Book Description
Asher Lev is a Ladover Hasid who keeps kosher, prays three times a day and believes in the Ribbono Shel Olom, the Master of the Universe. Asher Lev is an artist who is compulsively driven to render the world he sees and feels even when it leads him to blasphemy.In this stirring and often visionary novel, Chaim Potok traces Asher’s passage between these two identities, the one consecrated to God, the other subject only to the imagination.
Asher Lev grows up in a cloistered Hasidic community in postwar Brooklyn, a world suffused by ritual and revolving around a charismatic Rebbe. But in time his gift threatens to estrange him from that world and the parents he adores. As it follows his struggle,
My Name Is Asher Lev becomes a luminous portrait of the artist, by turns heartbreaking and exultant, a modern classic.
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In My Name is Asher Lev, Chaim Potok creates the original, deeply moving story of Asher Lev, the religious boy with an overwhelming need to draw, to paint, to render the world he knows and the pain he feels, on canvas for everyone to see. A loner, Asher has an extraordinary God-given gift that possesses a spirit all its own. It is this force that must learn to master without shaming his people or relinquishing any part of his deeply felt Judaism. It will not be easy for him, but he knows, too, that even if it is impossible, it must be doneā¬¦.
Customer Reviews:
"Become a great artist".......2007-08-04
"Do not try to understand. Become a great artist. That is the only way to justify what you are doing to everyone's life."
From what I've heard about Chaim Potok's novels and from what I know from the only other one of his that I've had the privilege of reading (The Chosen), they are all centered on the lives of Jewish boys in New York and their fathers; and My Name is Asher Lev is no different. This, however, does not stop it from being a damn good book. Potok explores the seeming impossibility of being both a person of faith and an artist a the same time--a dilemma to which Potok, an ordained rabbi and a novelist, can undoubtedly relate. Although the situations the protagonist, Asher Lev, faces are distinctly Jewish, the basic struggle to reconcile one's religious convictions with one's natural passion in life is widely inclusive.
I was glad that the book self-consciously acknowledged that Asher's final paintings invited "Freudian evaluations regarding [his] relationship with [his] parents." Indeed, the entire novel seems to beg psychoanalytical investigation: Asher is haunted by recurring nightmares of a mythic ancestor, dreams which become more or less intrusive depending on how confident and comfortable he is in his role as an artist and in his relationship with his people; his relationship with Jacob Kahn is flecked with homoeroticism; and Asher's protective infatuation with his mother and coolly competitive relationship with his father could all too easily be tagged as an Oedipal complex. But just as the lurid psychoanalyzing news stories in the novel were overshadowed by "the technical analyses of the paintings [which] were well done and very favorable," so My Name is Asher Lev triumphs on the grounds that it's just a really great, beautifully written story. Potok's descriptions of the act of drawing and painting are lovely, and Asher's effort to justify the pain he causes to those he loves by "becoming a great painter" is meaningful and relevant.
Simple, but wonderful.......2007-01-19
The opening is wonderful. I was hooked from the first paragraph. The book slows for the next hundred pages while the reader sees Asher's development as a boy coming of age in Brooklyn. As the conflict of the story (and the conflict of the artist) begins to surface, the book becomes addicting.
Chaim Potok is a brilliant writer. Every word is thought out. Every sentence delightfully leads the reader smoothly to the next. He uses repetitiveness in terms and dialogue to draw parallels and show progression in thought. His subtlety is amazing. Many points that seem nearly pointless continually resurface as significant later in the story.
Anyone wanting to understand art should read this book. Anybody want to better their own talents should read this book. Anybody simply looking for a simple, beautifully written book should pick up and read, My Name is Asher Lev.
An undeniable classic.......2007-01-12
"My Name is Asher Lev" is the story of a young man becoming an artist, learning to see as an artist sees, and learning that his art may end up costing him his relationships with both his family and his faith.
In this book, Potok expertly depicts what it must be like for a genius to begin truly seeing the world, and the passages in which he does so are a marvel.
Every artist, every painter, every writer should read this book to further understand the sacrifices required by art, the WORK required by art, and the relationship between a person's character and a person's creations.
And every literate person should read this, to better understand the world around him or her, and to better see the world's true sadness and beauty and joy.
