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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Potok's brilliant evocation of darkness and light,
By
This review is from: The Book of Lights (Mass Market Paperback)
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.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully written, captivating story,
By AmyThink (Springfield, MO USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Book of Lights (Paperback)
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.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Slowly Finding the Good of Darkness,
By
This review is from: The Book of Lights (Mass Market Paperback)
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.
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