I generally have a great appreciation for Potok's work. His stories possess a certain quality that lingers in the mind, haunting the reader long after they have finished reading. However, while they are undeniably evocative, there is something lacking in their ability to fully compel. The characters and their experiences are presented in a way that is both interesting and thought-provoking, yet there is a sense of detachment that prevents the reader from becoming fully immersed in the narrative. It is as if the stories are held at a distance, observing rather than engaging. Despite this, Potok's writing style is engaging and his ability to create vivid settings and complex characters is impressive. Overall, while his stories may not be entirely compelling, they still offer a unique and worthwhile reading experience.

Davita, Once Again

"Old Men at Midnight" is a beautiful book that represents the ideal continuation of "The Chosen" by C. Potok. It is, therefore, highly desirable that it be read after "The Chosen" and not before.

Here, three different moments in the adult life of the protagonist are focused on: an eighteen-year-old student and English teacher of a very young boy who has just arrived in the US and has returned from the terrible experience of a Nazi concentration camp. Then, a thirty-year-old university assistant, in a dramatic conversation with a defector from the USSR, a man with a disturbing past. Finally, Davita, now a sixty-year-old successful and acclaimed writer.

For reasons of space, I choose to focus on this last episode, which I believe is surely the most fascinating.
We find ourselves between two prestigious period mansions, with adjacent gardens: in one lives, with his sick wife, a famous "war sociologist" on the verge of writing his memoirs; in the other, Davita has come to live, an acclaimed writer, always in search of some story that will ignite her creative imagination.
Around, there are trees and forests that she imagines as paths for a ram.
At night, the fireflies, "in a shining flight, shone on the dark lawn, transforming it into a starry sky".
Over a double coffee and a doughnut, in her house, Davita teaches her neighbor, with an almost Freudian method, to appropriate the distant past lived. We thus enter the hive of literary creativity and its "techniques".
While he gives shape with words to his distant past, those words will give the writer the inspiration to create a new work.
In the night air, the German word "varum", "why?", emerges from the depth of the man's memories: when, as a combatant in World War II, he found himself in front of the prisoners of a Nazi concentration camp: "Why did it take you so long to arrive?".

Because it's Potok's last book, I felt compelled to return for a second reading. The theme that emerged from these stories is truly profound. Memory, as I discovered, shifts its shape over time. It has an astonishing power that can shape us just as much as we strive to mold and form it. I had hoped to like this book even more than I actually did. So, it really pains me not to be able to rave over it. In terms of execution, it is no less well-done than any of his previous works. However, since it is a trilogy of novellas rather than a full-length novel, it unfortunately lacks the emotional drive that his other books possess. This absence of a continuous and intense emotional current makes it a bit less engaging compared to his earlier masterpieces. Nevertheless, it still contains many beautiful and thought-provoking moments that are characteristic of Potok's writing.

I really enjoyed the language of this book.

It was like a gentle breeze that just glided over you, making it a very relaxing read.

I think I enjoyed the second story the most. It was filled with suspense from beginning to end, keeping me on the edge of my seat.

In contrast, the first and third stories were a bit more mellow.

However, to fully understand what is going on in the book, you really need to have a strong foundation in European History.

Without that knowledge, some of the references and events might go over your head.

Overall, it was a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and a bit of mystery.

Potok has once again worked his magic and bestowed upon us another literary gem.

His stories have a unique charm that continues to captivate and intrigue me. They are not only enchanting but also pose a significant challenge.

The way he weaves his narratives, creates vivid characters, and explores complex themes is truly remarkable.

Each story is like a journey into a different world, filled with emotions, mysteries, and unexpected twists.

I find myself completely immersed in his words, eager to discover what lies ahead on every page.

Potok's literary gifts are a treasure, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to experience them.

His stories have the power to touch our hearts, expand our minds, and leave a lasting impression.

I cannot wait to see what he has in store for us next.

I didn't have much interest in the magical realism element present in the last novella.

As a result, I simply skimmed through that particular part.

