PREFACE: I firmly believe that I was first introduced to Chiam Potok during my freshman year of college. Surprisingly, I never had the opportunity to read "The Promise of The Chosen" in high school. However, as I embarked on my Potok journey, I soon realized that the first work of his that I delved into was "The History of the Jews." It was a remarkable biographical, geographical, and historical account of the Jewish race, taking readers on a captivating journey through time. I had the privilege of reading this book before my visit to Israel.

My all-time favorite Potok book is undoubtedly "My Name is Asher Lev." This book marked the beginning of my exploration into the modern philosophy of art and its profound place in religion, as well as in my own life. The story of a young boy who is divinely gifted with the talent to be an artist is truly beautiful. Yet, there lies a deeply identifying dilemma. While the gift is bestowed by God, it has unfortunately become a source of strain, contempt, and isolation from his family. After reading this book, I found myself immersed in college, eagerly trying to absorb all that I could about my philosophy in life and how it relates to my work and my "calling" to be a landscape architect.

This book is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most influential books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It has left an indelible mark on my intellectual and spiritual journey.

Another book that I remember loving when I read it as a much younger reader.

Rereading it now, I felt the flaws all too vividly.

However, that said, it still holds mega buckets of water in the description of the creative process.

Although it is anchored to the tail end of modernism, its insights into how creativity unfolds are still relevant and valuable.

The author's detailed account of the steps, struggles, and joys of the creative journey makes this book a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the creative process.

Even with its flaws, it manages to capture the essence of what it means to be a creative individual and offers practical advice and inspiration along the way.

Overall, while it may not be a perfect book, it is still a significant work that has had a lasting impact on my understanding of creativity.

Powerful.

This is the story of a Hasidic Jew who is a gifted painter. In the orthodox Jewish community, his talent is not approved of. His life turns into a struggle. On one side is his father, who attempts to divert him from the arts to more traditionally accepted hobbies, all the while striving to understand him. On the other side is his need to draw in order to express himself.

I could sympathize with all the characters in the book. His father, for trying to hold onto his religious convictions not with dominance but with love. His mother, for trying to love and encourage her son while remaining in harmony with her husband. The mentor, for his love and devotion to art. And especially Asher, for trying to balance it all.

I loved that it wasn't a story about how his parents rejected him because he was different. Instead, they tried to understand and love their son in the best way they knew how while still maintaining their faith. It was an honest parent/child relationship. I think Asher valued his faith and his parents more because of their attempt at understanding him. I enjoyed learning about Hasidic Jews, understanding their religious convictions, and experiencing the aesthetic pull to explain the world through art. The backdrop was so real to me that I could feel this boy's life.

My one complaint would be that I still wonder what a few of the terms mean. Like what exactly does Ladover mean?

Asher says this of painting: "I paint my feelings. I paint how I see and feel about the world. But I paint a painting, not a story." I absolutely loved that the writing style correlates with a painting style. Asher is non-descriptive about his feelings, only stating his replies to people's questions instead of delving inside his own emotions. Just like a painting, the reader is left to interpret those for himself. The story flows through the years smoothly, but it is the writing style that elevates it to a higher level. When the style can add another layer by making you feel Asher's love of painting, it makes the book beautiful.

The reason this is one of my favorite books is that I connected with it on a deeply personal level. As someone who dabbles with the art of writing and is an extremely religious person, I often wonder how I would balance art and religion. I hate that it has to be a choice, but if you are going to commit yourself that deeply to an art, there will come a time when you have to pick your art or your faith. I hope I would pick faith, but where I draw the line may be different from someone else's, and therefore I run the risk of offending. Part of being an artist is coming to terms with this displacement. It is the reason I empathized with Asher and come back to his story time and again in my own quest to balance it all.

Chaim Potok is an outstanding author who has his own unique writing style. He refuses to pen a book that is simply a page-turner. I can't begin to count the number of mediocre books I've endured, hoping for a conclusion that would be as profound and moving as Potok's works, which justify their slower pace.

This particular book was a challenge for me to finish initially. It was all too easy to set aside, and to be honest, I didn't start to like it until I was about three-fourths of the way through. Now, however, I can state with great emphasis that it is one of the best books I've ever read.

There is an abundance to say about this book. Throughout my reading, I constantly thought the book was about one thing or another, only to be amazed when I realized the subject matter delved much deeper. At first, I believed it was about an art prodigy and the difficult path one takes when their child is special or gifted.

