Wow, great list. Impressed by how much reading you do! I've had Iddo Gefen's book (autographed!) and Hostage on my nightstand for quite a while, but haven't gotten to them yet. Have wanted to get to the Source for a while, maybe now will kick it up the list a bit.
Will mention two amazing books that are a bit over 1-2 years old but just in case you haven't read them I highly recommend you check them out:
Next Stop, by Benjamin Resnick. Written before 10/7 but published shortly after. It is put in a sci-fi-ish setting but don't let that put you off if you're not into sci-fi. Great interviews with the author on Daniel Gordis's podcast (how I first heard of it) and on the Five Books Podcast.
Goyhood, by Reuven Fenton. I couldn't put it down, smiled almost the entire time I read it (which is rare post-10/7), and had to google the meanings of a number of Yiddish words.
Recently read The Puttermesser Papers by Cynthia Ozick, which would have to be in my top few Jewish fiction books ever--highly recommended if you haven't read it (warning, there is a violent assault that occurs late in the book--which itself raises a lot of questions about what it represents). Also her Messiah of Stockholm.
BTW, I also enjoyed both of Sarah Hurwitz's books, esp As a Jew. I would probably put Daniel Gordis's Israel: A Concise History, and We Stand Divided as two of my top ten Jewish books ever. Also, if you "enjoyed" (not the right word) Dara Horn's PLDJ, I'd recommend David Nirenberg's Anti-Judaism, which I read after hearing Dara Horn mention it in an interview. It is a dense, academic read but an incredible tour of anti-Jewish sentiment throughout leading thinkers of history--helps explain an awful lot, unfortunately.
Books to read hopefully in the next year:
Spies of No Country by Matti Friedman (only book of his I haven’t read yet, also hope to re-read Pumpkinflowers).
Iddo Gefen's Cloud Factory and Jerusalem Beach
Maya Arad's Happy New Years and Hebrew Teacher
Long-term goals, may not happen this year:
Chaim Grade's Sons and Daughters (long book, I may have to audiobook a fair chunk, but audiobook narrator mispronounces Grade's name in introduction, so that may be a dealbreaker).
Vasily Grossman's Life and Fate (ok, pipe dream, prob won't happen this year, but may get to some of his The Road).
Sorry if this is too rambling, but seemed like some of the above might be of interest.
Forget all the other books on your list and just read Life and Fate, one of the greatest novels of all time. And don’t get frightened by its size. Once you settle into the story, you won’t be able to put it down.
Here is a great discussion about Life and Fate from the Econtalk podcast from a little over a year ago (probably my single favorite podcast, highly recommended if you are not familiar with it). There is also a separate episode in which Russ Roberts interviews Grossman's translator, who himself is a poet.
Thank you for the encouragement. I am still not sure if I will get to it this year, but I will try. Between being a slow reader and not having a lot of free time to read, the thought of reading a book of its length and reputation is a bit intimidating. Want to make sure I have the time and focus that it deserves.
I also see from your substack page that you are quite modest and have a well-regarded book that you recently published. Looks very interesting and creative. I just ordered it on Amazon--and will probably read it before I get to Life and Fate, but don't let that go to your head :-)
Thanks for the kind words regarding my book, and thank you for ordering it. I do hope you like it, and please let me know what you think. Grossman's LIFE AND FATE definitely influenced my writing of the book, and he even makes an appearance. And it definitely won't go to my head. Ha. I'm sure you've heard the story in that interview that it's a miracle, on several accounts, we even got to read the book, between Grossman being almost killed and the manuscript—yes, the manuscript—being arrested.
Wow! What a plethora of recs! I haven’t heard of a lot of these so I will check them out in the new year. I found PLDJ to be interesting so I’d read anything in that genre. Also sci fi doesn’t scare me off! I certainly don’t read as much of it as I’d like. Next up on my TBR is with my Zionist Girls Read book club, Lihi Lapid’s I Wanted to Be Wonderful
Thank you, Miranda. I enjoy reading what you have to say. I read The Source many years ago, and it's a good summary of the history of the land, written in a compelling way with period characters (much like "Chesapeake", which Michner wrote later). I recommend to you "The Gates Of Gaza" by Amir Tibon. Tibon's family lived at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, which was attacked on 10/7 and members of the kibbutz were killed or taken as hostages.
Thank you! I’ve read The Gates of Gaza. What an incredible story. I found some of history to be a little left leaning (conveniently omitting details from history) that bothered me and my book club members
Always well written , Miranda is a gifted journalist ; glad we met
Thanks Brad! I’m grateful we met this year. Happy New Year!
Everyone needs to read As a Jew.
Between Susan and I we’ve read 3 of these books, Lillenbaun, The Source and Hostage. All worthy of being read.
Wow, great list. Impressed by how much reading you do! I've had Iddo Gefen's book (autographed!) and Hostage on my nightstand for quite a while, but haven't gotten to them yet. Have wanted to get to the Source for a while, maybe now will kick it up the list a bit.
