#adam mansbach

[haveyoureadthisbook-poll]

[whatevergreen]

A 2008 (pre-election) Huff Post interview with Jewish-American author Adam Mansbach includes this:

Prof. David Browmich argues that Israel has outgrown its cultural history of victimization to become the chief oppressor of the Middle East, including a nuclear terror that might invade Iran. Do you feel this fear of a literal end to the Jews raise its head in macro or micro form in your novel?

"There's hardly a word about Israel in this novel, although certainly the past specter of an end to the Jews, and the seemingly-perpetual fear of a future one, give the title its bite, make people frown or laugh or shoot me a quizzical look when I tell them what my new book's called. Personally, my Jewish upbringing, such as it was, did not include Hebrew school, which from what I can gather is where a lot of kids first get indoctrinated with the idea that as a Jew you're supposed to love and defend (with words, if not actions) the state of Israel. My family was very secular; my parents sent me to the So You Think You Might Be Jewish Sunday School and Grill out of guilt, and I got kicked out of it for singing "Livin' On A Prayer" by Bon Jovi into a mic at an all-school assembly when I was supposed to read a prayer. This was my way of acting out my anger toward my racist Jewish History teacher, who liked to tell us kids stories about the Great Jewish Exodus. You know, the one from Roxbury in the 1950s, when the blacks moved in.

When the word got out that I was publishing this book, I started getting invited to Jewish conferences, retreats, etc - which was weird, since this is third novel and nobody had ever considered me a Jewish writer before, except for the white supremacists who tried to get all my speaking gigs for Angry Black White Boy canceled, and accused me of "masquerading as white." From what I've been able to discern in the past year or two, going to all these events, the dominant concern among the Jewish generation in power seems to be that young people aren't participating enough in Jewish life, and through apathy, intermarriage, nonobservance, the Jews are going to wither and disappear. It creeps me out to be in a room full of Jews in which racial purity seems to be an agreed-upon goal, though I certainly understand where it comes from.

What bothers me most, though, is the mix of naivete and cynicism with which the young demographic is being courted; the underlying goal seems to be Jewish marriage/procreation/participation, but it's couched in all these other terms, disguised inside all these clumsy maneuvers. It's like, "What do young Jews like these days? Pancakes? Okay, we'll have a pancake breakfast, and hopefully Isaac's hand will brush against Rachel's while they're both reaching for the maple syrup, and we'll get some babies out of this."

Where do you stand on the idea of Israel as a religious homeland for Jews, as well as its geopolitical realities, which are more bloody and less romantic?

"I don't claim to be an expert. I haven't been there. But the notion that a Jewish life is worth more than a Palestinian one seems to underwrite so much of what's happening, and so much of the conversation about Israel in America's Jewish community, and that is deeply troubling. The things I read and hear from friends who have traveled in Israel and Palestine leave me with no doubt that an apartheid-like situation is in effect, and that is unacceptable.

I think there's a lot of willing suspension of disbelief on the part of American Jews about the actions of the Israeli military. People don't want to accept that they would do the things they do, so they decide they don't do them, or that they must have their reasons and delving into them isn't necessary -- and this is among the same people who would never dream of giving a pass to Bush, people outraged about Darfur and Gitmo and every other outrageous thing happening on the world stage. To me, one of the strengths of Jewish culture is the fact that everything is constantly scrutinized and discussed and argued over. Questioning and dialogue and vigorous study are the things I connect with: the notion of a Talmud that literally has no margins because every possible inch of space was covered in a multi-century discussion of life and law. So Jewish group-think frightens me; Jewish dogma without counter-dogma frightens me. I think that the Jews should have a homeland, yes -- but I also think it's fascinating that some scholars and rabbis believe that homeland is intended to be a state of mind, that some believe the greatest sin possible is to claim that homeland by force, and that several different homelands for the Jews have been proposed in this century alone. The "if you don't love Israel you're not a good Jew" mentality really bothers me. As does, I suppose, the notion of a "good Jew."

