A bitingly funny memoir of growing up in a dysfunctional Jewish family and wrestling with a vengeful God.
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"Auslander's acerbic wit is delightful! I knew growing up as an Orthodox Jew is no picnic, but this book really hammered that home for me. Poor Shalom, having to sneak out for guilty Slim Jims, museum trips, and porno mags under the eye of an a-hole Sky-Dad! I had to confirm with my wife (an ex-Orthodox Jew) that there are such ridiculous events as "Blessing Bees". Overall, a funny, troubling, informative memoir." — Kate (4 out of 5 stars)
"Auslander's acerbic wit is delightful! I knew growing up as an Orthodox Jew is no picnic, but this book really hammered that home for me. Poor Shalom, having to sneak out for guilty Slim Jims, museum trips, and porno mags under the eye of an a-hole Sky-Dad! I had to confirm with my wife (an ex-Orthodox Jew) that there are such ridiculous events as "Blessing Bees". Overall, a funny, troubling, informative memoir."
" One of the funiest book i've ever read! "
" This is an extremely angry book, but pretty darn funny as well. I won't pretend that my own devout religious upbringing was anywhere close to as strict as Auslander's - but a lot of theological wrestling rings a bell with me. "
" Shalom Auslander is almost as funny as David Sedaris. This book, his memoir, is a little dark, but is a really fascinating look at childhood in Orthodox Jewish community. "
" Shalom has written the quintessential book about what religion can do to a child's mind. Jew's are known for their guilt complexes, right behind Catholics. Shalom makes you live and breath what it is like to live a live of constant fear. "
" Great memoir. Sardonic, brave, honest. Now I've got to go find everything this guy has ever written. "
" Maybe it's just where I work and have worked for so long, but this was very funny--I heard the author reading on NPR, picked-up the book and finished it the same night. "
" In the end, Shalom Auslander was just a little too angry and messed up for it to be a fun read. I think he's better in small doses, like his pieces for This American Life. He did pique my interest in orthodox Judaism, though. "
" this book is both hysterically funny and exceptionally well-written. i've been trying to get every single person i know to read it! "
" Interesting, but a little too depressing. I really got the feeling that the author is never going to be able to move on from his bad childhood in a orthodox community. I kinda wanted to scream at him to get over it! "
" If I could give this book six stars, I would! "
" This is a hilarious, thought-provoking memior. "
" Absolutely hilarious story of an Orthodox kid that goes off the deep end. Truly one of the funniest books I have ever read. Laugh aloud (if you aren't Orthodox. If you are, do not get caught reading this!) "
" I have read other books with similar themes that I liked better. "
" I wasn't crazy about this book as I was reading it but after our bookclub discussion I found I enjoyed it more looking back on it. "
" The author had a rather humorous voice, but the story itself wasn't that memorable for me. I'm always a fan of memoirs, though, as well as Jewish culture. Hence, the attraction. I would recommend, but only if asked. "
" It feels a bit wrong to enjoy miserable people so much. And as a cradle Catholic, I find his stories about being raised as an Orthodox Jew fascinating. "
" Heerlijk... "
" This guy would have been a neurotic mess no matter WHAT religion he was raised in. I don't think Judaism can be blamed. "
" oy! this is blistering, black-humored, kiss-your-family-goodbye-forever, stuff. i loved it. "
" Painfully angry; a very uncomfortable reading experience. Not recommended for anyone who is easily offended, as it is profane and blasphemous. Many found this book funny; I didn't. "
" Esilarante! Auslander (l'ho scritto bene?) ci racconta di un dio così umano e così vicino che non solo lo conosce personalmente, ma ce l'ha anche personalmente con lui! Una gustosa lettura di umorismo yiddish ai giorni nostri! "
" Orthodox Judaism's answer to Augusten Burroughs. This memoir is both painfully raw and outrageously funny. Not for the faint of heart. This is a man gripped by a strong belief in a God who is out to punish him and, folks, he's pissed about it. "
" __lo estoy leyendo en español, claro__ "
" This guy is funny! I'm glad he's not dead, and glad his baby isn't dead or his wife. "
" Foreskin's Lament; A MemoirHe has been theologically abused "
" I'm at page 20 and I've laughed out loud at least 5 times. I'm finished and have laughed all the way through. "
" His writing is very funny -- despite the tragic story. I am not sure how much of his childhood he can blame on Orthodoxy -- it seems to me, the real villian here is alcoholism, with a second-runner up going to the codependency of his mother. "
" Esilarante. Forse un po' ripetitivo, ma davvero divertente.Un Philip Roth più angosciato ("Il lamento di Portnoy" è lo spunto per il titolo), più cinico, e decisamente più spassoso.Grazie ad Elettra Caporello (la traduttrice) che me ne ha parlato e mi ha fatto incuriosire. "
Shalom Auslander was raised in Monsey, New York. Nominated for the Koret Award for writers under thirty-five, he has published articles in Esquire, New York Times Magazine, Tablet, and the New Yorker and has had stories aired on NPR’s This American Life. He is the author of the short-story collection Beware of God and the memoir Foreskin’s Lament. He lives in New York.
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