The book's sequel, "The Gift of Asher Lev," is good but not as good. You'll probably want to read it after reading this one, but I don't recommend it as it kind of ruins the story.
My Name is Asher Lev.......2006-10-24
This story was incredible. It really illustrates its purpose and leaves the reader breathless with a feeling of accomplishment. Whoever reads this is connected to Asher and feels his every emotion. You're disturbed by what he's disturbed by, his brief moments of happiness are you respites from unhappiness, you dread what he dreads. Made of the highest quality of writing, My Name is Asher Lev is truly what many have already dubbed it; a 'modern classic'.
My Name Is Asher Lev-- A Reader's Review.......2006-08-23
My Name Is Asher Lev--A Reader's Review
My Name Is Asher Lev. My Name Is Asher Lev. Wow! What a book. If you had told me that more than a hundred and twenty-five pages into the book that I would eventually love it, I would vehemently argue to the contrary.
But, it's true. This story became intriguing. This story became enlightening. This story became exciting. I'll start from the beginning.
This is the story of the family of Rabbi Aryeh Lev, his wife Rivkah, and their only child, Asher. They live in the densely Chasidic area of Crown Heights, in Brooklyn, New York. The story takes place over a twenty-five year period from when Asher was about to start day school.
In the first third of the book, we're treated to a meditation of sorts on the existence of living in the aftermath of a post WW 2 world. Europe was almost completely destroyed. Six million Jews murdered (such acts are called "genocide" not "ethnic cleansing"--there's nothing clean, or pure or even righteous about murder/ genocide). And, the daunting task of Jewish renewal, restoration, and restitution was just beginning.
In the relative safety of a northern US metropolitan city, descendents of European Jews, more specifically (but not limited to) Chasidic Jews made frequent trips abroad to address the needs of cultural and political restoration. This was Aryeh Lev's calling. Lev, a Chasidic Rabbi, came from a long and distinguished line of Rabbis, as author, the late Chaim Potok tells us. Lev married into another distinguished family that had generations of Rabbis. It was in this union that Aryeh wished his young son, Asher would continue the tradition and "not forget his people."
What becomes abundantly clear is that Lev has no rapport with his son and very little with Rivka. It seems as if the brunt of his work has always been geared toward the male adult mind. Rivka on the other, at this point, is somewhat of a sycophant. She is clearly defined by the male relationships in her life. She is Aryeh Lev's wife, she's Asher's mother. She is the daughter of a famous rabbi. When her brother dies, Rivka, descends into a stupor which many thought may lead to her death.
Interestingly, in the absence of her husband (traveling commitment, death of her brother and Asher being at school) this traditional model of femininity discovers that she has interest that she has time to pursue. She ultimately decides to go to school. First earning a bachelor's, master's and a doctorate in political science and history.
This plays an instrumental part in Asher's upbringing. With Aryeh in Europe for weeks and months on in, Asher is without a father-figure. Rivkah used to answer Asher's childhood inquisitiveness by repeating Aryeh's thoughts on the matter. However, as she becomes more independent, more liberated, more educated--more daring--she indulges Asher in his artistic pursuits, now as a young adult.
Along the way, people on the periphery of Asher's life, Yudel Krinsky (an art supply store owner) and Rebbe of his day school and a distant, but gregarious Uncle Yitschok all placate Asher's budding ambitions. The Rebbe even goes as far to recommend him to a noted Jewish artist, Jacob Kahn for instructions. It proved to be the defining relationship of Asher's life.
Asher Lev becomes an artist out of the absence of compassionate and reasonable dialogue. Asher sees the world and speaks to and against his world with art. When Asher runs out words (themes) to express his anguish, he uses the language (symbols) of the Goyim. The result is one of the most memorable and thoroughly provocative reading moments I've ever had.
The first part could have been reduced by at least 75 pages, but boy do I love this book. 4 1/2 stars.
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My Name Is Asher Lev
Manufacturer: Alfred A. Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GLGUVQ |
Customer Reviews:
Coming of age tale that made me the person I am today...........2006-07-23
I began reading this book on my last year of high school, and wasn't able to finish in time before the end of the year. (It is quite a long book.) The librarian felt I needed to finish the story and she supplied me with my own copy. I still cherish it because it's not only important to me because she gave it to me and she was influential to me, but because the story of Asher Lev is a tale that so many can relate to.
