Before I read this book, having read its superlative predecessor "My Name is Asher Lev", I would have said that the title refers to Asher Lev's incredible artistic talent. After finishing the book, I realized it was referring to something much more precious, more along the lines of the gift Abraham was asked to sacrifice on the altar. As a grown Asher revisits Brooklyn with his family on the occasion of the death of his uncle, he not only has to confront his past, but his present and future as well. Not only his future, in fact, but the future of the entire Jewish sect in which he was raised. The conflict between his art and his religion is brought into a much sharper, more painful inner battle than even displayed in the first book.

This sequel is less straightforward than the first novel. There are more flashbacks, hallucinations (or are they?), riddles, and supernatural occurrences here. Sometimes the book seems to wander a little bit, just like Asher wandered the streets of Paris for awhile. It is not as riveting from beginning to end as the first book was, and the ending is a little more inconclusive, which is why I gave it four stars instead of five. It never confirms whether Asher's suspicions are correct or not. Which means, of course, that I am eagerly awaiting a (hopeful) follow-up to this book and a satisfying conclusion to the Asher Lev saga.

The sequel to My Name is Asher Lev is that rare achievement - better than the first. I re-read the book about once a year and each time long for the third, to know the path down which Asher Lev and his son Avrumel travel. This family and community is so affecting, I find it hard to accept they do not exist. Potok's writing is truly beautiful and each time I read his work I find more to digest.

Of all the Chaim Potok books I've read, (the last being about 8 years ago) this one has stayed with me the most, perhaps because it perplexed me at the time. Probably most people will prefer the first Asher Lev book, with its clearer narrative and dramatic plot. It covers the painful conflict between a traumatized community's survival and personal creativity so well it seems unnecessary to bring it up again. But to me it was merely the prequel for this second book.
Asher struggles to keep his son from being taken from him by the same Chasidic community that had banished him for his artistic intensity. I had the strange experience of being drawn into the books central conflict, only to reach the end realizing that a conclusion had been reached that I was entirely unaware of!
So I reread most of the book-- I had to go back very far to pick up the threads I missed-- and noticed an early scene in which the great Rebbe, standing from the balcony overlooking the Ladover community he leads, speaking about the key issue of who his successor shall be-- he has no children to follow him. He speaks in nonsense, something about Ones and Threes, and then explains that when a truth is difficult to bear, it is better to be pesented in riddles than more straightforwardly. So it was with this book, and for me it was one hell of a trick.
On the surface, nothing really happens. Asher mopes around Brooklyn and Paris broodingly, draws sketches of passing moments, talks to ghosts of Picasso and his own mentor, Jacob Kahn, and chooses the fate of himself and his son so subtly that it appears to be nothing at all. But it was frightening and wonderful when I finally got what he did: he gave his community the gift of Asher Lev. In the first book, 'the Gift' always referred to how his people saw his artistic talent, as a gift from God. But by the end of the second book, we see the gift he gives back to the community he has such intense love and bitterness for is something completely different.
Let me just add that I am a middle aged Jewish artist, about to go back to MY family from a 13 year exile abroad, and this book speaks very closely to my situation. ...

Potoks begin the books by setting the stage for ancient Jewish history beginning with Abraham venturing out of the Sumerian city of Ur to come into the land of Canaan. I really appreciated the clarification of the various groups of people who lived in that area at the time including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Egyptians, and Canaanites and how they related to one another. The first three chapters are divided by geographical regions including Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Babylon. These chapters are good and also serve as a good explanation of the historical groundwork of the Torah. The next few chapters are from the classical period and deal with the Jewish relationship with the Greek and Roman cultures.

After that, things become very slow and at times while I was reading I felt as though I was stuck in a quagmire of names and places. It was like a whirlwind tour of all the places and people to have ever been known as being Jewish or in some manner related to the Jewish culture. After the Classical period was described, I would have liked more of a conceptual breakdown on Kabbalism, Hasidism, and Reform and Conservative Jewish movements. All of this was sort of threaded together into an amorphose mass of disparate facts.

To sum, the first half of the book was great and can serve as a good historical basis for understanding the Old Testament, the second half was just a confusion of details, names, and places.

