Reviews

The Zelmenyaners: A Family Saga by Hillel Halkin, Sasha Senderovich, Moyshe Kulbak

unavezmas's review against another edition

funny relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

wshier's review against another edition

3.0

I thought it was good, and funny. But, the cultural divide was just too great. I know I missed a lot. I wouldn't expect a Belorussian today to "get" Gatsby, or Huck Finn.

hplatter's review

funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

eavans's review

funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

abookishtype's review

3.0

I dread looking up early twentieth century Russian authors on Wikipedia. I so often enjoy their books–because of the setting, the turmoil, the pathos–that I don’t want to know if they were one of the unlucky ones. But when I read The Zelmenyaners, I had to, because I had never heard of Moyshe Kulbak before. Kulbak, a master of Yiddish literature in Russia, was not one of the lucky ones. So as I neared the end of The Zelmenyaners, I felt an extra dose of regret that I wouldn’t see any more of the serialized misadventures of the Jewish clan...

Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.