It's a story of a child who goes against his parents wishes and grows up to become a painter....a very famous, highly praised, and criticized painter.
The story of Asher begins with him as an adult speaking of the rumors of him being a traitor to his people. You see, Asher is the man who painted the famous Brooklyn Crucifixion. And he is Jewish. "How can someone being of the Jewish faith make such a masterful painting of the killing of Christ?" everyone is wondering.
Asher tells his story. And what a sad and heart wrenching one it is. His early paintings as a young boy are made with crayons and paper, and as he learns to paint with oil and canvas, he learns to be a man.
It's a great story, and I recommend to anyone.
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My Name is Asher Lev
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HCJJIK |
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My Name Is Asher Lev
Manufacturer: Fawcett Crest
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HWC9V4 |
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My Name is Asher Lev
Chaim Potok
Manufacturer: Fawcett Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NQBHPS |
Average customer rating:
- The sad game of revenge
- Sensational...10x as intense as "Flowers in the Attic"...
- A wonderful book but dont expect it to be a dilligent sequel
- Road To Revenge Is A Long Sometimes Drawn Out Path
- Excellent!
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Petals on the Wind (Dollanger Saga)
V.C. Andrews
Manufacturer: Pocket
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Andrews, V. C.
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Similar Items:
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If There Be Thorns (Dollanger Saga)
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Seeds of Yesterday (Dollanger Saga)
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Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger)
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Garden of Shadows
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My Sweet Audrina
ASIN: 0671729470 |
Book Description
For Carrie, Chris and Cathy the attic was a dark horror that would not leave their minds.
Of course mother had to pretend they didn't exist and grandmother was convinced they had the devil in them.
But that wasn't their fault. Was it?
Cathy knew what to do. She knew it was time to show her mother and grandmother that the pain and terror of the attic could not be forgotten...Show them. Show them -- once and for all.
Customer Reviews:
The sad game of revenge.......2007-08-22
After escaping the prison that was theirs for over three years, the three remaining "Flowers of the Attic" escape to find a new home with Dr Paul Sheffield, a widowed doctor. There in a secure and loving home, Cathy, still bitter about her Mother's betrayal, begins plotting revenge.
This book is bitter sweet, as Cathy throws away true love and happiness to embark on "getting even with Mama". Cathy becomes a twisted obsessed character, who not only uses people to get to her Mother, but hurting those who love her dearly. In the end, the reader is left wondering who Cathy's vengence hurts more, her mother or herself.
Very different from the first book, and only slightly less enjoyable. Highly recomended.
Sensational...10x as intense as "Flowers in the Attic"..........2006-12-27
This is the sequel to FITA and is far superior to it, too. The book begins when the survivors (Chris, Cathy, and Carrie) are on the bus that will take them to Sarasota, FL where they think they can go on with their lives. But Carrie becomes violently ill, and a kindly black woman named Henny takes pity on them and brings them to a man she works for who is a doctor. He also takes pity on them and agrees to make them well, as well as take care of them and give them all they desire to help them reach their goals (Cathy to become a ballerina, Chris to become a doctor, and Carrie to go to school). Nevertheless, there is plenty of sorrow and drama ahead for all of them.
Chris has the biggest success, but Cathy is too distracted by her bad love choices, her high sex drive, and wanting revenge on her mother (and grandmother) to achieve all that she wants. Carrie suffers most of all in this book, and her story is a nightmare in itself; like her twin Cory in FITA, she too will meet a horrible fate.
Cathy takes her revenge and gets her satisfaction, but that also has tragic consequences for everyone: the mother, grandmother, Cathy herself, and Bart (her mother's husband and Cathy's true love). In fact, everyone Cathy loves seems to meet a horrible end. The ending is bittersweet and inevitable.
This is the best book in the Dollanganger series. It will really shock you, and whether you've read "Flowers in the Attic" or not, you definitely need to read this one (though I do suggest you read FITA first).
A wonderful book but dont expect it to be a dilligent sequel.......2006-08-26
I loved this book every bit as much as I loved flowers in the attic but in a very different way.This book is not a horror story like the first one is.Its still very sad though.This book picks up where the other left off and tells the story of what happend to the "Dolls".If you fell in love with the kids in the first book this is a must read.Its good to able to see what happened to them and fall in love with them all over again.
