Michael Wex is hailed as a Yiddish national treasure and is one of the leading figures in the current Yiddish revival. As a novelist, professor, and translator, his work contributes a unique voice to literature. His performances as a stand-up comedian and one-person show artist further showcase his versatile talents. Wex lectures widely on Yiddish and Jewish culture, enriching the understanding of this vibrant tradition.
The narrative explores the mindset of individuals who maintain an unwavering belief in their own superiority, shaped by early childhood affirmations from their mothers. It delves into themes of self-perception, entitlement, and the disconnect between self-image and reality. The author critiques the societal tendency to uphold these inflated views, suggesting that such beliefs lead to a lack of awareness and empathy towards others.
Blending intellectual depth with humor, this novel weaves a narrative reminiscent of Thomas Mann and Mordecai Richler. It explores complex themes while delivering sharp wit, creating a timeless reading experience that captivates and entertains. The characters are richly developed, offering insights into human nature and society, making it a standout work that resonates with readers seeking both substance and levity.
Exploring the richness of Yiddish, Michael Wex provides readers with practical ways to incorporate this vibrant language into everyday communication. Through engaging anecdotes and cultural insights, he highlights how Yiddish can enhance conversations, storytelling, and debates, offering a unique blend of humor and education. The book serves as both a guide and a celebration of Yiddish culture, making it an entertaining resource for anyone looking to enrich their language skills.
A delightful excursion through the Yiddish language, the culture it defines and serves, and the fine art of complaint. Throughout history, Jews around the world have had plenty of reasons to lament.
Exploring the rich history of Jewish cuisine in America, this book delves into the dishes brought by Yiddish-speaking Jews from Central and Eastern Europe. It examines the evolution of foods like bagels and deli sandwiches, their regional variations, and their cultural significance both in Jewish communities and in broader American society. The narrative highlights how these culinary traditions have been refined over generations, illustrating their lasting impact on American foodways.
This hilarious novel is an inside portrait of orthodox, post-Holocaust Judaism in a place that it never expected to be. It's the story of Yoine Levkes, boy hasid of the Canadian Prairies, his refugee parents...confronted with dying people, and ailing culture, the perils of near orphanhood, the allures of Sabina Mandelbroit...too religious to be normal and too normal not to realize this...Humor, satire, irony...and more. It's all here in Michael Wex's first and only novel - Shlepping the Exile which has also been publishing in German - but, of course, by a Swiss publisher!
A delightful excursion through the Yiddish language, the culture it defines and serves, and the fine art of complaint Throughout history, Jews around the world have had plenty of reasons to lament. And for a thousand years, they've had the perfect language for it. Rich in color, expressiveness, and complexity, Yiddish has proven incredibly useful and durable. Its wonderful phrases and idioms impeccably reflect the mind-set that has enabled the Jews of Europe to survive a millennium of unrelenting persecution . . . and enables them to kvetch about it! Michael Wex—professor, scholar, translator, novelist, and performer—takes a serious yet unceasingly fun and funny look at this remarkable kvetch-full tongue that has both shaped and has been shaped by those who speak it. Featuring chapters on curse words, food, sex, and even death, he allows his lively wit and scholarship to roam freely from Sholem Aleichem to Chaucer to Elvis. Perhaps only a khokhem be-layle (a fool, literally a "sage at night," when there's no one around to see) would care to pass up this endearing and enriching treasure trove of linguistics, sociology, history, and folklore—an intriguing appreciation of a unique and enduring language and an equally fascinating culture.