You're steeped in black culture but Jewish. How has the relationship changed over time in your mind, and what do you think having a black president during a time of Israel's geopolitical ascendancy will do to it?

"Perhaps no two ethnic groups in America share so unique, intimate, and checkered a past, politically and artistically, as blacks and Jews. I thought it was interesting that Obama touched on the fraying of relations between the two communities in his big speech on race, but I also thought his decision to essentially elaborate on his rejection of Minister Farrakan because of Farrakhan's alleged anti-Semitism was more in line with the reasons black-Jewish relations have suffered than with any attempt to mount new dialogue. It was red meat for Jewish voters. On the Jewish side, the problem with black-Jewish relations is that a handful of ill-advised and highly objectionable statements made by a few prominent black leaders in the mid-eighties have never been forgotten. And they should be. Yes, Jesse Jackson once referred to New York City as 'Hymietown." Yes, Al Sharpton could have conducted himself better during the Crown Heights riots. But these incidents happened twenty years ago.

Not only have Sharpton, Jackson, and even Farrakhan (whose outreach to the Jewish community over the last ten years has been considerable, if seldom-reported) moved on, but so has black leadership. Obama's candidacy and the emergence of hip hop generation leaders and grassroots political organizations prove that the civil rights generation is no longer in the driver's seat. Yet, these figures remain central in the collective Jewish memory - fixed in history, reduced to their offensive comments, and treated as proof of black anti-Semitism. Why? Because it provides an excuse for Jewish disengagement -- emotionally, practically, financially -- from the continuing struggle for equality. It allows Jews to disinvest in the black community and the legacy of progressive work that blacks and Jews once shared.

One of the most fascinating stories of the 20th century, and one that I try to tell in The End of the Jews, is how both Jewish assimilation and Jewish self-identity have relied on the immutability of black Otherness. As the Jews have become whiter and richer, we've also gained the ability to engage in the same kind of complacency and hypocrisy that has long characterized the rest of white liberal America. Jews can now lament racial injustice without either fighting or acknowledging the ways in which it benefits us. The post-World War II Jewish credo has been to 'never forget,' and maintain eternal vigilance against the smallest rustling of anti-Semitism. I understand that. But I also lament that fact that whenever something does happen, regardless of whether the offensive speech or action stems from true malice or ignorance, whether it is repented for or not, the gates come crashing down, and dialogue is considered anathema. I think it's time to really rethink this, especially given the tremendous attacks that civil rights and civil liberties have taken under this president (Bush)."

.

Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/is-this-the-end-of-the-je_b_119055

(All the interesting sections are above regarding Israel, Zionism, Palestine, and race. I wouldn't bother with the full article unless you have an ad blocker, as advertising actually obscures parts of the text. Of the above sections.)

[tigger8900]

The Golem of Brooklyn, by Adam Mansbach

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Note: this novel was published(and added to my TBR) before the Oct 7th attack by Hamas. While the subject matter is timely and relevant, this novel is concerned primarily with antisemitism in the US rather than the Israel/Palestine conflict. My review will take the same focus. There's certainly a lot we can ponder by applying the moral questions raised in the book to current events, but that's outside the scope of this review.

The golem — a construct made of clay and empowered by a rabbi's prayers — is said to have been created at various points of crisis throughout Jewish history, standing between the Jewish people and an imminent threat of destruction. When Len Bronstein, an art teacher from Brooklyn, gets very stoned and decides to craft himself a golem, he doesn't expect the effort to bear fruit. But now the golem is here, and looking for the threat. Enlisting the help of Miri, an ex-Hasid, to communicate with his new golem friend, Len quickly realizes he's gotten in over his head. But when the golem sees a video of a white nationalist march — chanting "Jews will not replace us" — nothing will stop him from fulfilling his purpose, in the most violent way possible. But is that what's right?