Road To Revenge Is A Long Sometimes Drawn Out Path.......2006-08-22
This is the original sequel to "Flowers In The Attic". The 3 Dollanganger children escape Foxworth Hall, and into a world that in someways stood still in time, but others changed since being locked in the attic almost 4 years earlier. This is still Cathy's story as she chronolizes what happens after the escape. They find themselves on a bus going south to Florida originally, but make it only as far as South Carolina where Carrie is so violently ill that they can't go on, and make acquaintance with a black woman who's a maid to a local doctor and take them to his house. This doctor has a checkered past of the mysterious death of his wife and son, and he decides to take care of them, and gives them a new life, a new outlook, but this is not enough for Cathy as she wants her mother to pay as she continues to read about her mother, and how her life is so gratifying. Chris tries to make her see that it is better to just let go, but to Cathy this just cuts way too deep as she feels betrayed by her mother making her lose out on her innocence, and losing all her friends, and her identity. I'm here to say that the minute a person moves towards freedom it's assumed that they know what they're doing otherwise they wouldn't have made such a bold daring move, but in reality that's not necessarily the case. Here they cast thier fates to the wind, and it was here that the 2 stronger children had to mother over the youngest one as her twin died, and now she's not able to be strong independent anymore, and they had to learn things on thier own. Alot of people seem to hold stock in this theory called "The School Of Hard Knocks", and it's praised as a hallowed university that is to be revered, and honored. To be honest it's a wilderness that can make a person all devoid of love, sensitivity especially when the drugs are applied, and the systems are all dried up, and out. After all that's what drug means is to dry up, and out. People tend to get tougher when this happens, and most tend to forget about the pains, and hardship after taking this drug administered by the school of hard knocks, and that drug is Stoicism. It's where we convince ourselves that this happened for a reason, and there's nothing that can be done about it...especially now, so it's best to drop it, and move on, but the side effects are, and they have not studied this to see if little, or no effect went on is the loss of love, compassion, and innocence. I admit this is a rather long drawn-out book, and at times it was hard for me to read as I would see poor Carrie just trying everything to get herself on with living only to see her kill herself the same way that her beloved twin was murdered, Chris even I don't feel that it's morally correct for a brother and sister to be married, and having babies together my heart ached for him to see him going through the story without the one love of his life. I know that feeling all too well, and when Cathy fell on her face I'm sure that Chris wanted so much for her to just come to him, and allow him to make it all better; I know with girls I was interested in dating that I'd see them fall flat, and wanted so much to be the one to rescue them, but I'd see them dig thier heels in even deeper, and more determined not to come to me. However, I know that Cathy with all the positive things happening to her it didn't mean a thing because I'm sure that while the best thing a person can do for themselves is to learn to be self-sufficent the worst thing is to not have someone teach you how to do this, and find out you have to do it all on your own, and you have to pick and choose the people that will teach you when you haven't really had the experience that would've helped you out. Cathy would try, and try, but it was no use her soul would not be calm until she confronted her mother, and see why she just left her children up in the attic to rot. Alot of confrontation would go down in this book, but to be honest it was hard to really get into this book until about page 200 which is about two-thirds of this book. I feel that it was a little too long, but considering the way it had to tie into where Chris and Cathy took Cathy's two boys, and moved to California alot of things had to be tied up. This is a guidebook for revenge if I ever read one, and I know that in alot of people it's a driving force. I know it is with me, so I want to caution those who want to pursue it don't forget how human you are. I mean it don't forget how human you are because we're all cut from the same cloth, and that was cast by Adam and Eve in the Garden Of Eden.
Excellent!.......2006-06-10
After escaping from the attic in the first novel of the series(flowers in the attic),the three kids go out into the world to face it for the "first" time.But their luck strikes when they are offered a place to stay and a chance to be educated by a great person.This story is great and it will make you wonder how life can really be like this,scary in a natural sort of way.But this book gives hope.It's name is great as the story itself.I will really have to say that the name summarizes the story,in a sense...anyway,I don't want to give away this story,but I can say that their are a lot of things hidden in this story,which are well worth discovering...enjoy...Nigel.