Chaim Potok is more than just a writer--he's a scholar. From the ancient Sumerian villages just out of the Stone Age to upper class dwellings in 5th century BCE Babylon Potok has sucessfully combined scholarly research with the masterful prose of a storyteller. These ancient worlds come alive. Even more important than that, Potok has captured part of that elusive thing called the Jewish spirit--part survival, part identity, part learning. It's a feeling difficult to describe but Potok seems to have done this as few others could.
In addition, he seems to have done his research. Unfortunately he fails to use footnotes and his facts are difficult, impossible at times, to check. Potok is at heart a storyteller, and while this doesn't detract from the usefulness and power of this book, it certainly lessens its value as a research tool.
I have very few complaints with this book. They aren't minor, and to many they won't matter. For one thing; Zoroasterianism exerted a major influence not only on the Middle East, but Jewish and later Christian and Western thinking. Yet, Potok merely dismisses it as an "ancient fire-worshipping religion" and doesn't even mention its impact on Judaism. Second, his opinions seem forcefully felt as he tells of the disintegration of the Rabbinic Judaism, as he takes out his anger not only on anti-Semites and the Catholic Church as can be expected, but also on the Enlightenment, Hasidism, and to some extent Kabbalists. Third, the closing is rushed. The Holocaust and creation of Isreal are brushed past with wonderful passages but lack the intensive research found earlier.
Nevertheless, Chaim Potok will surely be remembered for his history if for nothing else. He has combined intelligent history with moving prose, creating an informative, inspiring narrative telling the history of a great people.

Only Potok. Only Potok could write such a rich novel of the Jews. Potok writes in a rich, savory, descriptive term, describing the world as seen through the eyes of our ancestors. Not only the Jews, but The Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Arabs, the early Europeans...
Successfully mixing history with novella style writing, Potok delivers.

Chaim Potok does an excellent job of weaving the social and political turmoil of the later 1930's and early 1940's with the pain and difficulties of growing up. Davita's Harp is told from the perspective Iliana Chandal, a pre-teen Jewish girl, the only daughter of two Marxists in New York City. The description of the times and events is remarkable, as is the relationships within the Chandal family. I was also impressed with Potok's ability to delve into the psyche of an adolescent girl, struggling to discover her place in the world, eventually embracing Judiaism (a faith her mother had left, and her father's family disapproves of.) It really is an enjoyable, if light read.

Davita's Harp is one intriguing book. The description of the tensions that I liana Davita and her family endured during the late 1930's-early 1940's in New York and the entire Fascism vs. Communism backdrop is indeed very vivid. Davita's Harp illustrates what might have happened if Hitler was successful most notably with the comments of one of Iliana's classmates during recess one day. Potok weaves a very creative story that is both intriguing and believable.

Its especially interesting how Iliana Davita gradually identifies more and more with her Jewish roots over the course of the book in spite of criticism from her mother and some of her Jewish peers. It goes to show you that there are so many people who get so self-absorbed in their own way of life that they are impatient when a new person enters their world. In the Jewish religion, it is sometimes these people who can cause Judaism the greatest amount of harm. Over the course of time Jews have been so persecuted that we need to reach out to those who want to know more about our way of life. It's nice that Potok illustrates this point without being obvious about it.

Some of the conversation about communism is a little vague. It's obvious that Davita's parents are part of a Communist Group. However some of Jakob Daw's stories are a little odd for those mainstream individuals who never delved into the Socialist World. Some of the visions that Davita has are a bid odd and can be a bit annoying. However, one must realize that Davita's home life was far different from the norm during this turmoilish period. At least that is how I would attribute her daydreaming.

Nonetheless, Davita's Harp is full of vivid imagery of a controversial time in world history. Potok's many insights will hopefully be used as a tool for all nations to be respectful to one another.

A co-worker of mine, a roly-poly joy and delight of a human being, on the cusp of retirement, urged me to read this book. My first thought was, "Oh, Potok...'The Chosen,' 'The Promise' -- required reading for high schoolers, maybe a little dry and boring...." I told her I was reading a big, fat book and it was going to take me ages to complete (I wasn't fibbing; that was the truth). She said, "Take it. I guarantee you, you'll love it. Read it, whenever...return it, whenever."

Thank you, dear kind (wise) lady. This was one of my favorite books of the 1980s (and I read about 500 books a decade) -- I will never forget how immersed I was in the story, to the point where I lost absolutely all sense of time and place. As soon as I finished "Davita," I sadly returned it to her, for this book is a keeper. At the end of that workday, I RAN and bought everything Potok had written up to that point. They were all wonderful, but "Davita" will always be my favorite, with "Chosen" and "Promise" both running a close second.

