Apr 03, 2006 shalom auslander s stories in beware of god have the mysterious punch of a dream. A tragedy, the short story collection beware of god, and the memoir foreskins lament. Many of the anthologys 14 brief entries display god in a decidedly subdivine light, as an ordinary working stiff, an attentionseeking nudzh, an asshole ceo, or even a giant chicken. A young jewish mans inexplicable transformation into a very large, blond, tattooed goy ends with an argument over whether or not his father can.
An 18yearold lubavitcher yeshiva student wakes up one morning in the form of a very large goy and terrorizes the community of bickering rabbis in the metamorphosis. Beware of god, by shalom auslander kafka in bronteland, by. Shalom auslander drew on his childhood in an orthodox jewish family and his subsequent rejection of that culture for his first book of short stories, beware of god. Eager to please and semioffend, quick to poke fun at his orthodox jewish upbringing, the holocaust, or even gasp. A young jewish mans inexplicable transformation into a very large, blond, tattooed goy ends with an argument over whether or not his father can beat his unclean son. I have heard shalom auslander on npr programs and on pris this american life and found him deeply interesting so i looked up all his books and put them on my amazon list. His work, shalom auslander is an american author and essayist. He grew up in an orthodox jewish neighborhood in monsey, new york where he describes himself as having been raised like a veal.
A young jewish mans inexplicable transformation into a very large, blond, tattooed goy ends with a talmudic argument over whether or not his father can beat his unclean son with a copy of the talmud. In january 2012, auslander published his first novel, hope. Its tempting to describe the theme of shalom auslander s debut shortstory collection beware of god in terms of a joan osborne lyric. Shalom auslanders stories have the mysterious punch of a dream. Go with the flow for a glimpse of a very quirky world and some hysterically funny ideas. Shalom auslander was raised as an orthodox jew in spring valley, new york. Beware of god book by shalom auslander official publisher. Beware of god by shalom auslander consists of 14 short stories all dealing with the metaphysical and the spiritual. A tragedy is a hilarious and haunting examination of the burdens and abuse of history, propelled with unstoppable rhythm and filled with existential musings and mordant wit. His work, often confronting his orthodox jewish background, has been featured on public radio international s this american life and in the new yorker. The bestselling debut novel from shalom auslander, the darkly comic author of foreskins lament and beware of god. In one story god is a chicken, in another a man must go to home depot to buy building materials for an ark.
Shalom auslander violent rabbis, lovelorn wives, a busy grim reaper, shamefilled simians, and one seriously angry deity populate this humorous and disquieting collection. The protagonist of shalom auslanders novel moves to upstate new york for peace and quiet, and finds anne frank living in his attic. Auslander was born and raised in monsey, and attended yeshiva of spring valley for elementary school and then high school at the marsha stern talmudical academy in manhattan. It is a comic and compelling story of the hopeless longing to be free of. Better than just hilariously entertaining, the stories are thoughtprovoking and relevant. A young jewish mans inexplicable transformation into a very large, blond, tattooed goy ends with an argument over whether or not his father can beat his unclean son with a copy of the talmud. A young jewish mans inexplicable transformation into a very large, blond, tattooed goy ends with a talmudic argument over whether or not his. Heavily involved with judaism, islander often uses his stories to question talmudic rules and the entire concept of faith. His previous books include the short story collection beware of god and the internationally bestselling memoir foreskins lament. A young jewish mans inexplicable transformation into a very large, blond, tattooed goy ends with an argument over whether or not his. You neednt be jewish or have the thinnest veneer of understanding of jewish orthodoxy to enjoy, nay, love beware of god. Hes a regular contributor to pris this american life and resides in upstate new york.
A young jewish mans inexplicable transformation into a very large, blond, tattooed goy ends with an argument over. His work, often confronting his orthodox jewish background, has been featured on public radio internationals this american life and in the new yorker. Nominated for the koret award for writers under 35, he has published articles in esquire, the new york times magazine, tablet, the new yorker, and has had stories aired on nprs this american life. A pious man having a neardeath experience discovers that god is actually a.
Auslander has published a collection of short stories, beware of god and a memoir, foreskins lament. To learn more about shalom auslander, please visit shalomauslander. Shalom auslanders stories in beware of god have the mysterious punch of a dream. Shalom auslander books list of books by author shalom. Shalom auslander s stories in beware of god have the mysterious punch of a dream. It is not hard to spot the story of which he is the godfather, since it. Be prepared for lewd, crude delivery and an entirely irreverent approach to orthodox jewish customs and practice. Stories by auslander, shalom april 3, 2006 paperback shalom auslander w1edufgvymc read free online d0wnload epub. Leo schwartzman searches home depot for supplies for an ark. Beware of god by shalom auslander overdrive rakuten. Nominated for the koret award for writers under thirtyfive, he has published articles in esquire and has had stories aired on nprs this american life. Shalom auslanders novel about his terrorised orthodox upbringing has provoked both adoration and revultion. Shalom auslander books list of books by author shalom auslander. Jan 15, 2012 the protagonist of shalom auslanders novel moves to upstate new york for peace and quiet, and finds anne frank living in his attic.
Eager to please and semioffend, quick to poke fun at his orthodox jewish upbringing, the holocaust, or. Haunted by the ghost of a first son who died in toddlerhood, the authors orthodox. Shalom auslander the art and craft of storytelling. Shalom auslander, voicing a comic lament in his memoir foreskins lament, author shalom auslander writes about his attempt to break free.
Shalom auslander the moth the art and craft of storytelling. Auslander has published a collection of short stories, beware of god march 2006 and a memoir, foreskins lament. The stories are unique and wellcrafted, but mostly they are clever and thoughtful. Shades of the absurd, orthodox jewish style, in a nutty little debut collection of 14 stories. While each may in fact be unique in its discontent, surely the one recalled here by auslander beware of god. Oct 07, 2019 i first heard shalom auslander on this american life, and i enjoyed that segment enough to check out the book. An inventive, surreal, and absurd collectionand much anticipated literary debut of a fresh young humor writer. It wasnt religion that made me leave, he explained to sara ivry in an interview for the next book web site, and it wasnt just family.