The J-Word - Softcover

Andrew Sanger

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1905005954 ISBN 13: 9781905005956

Publisher: Snowbooks, 2009

Argumentative, Yiddish-speaking, 80-year-old Jack Silver has reluctantly returned to Golders Green to care for his 10-year-old grandson, Danny. Unpredictable and outspoken but warm-hearted, Jack is resolutely secular and repudiates everything Jewish. His profoundly troubled son, now a successful, middle-aged journalist, has followed in his footsteps, while the brilliant young Danny has been kept in ignorance of his heritage.
When Jack is beaten up by an antisemitic gang, it changes everything. He and Danny secretly set out to outwit and track down the thugs and bring them to justice. The hunt takes Jack into memories of his own childhood and the two unlikely heroes discover a shared identity spanning generations that eventually draws the whole family together.

Review:

"A beautiful, thoughtful portrait of the anxieties and paradoxes of modern Jewish life." --Linda Grant

"For an exploration of Jewish identity, I strongly recommend Andrew Sanger's novel The J-Word." --Ruth Gledhill, The Times (London)

"The most fantastic novel I've read for many a year. It was just as good second time round." --Chas Newkey-Burden, oyvagoy.com Chas Newkey-Burden, oyvagoy.com

"A fascinating exposure of the vagaries of Jewish identity and its impact on individual lives. A considerable achievement." --Hampstead & Highgate Express, London

"A charming tale... a delightful read. A vivid picture of the perplexing muddle that is the Jewish population today."
--The Jewish Chronicle

Synopsis:

'Did I say I was Jewish? I should be Jewish all of a sudden?' Argumentative, Yiddish-speaking, 80-year-old Jack Silver has reluctantly returned to Golders Green to care for his 10-year-old grandson, Danny. Unpredictable and outspoken but warm-hearted, Jack is resolutely secular and repudiates everything Jewish. His profoundly troubled son, now a successful middle-aged journalist, has followed in his footsteps, while the brilliant young Danny has been kept in ignorance of his heritage. When Jack is beaten up by an antisemitic gang, it changes everything. He and Danny secretly set out to outwit and track down the thugs and bring them to justice. The hunt takes Jack into memories of his own childhood and the two unlikely heroes discover a shared identity spanning generations that eventually draws the whole family together.

• Publisher: Snowbooks
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1905005954
• ISBN 13: 9781905005956
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352