Customer Reviews

While the Messiah Tarries: Stories (Library of Modern Jewish Literature)

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I think I understand why the previous reviewer was disappointed, for this book is so rooted in Jewish life and culture that it might indeed go right by someone who doesn't have these roots. But I couldn't put it down, except to stop now and then to stare into space and shake my head YES over such a devastatingly smart-guy-funny and old-guy-wise collection of stories. I also shook my head in wonderment--"Why was this book on a sale table marked down to a dollar and why isn't Bukiet famous?" He is the only American Jewish writer I've read in a very long time whom I consider worthy to fill the spot left by the brilliant Stanley Elkin. Eventually I would like to write the kind of substantial review that these stories deserve but for now, I will just say: these stories are good. In the sense of there being no higher compliment than GOOD. They partake of the reality of being GOOD. Laughter through tears, OK, that's not "new" but laughter through tears so that it hits you anew with total vitality and genuine human presence, why else bother to write and read fiction? So much flotsam and jetsam out there, I mean in the realm of trendy and purportedly mystical/comical Jewish tales, and most are a cleptrep of mishmosh. These stories are cut from the real cloth of Jewish life. That takes a master tailor, trust me.

I read the first four of the nine short stories that comprise this book and I just couldn't be bothered to read on. It's not that the stories are poorly written per se, it's more the heavily Jewish themes that pervade them. The "Jewishness" of these stories is integral to each, and doesn't really speak to me, others may enjoy. His novel After is somewhat better.