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lesserjoke's review against another edition
3.0
If you're reading the Rabbi Small series for the titular mysteries, I could see it being a frustrating experience. In this third volume, the murder plot doesn't start until halfway through, and the clergyman is only brought in to consult at the two-thirds mark. On the other hand, the rest of the novel is a really enjoyable look at 1960s temple politics, with one newly-ascendant faction pushing for greater involvement in the Civil Rights movement and similar social justice causes -- plus a more democratic seating chart in the sanctuary -- and the old guard pettily thinking about breaking away to create a new synagogue across town. As ever, I feel as though author Harry Kemelman mostly just wants to write that side of things, but has crammed in some criminal matters to help the book sell. The publisher would likely say that the congregational intrigue and accurate (#ownvoices) Jewish elements are simply there to provide background flavor to the cases, yet that's the aspect of the text that I find particularly engaging.
It's a tough balancing act, and I don't know that I can give the work my full endorsement as a cohesive whole, especially given certain dated cultural views, like casual use of the n-word or treating the very idea of black Jews as ridiculous. And while I love seeing the beginnings of the antiracist streak that's now become common in my faith community, it's important to note that most of the characters seem to treat it as the talk of radical firebrands, so I can't say that that's entirely a win either. In the end I suppose I'll stay agnostic with a middle-ground three-star rating, which at least is better than the Jews-telling-Jews-what-Jews-believe vibe of the previous story.
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It's a tough balancing act, and I don't know that I can give the work my full endorsement as a cohesive whole, especially given certain dated cultural views, like casual use of the n-word or treating the very idea of black Jews as ridiculous. And while I love seeing the beginnings of the antiracist streak that's now become common in my faith community, it's important to note that most of the characters seem to treat it as the talk of radical firebrands, so I can't say that that's entirely a win either. In the end I suppose I'll stay agnostic with a middle-ground three-star rating, which at least is better than the Jews-telling-Jews-what-Jews-believe vibe of the previous story.
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
khosch's review against another edition
not a good introduction to the Rabbi stories, I guess!
I got bored with he infighting and gave up before the murder happened.
I got bored with he infighting and gave up before the murder happened.
j_lange's review against another edition
5.0
This is definitely a product of the late 1960s. If you read this for the mystery, you are probably disappointed. It takes a long time to get to the murder, and the red-herrings aren't as interesting as previous books. Even the overall explanation seems a let down by the end. And yet....the synagogue politics, the conflicts between race, class, and gender that reflected the late 1960s connected so clearly to today that I enjoyed this book quite a bit.
tessisreading2's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable although somewhat dated, both with the race relations and the drug trafficking (oh, that dangerous marihuana...).
noellita234's review against another edition
3.0
Small town politics and racism shapes tho one. Not my favorite
eososray's review against another edition
3.0
This book definitely shows its age with the references to Marijuana that come across like it's a hard drug. I'm sure this isn't just my West Coast sensibilities thinking how not bad it was to be dealing or smoking it, you'd have thought it was Cocaine the way everyone was acting.
The story also spent a little too much time on Temple politics, to the detriment of the actual mystery.
The story also spent a little too much time on Temple politics, to the detriment of the actual mystery.
polyhy_14's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
skateanddonate's review against another edition
5.0
Delightful
Really enjoyed this book. It was so nice to hear both sides of the coin / argument / debate and “You’ll find, Rabbi,” he said, and he patted him on the arm, “that if you have faith, everything comes out right in the end.”
I keep forgetting just how much I enjoy reading this series. Highly recommend.
Really enjoyed this book. It was so nice to hear both sides of the coin / argument / debate and “You’ll find, Rabbi,” he said, and he patted him on the arm, “that if you have faith, everything comes out right in the end.”
I keep forgetting just how much I enjoy reading this series. Highly recommend.