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lisasibbett's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
soitis's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
lesserjoke's review
4.0
This series has been on my radar for a while, and although I'm not sure I'm going to read all dozen volumes, the first one is pretty neat. It's one of those stories in which a police investigation is aided by a civilian of nontraditional wisdom and insight, but instead of an elderly spinster like Miss Marple, the surprising hero here is the only rabbi in the small New England town where a young woman has just been found murdered. He's briefly considered and dismissed as a suspect, and thereafter strikes up a friendship with the Irish Catholic detective in charge of the case.
The portrayal of Judaism in this book is a great example of accurate #ownvoices representation, all the more remarkable for having been written back in 1964. Lots of smaller details make me smile in recognition of temple life, and author Harry Kemelman does a good job of explaining Jewish things to his Christian characters and readers, like how our prayers are mostly grateful rather than petitionary ("Thank you for X" and not "Please provide Y"). Even the ugly antisemitism that the protagonist encounters feels textured from real experience, in contrast to the sort of simple Jew-hating bigotry I sometimes see gentile writers attempt.
With so much focus on incorporating these elements of authentic Jewishness into the narrative, the actual mystery plot often seems like an afterthought -- and a foreword notes that it did in fact come late in the creative process, at an editor's suggestion. I still enjoy the finished result a whole lot, but I think I might have liked the original vision for a novel about navigating simple congregation and community tensions even better.
--Subscribe at https://patreon.com/lesserjoke to support these reviews and weigh in on what I read next!--
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The portrayal of Judaism in this book is a great example of accurate #ownvoices representation, all the more remarkable for having been written back in 1964. Lots of smaller details make me smile in recognition of temple life, and author Harry Kemelman does a good job of explaining Jewish things to his Christian characters and readers, like how our prayers are mostly grateful rather than petitionary ("Thank you for X" and not "Please provide Y"). Even the ugly antisemitism that the protagonist encounters feels textured from real experience, in contrast to the sort of simple Jew-hating bigotry I sometimes see gentile writers attempt.
With so much focus on incorporating these elements of authentic Jewishness into the narrative, the actual mystery plot often seems like an afterthought -- and a foreword notes that it did in fact come late in the creative process, at an editor's suggestion. I still enjoy the finished result a whole lot, but I think I might have liked the original vision for a novel about navigating simple congregation and community tensions even better.
--Subscribe at https://patreon.com/lesserjoke to support these reviews and weigh in on what I read next!--
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
theslozat's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
rsutton06's review
4.0
I found the mystery plot of the novel to be a fun read. I also enjoy how the author included short lessons in the basic tenants of Judaism throughout. I would read the other books in the series.
betseyboo's review
4.0
If I was a character in this novel I would have been described as “one of those corn-fed girls with thick ankles and thighs,” but other than that, I did enjoy this book. Would I read another one in the series? I think so! I liked the setting and the unique characters.