Another absolutely remarkable book by Chaim Potok.

Just like in most of the other books I've read from him, this one follows a young and extremely intelligent student who is delving into the study of Talmud and other Jewish teachings. Eventually, he begins to question some of what he has learned.

My suspicion is that a great deal of what Potok writes about mirrors his own life. The extent of his knowledge regarding the subject matter is truly astounding.

The main story of the book follows David Lurie as he endeavors to navigate life as a young Jew during the difficult period of the Depression and then on into the tumultuous years of WWII.

A background theme that runs through the book is the extreme prejudice, hatred, and murder of Jews throughout history. Additionally, it also explores the resulting hatred of the Goyim by many Jews.

This book not only provides a captivating narrative but also offers deep insights into the complex and often tragic history of the Jewish people. It makes the reader reflect on the consequences of prejudice and hatred and the importance of understanding and acceptance.

Overall, it is a must-read for anyone interested in Jewish history, literature, or the human condition.

In the Beginning by Chaim Potok is a captivating historical novel set in the Bronx, New York in the 1930s.

It tells the story of young David Lurie and his parents, as well as the entire Jewish society. David serves as the narrator throughout the book, which I discovered by chance in my school library while working on an assignment.

The novel begins with David facing "hard beginnings" due to religious persecutions and diseases in his neighborhood. His parents, Max and Ruth Lurie, are associated with the Am Kedoshim Society, a Jewish Orthodox group from Poland. However, when the Great Depression hits, Max loses his followers and falls into a depressed state.

One of my favorite parts of the novel is when David defies Jewish standards and discovers the world outside of Jewry. This is a significant moment as it changes things forever in his local society.

I gave this book a five-star rating because I love Chaim Potok's writing style and the content it presents. The writing flows smoothly while also presenting challenges for the protagonist, evoking both subtle and hectic emotions in me.

In my opinion, this book provides valuable insights into what it was like to be a Jew in the 1930s. It offers a glimpse into a bygone era and the experiences of a Jewish boy during that time. While the writing style had me in a trance, there were a few weaknesses. Overall, I highly recommend this book to readers interested in history.

Chain Potok, the renowned author of the highly successful novel "The Chosen", once again delves into his personal memories in this book. He vividly shares the experiences of orthodox Jewish families who fled the persecution of Polish Jews after WWI and embarked on a new life in the Bronx.

The story is narrated over a span of 20 years by the son of a former war hero and Jewish activist. It follows the arduous journey of a brilliant young scholar who is plagued by illness. Despite the constant pain, worry, and harassment he endures, he坚持不懈地 studies the Talmud.

This book offers an intimate and detailed look at a culture that was relatively new to America in the early 20th century. However, over time, it has become an integral and permanent part of the fabric of New York City and the entire country. Through Potok's engaging narrative, readers gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of this unique cultural heritage.

This is my third time delving into the works of Chaim Potok. Firstly, I must assert that Potok is a highly capable writer, and I frequently relish the Jewish commentary he infuses into his stories. That being said, I did have an overall positive experience with "In the Beginning" for many of these reasons, yet there were also aspects that led me to rate it a three.

To begin with, I appreciated the fact that we follow the main character, David Lurie, from birth to adulthood. Potok's decision to take us through such an extensive period of this character's life allowed us to accompany him through significant world events like the aftermath of WWI, the Great Depression, and then WWII.

Since David is a child for a substantial portion of the book, we witness events through his eyes. Moreover, David is a sickly child, which means that at times, we are seeing things through his feverish perception. As a result, the narration can sometimes be a bit unreliable. There are instances where David is not provided with all the facts by his parents, he hallucinates, and we experience things through his fever dreams, or he imagines events that may or may not have occurred. This made for a unique reading experience, as I don't recall ever coming across anything quite like it. There were moments when I myself felt disoriented due to all the jumps and turns in David's mind.

