Tuesday, February 26, 2008

A Few Good NJ Books

The Empress of Weehawken by Irene Dische
Grandmother Rother, a cynical, anti-Semitic German who nevertheless marries a Jew (after he converts to Catholicism) tells her family story, from their escape from Nazi Germany to life in Weehawken. Library Journal predicts that this book "may easily become a book group favorite".

Rattled by Debra Galant
A satire about a woman who orders her handyman to kill a timber rattlesnake that lives outside her home. That's a felony here in New Jersey, so she faces jail and animal rights activists descend upon her McMansion. Library Journal said: "Galant, whose witty and topical social commentary has graced the pages of the New York Times, nails it with her first novel."

Manless in Montclair by Amy Edelman
A Jewish widow with two little girls is desperate to marry again. After disastrous dates with friends of friends and men from JDate, she offers an all expense paid vacation to anyone who matches her up with a new husband, and the story gets on national TV. This book is based on Amy Edelman's true story.

No comments: