I am not a huge fan of the modern classic novel, and I tend to
shy away from them and put off the idea of reading them. I guess
in part that much of my reluctance stems from some bad experiences in
school, of being forced to read some dreadful (to me) classics.
So, it was with a definite reluctance that I bought Chaim Potok's The Chosen, and only because A Thomas Jefferson Education insisted on it being a great book did I even get that far.I
put it off a further couple of weeks, and yesterday, in a fit of not
knowing what I wanted to read, I started the novel. I finished it
last night. Yes, I spent the whole afternoon reading it, it was
that good. The
books is about two Jewish boys, in World War II New York City.
Narrated in the first person, it describes the lifestyle of both an
Orthodox Jew and a non-Orthodox Jew, with strong fathers, and the
different way in which they were brought up. The
storyline is not involved, but the smattering of Jewish history and
Jewish ways strewn throughout the book gave a fascinating insight into
their world. And an interesting insight into diaspora Jews during
World War II. I
was profoundly affected by the book, but if I were asked to give a
reason why, I could not tell you. It was not as though the story
were an exciting adventure, yet still, Potok managed to draw me in and
keep me interested throughout the 291 pages, and I cant tell you
why. Perhaps it was the glimpse into the life of someone, perhaps
it was the way Potok managed to illustrate a realistic and attractive
vision. Beautifully written, the cover artwork doesn't do the
story justice.
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