Magical realism, with its blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary, often requires a certain mindset and appreciation to fully engage with.

However, in this case, it didn't quite resonate with me.

Skimming allowed me to get a general sense of what was happening in that section without getting too bogged down in the details of the magical elements.

While I understand that magical realism can add depth and an otherworldly charm to a story, it just wasn't to my taste in this particular novella.

Perhaps if I had approached it with a different perspective or had more experience with this genre, I might have been able to appreciate it more fully.

Nonetheless, skimming was a practical way for me to move through the novella and focus on the aspects that did capture my attention.

My first encounter with Chaim Potok. Not a single story wastes a moment of the reader's time. This book is worth reading. For me, the most powerful was story number 1. The second was depressingly real. The third, with elements of mystery, added a strong period to the book. Although some might prefer a comma. But the book ends. That's just the way it is. And a period.

-- A boy couldn't be consoled. I asked him why he was crying and he replied that he had thought of the story about the Ram that his uncle Jakob had once told him.

"About what?"

"About the animal that was sacrificed instead of Isaac. About the Ram."

Benjamin Walter very clearly felt as if someone had placed heavy hands on his shoulders and was now crushing him in all directions.

"I asked him what his uncle had said that made him cry so much and he replied: The Ram came from the heavenly garden of Eden. It was a beautiful animal with a golden fleece and a raised head. Just as there was once a paradise garden here on earth, said uncle Jakob, there is also one in heaven. Angels and animals live there in peace. That day, everyone in the Garden watched as Abraham bound Isaac to the sacrificial altar on the ground and it seemed to them that the entire future depended on those moments - with the death of Isaac and the extinction of the Jewish nation, all of Creation would surely change - when suddenly the Ram stepped forward and asked if it could be sacrificed instead of Isaac. Only the angels loved the Ram and refused to let it go and the Ram shouted: "The future must be saved!" and with a single leap it flew out of the Garden and raced across the starry bridge and slid through the universe all the way to the top of the mountain to Abraham and called out to him in a human voice to save his son. Three angels flew after it to bring it back, but the Ram deliberately entangled its horns in the thicket and the angels couldn't free it and it called out to Abraham again, who untied Isaac and freed the Ram's horns from the briars and sacrificed it instead of Isaac."

"The boy was crying for that Ram?"

"And also because he thought that he himself was that Ram."

"He?"

"He. We are all that Ram."

"How did he come up with such an idea?"

"He was a very wise boy." --

The common denominator of the three stories is trauma from the past. However, it would be very superficial to judge the book as a wallowing in emotions based on the sufferings of the Jews in the 20th century. This is proved by the differences in the individual stories. The boy in the first story indeed survived the Holocaust, but the hero of the second story participated in the Stalinist terror, and the third was present in World War II as an American soldier. The trauma of the first one stems from the cruelty of the outside world that he was exposed to at a young age. The trauma of the second one, on the other hand, stems from his own deeds, and the third one hides the trauma from his youth within himself, when his teacher preferred to go and die in Europe rather than live in exile - an act that is difficult to understand but necessary. The last hero takes on this trauma with his own experience from Europe as an American soldier. The common character in all the stories is the main hero, David. He acts as a certain medium opening the memory of the three men. In the last story, Potok even puts him in a mystical position. The contrasts between the worldly and the mystical, between the peace of the post-war life of the American upper-middle class and the traumas are, however, directly rooted in the form of the book. Potok alternates descriptive scenes from reality, populates his world with insignificant secondary characters, takes the reader into a state of peace and then can escalate in the flashes of the past. At least for me, he managed to depict the horror of the 20th century better than anyone else.

Apr 11, 10:30 am ~~ Review asap.

Apr 12, 11:15 am ~~ This year, I have been reading the works of Chaim Potok generally in publication order. After finishing "Davita's Harp", I was looking over the remaining titles. I noticed that although the next in the reading order was "I Am The Clay", "Old Men At Midnight" featured Ilana Davita Chandal, the main character from "Davita's Harp". So, I deviated from the line a little.

