Isaac Blum's book The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen serves as an introduction to Orthodox Jewish culture. It's a thought-provoking story that probes the concepts of otherness and rule-breaking.
The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen
an imprint of Penguin Random House
2022
216 pages
Yehuda "Hoodie" Rosen and his community of Orthodox Jews are interested in carving a life for themselves in the mostly non-Jewish town of Tregaron.
Anna-Maria "Hyphens" Diaz-O'Leary is the daughter of the mayor. Mayor Monica Diaz-O'Leary is spearing a campaign to drive the Jews out of Tregaron.
What happens when Hoodie meets Hyphens?
"'When you see somebody who's not like you, don't push away. Reach out. You might--you might learn something.'" (p. 128)
Isaac Blum invited me into his story through the use of foreshadowing. He kept me turning pages with his mix of humour and suspense. The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen is a much-needed book--a balm for our troubled times.
August on this blog...
Sunday, August 20
Book Review: Ducks
by Kate Beaton
Drawn & Quarterly
(Graphic Memoir)
about working on Northern Alberta’s oil sands.
Sunday, August 27
Grocery Shopping (short story)
This short story about neighbourliness is set on my island home of Mayne Island, BC
Many thanks to Alea Design & Print for publishing this short story in this month's MayneLiner .
