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I am always skeptical about sequels. I often think that they can't live up to the original. However, this particular sequel was truly amazing. I would go so far as to say that I liked this one even better than "My name is Asher Lev".

In this sequel, Asher is a bit older and has a family. This means that his issues and challenges are different from those in the first book. There is a mystery that is woven throughout the novel. It pertains to a riddle that the rabbi shares at Asher's uncle's death. This mystery adds an extra layer of intrigue and keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

Overall, this is a really great book. It is well-written, engaging, and thought-provoking. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed "My name is Asher Lev" or who is interested in reading a good story about family, faith, and the search for meaning in life.

Well crafted and satisfying, yet not quite as engaging as his earlier work, "My Name is Asher Lev".

This book was one of my all-time favorites when I read it as a teenager.

The subject of being Jewish in today's world is always thought-provoking.

It brings up so many memories and issues that are close to my heart.

Anything by Chaim Potok is truly a treasure.

His writing has the power to transport readers into a different world, filled with rich characters and complex emotions.

Although this particular work may not have had the same level of impact as "My Name is Asher Lev", it still offers valuable insights and a unique perspective on the Jewish experience.

Chaim Potok's ability to explore themes such as identity, faith, and family is remarkable, and his books continue to be relevant and meaningful today.

Whether you are Jewish or not, reading his works can broaden your understanding and appreciation of different cultures and ways of life.

I was truly disappointed with this book.

It is extremely irritating when a sequel seems not to follow on from the first book. This one was published eighteen (!) years after "My Name is Asher Lev", and that shows.

It's almost as if Potok had a particular story in mind that he wanted to write, and simply chose to use the character and medium of Asher Lev because they were available, rather than because the story naturally flowed from the nature of the character as established in the first book.

To a certain extent, I understand that Potok aged Lev significantly, and thus there should be an accompanying change in character. However, the book gives the impression that Potok forgot the essence of Lev's character. Reading the two novels in close succession was a jarring experience.

Compounding this issue, the narrative has all of the problems of its predecessor and none of the positives. It is lacking in terms of events and fluidity, and has none of the emotional depth of its prequel.

It feels as if Asher regresses as a character over the course of the two novels. The ending seems contrived, hasty, and unearned.

Wait! Does this mean closure is possible?

Oh my goodness! This thought just popped into my mind and it's like a lightbulb moment.

If closure is possible, it could bring such a sense of relief and finality.

For so long, I've been longing for that moment when everything makes sense and I can finally move on.

It's been a journey filled with uncertainty and confusion, but maybe, just maybe, this is the sign I've been waiting for.

The idea of closure makes my heart race with anticipation.

What will it look like? How will it feel?

I can only imagine the weight that will be lifted off my shoulders.

But there's also a hint of nervousness.

What if it doesn't turn out the way I expect?

Despite the uncertainty, I'm holding onto this glimmer of hope.

Closure, here I come!

I was initially skeptical that this book, "The Gift of Asher Lev", would be following closely in the footsteps of "My Name is Asher Lev", much like so many sequels tend to do. They often attempt to rely on the magic discovered in the first book but end up falling just short.

However, to my great delight, I found that "The Gift of Asher Lev" truly stood on its own as a beautiful and captivating book, with its own unique charm and magic to offer.

In some ways, I didn't think it was quite as pure as the first one. There were certain snippets of dialogue that seemed a bit lackluster. But overall, I believed it was a riveting story that delved deep into the complex tensions between family, faith, calling, vocation, independence, community, and of course, art. It was the kind of delicately crafted story that we have come to anticipate from Potok. It was also the sort of respectful examination of humanity that leaves us all pondering the question: to what or whom are we accountable in this life?

Potok has a remarkable talent for leaving things in a state of ambiguity, and I thought this book was masterful in allowing the reader to process the story independently rather than dictating how they should perceive it. It truly engages the reader's mind and heart, making it a must-read for fans of Potok's work and those who appreciate thought-provoking literature.

Sean O’Casey once said, “May the best of the past be the worst of the future.” He believed in keeping everything always off balance, with no boundaries and no repetition. This is the exact opposite of what the Rebbe wants. The Rebbe, on the other hand, seeks fixed boundaries, perfect balance, and eternal repetition. Asher Lev finds himself caught in the middle of these two opposing views.

In his follow-up to My Name is Asher Lev, Chaim Potok continues Asher's story twenty years later. Asher is now a highly accomplished and world-renowned artist. He is married with two children and living in Saint-Paul, outside of Nice. However, a bad review of a showing in Paris and the death of a beloved uncle in Brooklyn bring him back to his old conflicts of religion versus art and back to his family in the Landover Hasidic community in Brooklyn.

These books are beautifully written and pulled me in from the very first few words. I felt the intensity of the second book even more than the first. Although some reviews have criticized the detailed discussions of creating works of art, I found them extremely enlightening. They provided valuable insights into the process that drove Asher. The writing is so vivid that I felt as if I was there: when the family mourned the passing of Uncle Yitzchok; when Lucien Lacamp ran carrying Asher’s young daughter to the emergency room as she gasped for air; during the telling of Devorah’s (Asher’s wife) story of her two years in hiding during the war; and when Asher and the Landover community danced a Simchas Torah dance.

