A review by jfaberrit
Kaddish.com by Nathan Englander

5.0

Apparently, this novel isn't for everyone, but apparently it is for me. A thoughtful exploration of orthodoxy, tradition, and meaning within the Jewish community, I thought this book hit home even though I don't particularly have a lot of love for the protagonist. As both Larry and Shuli, he is almost charming but ultimately too self-involved to really be the good man he wishes to be. The sharpness of the book is in some ways reserved for Jewish tradition -- Larry/Shuli does (nearly) everything within the bounds fo Jewish law, but it is hard to see how that maps to any notion of goodness that would suffice for a non-religious or even Reform/Conservative jew. Even when making up for his previous faults (sins? irresponsible moments?) he still has the same blindspots in looking out for others that embody the spirit of the law rather than the letter. In the end, from the perspective of Jewish philosophy, this is always the key tension, whether to follow the rules or the goals the rules are supposed to embody, and here it is explored to wonderful effect. The book in general is full of funny, broad characters and wonderful descriptions, and is a pleasure to read and think about. A real gem.