Master of the Return

by Tova Reich

Book Overview

This second novel of Tova Reich's delivers a savage and controlled comedy of religious ecstasy. It is by turns, a funny story, mysteriously touching and ponderable before the end. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 015157880X
• ISBN13: 9780151578801
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt P
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Masterful, Bold, Funny, Serious

A strong narrative voice, rich characters, evocative, lively, precise and realistic dialogue, Reich's Master of the Return has all the elements to create a masterful novel, and she does so fully. Perhaps her strongest trick is simultaneously lampooning the ultra Orthodox while at the same time having a profound sympathy for those who return to Judaism from secularism, and the pure impulses which foster this act. Here, Reich has accomplished something truly astonishing: satire and sympathy in one rich shot.

A joy!

Simply one of my favorite books. Reich miraculously renews the Yiddish literary tradition, rather as Yoel Hoffmann is doing in Israel, but whereas he is tragic (and a tad pretentious?) she is pure joyous burlesque....