. Haunted by the ghost of a first son who died in toddlerhood, the authors orthodox jewish father became a broken, brutish alcoholic. Foreskins lament is a displacement therapy, a moral blindness to evade the obvious. Shalom auslander reminds me of the old lady on her deathbed in one of ivy comptonburnetts novels. An account of the authors youth in a strict orthodox community describes his dysfunctional familys vengeful personification of god, his exile to reform school after a childhood misdemeanor, and his efforts to make sense of his religious beliefs while connecting with the outside world.
Shalom auslander was raised with a terrified respect for god. Now shalom auslander has entered the ring, flying off the ropes, prowrestling style, with his memoir, foreskins lament, a noholdsbarred affront to the gd whose name is never uttered by the faithful under jewish law. Surely if youre looking for really high end, worldbeating, eyewiping woes let alone pious and defeated mothers then the jewish version outdoes the irish any day, certainly if shalom auslanders foreskins lament is to be believed. It was the breakthrough play for its writer, greg mcgee, and was initially workshopped at the new zealand playwrights conference in wellington in 1980, and has since become a staple of new zealand theatre. Dear shalom auslander, foreskins lament after reading two books by and about women who left hasidic communities, i wanted to read a males account of forsaking that way of life, so i read your memoir, foreskins lament. What was it that tolstoy said about unhappy families.
His combination of unrelenting humor and anger renders a rich and fascinating portrait of a man grappling with his. It may have been pretty grim growing up catholic in limerick. Even as he grew up, defying and eventually being cast out of his community, he could not find his way to a life in which he wasnt locked in a daily struggle with him. After reading two books by and about women who left hasidic communities, i wanted to read a males account of forsaking that way of life, so i read your memoir, foreskins lament. The book chronicles his upbringing as an orthodox jew and his efforts to break free from it.
It makes you question your life when you get that reference. Foreskins lament is a scathing theological rant, a funny, oddly moving comingofage memoir, and an irreverent meditation on family, marriage, and cultural identity. His work, shalom auslander is an american author and essayist. Buy a cheap copy of foreskins lament book by shalom auslander. Foreskins lament is filled with this sort of thinking. Even as he grew up and was estranged from his community, his religion and its traditions, he could not find the path to a life where he didnt struggle daily with the fear of gods formidable wrath. Portions of the book have been featured in various media, including the pri program this american life response. A short video for the book foreskins lament, by shalom auslander. Discover more authors youll love listening to on audible. Foreskins lament reveals auslanders youth in a strict, socially isolated orthodox community, and recounts his rebellion and efforts to make shalom. Foreskins lament a memoir, by shalom auslander seven. Ian sansom winces at shalom auslanders seriously funny diatribe, foreskins lament. A new york times notable book, and a chaotic, laugh riot san francisco chronicle of a memoir.
Browse shalom auslanders bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. Shalom, shalom abandoning judaism to become a jewish. A tragedy 2012, his first novel, tells the story of a troubled man, a refugee from the urban turmoil of manhattan, who discoversliving in. Foreskins lament is a rich and fascinating portrait of a man grappling with his faith, his family and his community. This passage from near the close of shalom auslanders grimly funny foreskins lament captures the attitude and obsession that define this unusual memoir. Auslander has published a collection of short stories, beware of god and a memoir, foreskins lament.
Jerusalem is burning, and some are contemplating only the shape of. Stories, 2005 stands out from the rest for sheer outlandish, operatic misery. Shalom auslander audio books, best sellers, author bio. But even at his most rebellious, portnoyera roth couldnt hold a candle to shalom auslander. Now shalom auslander has entered the ring, flying off the ropes, prowrestling style, with his memoir, foreskins lament, a noholdsbarred affront to the gd whose name is never uttered. Shalom auslander writes like philip roths angry nephew. Read foreskins lament a memoir by shalom auslander available from rakuten kobo. Foreskins lament reveals auslanders youth in a strict, socially isolated orthodox community. A memoir by shalom auslander 320pp, picador, pounds 12. Shalom auslanders memoir of rebelling against his jewish orthodox roots. He grew up in an orthodox jewish neighborhood in monsey, new york where he describes himself as having been raised like a veal.
I know, and i know, and i know, but i just cant seem to get this character out of my head. The debut of the freshest voice in jewish literature since phillip roth arrived on the scene. Foreskins lament reveals auslander s painfully, cripplingly, incurably, miserably religious youth in a strict, socially isolated orthodox jewish community, and recounts his rebellion and efforts to make a new life apart from it. Foreskins lament by shalom auslander overdrive rakuten. One minute it made me giggle, the next i wondered if i was tottering on the brink of insanity. Its no secret that shalom auslander is a very screwedup individual. Its place in jewishamerican literature and in jewish tradition a talk given for the jewish book weekend, felix meritis, amsterdam, 25 november 2007. Foreskins lament by shalom auslander, paperback barnes. Auslander, a magazine writer, describes his orthodox jewish upbringing as theological abuse in this sardonic, twitchy memoir that waits for the other shoe to drop from on high. Not just because hes angry but also because hes so good at being angry. His memoir foreskins lament is poignant, amusing, daring, and unsettling. Foreskins lament reveals auslanders youth in a strict, socially isolated orthodox community, and recounts his rebellion and efforts to make shalom auslander was raised with a terrified respect for god.
Like sages tell us that the torah tells us that until the age of thirteen, all of boys sins are ascribed to his father. Foreskins lament auslander, shalom 9781594483332 hpb. Foreskins lament is a landmark play in the history of new zealand theatre. Shalom auslander was raised with a terrified respect. Shalom auslander is an american author and essayist. He was taught to be very afraid of god and his wrath. Both inspired and unnerved by the birth of his first child, auslander took a.
No, not the absolutely hilarious book, foreskin s lament, by shalom auslander, but a similar issue. And the lord said unto moses, this is the land i promised you, but you shall not enter. Though he was raised jewish and i was christian, and he went to school while i was taught at home, i can relate to him far too well to be comfortable. Foreskins lament, by shalom auslander riverhead, 2007. Foreskins lament is a nonfictional coming of age story about shalom auslander, an orthodox jew raised in the 60s by a tyrannical father and a worried mother. Profile shalom auslander, exorthodox jew, humorist, cultural renegade, and contributor to nprs this american life, received both notoriety and praise for his story collection, beware of god 2005, and the memoir, foreskins lament 2007. Foreskins lament is a rich and fascinating portrait of a man grappling with his faith, his family and his. Foreskins lament reveals auslanders painfully, cripplingly, incurably. I expected your perspective to be different not just because you had the chutzpah to title your book thusly, but also because you are a riotous humorist. Foreskins lament by shalom auslander pan macmillan.