In a way, it is.

Then I thought it was about the pain and awkwardness of being a religious Jew in the aftermath of World War II.

Again, to some extent.

Subsequently, I thought it was similar to "The Namesake" and the struggle between parents and children across different generations.

Getting closer still.

Ultimately, I think this book is about perception. What does it mean to honor your father and mother, and what does it mean to follow your dream? What is tradition, and what is truth? What is the better choice, and what is the better life? Whose point of view truly matters?

I encountered a great deal of frustration while reading this. Firstly, this book涵盖了众多我要么一无所知、要么毫无兴趣的内容。 For example, Asher Lev is an art prodigy. Since he is the main character, art - its history and technique - is a frequent topic. I know very little about art. It was difficult for me to understand Asher Lev's compulsion to draw and paint. As someone without a particular passion, I had to accept his word that for him, drawing and painting wasn't just a hobby or something he liked to do, but it was an essential part of who he was, an insatiable need that controlled him. Such passion would likely cause issues in any family, but when you are a Hasidic Jew and the son of an important emissary of the Rebbe whose life's work is to create safe places to teach the Torah to religious Jews throughout Europe, that passion can tear a family apart.

My second source of frustration should be evident by now. I know very little about Judaism. Potok's description of Jewish life is unapologetic. Obviously a Jew himself, he doesn't write for non-Jews (are you frustrated? That's the Jewish term for Gentiles. Yeah... I know. I had to learn it all too).

There is a notable absence of emotion in the writing about such an emotionally charged situation. Short, perfunctory sentences made me feel as frustrated with the situation as I imagined Asher Lev felt with his father, who didn't understand art. By the end of the book, I could appreciate the technique employed. Asher Lev was the narrator, and we experienced the story through his eyes. That containment of emotion, the abrupt conclusion of dialogue with his parents... that was his reality.

It all builds up to this peak of frustration, this outburst of emotion that causes the most hurt to his parents, even though that's what his art is about... his hurt, his mother's hurt, his father's hurt. I actually cried during this part. I rarely cry. It's that good.

This is an incredible book. An important book. A book that is most definitely worth reading.

Feb 24, 22pm ~~ Review asap.

Feb 25, 820pm ~~ This book was my introduction to Chaim Potok so many years ago that I don't even remember exactly when I first read it. But it made a tremendous impression on me back then. Potok became a favorite author, one I always kept my eyes open for at all the used book sales I used to visit.

This year I am rereading my Potok library and have added a few new-to-me titles to it. I am reading in order of publication. I started with The Chosen and The Promise. My Name Is Asher Lev is the author's third novel, originally published in 1972.

This is another intense and intimate novel that might leave the reader a bit drained by the final page. Once again, Potok creates a character who is vibrantly alive and makes the reader live in that character's world, experiencing all the events swirling through Asher's sometimes tortured psyche.

We see through Asher's eyes what it is like to have a talent that is beyond anything the people around him could ever imagine. A talent that scares people but insists on being used. Asher was an artist before he even knew the meaning of the word, but his ability made life hard for him. How can he learn to make his gift work for him without losing himself in the process?

Because artists don't wear the earlocks and clothing of Haisidic Jews, do they? That talent is not a gift, it is something evil that comes from the Other Side, isn't it?

We follow Asher as he grows and discovers answers to these and other questions that will shape the man he becomes by the end of the book. And for me, the journey was spellbinding. The psychological ins and outs, ups and downs, questions sometimes with answers, sometimes not. The characters we meet, the ideas that are discussed. It was absolutely hypnotic from beginning to end and very hard to put down.

I said I am reading my pile of Chiam Potok titles in order of publication date but I have skipped the next three for now in order to get immediately to The Gift Of Asher Lev. It is another reread after very many years, and I cannot wait to see What Happened Next in Asher's life!

Asher Lev is a remarkable boy with extraordinary artistic talent, growing up in a tightly-knit Hasidic Jewish community in post-war Brooklyn.

The members of this community strictly adhere to Orthodox Jewish practices. The men sport beards and sidelocks, and Asher, too, keeps kosher and prays three times a day to Ribbono Shel Olom, the Master of the Universe. However, his artistic inclination soon creates a rift with his community.

