I like the way the writer describes things in such detail that your are drawn into the scene as if you were there yourself, such as when Reuven gets hit by the ball the Danny hit (chapter 1, page 31)

Summer Reading

The Chosen by Chaim Potok

I like the way the writer describes things in such detail that you are drawn into the scene as if you were there yourself, such as when Reuven gets hit by the ball that Danny hit (chapter 1, page 31). Examples of this are everywhere, when he gets to the hospital (chapter 2, page 41), when Reuven leaves the hospital for the first time after his injury (chapter 5, page 93), and when he meets Reb Suanders for the first time (chapter 7, page 113). This aspect of the book makes it unique, giving the gothic feel that large cities of that era had. Although it becomes repetitive and somewhat boring, bringing the Jewish sect of Brookline to life is a necessary aspect of the story.

In the book are realistic reactions to various events by the Jewish populous. Some examples of this are the end of the war (chapter 11, page 179) and the instigation of a Jewish state (chapter 11, page 186). The incorporation of many different conflicts of that time into the story help you better place the age they are in better than dates. Making a book more realistic by adding elements history in the story as a major conflict to the primary and secondary characters, is one way to give the book an authentic feel.

I am confused by Jewish terms in the book. The author has a great command of Jewish language. But the over use of it is confusing. It detracts from the story by forcing you to stop at every word attempting to remember its meaning. Words like Eretz Yisroel (Jewish homeland), Kaddish, Talmudist (one whom studies Talmud), and Hasidic is confusing, hard to pronounce and often have no explanation. Although it gives insight to Jewish culture it is mystifying to an average reader not familiar with such terms. This is counterproductive to one of the major points of the book, to show Jewish culture its goods and evils.

The title of the book is questionable. Although The Chosen is a good title (revering to the Jews as a chosen people by God) it would not be my first choice. A better title might have been Heir or Silence, being more analogous to the plot. The title is a very important element to a book. It should be a key point in the plot providing a moment when suddenly you know what the title means. The title The Chosen is fully obvious from the moment you read the first page and doesn’t exhibit that much thought was put into it.

This book is similar to other books that I have read; for example A Separate Peace is alike to this book in that it follows to boys of late High school age over great trails and tribulations. As I read it certain parts of the book in many ways paralleled A Separate Peace. For instance the two boys befriending each other early in the book, Dealing the world war two era and children, also the relative conciseness of the two books. While they seem to be vary long yet over far too soon. Many other books are use two boys working together through great adversity as a plot. It is a great American theme that well keep recurring in literature fore it is a story that can be told to many times.

The most well developed character is Danny because of the great change in him and the emergence of his real self from his father ideal of him. Reuven’s friendship is crucial to Danny’s development through out the book. Although Reuven is the narrator he is not at the mane character of the book. Danny is at the root of the book purpose in telling the tail of a boy struggling to separate him self from his patriarchal heritage. Something ever young man deals with in his life especially through the end of high school and collage. Danny has not told his father of his wishes to deviate from his fathers goals but the great and final twist that his father has know every thing the whole time is the books maxim, that we will not be happy with our lives unless we fallow our dreams.

I would like to read another book by this author because this book was so good. On the other hand I fear reading another, as it might be disappointing after such a well-written novel. Some authors are one-hit-wonders and have only one good book and the rest are rehashing of the first except not as good, I hope he is not one of these. For this reason I would be wary about reading another, but my curiosity will likely compel me to read the second book The Promise.