I read everything Potok wrote pre-1990, and strongly urge you to read this author. But start with "Davita."

I read "The Chosen" in one sitting...something I haven't done in a long, long time. The book is a coming of age story about two Jewish teenagers, Reuven and Danny, who become best friends as a result of an accident during an interscholastic softball game. Danny is raised as a Hasidic Jew, while Reuven is raised as an Orthodox - a less strict sect of Judaism. Danny's father expects him to become a Rabbi but he wants to be a psychologist, and Reuven's father, who is much more liberal than Danny's father, would like him to be a mathematician, and he want to be a rabbi. The book explores the relationship between the two boys and their fathers. It is a story of contrasts, but at the same time is depicts how alike they all really are.

While the story is interesting and educational, I found the character's development stifled by Potok's inability to delve into their lives outside of a religious context. The story takes them through high school and college but we never get to know anything more about them then their relationships with their fathers, and the impact of their religious differences. But I guess that's the point of the book. I can't fault Potok for these limitations because he is an excellent writer and tells a great story. However, I wanted a bit more meat to the story. There are many wonderful themes in "The Chosen" and I highly recommend it to anyone in the mood for a clean-cut, "G" rated read.

This novel is suited for just about anybody regardless of religion or race. Those who are Jewish will relate a little easier but those of other faiths can apply the various relationships that occur in this book to their own lives.

The story is primarilly about two boys, Reuven and Danny who meet one day in a softball game. Danny is a Hassidic Jew and Reuven is merely Orthodox. Danny's initial impression is one of disdain towards Reuven as he is unable to relate to people who are not on his religious level at first impression. An accident on the ball field brings them together and eventually they begin a friendship. It grows deeper when both their fathers are drawn into each others worlds. It is indeed very interesting how each father raises his son so diffrently.

The backdrops of the hospital, World War II, the surrender of the Nazis, The Zionist Movement, and the eventual statehood of Israel effect the two worlds of Danny and Reuven. There is a period of time when the Zionist movement causes Danny and Reuven to put their friendship on hold. However, in time they return to nurture each other.

This is not a quick read by any means as anyone with a soul with be enamored by the details of this fine novel. Practically each page offers descriptive information about critical steps that Danny and Reuven take in their critical years to discovering themselves. Even both fathers learn something in the end. This is a story which will have you thinking and analyzing many many aspects of the lives of Danny and Reuven and I sincerely hope more teenagers and college students read this book and develop a greater acceptance for peers who may be a little different from themselves.

What a beautiful book! Haven't read anything so moving for a very long time. The novel concentrates on four characters, two adolescent sons and their fathers. Like in 'My Name is Asher Lev', Chaim Potok proves to be a master in character development: Danny's father is one of the most interesting personalities I have ever encountered in a book, and one of the most tragic! (I wonder if he could also create a female character?! As in 'Asher Lev', the women stay in the background. Half the book focuses on the conflict between Danny and his ultra-orthodox father, a few pages get devoted to the relationship between Danny and his younger brother, but when Reuven tries to talk about Danny's sister, his answer is: "....Let's not talk about my sister,..." (p200), and from the mother we only know, that she has a heart condition.) There are many more parallels to 'Asher Lev': Again we have the conflict between the Orthodox Jewish way of life and how the more 'Assimilated' (not sure if this is the appropriate word!?) Jews live. The conflict is mainly religous, but overspills into politics and escalates when the Zionists succeed in founding Israel.

I don't agree with some of the reviews suggesting that you need to be Jewish to understand/be interested in the book (If you don't have a clue, like me, it'll make you more interested).I finished the book in under two days, was simply glued to it!! READ IT!!

This book is not really a novel at all. It is three novellas, each told by a different man to Ilana Davita Chandal Dunn, the heroine of Davita's Harp. I would much rather have had a novel about Davita's life after the prior novel about her than have her as as the fairly invisible ear for the three stories. In fact, I was frustrated at the glimpses of her life this book gave!

The three stories are well written and riveting. I gave this book three stars, though, because the three stories were all highly derivative. It is true that they were reminiscent of Potok's own earlier writing, but this detracted from their originality. In style they were similar to the stories in Zebra; in content they borrowed from several of his other books (most notably, The Book of Lights).

Potok is one of the great writers of our time, with The Chosen and In the Beginning as true classics, and with all of his other books at a profound level of excellence as well. (I except I am the Clay, which was far below his other books in quality.) I will look forward to his next book!