This was a quick, interesting read. It was a hilarious buddy comedy mixed with satire up until it suddenly wasn't anymore, and then the situation became deadly serious. I will say that this is heavy on the philosophical questions and light on the answers. It's the kind of book that has characters talk through the situation, and then leaves you to ponder the debate and come to your own conclusion on who, if anyone, was in the right. And of course, while the focus of this book was on American antisemitism, the central question hits extra hard after the events of 10/7/23, which took place less than two weeks after the book was published. It's a lot to ask from a humor title, but I found that it got exactly as serious as it needed to be by the end.

While the humor could be somewhat juvenile at times — a recurring joke throughout was the fact that the golem was upset that Len hadn't thought to give him a penis — there were a variety of laughs to be had. Much of the comedy was rooted in Jewish culture, employing mainstream as well as more obscure references. There was also significant satire of white nationalism, including some chapters from the point of view of the marchers and those who come out to support them. I personally felt those parts fell the flattest for me. It felt like I was watching bigots be paraded through the chapter to made fun of one by one, which was awkward to read. I thought the jokes were individually solid, but they would have worked better in a visual medium where they could exist to be spotted in the background, rather than having to be written out in sequence, one after another.

Another thing that stood out to me, both good and bad, was the inclusion of several long tangents that broke up the narrative. Some of them were good, like the ones where we looked back into history to see where the golem had been before. Others were less great, such as the one near the beginning where Len recalls a plot idea he'd had for a novel, which felt a bit like getting caught at a party by that guy who just has to tell you the idea he had for a story. In retrospect, that might have been the point, as it certainly did add to Len's characterization!

All in all, this novel is a timely examination of the ethics involved in securing the safety of a population under threat. Whether it lands for you will depend a great deal on your personal sense of humor and tolerance of questions left open.

[coldest-bowl-of-soup]

In response to the Neil Gaiman news I would like to share some other authors and books that I think people who like Neil Gaiman’s books would like. Since while Neil might not be the person we all thought he was, his stories are undeniably good. Though there are also so many other authors that write amazing stories. So hopefully this might help someone find another author whose writing you will love just as much. Please share other books and authors you like.

If you liked: Coraline -

The Babysitter Lives by Jones Stephen Graham

High school senior, Charlotte babysit twins the night before Halloween only to find out that she isn’t the only one haunted by the past. This book features a POC lesbian protagonist and an alternate universe.

If you liked: Anansi Boys

The Aunt Who Wouldn’t Die - Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay

A story of three generations of women. Pishima died at 70 years old is intent on haunting her family for forcing her in perpetual widowhood since her husband died when she was 12. Somlata marries into the once proud family and attempts to save the family while being haunted by her husband’s aunt. Then there is Boshon a rebellious teenager yearning for love. It’s a story of family, magical realism, womanhood.

If you liked: Stardust

Nettle & Bone - T. Kingfisher

Marra, a third born Princess goes on a journey to save her sister from an abusive husband. Unfortunately, her target is a crown prince of a powerful country so she must search for help before starting her journey. Filled with impossible tasks, a gravewitch, fairy godmothers, and magic this book is a fun yet dark spin on traditional fairy tales.

Thornhedge - T. Kingfisher

Dark retelling of sleeping beauty told in the point of view of Toadling a human raised by fairies tasked to protect the young princess. A novella that puts a new point of view of a classic tale.

If you liked: Good Omens

The Golem and the Jinni - Helene Wecker

A story about a golem created to be a wife of a man who died coming to America and a Jinni released in New York City. Set in 1899, this story is about friendship, love, and finding a place in a new world. Featuring slow burn love and a bit of excitement.

The Golem of Brooklyn - Adam Mansbach

A Brooklyn art teacher accidentally creates a golem, a creature made of clay to protect the Jewish people during times of violence. After learning to talk after binge watching tv the golem becomes determined to take down a group of white nationalists.

I also liked the following authors:

Darcy Coates - she writes amazing ghost stories

Darcie Little Badger - read Elatsoe, it is so good

[robyntherav3n]

testament reads sin a bedtime story but the book is go the fuck to sleep by adam mansbach

[clonerightsagenda]

Kat's Top Books of 2023

Was inspired by someone else's post to do a Kat's top 5 books of the year post culling from my #recently reads. I read a lot this year and encountered a lot of great titles, but these ones were particularly memorable:

Vagabonds! by Eloghosa Osunde. Interconnected short stories following the lives of queer misfits and outcasts in Nigeria. I have a passage saved on my phone. I read this back in January so I don't remember the contents as much as the feelings it evoked, but it was beautiful and haunting.

Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones. Read My Heart is a Chainsaw first if you haven't already. The books pit Jade Daniels, a young woman with a trauma she's refusing to face head on but instead buries in an obsession with the moral logic of slasher films, against irl slashers who keep coming to town. Bonus points for wired jaw representation, aka my future.

Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan. Set during the Sri Lankan civil war following a young Tamil woman who's caught in the middle as loved ones join the Tigers. It starts with a striking passage that you think means one thing and then comes back later in a way you don't expect that's a huge gut punch.

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez. A high fantasy story that is also a diaspora story as the characters' scattered descendants watch history play out. Dips into everyone's thoughts to create a chorus POV that's really effective. Note - incredibly gruesome. Organs, lovingly described, etc.

The Golem of Brooklyn by Adam Mansbach. A stoned art teacher accidentally creates a golem who decides his mission is to stop an upcoming alt right rally. Explores the interactions between the old world and the new and the weight of historical trauma - every golem shares the same ancestral memory. Carries its tensions to the very last page and leaves the reader to supply the answers.

(Honorable mention to System Collapse which didn't make it into the #recently read posts, but I had a great time!)

Nonfiction shoutout to A City on Mars which sourced so many delightful space facts and gave me a lot to think about re: SF worldbuilding that is at all grounded in reality. Plus it was really funny.

[luellal0l]

Thundermans headcanon to celebrate the trailer for the movie:

when Max would get involved in a project and stay up really late, not getting any sleep, Colosso would read him bedtime stories to annoy him into going to bed. specifically Go the Fuck To Sleep by Adam Mansbach.

[your-system-said-what]

got a few good ones here today

Azzy: Kiwi is like a weird dad-uncle.... dunkle?

Kiwi: Do not EVER call me that, it sounds like a skin infection

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Lego: Hey guys I found a picture of Kiwi *looks up "100 year old salami" on google with NO pictures of what he was hoping for* fuck, they're all RIPE.

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Azzy, in a high pitched, squeaky voice: Miwles Mowawes... owo!

Miles: Never speak to me again. I hate it here.

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Azzy: Fought a god and won first try, how we feeling chat (CONTEXT: we beat a specific boss in baldurs gate 3)

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Azzy: WHY DOES HE HAVE SIX NIPPLES?!

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Stray: WARNING; Azzy CAN read, he just choses not to. Viewer discretion IS adviced.

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Spinel: We have the three pride flags; gay, trans, and warrior cats animator

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Wyll: There were times where I was nervous that Gale (his subsystem member) and I would form someone, but seeing the shit that happens in the main system here, I'm glad we didn't.

Azzy: you aint free chief

Kiwi: none of you are going to be free if you dont go the fuck to sleep

Stray: audible ink presents: go the fuck to sleep; written by Adam Mansbach, narrated by Samuel L Jackson

--

HONORABLE MENTION: This isn't from an alter but instead from a dream we collectively had and I HAD to share it

Dream Steve Harvey: *sends us an email with a picture of a BG3 companion sleeping with the caption;* the voices say she must die.

I kind of want to see a warrior cats animator pride flag now

also DREAM STEVE HARVEY,

[supremeoverlordofdarkness]

“It’s one thing to be a big gay shonda. It’s another to eat pork.”

-The Golem of Brooklyn by Adam Mansbach

[ninja-muse]

So, June was a month! Felt like several, but apparently still just the one. Usually I measure the length of a month in books read—more books equals a “faster” month, fewer books equals a “slower” one—but that doesn’t work this time. I read nine books, so about my average. I think the number of “this was fine” books skewed things, as did The Hands of the Emperor which was excellent, but also very long.

