A review by tanemariacris
The Right Thing to Do at the Time by Dov Zeller
4.0
It is a truth universally acknowledged that when a book takes your breath away at every other page with its utter gorgeousness, leaving you gaping in awe at the words, you are in danger of turning into a bubbling mess of excitement. And here I stand as proof of that.
From the first page, I was completely engrossed in the story thanks to the brilliant writing style and unique narrative perspective. Each sentence is filled with delightful, witty humour and a bittersweet irony that aims straight for the depths of the human experience.
We're always reaching out for something, trying to catch it in our hands, love or happiness, those bright little fireflies in the starless night of our minds.
Ari Wexler struggles with the same questions, insecurities, and obstacles that we all have to face during our lives. He is stuck in a job he doesn't truly enjoy, has to deal with a range of family issues, and feels trapped between the impossibility of finding love and the pressure exerted by the ones around him to be in a romantic relationship. After a long series of failures in the last department, he swears to give up on it altogether, but there is an emptiness inside him that threatens to become overwhelming. Encouraged by certain friends and family, and pushed to the limits by circumstances, he gradually gathers the courage to take some risks and gains a new outlook on how to lead his life. He undergoes an organic development from the scared, indecisive, lost noodle thinking he could not tolerate having what he could not tolerate losing to someone who is willing to accept that fear, not allowing it to stay in his way while making the most of what the world has to offer him. It's much easier hiding away, isolating oneself in a cocoon of solitude, and missed opportunities. But, as Kimmelman says to Ari, when doing that the thing you're keeping yourself from is fullness. So Ari decides to see where his interest in music might take him. This activity of his brings forth various views concerning art, including his teacher's passionate outbursts and polemic dialogues with other characters.
Undoubtedly, one of the greatest things this book succeeds in achieving is revealing the thin line separating friendship from romance, how one merges into the other, dangerously shifting, igniting confusion, anxiety, and indicating the possibility of change. There are affectionate friends who openly declare their love for each other, cuddle and constantly kiss on the cheek. There are long-time friends who have been in love with each other but don't risk compromising their bond. There are people who started off by dating, ending up in a platonic relationship. Friendship can take a lot of forms, and have so many facets and underlying mysteries. To quote again this treasure of a book: There's nothing wrong with wrestling with a question of friendship and love and the distance between them. It's not a bad question. (...) it's delicate like the filament of a lightbulb. It can be seen at infinite angles, and at each angle lies a distinct world that blossoms into understanding and out of it again.
Did I mention that the protagonist is a trans male? And that pretty much everyone is part in some way of the LGBTQ+ community and is Jewish? There is also a character who is bipolar. Now, this right here is the diversity we need and deserve.
I loved seeing one of my favourite books being transposed into modern times in such a creative manner that gave it a sense of freshness while still maintaining the core of the story. The parallels between characters and events, the gender switches, the ever-present ridiculous and burdensome expectations or norms imposed on us, and society's flaws were all masterfully integrated into a whimsical, profound book that should get so much more recognition than it does.
From the first page, I was completely engrossed in the story thanks to the brilliant writing style and unique narrative perspective. Each sentence is filled with delightful, witty humour and a bittersweet irony that aims straight for the depths of the human experience.
We're always reaching out for something, trying to catch it in our hands, love or happiness, those bright little fireflies in the starless night of our minds.
Ari Wexler struggles with the same questions, insecurities, and obstacles that we all have to face during our lives. He is stuck in a job he doesn't truly enjoy, has to deal with a range of family issues, and feels trapped between the impossibility of finding love and the pressure exerted by the ones around him to be in a romantic relationship. After a long series of failures in the last department, he swears to give up on it altogether, but there is an emptiness inside him that threatens to become overwhelming. Encouraged by certain friends and family, and pushed to the limits by circumstances, he gradually gathers the courage to take some risks and gains a new outlook on how to lead his life. He undergoes an organic development from the scared, indecisive, lost noodle thinking he could not tolerate having what he could not tolerate losing to someone who is willing to accept that fear, not allowing it to stay in his way while making the most of what the world has to offer him. It's much easier hiding away, isolating oneself in a cocoon of solitude, and missed opportunities. But, as Kimmelman says to Ari, when doing that the thing you're keeping yourself from is fullness. So Ari decides to see where his interest in music might take him. This activity of his brings forth various views concerning art, including his teacher's passionate outbursts and polemic dialogues with other characters.
Undoubtedly, one of the greatest things this book succeeds in achieving is revealing the thin line separating friendship from romance, how one merges into the other, dangerously shifting, igniting confusion, anxiety, and indicating the possibility of change. There are affectionate friends who openly declare their love for each other, cuddle and constantly kiss on the cheek. There are long-time friends who have been in love with each other but don't risk compromising their bond. There are people who started off by dating, ending up in a platonic relationship. Friendship can take a lot of forms, and have so many facets and underlying mysteries. To quote again this treasure of a book: There's nothing wrong with wrestling with a question of friendship and love and the distance between them. It's not a bad question. (...) it's delicate like the filament of a lightbulb. It can be seen at infinite angles, and at each angle lies a distinct world that blossoms into understanding and out of it again.
Did I mention that the protagonist is a trans male? And that pretty much everyone is part in some way of the LGBTQ+ community and is Jewish? There is also a character who is bipolar. Now, this right here is the diversity we need and deserve.
I loved seeing one of my favourite books being transposed into modern times in such a creative manner that gave it a sense of freshness while still maintaining the core of the story. The parallels between characters and events, the gender switches, the ever-present ridiculous and burdensome expectations or norms imposed on us, and society's flaws were all masterfully integrated into a whimsical, profound book that should get so much more recognition than it does.