This book was quite unusual. Comprising three short tales, each one讲述了 a different person's life, which is brought out in some way by Davita. In the first tale, "The Ark Builder", Davita helps a newly arrived survivor with his English. As their classes progress, Noah shares his story and that of the man he remembers best, the one who built the ark in their synagogue. Neither story is pleasant. Noah was the only Jew left alive from a community of four thousand in his town.

In the second tale, Davita is a university student who hears a presentation by an ex-KGB officer who escaped from Russia after Stalin died. She challenges him to tell his story and later receives it in written form. This story is also not pretty. Torture, suspicion, and fear are the main elements here, not just for the officer's victims but also for the officer and his colleagues.

The third story was, for me, the most powerful yet also the strangest. Potok turns a now middle-aged Davita into some sort of avenging angel. She moves into the house next door to a man who is writing his memoir but is having trouble remembering events from the earlier years of his life. Davita is the catalyst (or evil witch?) that draws the story from the depth of his memory. Benjamin's story is also not pleasant.

There is a reader's guide at the back of the book, but I didn't read it because the first paragraph stated that the entire piece was published in "Conversations With Chaim Potok", a collection of interviews with him about his work, and a book I will be reading in a few weeks. I will learn more about the portrayal of Davita when I get to that book, but I'll make an uneducated guess here and say that she must represent Humanity's Conscience and the need to let the world know what happened to the Jewish people in WWII and throughout history. If these three men didn't share their stories, they would have been lost and the truth would have been gone forever. But Davita extracts their stories and writes them down for the world to see, remember, and learn from.

I don't read too many books dealing with the Holocaust. It's too painful for me, even though I know it's crucial to be aware of all that happened. I cried throughout the final pages of this book, and any reader must be prepared to face the reality of Man's cruelty to his fellow Man.

We see that reality on a smaller scale all the time in the news these days. It seems we have learned nothing. Maybe we never will.

This is the first book of his that I've read.

At first, I was a bit hesitant as the stories seemed to be about difficult circumstances. However, as I delved deeper into the book, I found myself completely engrossed.

The author has a remarkable way of presenting these challenging situations in a way that makes you feel empathy for the characters.

Despite the hardships they face, there is a glimmer of hope and resilience that shines through.

I was truly impressed by the author's writing style and his ability to bring the stories to life.

By the time I finished the book, I knew that I would definitely read his work again.

I look forward to exploring more of his stories and seeing how he continues to develop as a writer.

Overall, this first encounter with his work has left a lasting impression on me.

Skvělé! This word truly encapsulates something wonderful. It can describe a remarkable experience, an outstanding achievement, or a simply amazing moment.

When we encounter something skvělé, it has the power to bring a smile to our faces and fill us with a sense of joy and excitement. It could be a beautiful piece of art that takes our breath away, a delicious meal that tantalizes our taste buds, or a great book that transports us to another world.

Skvělé can also refer to a person. Someone who is kind, generous, and has a great sense of humor can be described as skvělé. They have the ability to make those around them feel special and valued.

In conclusion, skvělé is a word that represents all that is good and wonderful in life. It is a word that we should use more often to describe the things and people that make our lives worth living.

I came across this book at a used book sale. The reason I picked it up was because I have a deep love for Potok's works such as The Chosen, The Promise, and My Name is Asher Lev.

However, this particular book contains three extremely sad and depressing stories that revolve around war and cruelty. It seems as if there is no glimmer of light in these dark narratives.

Interestingly, one of the blurbs on the book claims that it is filled with tales of hope. But after reading these stories, I must admit that I could not find any trace of hope within them.

Perhaps the author intended to show the harsh reality of war and cruelty, but for me, it was a rather disheartening read. I was left feeling a sense of melancholy and a longing for a more positive and hopeful message.

Nevertheless, I still appreciate Potok's writing style and his ability to vividly描绘 the emotions and experiences of the characters. Maybe with a different perspective, one could find some hidden hope within these stories. But for now, I am left with a feeling of sadness and a heavy heart.