This book is made up of three novellas that follow the life of Ilana Davita, who was first introduced as a child in Potok's novel Davita's Harp. Davita's sympathetic and intuitive nature lead her to act as a sort of muse, encouraging several men who have been through unspeakably painful events to artfully express their stories. I'll admit that I love everything Potok writes, but in my opinion this book is great. Perhaps not quite up to the level of The Chosen or My Name is Asher Lev, but certainly as good as The Book of Lights and In the Beginning, and certainly worth buying and reading immediately. Like everything of Potok's, it's a captivating read- I got through it in just over a day and highly recommend it.

Midnight is asociated with journeys trough tough-hard times. The Old age of a person is asociated with a time where physical strenght is not greater than personal determination, values and beleif. Being old at midnight is a crude task, specially when overwhelming powerful forces are oppressing goodwill people. Trough the eyes of a woman along three diffrent stages of her life and from the lips of a teenager surviavor of the holocaust, the voice of a former secret soviet serviceman and from the recalls of an historian, Chaim Potok has given us a brilliant treaty of those who rather face destiny with dignity and integrity, even when that mean a certain death in body, but to live far beyond to stick to goodwill values. A superlative book about an archbuider, a righfull physician and a prophesor of Torah, all they share in common trhe love for life and the gust to face destny and to fight any form of overwhelming oppresion. Ileana Davita carries on a message of integrity and inspiration. This is a must!

I read the Book of Lights in Korea where I was stationed (2nd Inf Div), and perhaps for that reason it really came alive for me. The Chaplaincy is a unique institution, in that military clergy provide ministry for all soldiers, not simply for those of one's particular faith group. Then add the Asian element, the post Korean war trauma, along with the personal struggles with faith, and the result is confronting conflicting cultures and ideas, and an internal struggle to find one's identity. A must for readers of Chaim Potok's novels.

The Book of Lights is one of those books that either captivates you, or bores you to death. I used to think that Chaim Potok must have written this book just for me, because I was the only person who read it. Or so it seemed. Gershon Loran reminded me of myself in seminary, a lackluster student with a spark for odd and heretical or mystical literature. Bored by normative religion, he seeks answers for the pain and suffering in his life in Kabbalagh, or Jewish mysticism. The reader sees the transformation of his soul into what his mentor, Dr. Keter, calls the next generation of Jewish mysticism: the Light of past wisdom and insight refracted through an American lense. Gershon is a mystic, and yet he doesn't seem to fully realize his potential, because it doesn't seem odd to him when G_d himself descends into his room, or he contemplates storming the throneroom of the Almighty.

Dr. Potok's books are all beautiful and moving. This one is my favorite. I have read and re-read The Book of Lights too many times to count, and with each reading it moves me more. It is a rich tapestry of characters, woven with darkness and light. I highly recommend it to avid readers who seek out deeply developed stories and characters.

I enjoyed it thoroughly and would give it an 8 of 10 or four stars ****. I liked how the story was told in three points of view and how it went into detail. At the beginning the story was a little boring because it was over descriptive and there wasn't any action or conversation, but at the middle and the end it became more of a story than a description. Another problem was at the beginning of the story, the characters weren't introduced yet and the perspectives switched about every three paragraphs so I didn't know who was thinking and it confused me. I would recommend it to anyone in high school or older. When the boy was emotional the sentences would be run-ons, which I had mixed feelings about because they were run-ons but they conveyed his feelings better than a regular sentence ever could. It wasn't the best book I've ever read but it's up there.

. I enjoyed it thoroughly and would give it an 8 of 10 or four stars ****. I liked how the story was told in three points of view and how it went into detail. At the beginning the story was a little boring because it was over descriptive and there wasn't any action or conversation, but at the middle and the end it became more of a story than a description. Another problem was at the beginning of the story, the characters weren't introduced yet and the perspectives switched about every three paragraphs so I didn't know who was thinking and it confused me. I would recommend it to anyone in high school or older. When the boy was emotional the sentences would be run-ons, which I had mixed feelings about because they were run-ons but they conveyed his feelings better than a regular sentence ever could. It wasn't the best book I've ever read but it's definitely up there

I enjoyed it thoroughly and would give it four stars ****. I liked how the story was told in three points of view and how it went into detail. At the beginning the story was a little boring because it was over descriptive and there wasn't any action or conversation, but at the middle and the end it became more of a story than a description. Another problem was at the beginning of the story, the characters weren't introduced yet and the perspectives switched about every three paragraphs so I didn't know who was thinking and it confused me. I would recommend it to anyone in high school or older. When the boy was emotional the sentences would be run-ons, which I had mixed feelings about because they were run-ons but they conveyed his feelings better than a regular sentence ever could. It wasn't the best book I've ever read but it's up there.

