I'm a huge fan of Chaim Potok's The Chosen and The Promise. These books have always held a special place in my heart.

Although I didn't enjoy My Name Is Asher Lev (the prequel to this book) as much, it was still very good. However, The Gift of Asher Lev was somewhat disappointing to me.

The style of the Asher Lev books is darker, stranger, more abstract, and more self-consciously literary than that of the Reuven Malter books. This is in part to fit the subject matter - the career and family life of Asher Lev, a controversial late-twentieth-century artist who grows up in a fundamentalist Hasidic sect in Brooklyn.

But it's also an intentional shift in Potok's own voice. In The Gift of Asher Lev, it shifts a bit too far for my taste, just as Lev's abstract art goes too far for most of his family and friends to understand.

The plot here moves at a very deliberate pace, and the focus of the writing seems to be Lev's own perception of the world. He describes various details and impressions that he notices seemingly at random, and reveals an obsession with several important figures in his life who have died.

Many of the apparently important scenes are dreamlike conversations with those figures. The writing is excellent, of course, and Potok's descriptions of family life are moving as usual. But I didn't find The Gift of Asher Lev to pack nearly the same emotional and philosophical punch as Potok's other work.

I still appreciate Potok's talent and the unique perspective he brings to his stories, but The Gift of Asher Lev just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

While I've perused My Name is Asher Lev on multiple occasions (owing to the fact that I teach it in a course), I've held back on The Gift of Asher Lev. This is because there are relatively few sequels that I believe can reach the caliber of a powerful, original work. This continuation of Asher Lev's narrative by Chaim Potok, although not as robust as the initial novel, still presents an ongoing story that provides novel perspectives on the central character.

The book commences 20 years subsequent to the events in My Name is Asher Lev. At the conclusion of that novel, Asher Lev is dispatched from the Ladover community in New York by the Rebbe. He is not exiled from the community but rather informed that he must pursue his controversial art in Paris. [For a more comprehensive elucidation of the first novel, kindly refer to my original blog entry.]

We discover that Asher has become an extraordinarily successful artist, yet he has just endured a poorly-reviewed exhibition in Paris. He takes the criticism, namely that he is not innovating, to heart. Consequently, he finds himself unable to paint. We are introduced to his wife, Devorah, who managed to survive in Paris as a child for two years during WWII by concealing herself in an apartment with her aunt, uncle, and cousin. Her parents perished in the Holocaust, and the challenges faced by the survivors and the full horror of the Holocaust are integral to this book. Asher returns to New York with his wife, son, and daughter for the funeral of his beloved Uncle Yitzchok. We learn that Yitzchok became an art collector, a highly successful one at that, and he leaves the collection in Asher's care, much to the consternation of his cousins. This constitutes a subplot within the novel.

The focus lies on Asher's return to the community, where he is regarded with distrust and at times outright animosity. However, as is customary, the Rebbe lends his support and manages to persuade him to remain beyond the initially planned two weeks. Asher's stoic father is now the principal aide to the Rebbe and a highly venerated figure in the community. But the Rebbe is elderly and may not have much time left, which gives rise to the question of who will assume his position.

I shall refrain from revealing the answer, but Asher plays a surprising role in the Rebbe's plan for a successor (and no, it is not him - that would be too obvious). His wife, Devorah, is a captivating character. She forms connections with Asher's mother and father, assimilates into the community, lavishes attention on her children, writes children's books, and possesses an understanding of her husband that eludes everyone else. Nevertheless, she is haunted by the two years of hiding, the loss of her parents in the concentration camps, and her concerns for Asher and his struggles.

The book itself is far more introspective than the first one, which is unsurprising given that the main character is now in his 40s and at a crossroads in life. We witness the ongoing struggle for Asher to reconcile his faith with his art, albeit lacking the confidence we witnessed in the first book. Asher always knew he was on the correct path, even if he couldn't fathom it. Here, he appears immobilized by his past work and uncertain about how to progress. He focuses on drawing to rekindle his gift.