He is supposed to focus on studying Torah, but his heart lies in drawing. To make matters worse, his father, Aryeh, has dedicated his life to serving their Rabbi, known as the Rebbe, by traveling globally to establish new Ladover Hasidic communities. Aryeh fails to understand or value Asher's talent and deems his drawings as mere foolishness.

But Asher's art is an uncontrollable compulsion. When the issue is presented to the Rebbe, he consults an internationally renowned Jewish artist named Jacob Kahn. Kahn recognizes Asher's ability and agrees to take him as a pupil.

Caught in the middle is Asher's mother, Rivkeh, who experiences a nervous breakdown after the death of her brother at the hands of communist agents during a mission for the Rebbe. Consequently, she worries constantly about her husband's safety during his frequent travels.

In his novel, Chaim Potok vividly portrays the collision between the outside world and the religious conservatism and social seclusion of Orthodoxy. The conflict between tradition and individualism is ever-present. The book delves deep into the conflict between the traditional world of Judaism and the secular tradition of art, the transition from the old order to the new, the clashes between father and son, and the nature of suffering.

This is a truly beautiful novel, with vivid and poetic writing. Potok also showcases remarkable storytelling skills. His portrayal of Hasidism is fair, equitable, and compassionate. While My Name Is Asher Lev may not appeal to everyone's taste, it is undeniably profound, beautiful, and captivating.

I loved this so much!

Asher Lev is an artistic genius. He has a deep torment in his soul and an intense need to create. However, if he chooses the artist's life, it will go against everything his religion and family have ever tried to teach him. What a difficult dilemma he faces! His life is truly tortured....

But despite this, it is the most beautifully written story. Potok has a remarkable way of writing about Asher Lev's life and the experiences he is going through. It is so compelling that I simply couldn't put the book down! I am definitely going to look into reading Book #2. Although, I don't want it to overshadow any of the feelings that I had for this book.

This story will stay with me for a long time. I will continue to think about Asher Lev and his struggles, and the beautiful way in which Potok has told his story. It is a book that has truly touched my heart.

This book truly lived up to all the praise it has received.

At first, it took me a little while to really get into the story. However, once I did, I was completely hooked and simply could not put it down. It was a powerful and heart-wrenching tale.

Asher Lev was born with an undeniable gift for art. But his father disowned him, and his mother suffered great grief. He came from a Jewish Orthodox society where painting was considered a sin. Despite this, his passion for art could not be controlled. Eventually, his remarkable artistic skill led him to draw nudes and, even worse for his fellow Jews, crucifixions.

Crucifixions were a symbol of pain for some Jews, as it reminded them of the suffering they endured in centuries past. For Asher, it was also a symbol that felt very real because his mother was caught in the middle between him and his father. His father despised Asher's gift and even went so far as to say that he had become an animal and not his son. When Asher drew his mother tied to a cross, it was clear that he accepted the cross he would have to bear in life. It was a choice between art and family, and he chose art.

In the end, his gift became too much for even his mother, who had tried her best to support him throughout his life. Asher's believer was Jakob Kahn, who understood that he must be an artist. As Asher struggled, he caused grief and pain to the people he loved. Jakob told him that the only way to make up for all the pain he caused was to become famous and paint beautiful drawings. And that's what he did.

So, Asher, the observant Jew, the boy who wore fringes and a tallis, became the artist of crucifixions. It was unheard of. This book was so heartfelt because Asher's struggle was so beautifully described. I could sense the pain he felt. It was clear that he had no other choice in life. His life would be a balance of sorrow and beauty. Throughout the book, Asher debated whether the gift given to him was from the dark or good side. To me, it is clear that although his life would have been easier without the gift of art, it was from the good side. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to explore the idea of being different and challenged, and someone who wants to deeply explore the world of a young Jewish boy who transformed into Asher Lev, the painter.

Where I got the book: purchased on Amazon.

Asher Lev is born into a strictly orthodox Hasidic Jewish community in Brooklyn in the 1950s. His remarkable artistic gifts start to show when he is just a small boy. However, he soon discovers that his artistic vision conflicts with the community's worldview, which fears and despises art, considering duty to the family and community as the highest priority.

This novel is extremely profound. I could spend a significant amount of time analyzing its themes, such as sacrifice and atonement, which are among the major topics. The characters are also complex, and I didn't like any of them 100 percent. But let's begin with the statement that seems to be the core of the book for me: "An artist is responsible to his art. Anything else is propaganda."