Our opinions on three of the stories:

ZEBRA: I think that the story Zebra was well written. The downside of the story is it's really boring. I think that stories like this are boring. Some people like them, but I don't. This would not be my first choice in books. I think it brings great shame to literature as we know it. It is a stupid and boring story which someone with nothing better to do would write. Who would want to read about a stupid kid who runs out in front of a car and gets hit by it? It's depressing! Sure the ending may be happy, but up to that point it's about a sad boy who ran into a car and broke most of his bones. ....

MOON: A critically acclaimed short story or a literary disaster? In my opinion, it is comparable to Hiroshima. I admit it was well written enough, but the plot was truly awful...for me, anyway. I'd rather have my appendix removed than read a book with a plot concerning people, their hardships, and how they grow afterwards, and that pretty much describes most of Mr. Potok's books. I hate books like that; Chicken Soup-like books. If, for whatever reason, you like books like that, then you'd probably like this book ...

NAVA: In my opinion, Nava is the best out of all the stories compiled into Zebra. However, the ending is one that doesn't fit the story very well, and it leaves you wanting more. The characters are believable, all except for the father, and the story isn't that well written. "How can one say all these negative things and still call it the best story of the book," you ask? Well, that is because this was the best story, which lets you know what I thought of the other ones. Zebra is a great book for classwork, because the stories are short enough that they can be read and discussed within a 42 minute class period, but I would never read this if I had a choice for pleasure reading.

...

Chaim Potok's, book Zebra and Other Stories is very insightful. It gives us a glimpse of the complex lives of teens today. I really was able to identify with the emotions and feelings of the characters. I even felt at times as if I was a "fly on the wall", sneaking a peek!

I was truly surprised when I finished reading this. It was very realistic and heartwrenching stories. There is a true tone to each and every story. You could see yourself in the stories and they were easy to relate to. Young adults would be able to relate to the characters and the situations that they find themselves in. Each problem that the characters go through could happen everyday in society. It was refreshing to read a book for young adults that models appropriate behavior. Great book.

Chaim Potok, well known for his novels ("The Chosen," "My Name is Asher Lev," amongst others), has frequently dealt with the theme of father/son conflict, of generation and cultural gaps. In "The Gates of November," he uses the same theme, but Potok now turns to a non-fiction account, an epic work with two cores: 20th century history of the Soviet Union and a personal drama. It is a family tale in which Potok (himself active in the movement for Soviet Jewry) documents the plight of the Jews in the Soviet Union.

The book is divided in two sections. The first one describes the life of Solomon Slepak, a Jewish renegade who emigrates to the U.S.A., discovers Marxism, returns to the Soviet Union, becomes an ardent, ruthless Bolshevik and rises to prominence within the Communist Party. The second part narrates the life of Volodya (Solomon's son). As a product of a different historical context and perspective, Volodya rejects socialism, revives his Jewish identity (mainly as a result of the prevailing anti-Semitism), attempts to emigrate to Israel and becomes an international famous "refusenik" (Jewish activist who was denied exit visa from the Soviet Union to Israel).

The author developes the family account based on taped interviews with Volodya, his wife, two sons, and other family members and friends. Because of lack of first hand accounts from Solomon, the narrative for the first part of the book lacks interest and factual proves. For example, it is beyond understanding how Solomom Slepak was able to survive through the purges against the Jews, especially considering that he ran high in the communist organization.

In this amalgamation of a non-fiction narrative and a family drama, the literary strenght of "The Gates of November" was negatively affected. Had the author used a first person narrative, in a traditional historical novel, the book would certainly have a deeper emotional impact. None of this, however, obliterates its historical value.

I'm a great fan of Chaim Potok (who passed away recently, in case you didn't hear). He's a brilliant novelist who was educated to be a rabbi, but never had a congregation. He apparently was approached some time in the 80's to write this story, and finally managed to complete it a few years ago. It's a theme that Potok returned to repeatedly in his fiction: fathers and sons, conflict in families, trying to make things right and do the right thing.

