Customer Reviews

The Book of Lights

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Chaim Potok is one terrific storyteller. He tells big stories,of peoples,microcosemed in the stories of familes,mostly boys and men{though in Davita's harp, he steps outside,with interesting results}Th Book of lights is essentially the story of two friends, Gershon and Arthur.Gershon,alone attempts to understand the darkness swallowing the earth by studying kabbalah, the book of Jewish Mysticism. His friend is haunted by dreams of light, the brightest light men have yet discovered. Gershon becomes a chaplain in Korea,and contineus his journey. Arthur is haunted by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and especially Nagasaki.The title of the book is of course bouble edged, the book of lights and the balst of atomic weapons. There is little sermonising here. mr. Potok, as aleways, has kept to his storytelling genius. The debates among the rabbis at the Jewish Theological Seminary about the role of Kabbalh are very inereesting, and Loran's mystical encounter on a Brooklyn rooftop are moments of sheer poetry. This is a big book, rich, filled with ideas. In many ways, it is Mr Potoks most ambitious work of fiction. And very, very rewarding.

Dr. Potok's books are all beautiful and moving. This one is my favorite. I have read and re-read The Book of Lights too many times to count, and with each reading it moves me more. It is a rich tapestry of characters, woven with darkness and light. I highly recommend it to avid readers who seek out deeply developed stories and characters.

The Book of Light's is one of Dr. Potok's more poetic books about searching for balance, and searching for oneself. Both characters ask themselves questions we all ask ourselves, such as "Where should I be now", "Is what I am doing now right?". In the book he offers us two completely different people that manage to find each other by accepting eachs others weekness. Gershon Loran is a young man who is very unsure of himself, yet manages to have a mind for Kabbalah, a very mystic part of the Jewish religion. His friend Arthur Leiden who seems more of a free spirit not weighed down by the responiblity that Gershon carries, or even life at this point. Though he is chased by his fathers invention, and the horror that it caused in Japan. Through out the book and throughout life he tries to make amends for a horrilbe mistake. First by joining the seminary, then going to Korea with Gershon as a chaplain. Gershon finds himself making an impact on the lives of the soilders, and Leiden searchs for forgivness from the people of Japan. Many a times both men find the answers in the darkest of places, and peace in the coldest of places. Yet throughout the while remaining each other guides. For me personally I found this book to very uplifting due to my immense interest in culture, and the theology of the Jewish religion. Plus also the many memories that still haunt us today. It gives hope to me, and those who like to find the answers. Of course we are never really surprised to find it in the most unexpected places.

The Book of Lights is one of those books that either captivates you, or bores you to death. I used to think that Chaim Potok must have written this book just for me, because I was the only person who read it. Or so it seemed. Gershon Loran reminded me of myself in seminary, a lackluster student with a spark for odd and heretical or mystical literature. Bored by normative religion, he seeks answers for the pain and suffering in his life in Kabbalagh, or Jewish mysticism. The reader sees the transformation of his soul into what his mentor, Dr. Keter, calls the next generation of Jewish mysticism: the Light of past wisdom and insight refracted through an American lense. Gershon is a mystic, and yet he doesn't seem to fully realize his potential, because it doesn't seem odd to him when G_d himself descends into his room, or he contemplates storming the throneroom of the Almighty.

The content was different than Potok's other books that I have read, but no less enjoyable. He writes with such a deep emotion, and I love his characters. I liked Gershon's Kabbalistic studies and how they coincided with the images of light throughout the book. I think this book was spurred by many of Potok's own experiences as a war chaplain in Korea.

I am glad I was able to read it... anything by Potok is beautiful!

As I began reading the Book of Lights, I was once again deeply impressed by Potok's ability as a storyteller; however, after the first 200 pages I became bored. I found the parts of the story that were set in war-torn Korea to drag and Potok never fully developed any of the supportive characters. Potok strives most when expressing Gershon Loran's love of Kabbalah and his zest to learn more from the ancient textual tradition. Potok could have done much more with Arthur Leiden and his family however. I'm still waiting for the "rest of the story." This book begs for a sequel more than the Chosen or Asher Lev!

Ever since I read my first Chaim Potok novel, he has been one of my favorite authors, but in my opinion The Book of Lights is one of Potok's weakest works. It lacks the compelling storyline and easy flow of The Chosen or My Name is Asher Lev. The two main characters, Gershon and Arthur, seem to change abruptly when the novel switches from their years sharing a dorm to their years serving in the army. There is little transition in these changes, and it left me feeling as if this book was actually about two completely different pairs of people, rather than one pair of friends that grew and changed. Additionally, the inner conflict and mental ramblings of Arthur did not ring true for me, and I found those sections of the book hard to get through. Despite this, Potok still creates an enjoyable and moving novel; it's just not up to the standards of the rest of his books. If you are a Potok fan, this is a must read, but for someone who has never read him, I'd strongly urge starting out with almost any of his other books.

I read the Book of Lights in Korea where I was stationed (2nd Inf Div), and perhaps for that reason it really came alive for me. The Chaplaincy is a unique institution, in that military clergy provide ministry for all soldiers, not simply for those of one's particular faith group. Then add the Asian element, the post Korean war trauma, along with the personal struggles with faith, and the result is confronting conflicting cultures and ideas, and an internal struggle to find one's identity. A must for readers of Chaim Potok's novels.

This book includes incredible amount of life stories, history, mystic, geography, philosophy and psychology in such compact intensity, that you can really compare it with an atomic bomb. Entertaining and educational. Definitely recommended

This is my second favorite Potak novel. My favorite is "The Gift of Asher Lev".

I had a slow time starting this story, but it didn't take long for me to be drawn into the setting and the story and the characters. Soon I was living inside this novel -- watching every scene with rapt attention.

Potok has a way of making me not only think, but to feel deeply. This is one of his most intuitive novels, so I was able to feel this story to the innermost part of my bones.