Will mention two amazing books that are a bit over 1-2 years old but just in case you haven't read them I highly recommend you check them out:
Next Stop, by Benjamin Resnick. Written before 10/7 but published shortly after. It is put in a sci-fi-ish setting but don't let that put you off if you're not into sci-fi. Great interviews with the author on Daniel Gordis's podcast (how I first heard of it) and on the Five Books Podcast.
Goyhood, by Reuven Fenton. I couldn't put it down, smiled almost the entire time I read it (which is rare post-10/7), and had to google the meanings of a number of Yiddish words.
Recently read The Puttermesser Papers by Cynthia Ozick, which would have to be in my top few Jewish fiction books ever--highly recommended if you haven't read it (warning, there is a violent assault that occurs late in the book--which itself raises a lot of questions about what it represents). Also her Messiah of Stockholm.
BTW, I also enjoyed both of Sarah Hurwitz's books, esp As a Jew. I would probably put Daniel Gordis's Israel: A Concise History, and We Stand Divided as two of my top ten Jewish books ever. Also, if you "enjoyed" (not the right word) Dara Horn's PLDJ, I'd recommend David Nirenberg's Anti-Judaism, which I read after hearing Dara Horn mention it in an interview. It is a dense, academic read but an incredible tour of anti-Jewish sentiment throughout leading thinkers of history--helps explain an awful lot, unfortunately.
Books to read hopefully in the next year:
Spies of No Country by Matti Friedman (only book of his I haven’t read yet, also hope to re-read Pumpkinflowers).
Iddo Gefen's Cloud Factory and Jerusalem Beach
Maya Arad's Happy New Years and Hebrew Teacher
Long-term goals, may not happen this year:
Chaim Grade's Sons and Daughters (long book, I may have to audiobook a fair chunk, but audiobook narrator mispronounces Grade's name in introduction, so that may be a dealbreaker).
Vasily Grossman's Life and Fate (ok, pipe dream, prob won't happen this year, but may get to some of his The Road).
Sorry if this is too rambling, but seemed like some of the above might be of interest.
Forget all the other books on your list and just read Life and Fate, one of the greatest novels of all time. And don’t get frightened by its size. Once you settle into the story, you won’t be able to put it down.
Never heard of this before. You're really selling it! Might get it on my Kindle, thanks :)
Here is a great discussion about Life and Fate from the Econtalk podcast from a little over a year ago (probably my single favorite podcast, highly recommended if you are not familiar with it). There is also a separate episode in which Russ Roberts interviews Grossman's translator, who himself is a poet.
https://www.econtalk.org/tyler-cowen-on-life-and-fate/
In case you prefer YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xZ85QguR4M
I wasn't aware of this interview. Thanks!
Thank you for the encouragement. I am still not sure if I will get to it this year, but I will try. Between being a slow reader and not having a lot of free time to read, the thought of reading a book of its length and reputation is a bit intimidating. Want to make sure I have the time and focus that it deserves.
I also see from your substack page that you are quite modest and have a well-regarded book that you recently published. Looks very interesting and creative. I just ordered it on Amazon--and will probably read it before I get to Life and Fate, but don't let that go to your head :-)
Thanks for the kind words regarding my book, and thank you for ordering it. I do hope you like it, and please let me know what you think. Grossman's LIFE AND FATE definitely influenced my writing of the book, and he even makes an appearance. And it definitely won't go to my head. Ha. I'm sure you've heard the story in that interview that it's a miracle, on several accounts, we even got to read the book, between Grossman being almost killed and the manuscript—yes, the manuscript—being arrested.
Wow! What a plethora of recs! I haven’t heard of a lot of these so I will check them out in the new year. I found PLDJ to be interesting so I’d read anything in that genre. Also sci fi doesn’t scare me off! I certainly don’t read as much of it as I’d like. Next up on my TBR is with my Zionist Girls Read book club, Lihi Lapid’s I Wanted to Be Wonderful
Wonderful and inspiring reviews Miranda! I’m interested in several of these, going to start with The Source!
Bought two of your recommendations! Excited to check them out :)
Ohh which ones?! Happy reading!
Thanks for the pointers Miranda! I’m gonna add one of these to my reading list for 2026.
Thank you, Miranda. I enjoy reading what you have to say. I read The Source many years ago, and it's a good summary of the history of the land, written in a compelling way with period characters (much like "Chesapeake", which Michner wrote later). I recommend to you "The Gates Of Gaza" by Amir Tibon. Tibon's family lived at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, which was attacked on 10/7 and members of the kibbutz were killed or taken as hostages.
Thank you! I’ve read The Gates of Gaza. What an incredible story. I found some of history to be a little left leaning (conveniently omitting details from history) that bothered me and my book club members
Thank you for sharing!