Three Part Invention, a novel [Kindle Edition]

Judith Laura (Author)

Book Description

Three generations of mothers and daughters take center stage, with 20th century events as backdrop, in this novel of depth and humor spotlighting the power of music—from classical to jazz to rock and international folk—and the tug between ethnic loyalty and global consciousness.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I knew it was a good book because when it ended I wanted more. -- Marione Thompson-Helland,The Beltane Papers, September 2002

I would not hesitate to recommend this book. -- Naomi Graetz, author of Silence is Deadly

Three Part Invention is highly recommended as a moving and emotional novel -- Midwest Book Review, September 2002

From the Publisher

The mother-daughter relationship takes center stage in this stunning novel of depth and humor that also spotlights the power of music--from classical to r&b, rock, jazz, and international folk--and the tug between ethnic loyalty and global consciousness.

Alice, a classical pianist and daughter of Eastern-European Jewish immigrants, marries violinist Izzy shortly before World War II begins. After Beth is born they move from New York City to the fictional town of Delaware City in west central New Jersey. As she raises Beth, Alice exhibits prejudices too common in her generation against people racially and ethnically different from herself. Yet, in her own way, she is open to a variety of experiences. Alice’s world includes a psychic aunt, a piano teacher of Native American and Irish descent, an adult piano student in a wheelchair who reads palms, and her close friend Sophie, who has a daughter Beth’s age.

Beth grows up in Delaware City caught between her mother’s values, her own ideas - and her quest for social acceptance. Her resentment over being made to study piano and the part she plays in a mishap that injures her mother, deepen the rift between them. In her teens, she is rejected both by Jewish girls, whose families are wealthier than hers, and non-Jewish classmates. Black high school girls her mother hires to clean house introduce Beth to rhythm and blues. Beth’s love of this music soon extends to rock and roll, and then jazz—all of which her mother hates. Beth happily leaves home for southeastern Ohio where she enters college. There, she becomes involved in the early civil rights movement.

After Beth marries and moves to Denver, her daughter Alexis is born. While she is an infant, her parents are involved in anti-Vietnam war activities. As a pre-schooler, Alexis finds herself in an uncertain world, often confused because communication is difficult. Later she is diagnosed with learning disabilities and finds she can do remarkable things with music. Tension develops between Alexis and her mother as Beth struggles to overcome profound changes in her life.

These three distinct voices give us an unforgettable picture of how women in three generations approach war, love, sex, death, career, friendship—and each other.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 618 KB
• Print Length: 408 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004RW51ZG
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #964,885 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Prejudice, relationships, and recent history August 26, 2011

By S. Deeth TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition

Alice is Jewish, growing up in New York, playing the piano, and marrying her music partner just as World War II's about to start. After the birth of their daughter Beth, Alice and Izzy move to Jersey, where Alice learns to deal with the quiet prejudice of her new neighbors--friendships that stop at the front door--and Beth absorbs a little too much American culture and American faith. Judith Laura's novel, Three Part Invention, runs the gamut of emotions; anger and hope lead to an early celebration of Hanukkah; a child's confusion challenges the world of religion and prejudice; a mother's pain and self-doubt lead to depression.

Lists of friends, clear and vivid memories, dress styles, weight problems, sickness, history, birth, and traditions all give the feeling of a life truly lived, though the changes in point of view can be distracting, particularly when the same event is seen through different eyes. As a non-Jewish reader, I was fascinated by the details of Jewish life--Sunday school, Confirmation classes, even the playing of the organ. But Beth grows up and now it's college life, music, racial integration, coffee shops, the Committee for Human Rights (and the question of whether it's a Communist front) that fill the pages.

Looking at prejudice from many different directions, and history from the vantage point of someone living through it; listening to traditions and music, and growing accustomed to the different voices of this novel's protagonists; feeling the winds of change blow through the pages; Three Part Invention tells Ali's story in three parts, building her from her family up, and leaving the reader on the stage as the future begins.

Disclosure: I read this novel as a judge in the Multi-Cultural sections of the Dan Poynter Global eBook Awards

More About the Author

I'm author of five books, two of them novels.Three of these books have been honored with awards. The print version of my novel, Beyond All Desiring, received top honors in the Ulysses Award competition and finalist awards from USA Best Books Awards and Media Darlings Book Awards, all in 2006. This novel is also available as a Kindle E-book. The Second Enlarged Edition of Goddess Spirituality for the 21st Century: From Kabbalah to Quantum Physics (print) was declared Winner in the "Religion: Comparative " category of the USA Best Books 2009 Awards. "Exploring Re-Visioned Kabbalah, Study Guide..." for the Kabbalah chapters in this book is available as a Kindle E-book.(The print book contains a shorter study guide for the entire book). My most recent book, Goddess Matters: The Mystical, Practical, and Controversial (print), published in late 2011, has received two finalist awards from the International Book Awards 2012, one in "Spirituality: General" and the other in "Women's Issues." My first Goddess book, She Lives! The Return of Our Great Mother, is now out in its Third Combined Edition (print) and contains material that was previously available either just in the first edition or just in the second edition, plus material from both editions, and some updating of material.(A video with excerpts is on my Amazon Author Page.) My first novel,Three Part Invention, is available in both print and as a Kindle E-book. Neither of my novels contain obvious Goddess material,although they do deal somewhat with issues of women and religion. Rather, they are best described either as literary fiction or general fiction with touches of magic realism.

I began writing when I was about 7 years old. My genre at that time was theatre of a sort: plays for my "baby dolls." I sometimes also used my dollhouse and its occupants as setting and actors for these plays. I grew up in Ewing, NJ, received a journalism degree from Ohio University, and have worked as a reporter on a daily newspaper, and as writer for and editor-in-chief of medical and health publications. My short fiction and poetry have been published in a variety of journals, magazines, and anthologies. For more about me, please visit http://www.judithlaura.com/about.html