Danny reminds me of my brother because both of them were very smart at a young age. Also he lives in a similar situation to Danny, (excluding me) One brother, Levi, of 10, an older sister, both of which remind me of Danny’s siblings. Danny does well in school as does my brother, in the book Danny is greatly favored by Rav Gershenson as shown here after the whole class can not answer "’who does knows’ and, of course, Danny’s hand would immediately go up"(page 224). This shows how Danny is a prodigy and can memorize things and under stand them in depth with a very little time, a shared quality with my brother. It is also shown in one of the many Talmudic arguments with his father, it begins "He began in a low voice, the words coming out slowly in a singsong kind of chant {referring to Danny’s father Reb Suanders}" (the first, on page 125) every time. These arguments can sometimes be heard, in slight moderation, between my mother and brother. This book can relate to many things " . . . in a way that ring just as true in Iowa as in Brooklyn."(Publishers Weekly, praise for the chosen).

If I could talk to Reb Suanders, I would ask him to explain his parenting method of silence better. To know this would clarify the underlying significance of the book. He does attempt to do this him self in the book, (page 263-267) but this is too cryptic and hard to make scents of. He says that he did not wish his son to become like his brilliant brother whom became " . . . cruel, untouched by his soul. It was proud, haughty, impatient with less brilliant minds. . ."(page 264) he believed that silence and coldness were the only ways to prevent this. In the end Danny is asked if he would raise his child the same way, and he answer’s "’yes’ he said, ‘if I can’t find another way.’" (Page 271) which surprised me. Still it leaves a feeling that you are missing something, but maybe this is part of it being a great book.

The most important thing about this book is that we will not be happy with our lives unless we follow our dreams. In the beginning of the book we see that Danny is to become a Rabbi and that Reuven is to be a collage professor, but in the end we discover that each really wish’s to pursue the others path. Each feels obligated to proceed in direction they are headed. In the end they confront their fathers about it, and discover that their fathers have know all along and that they want them to pursue their dreams no matter how it hurts them. This is the ultimate point that the fathers in actuality want them to be happy. We see the pain of the book, fathers letting their sons go their own ways. Reb Suanders begins to cry while explaining his actions to Danny (Page 262). The climax of the book is when Danny and Ruaven Realize that they can do what they want to do and that they have become men.

One thing that I notice about the author’s style is the way he utilizes subtle changes to show different aspect of the story. For example that the first and last time Reuven goes to Reb Suaders’s study (Pages 262 and 125) are very similar with the exception of a few subtle differences. Each incounter begins with "He nodded his head, and his right hand went up and stroked his black beard" but in the later encounter it says "Grey beard" to show the time that has past and the aging of Reb Suander. The way Rueven describes Danny in the beginning of the book and then in the end "tall, lean, bent forward with eagerness . . ." where in the beginning "eagerness" is replaced by "weariness." Many other cunning hints like these can be found throughout the book. These minor implications add a great deal to the story. More writers should utilize this dynamic element to their literature. The style presented to us makes apparent the professionalism of the author.

Reuven was written to remind you of yourself. Primary characters are generally written this way to help immerse the reader in the story. By given the first person character traits that we all would like to see in ourselves, author usually succeeds. Reuven embodies our strengths and weaknesses, our challenges and our triumphs. This way we feel close to the story and to the persona telling it. So it is not surprising that he reminds me of myself in that he is a kind, wise, and scholarly worker. Although he also reminds me of myself because he is bit obtuse for instance when his father scorns him "’Reuven, when someone asks to speak to you, you must let him speak to you. You still have not learned that?" (Page 271) for not going to see Reb Suanders when Reb Suanders ask him to. Reuven is meant to be the doorway to the book, which is why he is telling the story.

The main thing that the writer is trying to say is that a Father’s true goal is looking out for your best interests. This cannot be made more readily apparent then between Danny and his father. Danny is scarred to death of facing his father while Reb Suanders in fact is scared of facing his son. When Reb Suanders ask Reuven to visit him yet Reuven has no idea that Reb Suanders needs him to tell his son that it is all right for him to pursue his dreams. This is what the book is about. Reb Suanders and Danny’s sacrifice is so great, Reb Suanders loosing his son while they live in the same house and Danny loosing his father. In hope of saving his son from being a cold-hearted man, Reb Suanders made his sacrifice. The ultimate question is was it worth it.