Some of the passages描绘David生病的情景 are rather difficult to read because you truly empathize with his suffering. Potok vividly describes the agony that David endures, and it can be almost brutal. And this is not a one-time occurrence; rather, David is sick frequently, so we have to endure these descriptions of his illness on multiple occasions. David's family also experiences numerous ups and downs, with the downs often taking center stage, resulting in many depressing descriptions. Additionally, he is the most teased child in the world, being constantly bullied in the beginning of the book by various people, and these descriptions are hard to stomach. I suppose what I'm attempting to convey is that Potok is a powerful writer who excels at making you feel the pain of his characters firsthand.

However, the book was perhaps a bit too long, and I felt that the last 100 pages or so dragged on. As David matures, he becomes a scholar, and the final part of the book leans more towards a commentary on his studies rather than推动故事向前发展. While some of this is interesting, it could be confusing for those who have no prior knowledge of Jewish writings.

The ending was meaningful, yet also a bit abrupt. This is definitely not Potok's most renowned book, and probably not one that I would recommend to those just starting to explore his works. Nevertheless, I did appreciate it and felt that I gained something from it. It is rather disheartening that more people are not aware of this book, as I believe it has been somewhat overlooked.

Beautifully written.

It was so engaging that I hardly noticed that anything was happening. However, suddenly, everything was different.

The story was told in such a way that I felt like I knew the characters intimately.

It presented a different angle on being Jewish during WWII, which was truly fascinating.

Watching David grow into his own person was also an interesting aspect of the narrative.

The author did an excellent job of creating a vivid and immersive world, filled with complex characters and a captivating plot.

I found myself completely invested in the story and eager to see what would happen next.

Overall, it was a great read that I would highly recommend to others.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed 'Asher Lev'.

Another novel about a sickly young boy growing up in New York, in an orthodox Jewish community.

The story seems to be constantly haunted by history and the past.

Maybe it's because the themes are a bit too沉重 and the narrative a bit too slow-paced for my taste.

While 'Asher Lev' had a certain charm and a more engaging storyline, this book failed to capture my attention in the same way.

The characters, although well-developed, didn't seem to have the same depth and complexity as those in 'Asher Lev'.

Overall, I was left feeling a bit disappointed with this novel and would probably not recommend it to others who are looking for a light and enjoyable read.

In The Beginning

The style of In The Beginning is markedly different from Potok's earlier novels. The story unfolds through somewhat non-sequential flashbacks. We get to see a great deal of David as a young boy, and then it rapidly progresses through his adolescent years. He is intelligent, loves books, and is intellectually rebellious, yet in a quiet and confident manner. The narrative shifts back and forth between detailed descriptions and more emotional impressions. A lot of it takes place in David's mind, sometimes when he is sick with fever or lost in deep daydreams.

The overall mood of the novel is one of melancholy. While there are moments of joy and happiness, there is also a great deal of sadness and loneliness. It is beautiful in many respects, painting an impressionistic picture of American Orthodox Jewish life in the early to middle part of the 20th century.

Potok's novels transport me into a world that is both familiar and completely foreign. It is a deeply Jewish world, but not the one I grew up in. Potok awakens in me a desire to know more about this Orthodox world, along with a (very slight) regret that I didn't grow up and live in a world filled with Torah and Talmud. At the same time, I am repelled by this closed, ghettoized world that is so fearful and disdainful of different knowledge and ways. I believe this tension lies at the heart of Potok's novels. Whether it's Danny Saunders (The Chosen), Asher Lev (My Name is Asher Lev), or David (In The Beginning), the main character always straddles and struggles with the gap between the Yiddish, Orthodox world and the secular world. He wants to preserve and maintain the world he knows and loves, but there is too much within him - a desire for more than what the insular Orthodox world can offer - for him to remain. He doesn't want to reject the past, but he also knows that life demands moving forward...to a new beginning.

This book was an absolute delight to read, and there are numerous reasons for it.

The pacing of the story was a touch on the slower side, but for those who have a penchant for details and a love for subtle yet flawlessly executed narration, this is truly a remarkable story that is well worth exploring.

I found myself completely engrossed in the narrative, unable to put the book down.

If only there was an option to award more stars, I would毫不犹豫地 do so.