Potok sometimes loses his focus and develops parallel plots without integrating them. The conflict regarding the art collection and Asher's own struggles interact but never truly intersect. Additionally, when Asher grasps the Rebbe's succession plans, he spends an excessive amount of time ruminating on what we already know he will do. It is in these meanderings and Asher's lack of direction that the sequel falls short of matching the first novel. Nonetheless, if you have an affinity for the first book, the sequel does augment the storyline and is worthy of perusal. Potok has the ability to craft a compelling narrative.

Few books have had such a profound impact on me as Potok's Lev series. Seriously, I struggle to find the words to describe just how deeply these books affected me. They seemed to reach into the very core of my being, both the tangible and the intangible aspects, and squeeze and squeeze and squeeze until I felt I couldn't endure any more. These books are truly glorious and an absolute MUST read for any religious artist. For everyone else, they are also good, but perhaps they won't have the same level of devastation. In a way, that might even be a good thing. The Lev series offers a unique exploration of faith, identity, and the human condition that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. It challenges the reader to question their own beliefs and values, and to see the world from a different perspective. Whether you are a religious artist or simply someone who enjoys a good book, the Lev series is well worth your time and attention.

This book is truly a remarkable piece of work.

It is not only beautiful in its appearance but also in its content. The words seem to dance on the page, creating a vivid and enchanting world for the reader to explore.

However, it is also fragile, like a delicate flower that needs to be handled with care. The themes and ideas presented are complex and require a certain level of maturity and understanding to fully appreciate.

Moreover, the book is layered, with hidden meanings and subtleties that reveal themselves only upon multiple readings. It is not a book that can be read and forgotten; rather, it is one that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

I find myself in need of a bit of time to digest all that this book has to offer. I want to savor each word, each sentence, and each chapter, allowing the story to unfold and the ideas to take root in my mind.

This book is a treasure, and I am excited to see where this journey of discovery will take me.

When I engage with fiction, my expectations extend beyond mere entertainment. I渴望 to be deeply moved by the characters, to feel a connection with their joys, sorrows, and struggles. Additionally, I yearn to be introduced to diverse cultures, to expand my horizons and gain a better understanding of the world.

The Gift of Asher Lev truly delivers on both fronts. I recently delved into My Name is Asher Lev, and this book, which picks up 20 years later, is an absolute gem.

The story is not only captivating but also thought-provoking. It takes the reader on a journey through the life of Asher Lev, a young artist, as he navigates the complex intersection of art, religion, and family. The characters are vividly drawn, and their emotions are palpable.

Moreover, the book offers a fascinating glimpse into the Hasidic Jewish culture, with its unique traditions, values, and way of life. Through Asher's eyes, we witness the beauty and the challenges of this community, and we come to appreciate its rich heritage.

In conclusion, The Gift of Asher Lev is a must-read for anyone who loves fiction that combines heart, soul, and cultural exploration. It is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

I liked this even more than My Name is Asher Lev. I am not quite sure where to begin. This is my third Potok book in about a month, and I continue to get absorbed in his writing style in such a real way that I find myself thinking about the book and characters throughout the day and into the evening.

I wondered for some of the book if there was any possibility of truth to Asher's character, or if it was heavily stereotyped. Sad, lonely, selfish artist forced to choose between art and his family, art and his religion. I concluded as I read, happily, that even if there are some parts of Asher that are cliche, he breaks with that cliche several major ways. First, he maintains successful family relationships. He has a wife and two children, and one can't be too dysfunctional if they are going to keep that family happy.

I found myself really engaged with the theme of the conflict between art and community/religion. Asher was selfish, yes, but it felt like in many ways it was a helpless selfishness. He did choose his art, but he also showed the ambiguity that exists in the world and in all of us. He made profound choices that put his son and parents first.

Asher, in the first book and now this one, finds himself using art as a redemptive tool. Ironically, he experiences isolation because his family and community don't accept his art as such and cast him out for about twenty years. Interestingly, the Rebbe is able to come around and recognize art as a way of creating balance and even redemption in the world, even if the others in Asher's life who need it the most never end up seeing it.

