By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Sometimes I think that someone sneaks into the room where I keep my review copies and adds more to the book piles without my knowledge. OK, I can’t blame gremlins: it’s my own fault that I find it difficult to resist any book that sounds fun, interesting or int…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
What does it mean to use the adjective noir to describe literature? In the case of mysteries, it means the works take a dim view of human nature. You’re not going to find wonderful, helpful people here; instead, you’ll find antiheroes and dark deeds. That’s ce…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Some works that focus on food and offer recipes are more than cookbooks. That’s not to denigrate cookbooks, but for those of us interested in the history or culture of food – and not the recipes we will probably never make – it’s the other aspects of these …
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Dissatisfaction: That word partly summarized the feelings of the main characters in Elisa Albert’s “Human Blues” (Avid Readers Press) and Felicia Berliner’s “Shmutz” (Atria Books), although the cause of that emotion in each woman is radically different.…
By Rabbi Rachel Esserman
There are many ways to explore the Torah text, all of which offer insights into its meaning. Some of these approach the work from a historical point of view, rather than a religious one. Others offer a historical, close look at specific words in the text. While dif…