This book has most definitely earned its rightful place among my top five favorite novels.

It has left a lasting impression on me, and I will surely be recommending it to all my friends and fellow book lovers.

The author's skill in creating a vivid and immersive world, along with the well-developed characters and engaging plot, is truly commendable.

I can't wait to see what else this talented author has in store for us in the future.

This is a truly remarkable book that is both deep and moving, capable of inspiring its readers on many levels.

Compared to some of the other books by Potok that I have had the pleasure of reading, this one may seem a bit slower-paced. However, don't let that fool you, as it is still a thing of beauty.

The author takes us on a wonderful journey into the rich and fascinating world of Jewish culture, providing us with a unique and valuable perspective.

I find myself truly appreciating the unwavering dedication of practicing Jews, as depicted in this book. Their commitment to their faith and traditions is both humbling and inspiring.

Overall, this is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in learning more about Jewish culture or simply looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read.

This was rather slow reading.

I'm not entirely certain that it reached the level of his other books.

The pace seemed to drag at times, making it a bit of a struggle to get through.

Perhaps it was the subject matter or the writing style that didn't quite click with me.

However, I still have high expectations for this author based on his previous works.

Maybe upon a second reading, I'll be able to pick up on more of the nuances and appreciate it better.

Nonetheless, for now, I can't help but feel a bit disappointed that it didn't measure up to the standard I've come to expect from him.

I'll be interested to see if his next book fares any better.

The Lord never promised us that this world would be easy. Far from it. It is probably on purpose.

The yearning in our hearts for utopia, which has led to such tremendous violence in places like Germany, Russia, Cambodia, Venezuela, and Cuba, is only meant to be fulfilled by what comes after.

“Life is a bus station waiting room,” say Muslims, and many Christians too. We are only here to test our mettle against the pressures of the world: greed, envy, violence, sex, lawlessness.

Can we withstand these pressures that seem so, so, so very attractive; and attaining them so, so, so desired? I mean, who doesn’t want a 450-foot yacht? Who doesn’t want a Da Vinci hanging in their bathroom?

The older I get and the more difficulties the world throws at me, the more I realize this. But also, the more I realize that the “scientism” we got from the Soviets does not satisfy.

There is a deeper level of knowledge that comes from quantum entanglement and the interconnectivity of all things. The world depends on the sun, but the sun depends on the major black hole in the center of the Milky Way.

Likely, the Milky Way doesn’t collapse due to the gravitational pull of something we cannot see but must be there too. It is all a perfectly balanced, epic construction, all designed to test whether I go out this morning and hurt people or help people.

I just finished Chaim Potok’s book “In The Beginning“. It is not his most epic work. In my opinion, that is “Davita’s Harp,” although others say it’s “The Chosen.” But it is amazing.

A little boy growing up in America, in an Orthodox Jewish home (like all his stories), decides to study secular (goyish) theology instead of the Talmud.

All Potok’s stories are about this tension, of Orthodoxy against the larger world. I think he struggled a lot with the pressure of family and tradition.

All set against the backdrop of a genocide that has scarred the Jewish people forever.

This work, which appears to be autobiographical, is truly remarkable. It has the ability to vividly capture the essence and weight of life during several significant periods. In the 1920s, a time of great change and uncertainty, the author skillfully portrays the challenges and hopes of that era.

Then, there is the Great Depression, a time of economic turmoil and hardship that affected countless lives. The work delves into the struggles and sacrifices that people had to endure during this difficult period.

World War II brought with it even more chaos and destruction. The author shows how this global conflict had a profound impact on individuals and families.

Perhaps most strikingly, the work reflects the horrors of the Holocaust. Through the eyes of one Jewish family living in New York, we are able to see the refracted effects of this unspeakable tragedy. The author's descriptions are both powerful and moving, making us truly understand the magnitude of the Holocaust and its lasting impact on those who survived.

This work is a must-read for anyone interested in history, literature, or the human experience. It offers a unique perspective on some of the most important events of the 20th century and reminds us of the importance of remembering and learning from the past.