On Franz Kafka's Birthday, Looking Through Lens of his Sexuality
If ever there was an author whose works resisted analysis, it’s Franz Kafka. A new book emphasizes the author’s repressed homosexuality and fantasies about boys.
Charles Bernstein Makes Lovely Cacophony in his Latest Collection
Charles Bernstein’s first collection of actual new poetry in seven years is a culmination of his ideas and here more than ever, the poet engages with his Jewishness.
Debut Novelist Helene Wecker Dreams of Jinnis (and Golems)
In ‘The Golem and the Jinni,’ Helene Wecker mines the mysticism of two peoples so masterfully that it is hard to believe it is her first novel.
Interpreting the Holocaust Dreams of Literary Puzzle Master Georges Perec
Georges Perec was a founder of the so-called OULIPO movement. The publication of “La Boutique Obscure” represents a growing interest in his work.
The 12 New (Jewish) Books For Summer
We survey the best of new Jewish lit, from debut fiction to biographies of Franz Kafka and the creators of Superman. There’s even a story about Anne Frank’s older sister.
Radio Kvetcher Jonathan Goldstein Is Still Learning How To Grow Up
Jonathan Goldstein, producer of WireTap and author of a new essay collection called “I’ll Seize The Day Tomorrow” reflects on his career and his persistent immaturity.
Growing Up Jewish in Christian Suburbia
In the early 1960s, it was tough to be part of the only Jewish family in a Christian suburb of Boston. Best-selling author Caroline Leavitt revisits that troubled period.
Discovering Louisa May Alcott's Jewish History on Portuguese Tour
Louisa May Alcott, author of ‘Little Women,’ had dark features that some attributed to her Jewish ancestry. An author journeyed to Portugal to find out more.