In this instance, the author met the second generation of the Slepak family. The first generation was an old Bolshevik who commanded a division of the Red Army in the Far East during the Russian Civil War, and often met Stalin for press briefings in the 30's. By then he spoke 11 languages, 8 of them fluently, and so translated newspapers and magazines for Stalin. He was almost purged in the late thirties, wound up retiring early in the mid 40's, and lived to be an old man. He was also Jewish, though completely assimilated and non-religious. He had a family, including a son who turned out very different from the father.

The son became a refusenik in the seventies, trying to leave the country when it became apparent that anti-Semitism reared its ugly head in the period after WW2. He was one of the leaders of the group, and was quite prominent. He and his wife were able, finally, to move to Israel. The father was alive for the early part of the refusenik movement, and was mystified that his son wanted to go to Israel.

All in all this is an interesting book. I do think that his prose works better in fiction than it does in non-fiction. That being said, this is still a very good book.

I studied the Russian Revolution and its aftermath in history class recently, and was honestly pretty bored.

Knowing that the Russian Revolution played a large role in the plot of this book, I was a little cautious as I began reading. However, as I delved further into it, I realized that not only was it quite interesting, I was learning a lot of history. This book kept my attention throughout and brought what I previously thought was dry, to life.

I highly recommend you read this book.

I picked this book up as a used trade paperback, and I'm glad that I [didn't spend to much] for it. I was expecting much more. The narrative is quite choppy, with not much of a sense of continuity. Some of the critical issues/events, such as his refusual to perform in Germany and his divorce from his first wife are discussed with a severe lack of candor. The German thing bothers me the most, I feel like he felt the need to be politically correct - I would not fault him for feeling very negative feelings and being unable to overcome them even after many years. But he keeps saying that the Germans are a fine people, cognisent of their own history, and does not address his feelings on the matter in a fully satisfying way. I guess this is the flaw of the autobiography, though some authors have given their lives an unsparing look, to both their and the readers' benefit. There is much writing about his life of touring and of saving Carnegie Hall, but I never got a sense of the personal feelings and struggle that went into this staggeringly busy and full life. There are hints here and there, but it reads like an extended New Yorker puff piece much of the time. If you want an overview of a great life, but not much detail or meaningful introspection, then this book will serve your needs. For everyone else, wait for the first "unauthorized" biography.

With the exception of Yehudi Menuhin, it's best to approach the autobiographical excursions of great musical artists with more than a little skepticism. How many disappointments have flown into the meadow by that route! This engaging effort by Isaac Stern is therefore a more than little delight, filled with the characteristically notable voice of one of the authentic humanists of the 20th century, not to mention one of the great fiddlers of all time. Stern's writing is great deal like his playing; verve and confidence riding the high clouds with surety and an unmistakably personal passion. I often thought, while reading this book, how no one in my experience plays Kreisler's 'Schon Rosmarin' like Stern -for all the salon qualities of the piece, it has a heart of pure gold- and this book resembles that little encore nugget in more than a few ways: true, one wishes at times that Stern would simply go on with his thought, go on with the memory at hand, even with the discussion at hand; yet in many ways he keeps up the flavor of his reminiscences by the succinctness, and at times almost the distractedness, of his writing/speaking style. I would argue that in fact he does give us quite a bit of his way of looking at not only his own life, but the wonder called the human experience, it's just that with this man one simply wants the conversation to go on and on. Even when speaking of his children (which he does often, even including charming transcriptions of little tape recordings of Daddyspeak for his wife and children when he was so often away on tour), Stern's power to captivate arises full from his honesty, indeed one of the great attributes of his music making. Chaim Potok's hand in the affair seems somehow deep under, and therefore probably pervasive and beautifully wise (as is every Chaim Potok effort!), leaving Stern's voice alive and vibrant, humanly awkward at times, and always surprising in its direct power- very much like the playing of this most gifted of musicians. Despite the obvious limitations that will always attend a book like this, it remains a delight, charming if not all revealing, even moving. Lovers of music won't be disappointed!

What is involved in playing a musical instrument? What is needed to become really good? How should music affect you? All of these questions are answered very well and many times while reading this book. I welled up with emotion within like you sometimes do while reading the Reader's Digest because of the content. I thought Stern's life was well presented in an interesting manner and with great detail. Anyone interested in classical music should truly enjoy this life story.