The Jewish experience is a broad cultural tapestry incorporating multiple parts of the globe. No story is exactly the same, so it’s only fitting that Jewish nonfiction authors would dabble in multiple subgenres to capture their histories. This week’s Three to Read brings you three phenomenal nonfiction books by Jewish authors. From culinary memoirs to essay collections and poetry, we guarantee that this list has at least one title that’s perfect for you!
Trigger Warning: The books within this article contain mentions of the Holocaust. Please exercise personal care while reading.
HOT PICK
How to Share an Egg: A True Story of Hunger, Love, and Plenty by Bonny Reichert
SYNOPSIS:
For most of her life, journalist Bonny Reichert avoided her connection to the Holocaust. She knew her father had survived his imprisonment in Auschwitz-Birkenau, but the weight of this history was too much for her to carry. All it took was one bowl of Polish borscht to drive Reichert to face her cultural heritage. How to Share an Egg follows Reichert’s culinary journey, one that ultimately shines light on her own legacy, as well.
WHY:
Bonny Reichert expertly sprinkles traditional Jewish recipes and her father’s Holocaust story throughout her memoir. In How to Share an Egg, food becomes both a token of survival and a source of joy.
COFFEE SHOP READ
Wild West Village: Not a Memoir (Unless I Win an Oscar, Die Tragically, or Score a Country #1) by Lola Kirke
SYNOPSIS:
In Wild West Village, actress and singer Lola Kirke explores her chaotic early life. With two artistic parents (one a rock star and the other a designer), Kirke’s life looked completely glamorous from the outside. But what happened behind closed doors was anything but exciting. Through a series of humorous essays, Kirke traces her lifelong search for self, which ultimately culminated in a woman bigger and brighter than she ever imagined.
WHY:
Lola Kirke’s debut book is full of sparkling wit. Her dedication to finding humor in even the darkest of situations makes the audience feel like they’ve met their new best friend.
DARK HORSE
My Childhood in Pieces: A Stand-Up Comedy, a Skokie Elegy by Edward Hirsch
SYNOPSIS:
Award-winning poet Edward Hirsch tells his life story in his latest book, My Childhood in Pieces. Full of zippy microchapters, Hirsch’s memoir paints a picture of his colorful youth growing up in Chicago and the wholesome Midwest characters that populated his life. His prose contains a dizzying mix of humor and tenderness that will leave you laughing and crying all the way through.
WHY:
Edward Hirsch takes a poetic approach to crafting a memoir. Like most great poets, Hirsch knows that, sometimes, less is more. His punchy writing style tugs at the heartstrings and strikes the funny bone all at the same time.
That’s a wrap on this week’s Three to Read! Make sure you come back next week for another themed book trio.
Click here for more books that celebrate the Jewish experience.
Visit our Three to Read bookshelf on Bookshop.org for excellent recommendation lists.
