Customer Reviews

The Matzo Ball Heiress (Red Dress Ink (Numbered Paperback))

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As the holiday of Passover approaches, Heather Greenblotz is gearing up for a typical observance: spending time alone and eating decidedly non-kosher food at a time when most Jewish families gather together. It wouldn't bother Heather so much to be without her family at this time of year but for the fact that the Greenblotzes manufacture kosher products, including the world's most popular Passover matzo. What in the world would people think if they knew how non-traditional the family really is?

Laurie Gwen Shapiro's second novel, THE MATZO BALL HEIRESS, introduces Heather as she emotionally prepares for another disappointing Passover. 31-year-old Heather is a successful documentary filmmaker with two Emmy Awards to her credit, and her involvement in the family business is minimal. Few people even know she's a wealthy heiress to the Greenblotz family business, begun by her grandfather Izzy many years ago. Every spring, however, she helps out her cousin Jake (figurehead and CEO of the business) during the busy Passover season. Otherwise, she is seemingly disconnected from the world of traditional Judaism and kosher food. One day, while filling in for Jake at the matzo factory, she is interviewed by the Food Network and her Passover plans begin to radically change.

After the success of the interview with the dashing Steve Meyers, the Food Network wants to do a live broadcast of the Greenblotz family Seder. Jake Greenblotz thinks it's an excellent idea and that it will boost slumping sales. Heather, on the other hand, has her doubts. The family, she reminds Jake, has never gathered together for the ritual meal; her mother usually goes snorkeling, her other cousins can't stand Heather or Jake, Jake's brother lives like a playboy in Florida, and her father Sol, the only one who could lead the seder and read Hebrew, was last heard from several years ago when he moved (with no forwarding address) to Amsterdam.

At the urging of her over-the-top therapist, Heather agrees to the broadcast and begins to assemble relatives; when that fails, she asks others to act as family members for the broadcast (including Jake's Irish girlfriend Siobhan, who becomes Shoshana for the day). But will the world be convinced by the staged Greenblotz Seder?

Complicating the already sticky situation is Heather's entanglement with on-air personality Steve Meyers and her growing fondness for kosher cameraman Jared Silver.

With a little patience and faith, Heather survives a near disastrous Seder and emerges with a new love in her life and a newfound respect for her family and friends.

THE MATZO BALL HEIRESS is funny and sassy, and because it focuses on a Jewish family's traditions (or lack thereof) and issues, it is also unique. Heather Greenblotz is more than a typical Manhattan socialite; she has depth and intelligence. Thus, Shapiro's novel moves beyond the simple classification of Chick Lit, although it retains the romance, sex and attitude. The writing here is light and natural, a pleasure to read. And the humor is well balanced with some of the weightier issues, such as religious observance, identity and family dynamics. While Shapiro doesn't offer many meaty insights into these issues, she doesn't shy away from them either.

THE MATZO BALL HEIRESS is a fun and quickly read novel coming out just as Jewish families across the world prepare to sit down together to celebrate Passover. Chances are that some readers will find their own families reflected in these pages. Others will be treated to a good story.

--- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman

The five Greenblotz cousins sit on the board of directors for the family run matzo company. However, Jake actually runs the firm while his brother handles the Florida sales and documentary film director Heather fills in when Jake needs her. The other two cousins are estranged from this trio.

Heather takes a Food Channel crew on a tour of the matzo factory. Later, the interviewer Steve Meyers asks Heather out. When they return to her apartment following their dinner date, he informs her in the middle of sex that his station wants to televise her family's Passover Seder. After throwing Steve out, Heather panics because her family avoids Seders. She dines on ham while Jake has an Irish Catholic lover; the rest of the family is worse. However, Jake informs her that their business is in trouble as the competitors are part of conglomerates that spend a fortune on advertising. They need this show and a family to go with their Seder so Heather begins the hiring process. Of course the dysfunctional Greenblotz rally around the Seder.

This is an intriguing look at a Jewish family fully assimilated into the American culture. The story line is fun to follow as Heather struggles to understand her heritage beyond her inheritance with the Seder serving as a symbol between the old and the new. Fans will appreciate this insightful look at the de-Americanization of Heather and her family who discover there is more to being Jewish than chocolate matzo.

Harriet Klausner

As an inquisitive Gentile, I thoroughly enjoyed Shapiro's The Matzo Ball Heiress. Not only was the main character, Heather Greenblotz smart and witty, she paved the way for an education of sorts...for me, anyway. Heather attempts to find herself, her roots, and a little romance in between filming a live Seder for the Food Network with her more than dysfunctional family. The book is fast paced and full of information about Jewish dietary laws and practices. But don't let that fool you...there is lots of story packed in, as well.

I applaud Shapiro for creating a great summer read that educates as well as delights.

I really, really enjoyed this book. In fact, I was irritated every time I was forced to put it aside. It's well written, funny and modern -- as well as being set in one of my favorite neighborhoods. It also successfully evokes 30-something NYC angst. Good job, Ms. Shapiro!

This story and its zany characters would make a great romantic comedy movie. The "family" members and friends have to find their way to a sense of "family," initially somewhat forced into this for publicity for their company.

The plot and "family" development kept me reading through the night, and laughing through the reading!

Loved this!

I'm new to the work of Laurie Gwen Shapiro.... I haven't read any of her stuff before, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I was really pleasantly surprised. I found her new book "The Matzo Ball Heiress" really funny, unique and truly different.

Main character Heather Greenboltz is surrounded by a million and done crazy characters and I loved meeting each and everyone. The humor she runs through the story is first class.

I really enjoyed this new addition to the Red Dress Ink family and think that Ms. Shapiro might be its newest hit!

Cheers!

I can't wait until Ms. Shapiro graces us with her next novel!

This is without a doubt the funniest thing I have read in years. Not only was it refreshing to see a break from the politically correct world in which we live (Amy Hitler, a guest at an Orthodox Passover?), but it was nice to see a dysfunctional family come together in their incredibly hilarious, yet obviously loving way.

My friend's always call me their "little Jew" (I'm Roman Catholic) because of some of the beliefs I hold and some of the food that I enjoy. Well, if being Jewish is half as great as this novel was then I'm converting right now!

A challenge of the genre is to make a book that is fun, funny and realistic. In an attempt to make the book a good read (i.e., fun and funny) it's easy to get a little "Over The Top" and unrealistic quickly. The fact that Ms. Shapiro keeps all of the characters real (and not caricatures) is one of the strong points of The Matzo Ball Heiress. We empathize with Heather Greenblotz and the cast of well-developed characters because we all know people just like that (well, maybe not someone named Amy Hitler).

Ms. Shapiro created a fun and funny read which you won't want to put down. Like Levy's Rye Bread, you don't have to be Jewish to enjoy The Matzo Ball Heiress.

This was such a fantastic, refreshing surprise! This book is hilarious, and proves that people with millions are just as messed up as the rest of us. Shapiro creates a great character in Heather, who is a nice reprieve from a body-obsessed idiot, and demands the respect that she reserves from the guys she dates in the book.

The supporting characters are funny and offbeat, and this is a nice break for typical chick-lit. It's also MUCH more smartly written. And it writes about Judiasm in auch an interesting and modern way, it'll make you wish you were Jewish if you're not already! You will love this book if you like chick lit but prefer the wittier writers in the genre, like Sophie Kinsella and Sarah Mlynowski. Go read it immediately!!

This is the funniest book I've read in months. Laurie has a great ear for dialogue and nails the cross-cultural issues. Couldn't put it down until I finished.