Unfortunately, it doesn't have a happy ending. By the time you witness Asher's growth from an isolated boy to a successful artist, you're certain that something terrible is about to happen to him. And indeed, the way he expresses his artistic vision is worse than I could have ever imagined.

I can't say I liked this book. It doesn't present a beautiful picture. As Asher, a small boy who refuses to draw nice flowers, says, "it's not a pretty world." But the writing is truly brilliant. It is deceptively simple and has a wonderful musicality when Asher is in the Hasidic community where Yiddish is often the language of communication. Then, it becomes highly technical when he is with artists.

What I learned from this novel is that art is inherently selfish, and the greater the art, the more selfish it becomes. Moreover, there are other forms of selfishness in the world besides art. So, should we be surprised by art's self-centeredness?

There is a whole lot more to this novel that I need to explore. I'll definitely have to re-read it several times.

Edited on 7-21-23, but reviewed in July 2019

After watching the Israeli show "Shtisel" on Netflix this past spring, I was filled with a desire to reacquaint myself with a book I had read long ago, "My Name is Asher Lev". In the show, a main character named Akiva, a young man with a passion for art, faces a lack of respect from his religious community for his decision. Similarly, the book features Asher Lev, a boy born into a Hasidic Jewish family who is an artistic genius. I was seeking a more comprehensive understanding of how art is regarded in these deeply religious communities.

The book had a profound impact on me on multiple levels. It is the story of Asher Lev, whose artistic talent seems to seep out of every pore. As a young child, drawing came to him naturally. Instinctively, he began to embellish his pictures with the materials at his disposal. He used cigarette ashes like chalk and sand to create texture. Next, he developed an ability to notice the细微 differences in colors, shadows, and light when observing objects. Then, he taught himself to see planes and depth. All of this occurred innately, without formal instruction. The progression was truly fascinating to read about.

However, Asher's art worried his parents, especially his father. They both hoped that he would grow out of this "foolishness". To make matters worse, Asher performed poorly in school as he had no interest in studying. His passion for art consumed him completely.

His parents were interesting and intelligent in their own right. His father embarked on missions to Europe to assist his Rebbe in rebuilding religious communities there. He also undertook some very dangerous work in Russia as part of this effort. Asher's mother supported her husband's work while attending college herself and ultimately obtaining a doctorate degree in Russian studies. Their religion and Hasidic community were central to their lives. Asher's mother tried to bridge the growing divide between Asher and his father, as she loved them both.

Asher's parents perceived his art as a potential threat that could lead him astray from their religious values. They were concerned that he might give in to what they considered evil impulses. Surprisingly, the Rebbe disagreed and arranged for Asher to receive formal art instruction from Jacob Kahn, a well-known artist who was also a nonreligious Jew.

To say more would spoil the story for others. I found myself with teary eyes at the end of the book.

Update 7-29-19: **Spoiler Alert**

I find myself questioning why Asher felt the need to paint such a controversial painting towards the end of the book and include the symbolism that he did. Could he have achieved the same creative effect with a different painting? This continues to puzzle me. Asher knew that painting the crucifix with his mother attached would be a significant affront to his parents, yet he chose to do it anyway.

Loved.

It was truly an amazing experience. The story had me hooked from the very beginning. The characters were well-developed and the plot was engaging.

However, the only part I felt lacking was the very end. It seemed a bit abrupt to me. I wanted more closure. I wanted to know what happened to the characters after the story ended. But that's just a personal preference I have.

Overall, I still really enjoyed the piece and would recommend it to others. It had its flaws, but the good definitely outweighed the bad. I can't wait to see what else the author comes up with in the future.

I thought this was truly brilliant.

It was like a shining gem in the vast ocean of literature.

If I were to read anything else in 2017 that could even come close to being as good as this, I would consider myself an extremely lucky woman.

The way it captured my attention from the very beginning and held it throughout was simply remarkable.

Every word seemed to be carefully chosen and placed, creating a vivid and engaging world within the pages.

I found myself completely immersed in the story, unable to put it down.

It left a lasting impression on me, and I couldn't help but wonder if there could be anything else out there that would have the same effect.

As I looked forward to the rest of 2017, I hoped that I would indeed be that lucky woman who discovers another literary masterpiece.