Sue's Bookshelf

The Charlotte Jewish News, June/July, 2023

By Sue Littauer

By Sue LittauerIs the summertime for reading the books you didn’t have time for during your busy year, or is it the time for light reading — AKA beach reads? Whether you’re looking for fiction, nonfiction, or historical fiction, I have some recommendations for you.

I recently read two nonfiction books: “Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew” by Michael W. Twitty and “The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China” by Jonathan Kaufman. “Koshersoul” was the winner of the Jewish Book Council’s 2022 Jewish Book of the Year Award. Michael Twitty is a renowned culinary historian and educator grounded in his experiences as a Black, gay, Jewish person who loves food and believes in its power. I expected a book full of recipes and anecdotes, but quickly found it to be a serious read, often difficult at times, which addresses the author’s premise that we are all mishpocha in the intersection of Black and Jewish culture.

Georgia Hunter, author of “We Were the Lucky Ones,” describes “The Last Kings of Shanghai” by saying: “With exacting research and masterful prose, Kaufman excavates the tremendous influence of two Jewish families both with roots in Baghdad, on China’s layered and complex modern history. An astonishing read, on every level.’’ Although I’ve read a few historical fiction novels about the Jews in China and Shanghai, reading Kaufman’s detailed book about the Sassoon and Kadoorie families was interesting and informative.

I always look forward to new books by Elinor Lipman, so if you’re into contemporary fiction and looking for something different, try “Ms. Demeanor.” “Who knew house arrest could be sexy and fun? Not me, at least not until I read “Ms. Demeanor.” Written with Elinor Lipman’s signature wit and charm, this breezy, engrossing novel tells the story of two people who make the most of their shared confinement.” — Tom Perrotta, New York Times bestselling author of “Tracy Flick Can’t Win.”I also highly recommend “Mary Jane” by Jessica Anya Blau. I literally could not put this book down and read it in one day. Mary Jane, a 14-year-old under the influence of her country club set, strait-laced Presbyterian parents, goes to work as a nanny for a Jewish psychiatrist and his bohemian wife who are hosting a recovering rock star drug addict and his mega movie star wife for the summer. Needless to say, Mary Jane’s sheltered life is no more, but hers is not the only one that changes throughout the course of this very entertaining book.

Two new excellent books of historical fiction are “Once We Were Home” by Jennifer Rosner and “Code Name Sapphire” by Pam Jenoff. “Beautifully evocative and tender, filled with both luminosity and anguish, “Once We Were Home” reveals a little-known history. Based on the true stories of children stolen during wartime, this heart-wrenching novel raises questions of complicity and responsibility, belonging and identity, good intentions and unforeseen consequences, as it confronts what it really means to find home.” The beautifully drawn characters and their circumstances will stay in your heart for years to come.“Code Name Sapphire” set during World War II is the story of a Belgian brother/sister team who run the Sapphire Line, a resistance group whose mission it is to bring wounded British airman to safety. Hannah, a Jew fleeing Germany, ends up trapped in Belgium living with her estranged cousin Lily and her family. The four lives intersect during this fast-paced, heart-stopping novel which, in my opinion, is Jenoff’s best yet.

Hopefully, you’ll pack one or more of these books in your bag as you head into summer vacation! All six books can be found at the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library at the Center of Jewish Education at Shalom Park.

The next CJE Book Club meeting is Wednesday, June 14 at 10:30 a.m. at Shalom Park. The book we will be discussing is “He Gets That from Me” by Jacqueline Friedland. For more information, please contact sueb.littauer@jewishcharlotte.org.(Editor’s Note: See page 31 for Charlotte Rouchouze’s review of “Koshersoul” in her Around the Table column.)