His relationship with the Rebbe and his deep spirituality are two other things that make his character break with whatever stereotypes might exist about artists. He is deeply committed to the commandments, loyal to his spiritual leader, and seeks to consider his counsel seriously. In the end, the choices he is once again forced to make, this time deeply affecting the future of his son, are redeemed by the creative power within him. He is able to create art that redeems and make creative choices that reflect a deep love of his family and religion, however conflicted those feelings also are.

As a post script, I did some googling of this book and Chaim Potok. I discovered that Potok was also an artist, and that his parents heavily discouraged him in the same way that Asher is discouraged in the book. It turns out he did a painting of Brooklyn Crucifixion while writing the final chapters of this book. It is pretty good, I have to say. Some of the things I read quoted Potok as saying that he related to Asher Lev more than any of his other characters. I wondered all throughout the book how an author with no art experience could know so many technical aspects of the painting and drawing process. It was uncanny just how much he knew. Well, turns out he was an artist! It makes perfect sense now.

This is Potok's 4th novel for me, and I can easily add it to his other masterpieces.

I even liked it more than the first novel "My name is Asher Lev".

In the first part, we met Asher, his parents, his uncle, and the Rebb. We witnessed his internal conflicts with his religion and community, which ultimately led to his exile. He left home for France, living away from his non-approving family.

In this novel, Potok introduced other interesting characters, such as his wife, friends in Paris, and cousins, enriching the story. He discussed great artists and their works, painting techniques, museums, and gave a special role to Picasso as Asher's inspiring demon. I found myself typing artist names and taking short online tours to learn more, enhancing my enjoyment. Asher's conflicts are clearly illustrated, and his sacrifice of giving away his son to be the upcoming Rebb is as significant as Prophet Ibrahim's. The Rebb's speeches, with their riddles and apologetic remarks, are genius. The discussions between Asher and his daughter's classmates, as well as between Asher and his father, are both interesting and witty, adding charm and depth to the novel.

The similarities between the Ladover Hasidic and Islam are astonishing. The way Jewish women dress and pray is similar to that of Muslims. This shows that all religions come from the same God, just with different practices.

I won't comment on the writer's opinion about Israel, as I expected it. However, I hope that the agony they felt in the past will lead to an end to the current violence in Palestine.

The ache I felt while reading was not just Asher's but also my own. I discovered many things I didn't understand in my previous relationship with an artist. The complex relationship with his father, the conflicts between drawing nudes and Islamic beliefs, and many other things became clear to me, but unfortunately, too late.

The author vividly describes the process of creating the painting. Sketches in oils were first made on sheets of paper until the image was clear, and then it was transferred to a huge canvas. Devorah watched in tense silence, and her astonished eyes showed her dislike for the painting. The father, during one of his trips through Europe for the Rebbe, stared at the finished painting in trembling anger and bewilderment, asking what the author had done. The author replied that it was how he felt. The father then excused himself and never returned to the apartment. Douglas Schaeffer came to the apartment, stared at the painting that had disturbed the father, and with Lucien's help, had it removed and shipped to New York, where he called it The Sacrifice of Isaac. The author had wanted to name it Legacy.

The Gift of Asher Lev is a sequel that is haunting and passionate. The crucifixion paintings in the first novel represented the mother's struggle, and the author hoped a third painting would bind the wounds. Asher's struggles as an artist in a world that shunned art grew in depth through his maturity. The author expected the next painting to be a crucifixion of his own struggle between the Rebbe and Picasso, but it was a painting that had already been painted.

Asher was hunted by the image of his ancestor in the first book and is now hunted by a riddle posed by the Rebbe. In solving the riddle, he is faced with a choice that becomes his gift to the Master of the Universe and atones for his own failure to reconcile art and belief. He also needs to decide whether to tell the truth to Devorah, and he decides to let it come to her gradually, like a picture that is learned to be read color by color and shape by shape.

