My Name is Asher Lev is my favorite book of all time. So, it was inevitable that I would love this one too. However, it didn't quite reach the five-star mark. The transitions and ending are a bit abrupt at times.

Despite that, I feel as if I am right beside Asher every step of the way. He is navigating his identity through various locations, his religion, his friends, and even the less creative aspects of the art business.

The emotionally troubling and sometimes toxic nature of his hometown and community is counterbalanced by the grand gestures from the Rebbe and the rotating members of his immediate and extended family.

Ultimately, I do appreciate the substance of how his story ended. But I still long for more. What if there was an unpublished third book by Potok waiting to be discovered? That would be truly amazing.

I can't wait to see what else Asher's journey holds, even if it's just in my imagination.

The weirdest and wildest Chaim Potok book I have read so far.

However, I couldn't help but fall in love with all the characters. Each one is so vividly drawn, with their own unique personalities and quirks.

The mysticism in the book is also truly captivating. It adds an air of mystery and wonder that keeps you turning the pages.

The religious ritual described is both fascinating and enlightening. It gives you a glimpse into a world that is often unfamiliar and yet so rich in meaning.

And of course, the intellectual musings throughout the book are thought-provoking and engaging. They make you stop and think about life, love, and the meaning of it all.

As always, Chaim Potok has managed to create a world that is both beautiful and complex, a world that you can't help but get lost in.

I have a profound love for Asher Lev.

It was approximately a million years ago when I read "My Name is Asher Lev." This came after a few other Potok books were assigned to me in high school, and I found them truly captivating.

Little did I know that another Asher Lev book existed. Discovering this one was a delightful surprise, and I was eager to learn about the events that had unfolded in his life.

I adore the fact that he grows up to become a world-famous artist with a family of his own. Yet, he remains a devout Hasidic Jew, even though he makes some rather unconventional choices for that community. For instance, he cuts off his payos and wears a fisherman's cap to cover his head.

Potok's books have a remarkable way of allowing non-Jewish readers to fully immerse themselves in a world that would otherwise remain unknown to them. (And I'm truly grateful that Google exists now, enabling me to look up information that I couldn't access during my high school days.)

This story is filled with surprises regarding the actions of different people. The religious, worldly, and artistic constraints are all intricately woven with the personalities of seemingly real individuals.

Asher returns to his family of origin, back to the Ladover Hasids. What was supposed to be a week-long visit turns into a month and then into something more.

I'm glad to have the opportunity to get to know Asher again, along with his wife, kids, parents, and friends. However, I'm also sad to finish this book and bid shalom (or perhaps sholem?) to them.

For me, the second half of the book moved a bit slowly, and at first, the ending seemed like a bit of a copout. But upon further reflection, it blends the themes of Asher's life across both books perfectly, making it a fitting conclusion.

Overall, my love for Asher Lev and Potok's storytelling remains as strong as ever.

This is a truly lovely and evocative book.

It is my very first encounter with the sequel to "My Name is Asher Lev", which I firmly believe is one of the closest approximations of a nearly perfect novel that my imagination can conceive.

The sequel is extremely good: it is highly evocative, immersive, poetic, and deeply emotional. "The Gift of Asher Lev" is replete with the tensions that were present in "My Name is Asher Lev".

However, the symbolic image this time is not the Crucifixion as it was in the first book. Instead, the guiding image here is the Sacrifice of Isaac - only this time, God does not supply a ram in the thicket.

It is a truly stunning book, although for me, it cannot quite reach the heights of its original text.

I have a strong desire to read "Davita's Harp", but I must put a stop for now. Potok's writing has invaded my dreams, as if an ancestor has stormed into my present.

I find it impossible to sleep. I dream of Hasidic romances and paint my nights in a numbered fashion. I am completely exhausted.

This was a truly excellent sequel to My Name Is Asher Lev. It delved into similar profound themes such as the intense tension between religion and art, and that between family and religion.

Asher's "voice" remained recognizable, yet he was now a more mature 45-year-old. Twenty years after painting the crucifixions, Asher returned to Brooklyn with his family following the death of his Uncle Yitzchok. What was initially planned as a few-week visit stretched into a month and then another, and unfortunately, Asher's creative drought only intensified.

I must admit that I felt the book dragged a bit in the middle when Asher was aimlessly wandering around Paris. However, overall, Potok managed to achieve something quite similar to the first book. He skillfully created a sense of building tension towards the end of the story, despite there not being a great deal "happening" in terms of the plot. We closely followed Asher's thoughts and observations as he gradually became aware of just how great the tension was growing and what would be expected of him, even though no one explicitly asked.

I was truly surprised by the amount of sadness (and perhaps even anger) that I felt after reading this story. This was considering the fact that no one died (except in flashbacks) and there was no real, explicit "object" or villain to direct those feelings towards.

Just like the first book, I firmly believe that this story has applications that extend far beyond just Hasidic Judaism. I was particularly intrigued by the contrast between Asher's cousin Yonkel, who openly condemned him, and yet it still wasn't enough for him, and other relatives of Asher who, he concluded, didn't even truly realize what they were asking of him. The two scenes with his mother and father, where Asher vacillated between whether or not they were conscious of what he believed to be their ulterior motives, were extremely interesting and are still making me reflect. The scene between Asher and his father where they discussed ambiguity versus certainty was also very thought-provoking.

Gah! My first encounter with a Chaim Potok book and I made the mistake of reading the sequel first.

