Customer Reviews

The House of Moses All-Stars: A Novel

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Charley Rosen's The House of Moses All-Stars is a most unusual "road trip" novel. Set in the depression, sportswriter Rosen takes a pick-up professional basketball team made up of six Jews and one goy cross-country in a renovated hearse as they play (and occasionally fix) games, run from the mob, and mature from boys to men. Mostly a comic novel, All-Stars consistently amuses, but is not particularly deep. To me, one of Rosen's attempts at "depth" falls particularly flat. The narrator, Aaron, joins the team essentially in flight from his wife who blames him for their stillborn child. Aaron, in his heart, can't help but blame itself. Rosen attempts to make the road trip cathartic, allowing Aaron to reach peace with himself. I'm sorry, but it just didn't work for me. Overall, though, this is mostly an entertaining work.

True, it is bawdy--but so is Shakespeare. This is a hilarious book, a chance to ride with a barnstorming ballclub. Each page is drenched with humor, or with insight which transcends the game, and this group of men. Rosen's Cockroach Basketball League is also a terrrific read. He is clearly the best basketball novelist going.

"House of Moses All-Stars" does have, as can be expected terrifically written scens of the basketball games. But more than that, it tells a great story, with interesting characters and gives a great overview of all the various aspects of Depression-era America.

Thought provoking and comical all at once, Charley Rosen's tribute to the Sacred Hoop is a great read. A guilt-free page turner that provides insight into a group of seven men united by culture and divided by self-interest.

I enjoy reading sports fiction with my 10 year old son. The descriptions of this book suggested it addressed important themes which transcended basketball. However, as I read the book, I found the treatment of those themes quite superficial. In addition the book was bawdy. While it may accurately reflect locker room mentality, many readers may not find that mentality entertaining. It is not an appropriate book for children.