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Petals in the Wind
V.C. Andrews
Manufacturer: Simon and Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Andrews, V. C.
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Similar Items:
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If There Be Thorns
ASIN: B000OSMYKW |
Product Description
Chris, Cathy and Carrie have escaped their attic prison and set off with money scavenged from the garandmother's mansion. Two teenagers and an eight-year-old who haven't seen the outdoors for over three years, determined to stay together, determined to survive. And they are fortunate. They are taken in by a lonely, kindly doctor, who readily shares with them his home, his love, his fortune. But even as the three children build bright new lives, the dark horrors of the attic haunt them. Cathy is reminded daily by the way her brother watches her, by the way Carrie's tiny, tiny body does not grow. And Cathy is also reminded of the other child, who didn't survive the long years in the attic. Then she thinks of her mother, of her mother's brutal betrayal of those who loved and needed her most. And she vows vengeance. While Chris pursues his dream of becoming a doctor, even while Cathy becomes a successful balerina, she dedicates herself to her plans for revenge. And as her plans become obsession, Cathy risks everything to pay her mother back, and to show her what it's like to suffer at the hands of the one you love most.
Product Description
First three books of the Dollanger family series in slipcase.
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Petalos al Viento (182)
Manufacturer: Plaza & Janes Editores, S. A.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: 8401493226 |
Product Description
one in a series by Andrews
Customer Reviews:
dissapointed.......2003-07-21
im being generous giving the book 3 stars as i believe it was poorly written and got boring in places to be honest the only thing that really kept me interesed was the continuous insestual relationship between cathy and chris, but it was silly because throughout most of the book cathy is saying she doesn't love chris like that so what does she do at the end???
jump back into bed with him!!!!! i still believe their relationship is unique and was pleased when she eventually chose chris we all knew it was gonna happen so what was all that crap with the guys before hand y din't cathy save herself a lot of time and let chris have her at the beginning?? oh well now that they are together i am even more intrigued to how their relationship will develop in the next book so im gonna read that. this book was nothing compared to flowers but read it to get you filled in on the next book which should be better.
By far the best of the Series...........2002-12-28
It's told by Cathy and goes into her life...she becomes a ballerina...falls in love has a kid, falls out of love, falls in love again, has another kid...etc etc...the mother still ignores her in this book...Marvelous ! marvelous! V.C. Andres CANNOT go wrong!!
Changing for the Better.......2001-02-28
Petals in the Wind is V.C. Andrews's sequel to Flowers in the Attic. The sequel is just as good as the first book. Andrews takes her readers through many emotional twists and turns with her characters. In Petals in the Wind Cathy, Chris, and Carrie have escaped from their mother's evil ways. They get ona bus and head for FLorida. On their was to Florida, they meet a nice doctor who takes them in and gives them the chance to live again. The doctor helps the children pursue their dreams. She puts the children back in school. Cathy also strives for her dream to be a prima ballerina. Cathy attracts many men throughout the story, and some will be hard to believe. Cathy is always longing for revenge on her mother; she wants her mother to endure the pain that her children went through. The moral of this story is that change is good. Things can always change for the better. Andrews again outdid herself in this book and it is always amazing to see how well she depicts her characters and lets you know exactly how they are feeling. this book is a must read for young adults.
A Haunting, Spectacular Masterpeice!.......2000-08-16
Riding on the success of a beautiful peice of work like the previous novel, "Flowers in the Attic', V.C. Andrews clearly has lived up to the expectations. Not only is this book haunting, but it is also complelling. It doesn't preach, but it informs. It's very simply written, and it's beauty is in the simplicity. This book has the longest timeplate of the Dollenganger series (not counting Garden of Shadows) and the rage from the last book spills over into vengence in this. As before, Andrews captivates the audience with her enchantment.
A Haunting, Spectacular Masterpeice!.......2000-08-16
Riding on the success of a beautiful peice of work like the previous novel, "Flowers in the Attic', V.C. Andrews clearly has lived up to the expectations. Not only is this book haunting, but it is also complelling. It doesn't preach, but it informs. It's very simply written, and it's beauty is in the simplicity. This book has the longest timeplate of the Dollenganger series (not counting Garden of Shadows) and the rage from the last book spills over into vengence in this. As before, Andrews captivates the audience with her enchantment.
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