It is truly a remarkable literary experience.

Even though I'm usually skeptical of sequels,

I recall pouncing on this when I first saw it.

I love how Potok brings greater depth to an already complex and lovable character.

In many ways this book surpassed its predecessor for me.

Asher Lev's return to NY brings new opportunities to heal old rifts.

Ironically, as he finds the means within himself to narrow those gaps, he creates a new wound that ultimately renews everyone... including himself.

Gut-wrenching and beautiful.

This story is not just about Asher's personal growth but also about the impact of his actions on those around him.

The way Potok weaves the themes of family, art, and identity is truly masterful.

Each character is vividly drawn and their emotions are palpable.

The book takes the reader on a journey through Asher's inner turmoil and his search for meaning and acceptance.

It's a story that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

Despite my initial skepticism, this sequel has become one of my favorite books.

I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story about the human condition.

My favorite book of all time is My Name Is Asher Lev. I simply adore it. Every time I pick it up and read, it seems to speak profound truth into my life.

The Gift of Asher Lev is also an incredibly life-giving book for me. I have a deep admiration for Chaim Potok's writing. In this book, he continues the story of Asher's life in a way that I truly appreciate. I find myself at a loss for words when trying to express all my thoughts and feelings about this book. It might sound over dramatic, but I firmly believe that The Gift completes My Name in the way Asher speaks of things needing to be completed. It's not just satisfying to see how Asher's life unfolds after he is asked to leave Brooklyn. The story of what happens to him and his community, with his significant contribution, truly brings his journey and his work for God to a sense of completion.

I have read these books several times as a parent, and each time I have experienced additional depth and seen more angles than in previous readings. I also believe that I have lost some of what I initially understood, as often happens when we transition from one season of life to another. This is certainly the case when I read My Name Is Asher Lev.

These books have a special power. They have the ability to return me to my true self. They help me to settle back into my faith, my purpose, my sense of personhood, my artist self, and my rightful place in this world. They are like old friends that always welcome me back and offer me new insights and perspectives.

I read this quite a while back. And after rereading the first one, I made up my mind to revisit this one as well. For me, it's an almost perfect book. I'm so deeply drawn into this character and the story. The conflict between his art and expression and his faith is truly captivating. His personal struggle to observe his faith while also expressing himself in his art is something that really touches me. I have a great love for the culture, ritual, and tradition of the faith. The prayers, the celebrations, and the ceremonies all add to the charm. I think I enjoyed this one even more the second time around because I could slow down and just fully enjoy the story. I wasn't in a rush to find out the conclusion. These two books definitely rank high in my personal favorites. They have left a lasting impression on me and I'm sure I'll be coming back to them again in the future.

I have a deep affection for the book My Name Is Asher Lev. However, this sequel, which is set decades after the events of the original, is disappointingly lackluster. It fails to capture the same level of excitement and engagement that the first book did.

Honestly, I believe that the story would have been better presented through the perspective of Asher's wife, Devorah. In the novel, Devorah has the most captivating story. Her experiences, emotions, and struggles add a rich and complex layer to the overall narrative.

By telling the story from her point of view, readers would have been able to gain a deeper understanding of the relationships and dynamics within the family. Devorah's character has the potential to bring a fresh and unique perspective to the events that unfold in the sequel.

It is a shame that the author did not choose to explore Devorah's story more fully. Instead, we are left with a rather dull and uninteresting sequel that fails to live up to the promise of the original.

Once again, Chaim Potok does it again.

In his novel, The Gift of Asher Lev, he masterfully illuminates with precision, empathy, and an open mind a community that often gets overlooked in popular literature.

He brings a deep understanding and love to it, even as he explores and questions what it means to be part of that community.

This is a follow-up to My Name is Asher Lev, which tells the story of a Hasidic boy who grows into a renowned painter.

After painting a series of works depicting his parents in crucified poses, representing a form of suffering not found in Judaism, he is exiled from his Hasidic community in Brooklyn.

Twenty years later, Asher Lev is a married father of two, living in the south of France and a highly successful and respected artist.

But after a critically panned show that leaves him artistically blocked and the death of his uncle, he and his family return to his old community for the days of mourning.

What was supposed to be 10 days soon turns into months.

While his family loves their newfound community (they have remained devout), Asher struggles to be back.

The community has mixed feelings about him, either tolerating, admiring, or outright despising him for his artistic secularization.

They see it as having no place in their devout devotion to their movement and the Master of the Universe.

But when the Rebbe starts posing riddles to Asher, he must reconcile his artistic future with the future of his family and his religious movement and community, ultimately leading to the ultimate gift that Asher could give.

There is always a tension between the religious and secular in Potok's books, but it is how he explores them, in harmony and disharmony, how they can complement each other and expose aspects of each other, that Potok excels at and explores deftly here through his characterization of Asher Lev.

We all have many gifts, but not all gifts are easy to give. However, we must give and use our gifts.