And yes, I’ve finally read The Hands of the Emperor! It was everything I expected it to be and more, and just lovely and charming and cozy and all of things. I am bummed that my library doesn’t have the sequel, not that I’d be launching into it right off anyway. It’s the principle of the thing. The only reason it didn’t get my Review of the Month is because it’s hard to take photos of ebook covers….

On the opposite end of the spectrum, my TBR shelf book this month was a last-minute scramble and I opted for something short as a result. (And a classic, because I hadn’t read one of those in a while.) Tortilla Flat really hasn’t aged well, folks. Let’s all hope my next classic is better.

The other last-minute addition to this post is DIGGER IS HERE! I got the notice that it shipped late last week but didn’t think it would be coming to my door quite so soon. It has bookmarks, plural, you guys! I would be jumping into it next except that I’ve barely finished Shubeik Lubeik and I need to put space between excellent graphic novels.

Next up, though? One of the ARCs I hauled this month is The Frugal Wizard’s Guide to Surviving Medieval England. I’m going to be starting it today.

(Episode Thirteen is my other hauled book this month. I’d forgotten I’d requested a copy from a book rep.)

Other life events? I finally saw The Importance of Being Earnest performed! Another last-minute thing, that. I heard about it near the end of May and dithered about getting a ticket because the theatre was a bit of a trek, and then went, well, when else am I going to see it… Worth it, and that’s one thing off my bucket list.

Hopefully July has a lot of good books to make up for the kind of average reading month I’ve just had. Wish me luck!

And now without further ado, in order of enjoyment…

The Hands of the Emperor - Victoria Goddard Cliopher, Secretary to His Radiancy, the Last Emperor of Astandalas, invites his lord on a beach vacation. He has no idea how this will change the world—or his life.

8.5/10

Pacific Islander-coded protagonist, cast contains a range of ethnicities and skin tones, 🇨🇦

Shubeik Lubeik - Deena Mohamed A Cairo kiosk owner tries to sell off three wishes. It doesn’t quite go as planned.

9/10

Egyptian cast, largely Muslim cast, Egyptian author, #ownvoices for Egyptian

warning: depression, suicidal ideation, death of a child

Shadowlands - Matthew Green Short histories of lost settlements from across the UK.

7/10

The Golem of Brooklyn - Adam Mansbach Len creates a golem while stoned. This is only his first poor decision of the week. Road trip, anyone? Out in September

7/10

largely Jewish cast, 🏳️‍🌈 (lesbian) secondary character, Jewish author, #ownvoices for Jewishness

warning: anti-Semites, white supremacists, homophobes

The Helios Syndrome - Vivian Shaw A freelance necromancer must help determine why an airplane crashed, while being haunted by a pilot.

7.5/10

🏳️‍🌈 (gay) protagonist, 🏳️‍🌈 (gay/bi) secondary character, 🏳️‍🌈 author

The Dress Diary of Mrs. Anne Sykes - Kate Strasdin A history of Victorian fashion through the lens of a fabric scrapbook.

7/10

The Gifts - Liz Hyder In 1840s England, a woman grows wings, a storyteller comes to London, a wife grows unsatisfied, and a doctor gets ambitious.

7/10

Black British POV character, 🏳️‍🌈 secondary character (gay)

warning: racism, misogyny, animal death, medical content

The Road to Roswell - Connie Willis Francie travels to Roswell to save her college roommate from a misguided marriage, and promptly finds herself on an involuntary road trip with an alien.

6.5/10

Tortilla Flat - John Steinbeck A group of friends ramble around old-time Monterey.

3.5/10

multiracial protagonists, largely BIPOC cast

warning: racism, misogyny, alcohol, racial slurs

The Gay Best Friend - Nicolas DiDomizio Dom’s best friends are getting married! Which is great, except he’s having to keep secrets for both of them and maybe he needs to think a bit about expectations and authenticity.

5/10

🏳️‍🌈 protagonist (gay), 🏳️‍🌈 secondary character (gay), 🏳️‍🌈 author, #ownvoices

Currently reading:

Nothing! I start July with a clean slate.

