Sketching Out Blog: Sketches of art, watercolor, photos, recipes, books, interviews, Jewish topics, and Highland Park, New Jersey

August Jewish Book Carnival

Ma'alot view
View from back balcony of home in Ma’alot, Israel

Honored to be hosting my first Jewish Book Carnival. The Jewish Book Carnival is a monthly event where bloggers who blog about Jewish books can meet, read and comment on each others’ posts. I posted a May 2013 photo of my friend’s back balcony porch in Ma’alot, Israel – wouldn’t you like to cuddle up with a good book on her porch while enjoying this view?

On My Machberet, Erika Dreifus praises The Property, a graphic novel by Rutu Motan (trans. Jessica Cohen).

From Heidi Estrin: Visit this podcast interview with Michelle Bayuk, Marketing Director at Albert Whitman & Co, about two recent picture books of Jewish interest: The Wooden Sword by Ann Stampler, and Happy Birthday, Tree by Madelyn Rosenberg.

On Sketching Out, learn more about Israel’s leader Menahem Begin in a review of the biography Menahem Begin: A Life by Avi Shilon.

Susan Curtis talks about a book I greatly enjoyed: The Golem and the Jinni. Then she got a chance to interview the author Helene Wecker!

Forwordsbooks has been busy in the past few weeks! On her website, Kathy Bloomfield shares a list of books to help everyone in the family value the precious commodity of time. While over at JewishBoston.com, she shares her favorite children’s Shabbat titles for the Combined Jewish Philanthropies Families with Young Children Initiative. And at InterfaithFamily.com Kathy welcomes the New Year with a list of books to help families learn about and engage in the upcoming holidays.

Sandor Schuman presents What is a Jewish Story.

Lorri reviews Hanns and Rudolf: The True Story of the German Jew Who Tracked Down and Caught the Kommandant of Auschwitz.

Naomi Firestone-Teeter presents a list of books for the high holidays and an article by Daniel Torday on Jews and the novella.

Barbara Krasner from The Whole Megillah has an Interview with poet and memoirist Joy Ladin and another Interview with Behrman House editor Dena Neusner.

Barbara Bietz shares some book news from friends.

Ann Koffsky talks about storytime: Once upon a time, many, many Rosh Hashanahs ago

At Life Is Like a Library, Kathe Pinchuck blogs about reading Tomorrow There Will Be Apricots on her new e-reader, as well as some Jewish-reading-related visits to Hebrew University and the old Jerusalem Train Station.

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Thanks to all the people who submitted posts! I’m wondering: do more people read in the summer? Do you read more books in the summertime?

Hannah says

Congratulations on your first Jewish Book Carnival! Lots of links to follow, thanks.

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Leora says

It was certainly a new experience for me - fun to receive all those emails from book enthusiasts.

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Erika D. says

Thanks again for hosting, Leora!

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Leora says

My pleasure.

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Lorri M. says

What a varied set of links for us to browse! Thank you for hosting, and thank you for the link!

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Ruchama King Feuerman says

What a literary smorgasbord, Leora! Todah, todah.

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Leora says

Hi, Ruchama! I thought you were at a Yiddish convention? (then again, maybe you are). Thanks for commenting - glad you like the selections.

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Kathy Bloomfield says

This is wonderful, Leora. I have my work cut out for me getting to all these posts! You did a fantastic job pulling this all together.

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Leora says

Thank you for participating, Kathy! I was pleased to get so many links. Lots of enthusiasm.

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Jeri says

The idea of a book carnival is awesome. I will have to investigate further and see what I can find to fit my genre tastes.

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Leora says

I've been involved in several blog carnivals over the years. Their success depends upon a good manager or two and how excited the participants are about the topic. I've decided recently to do less food/recipes kinds of blogging - I got tired of participating in food blog carnivals where much of the food is unhealthy or just does not interest me.

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Jeannette Paladino says

Leora -- great idea for a book carnival. I'm glad it was a success. I read year-round. Doesn't matter whether it's summer or winter. If you're a reader you just love having a book nearby -- or maybe nowadays a Kindle.

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Leora says

I tend to read as much year round as I do in the summer. But some people seem to take more time off in the summer, so maybe they read more during that time.

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Ramblingwoods says

Congrats .... Sharing books is a wonderful thing..... Michelle

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Ronna Mandel says

Hi Leora,
I love that you've done this. How can I get involved in your cool carnival? I also review Jewish books around various holidays and have just reviewed WHAT A WAY TO START A NEW YEAR! from Kar-Ben on my blog.
Here's a link to the review: http://goodreadswithronna.com/2013/08/21/rosh-hashanah-moving-new-home-interfaith-family
Thanks!

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Leora says

Ronna, it's actually not my carnival - I was just the host for August.

Learn more here: http://www.jewishlibraries.org/main/Resources/Blog/JewishBookCarnivalHQ.aspx

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Erika D. says

I'm the host for September, and I've blogged about the plans here:
http://www.erikadreifus.com/2013/08/jewish-book-carnival-call-for-submissions/

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Susan says

Leora, thank you for the wonderful and varied posts. La Shana Tova, and a sweet and happy new year, to you and yours,

Susan

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Leora says

Thank you for the kind words, Susan. Shana tova!

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