I truly hope that having read it doesn't mar the experience of the preceding story because I absolutely adored this book and am eagerly anticipating "My Name is Asher Lev".

You come across books about Jews and books about art, but Potok weaves together the themes of religion, the struggle with tradition, art, family, and relationships in such a magnificent way that you simply can't put the book down.

It's fascinating to read about Jewish tradition as they are the people mentioned in the Bible, yet the teachings have both similarities and differences. Of course, this is somewhat tangential, but it was a thought that crossed my mind while reading this book. I mean, you read Anne Frank and other books about Jews and the war, but this one delves much deeper into religion and tradition.

In any event, this review fails to do justice to the book, so I'll leave you with a beautiful quote (one of my favorites):

Man sees only between the blinks of his eyes. He does not know what the world is like during the blinks. He sees the world in pieces, in fragments. But the Master of the Universe sees the world whole, unbroken. That world is good.

Chaim Potok does it again!

He has once more managed to captivate readers with his remarkable storytelling skills. Potok's ability to bring characters to life and create vivid worlds is truly extraordinary.

In his latest work, he delves deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of identity, faith, and family. The story unfolds with a rich tapestry of emotions, drawing the reader in and making them feel as if they are a part of the characters' lives.

Potok's writing is both细腻 and powerful, his words flowing seamlessly to create a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Whether you are a long-time fan of his work or a newcomer, you are sure to be impressed by his latest offering.

So, if you are looking for a book that will transport you to another world and leave you with a deeper understanding of the human experience, look no further than Chaim Potok's latest masterpiece.

At first, I didn't have the same level of affection for it as I did for "My Name is Asher Lev." However, as I delved deeper into the story and got going, my feelings towards it completely changed. I found myself LOVING it!

The book offered an interesting perspective on the concept of sacrifice. It made me think about the choices people make and the consequences that follow. The author did a wonderful job of presenting this complex theme in a way that was both engaging and thought-provoking.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book. It is one of the great books that I have read in a long time. The author's writing style is captivating, and the story keeps you hooked from beginning to end. If you are looking for a book that will make you think and feel, then this is definitely one to check out.

Potok penned this book a full five years after his previous one. One might have thought he would have remained in retirement. However, not only does he go overboard with describing meaningless scenery, but his book also becomes overly fixated on Art, yet fails to develop any of it in a meaningful way.

I was left with the distinct impression that no aspect of the story was resolved, making it an utter waste of my time.

Take, for example, his uncle's art collection. The response of "Oh. Just keep it in storage" is truly baffling. How can something that is allegedly destroying his family simply be stored away?

Then there's the scene where Asher Lev gives a picture to his son as a gift. Is this really supposed to be a touching moment? It's just a drawing on paper.

I would rate this book five stars as a surefire cure for insomnia. I'm angry because I feel insulted by this self-gratifying "work" that, in my opinion, never really gets off the ground to begin with and just seems to unravel as it progresses.

I didn't manage to obtain this book. I had a great fondness for the first one, namely My Name is Asher Lev. However, this particular one didn't seem to possess a distinct point or purpose.

It left me with a sense of dissatisfaction and confusion. I was期待ing something more profound and engaging, but unfortunately, it failed to meet my expectations.

Perhaps I was comparing it too closely to the first book, which had made such a strong impression on me. Or maybe the story just didn't resonate with me on a personal level.

Whatever the reason, I couldn't help but feel disappointed. I had been looking forward to delving into this new installment, but it just didn't seem to have the same magic as its predecessor.

Nevertheless, I will not give up on the author entirely. I believe that every writer has their off days, and perhaps this was just one of them. I will continue to explore their work in the hope of finding that same spark that made me fall in love with My Name is Asher Lev in the first place.

Both a profound and deeply humane book, The Gift of Asher Lev by Chaim Potok is an absolute must-read.

It is a sequel to My Name is Asher Lev, and although Potok does an excellent job of seamlessly mending the two stories together, they can each be read independently. This is because they both contain rich and meaningful plots of their own.

The book delves into the struggle of a man, Asher Lev, who must once again face the Hasidic community that rejected him in earlier years. It is thought-provoking as it offers the reader a chance to step back and remember the significance of family and the expectations that come with these ties.

Potok also explores the power of art by allowing the artist Asher Lev to confront his own ambivalence and his family's objections in order to defend his passion for painting. I found this book to be extremely strong and engaging, and it provides a great portrayal of the struggles people may encounter when their life passions clash with their religious and cultural heritage.

Potok's writing promotes and cultivates ideas of compromise and peace in the rather grim world of post-World War II. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who desires to read an intelligent and captivating page-turner.

This is a reread.

I've been extremely desperate for good books this winter. I've read so few, and yet, this one stands out as a truly good book.

It is filled to the brim with an abundance of religious themes. The central question that it poses is about what we give and what we hold back.

I've always found Jewish thinking, although distinct from my own, to be like a parallel universe where the logic has its own sense and coherence.

I'm truly glad to once again enter into a world that grapples with these profound questions. It's like embarking on a new intellectual and spiritual journey, one that challenges my own beliefs and perspectives.

The exploration of these religious themes and the examination of our giving and withholding behaviors offer valuable insights into the human condition.

It makes me reflect on my own life and the choices I make, both in terms of what I share with others and what I keep to myself.

This reread has been a rewarding experience, and I look forward to delving deeper into the pages of this remarkable book.