Stats

Monthly total: 10 Yearly total: 62/140 Queer books: 2 Authors of colour: 1 Books by women: 6 Authors outside the binary: 0 Canadian authors: 1 Off the TBR shelves: 1 Books hauled: 2 ARCs acquired: 5 ARCs unhauled: 4 DNFs: 0

January February March April May

[shatar-aethelwynn]

Finished reading "The Golem of Brooklyn" by Adam Mansbach. It's really not the sort of story I typically read but I watched the interview with the author and Justin Sledge and was intrigued enough to give it a try. Very thoughtful and funny. But I feel like I need to just stare at the wall for an hour and process because the end and the whole last quarter of the book was just...a thing that happened. Definitely a book I'm going to be thinking about for a while.

[tuzesdays]

What is Moons favourite book that they've never been able to recommend before?

He has oft heard legend of a book. He knows it only by title. He's dying to read it. He's dying to share it. It's Go the Fuck to Sleep by Adam Mansbach. Because of course it is.

[derpcakes]

The PhDiaries, Part 3: (Not) Suffering for Your Art

These blogs were originally posted to my Patreon. They’re intended as insights into my own creative and research process, and advice for folks who might be interested in getting into Arts research themselves. Enjoy!

Between Hustle Culture, the aesthetic of Dark Academia, and everything in between, it can be very easy to romanticise overwork. It’s almost taken for granted: so much of the imagery associated with student life and research work involves all-nighters hopped up on coffee, people napping on piles of overdue library books, and generally being frazzled, stressed, and strung out in a cycle of “forever homework”. It’s expected. It’s accepted. It’s just the way things are, it’s what you’re signing up for and what you have to do if you want to succeed!

Well, I present an alternative. To quote the renowned children’s author Adam Mansbach, go the fuck to sleep.

Keep reading...

[nail-bat-butch]

daniel craig reading adam mansbach’s “go the fuck to sleep” in his benoit blanc voice. you agree. reblog.

[jxrm]

book log - 2014

boy meets girl by meg cabot

the maze runner by james dashner

you have to fucking eat by adam mansbach

good girls by laura ruby

the scorch trials by james dashner

pretenders by lisi harrison

elixir by hilary duff

yes please by amy poehler

big little lies by liane moriarty

hello kitty must die by angela s. choi

orange is the new black by piper kerman

fire with fire by jenny han

the infinite moment of us by lauren myracle

the boy next door by meg cabot

gossip girl, psycho killer by cecily von ziegesar

the rosie project by grame simsion

because i'm worth it by cecily von ziegesar

warm bodies by isaac marion

the husband's secret by liane moriarty

you know you love me by cecily von ziegesar

#girlboss by sophia amoruso

cum laude by cecily von ziegesar

is everyone hanging out without me? by mindy kaling

gossip girl by cecily von ziegesar

breakfast at tiffany's by truman capote

to all the boys i've loved before by jenny han

where she went by gayle forman

if i stay by gayle forman

the truth about diamonds by nicole richie

no one else can have you by kathleen hale

the heiresses by sara shepard

my name is memory by ann brashares

shut out by kody keplinger

the cuckoo's calling by robery galbraith

the DUFF by kody keplinger

a midsummer's nightmare by kody keplinger

crazy rich asians by kevin kwan

broken hearts, fences and other things to mend by katie finn

the naturals by jennifer lynn barnes

girls in pants by ann brashares

second summer of the sisterhod by ann brashares

forgotten by catherine mckenzie

a tale for the time being by ruth ozeki

tiger by tash aw

everything is perfect when you're a liar by kelly oxford

left drowning by jessica park

the house of hades by rick riordan

fiend by peter stenson

divergent by veronica roth

insurgent by veronica roth

landline by rainbow rowell

fangirl by rainbow rowell

attachments by rainbow rowell

invisibility by andrea cremer

gone girl by gillian flynn

forever, interrupted by taylor jenkins reid

the art of racing in the rain by garth stein

something, maybe by elizabeth scott

the lover's dictionary by david levithan

bass ackwards and belly up by elizabeth craft