A Jewish Fiction Reading List

By Michael Lavigne February 15, 2013

Earlier this week, Michael Lavigne wrote about writing the “Radical Other” and wondered if a writer can take the ego out of writing. His blog posts are featured on The Arty Semite courtesy of the Jewish Book Council and My Jewish Learning’s Author Blog Series. For more information on the series, please visit:

A couple of years ago I decided to lead a group of adult learners in a class on Jewish fiction. The reason was that I wanted to share a few books I loved, and I also wanted an excuse to read some I’d never got around to. It was an amazing experience, both as a teacher and as a reader.

Re-reading some favorites — like Bruno Schulz, Primo Levi and Meir Shalev — only served to deepen my attachment to them. But the writers I’d wanted to get to know — like Clarice Lispector and Joseph Roth — were a revelation.

Two or three really stand out in that category. Lispector for certain — nothing in literature is quite like her, and I urge you to read through twice before you judge. But it was Roman Gary who won my heart with his incomparable character Momo — the little Arab kid adopted by the Jewish Rosa — in a work that is simply perfection, there is no other word for it.

As for sheer greatness, it has to be Yaakov Shabtai, whose “Past Continuous” is not only a virtuosic masterpiece, but deeply moving; also truly great is S.Y. Agnon’s “Only Yesterday,” which is remarkable for its breadth, its unflinching eye, and the beauty of its prose even in translation. Each one of the works I taught has a special place in my heart, and I believe you will also find them gratifying to read or re-read. Bruno Schultz is fundamental — in a class by himself. Dovid Bergelson’s short stories, only recently translated from the Yiddish, are a mad joy. David Grossman needs no introduction, except I strongly recommend reading Schultz first.

One note. Late in the course, I included Paul Celan, the poet, whose work is soul-wrenching and beyond beautiful. Obviously he is not writing fiction, but I can think of nothing that reflects the transformative nature of the Jewish literary experience better. I recommend the German/English side-by-side edition by Michael Hamburger.

And if you ever want to chat about any of these, I’d be delighted.

Dovid Bergelson, “The Shadows of Berlin”
Bruno Schulz, “The Street of Crocodiles”
David Grossman, “See Under: Love”
Aharon Appelfeld, “Badenheim 1939”
Meir Shalev, “The Pigeon and the Boy”
Clarice Lispector, “Hour of the Star”
Roman Gary, “The Life Before You (Madame Rosa)”
Arnon Grunberg, “Phantom Pain”
Nathan Englander, “The Ministry of Special Cases”
Der Nister, “The Family Mashber”*
Yaakov Shabtai, “Past Continuous”
Moacyr Scliar, “The Centaur in the Garden”
Primo Levi, “The Periodic Table”
Italo Svevo, “Zeno’s Conscience”
S.Y. Agnon, “Only Yesterday”
Joseph Roth, “The Radetzky March”
Sayed Kashua, “Dancing Arabs” *
Orly Castel-Bloom, “Human Parts”
Franz Kafka, “The Complete Stories”
Paul Celan, “Poems of Paul Celan”

*Sessions on these two works were led by Igael Gurin-Malous.

Michael Lavigne’s first novel, “Not Me,” was the recipient of the Sami Rohr Prize Choice Award. His newest novel, “The Wanting,” will be published by Schocken Books on February 26. Win a free copy of “The Wanting” here, visit Michael on Facebook, and visit his official website here.

The Jewish Book Council is a not-for-profit organization devoted to the reading, writing and publishing of Jewish literature. For more Jewish literary blog posts, reviews of Jewish books and book club resources, and to learn about awards and conferences, please visit www.jewishbookcouncil.org.

MyJewishLearning.com is the leading transdenominational website of Jewish information and education. Visit My Jewish Learning for thousands of articles on Judaism, Jewish holidays, Jewish history and more.

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