Enjoyable, despite not matching the brilliance of the first Asher Lev novel (4 stars)

Chaim Potok's sequel, "The Gift of Asher Lev," was written almost 20 years after the original "My Name is Asher Lev." Set in the mid-40s, Asher Lev rushes with his family from Paris to Brooklyn after his uncle's death. The new custodianship of his uncle's art collection brings new family conflicts, and the old ones between art and religious beliefs persist. Asher faces a hostile reception from the Ladover Jewish community. However, there are hints of a succession plan for the aging Rebbe that involves Asher's family, keeping them in New York. But this creates a new challenge for Asher as his work now comes with difficulty. He's been panned by critics, struggles for inspiration, and can only draw. This forces him to choose between staying in New York as his family wants or returning to France to continue his work.

The first part of the novel rehashes some material from the first one, which is helpful for setting the background. There are many flashbacks, which reflect Asher's struggles but also make the book harder to read. The notion of "riddle" is an important theme, with the Rebbe's words and actions being riddles. The novel also contains valuable discussions about art, highlighting the conflict between Asher's view of art's ambiguity and the Hasidim's faith perspective. The dialogue is terse, and the sensory descriptions of people and places are remarkable. While not as compelling as the first novel, "The Gift of Asher Lev" is still a thoughtful read for those who enjoyed the first one. It expresses Asher's troubled state and inner turmoil as he tries to make sense of things.

Overall, it's an enjoyable novel that, despite its flaws, offers a deeper exploration of Asher's character and the themes of art, religion, and family.

Another great book by the Master Chaim Potok

Chaim Potok is a renowned author whose works have touched the hearts and minds of countless readers. His latest book is no exception. It takes the reader on a journey through a world filled with complex characters, deep emotions, and thought-provoking themes.

The story unfolds in a small town, where the lives of the residents intersect in unexpected ways. We follow the protagonist as he grapples with personal and family issues, while also trying to make sense of the world around him. Along the way, he meets a cast of colorful characters, each with their own unique stories and perspectives.

Potok's writing is both beautiful and engaging, drawing the reader in from the very first page. His ability to create vivid images and bring his characters to life is truly remarkable. The book is not only a great read, but also a powerful exploration of the human condition. It makes us think about our own lives, our relationships, and the choices we make. Overall, it is a must-read for anyone who loves great literature.

I can't quite explain why, but I had a harder time reading this book than the first.

It was like trying to walk around waist deep in syrup. It's an extremely difficult task, yet syrup is delicious.

Yeah... Yeah, that sort of makes sense. Potok once again does a fantastic job of creating a vivid image of the characters' surroundings as you read.

However, there was almost an excessive amount of this description, and not enough actual content.

I suppose that's just the Chaim Potok way.

He is the master at eloquently writing about what seems like nothing on the surface, but with a very deep underlying message.

His writing style can be both captivating and frustrating at the same time.

On one hand, you are drawn in by the beautiful prose and detailed descriptions.

On the other hand, you sometimes wish there was more substance and less fluff.

Nevertheless, Potok's work is still值得欣赏 (worth appreciating) for its unique charm and the thought-provoking ideas it presents.

Absolutely fascinating insight into the mind of the artist adrift within a small orthodox Jewish community.

The artist, in this confined and traditional setting, experiences a unique struggle. On one hand, there is the pull of the community's age-old customs and beliefs, which seem to constrict and limit the creative spirit. On the other hand, there is the inner urge to break free and express oneself in ways that may not conform to the established norms. This conflict creates a complex and often tumultuous mental landscape for the artist.

As the artist navigates through this community, there are moments of both inspiration and frustration. The rich history and cultural heritage of the orthodox Jewish community can provide a wealth of material for artistic exploration. However, the strictures and expectations can also prove to be a hindrance. The artist must constantly grapple with the question of how to remain true to oneself while also finding a way to fit within the community. It is a delicate balance that requires great courage and self-awareness.