Journal Entry 1 by potok-fan from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi Finland on Friday, February 17, 2006

Potok is probably my all-time favorite author (that's why I chose "Potok-fan" as my BC username). Like most of Potok's novels, this is about someone struggling with their faith in the modern world.

Here's what Potok himself said later about the book: I spent... 16 months of my life in Asia, and there I saw a world I could never have conjured up in my early years..., a world that utterly relativised my Jewishness, my westerness, my Americaness. What do you do with a whole world that questions, that puts into an awkward and challenging sort of perspective the world into which you were born and raised? That’s the world of The Book of Lights. Core-core culture confrontation.

This copy was registered on bookcrossing on Feb 17, in commemoration of the birth of Chaim Potok, Feb 17, 1929. 

Journal Entry 2 by potok-fan from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi Finland on Friday, February 17, 2006

As part of my "Potok Day" commemoration, I am sending this book out as a ray. I've already PMd the first participant for their address and will send it out as soon as I've got a reply. UPDATE: Mailed first class, 20 Feb.

Please try to move the book on within a month (surface mail is ok!), and please journal, first to let us know the book arrived safely, and then to tell us your reactions to the book.

The last person is asked to check that they're still really the last (because the list may change), and then to release the book in whatever manner you like. It can be a wild-release, an RABCK ... just as long as the book is made available to future Potok-fans!

Participants:

Potok-fan (Finland)

RonOren (UK)

DoveiLibri (USA)

Debnance (USA)

Suefitz (USA) <------------- book is here

UPDATE: The guided part of this bookray is now complete! Thank you RonOren, DoveiLibri, Debnance, and Suefitz for participating, and especially for posting thoughtful comments on the book. Suefitz is now free to pass it on to anyone by any method. Happy journey, little book! 

Journal Entry 3 by RonOren from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Monday, February 27, 2006

Just arrived, but I'll have to finish Cat's Eye before I can start on it. Thanks to Potok-fan for adding me to the ray, and for the picture of the cute squirrel! 

Journal Entry 4 by RonOren from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Monday, March 06, 2006

Very impressive book. As usual with Potok, it was a mix of easy reading and very deep thinking. This did make it difficult at times, especially when the easy style switched to verbatim (I assume) citation from the religious books that Gershon reads. But then, this is part of Potok's charm, isn't it?

The strange part is: I'm completely sure I haven't read this book before. Gershon and Arthur are not at all familiar, nor did I have any idea how the story would twist.
Yet, the part of Gershon in Korea (while he's still the only Jewish chaplain around) was cso familiar! Either I've had about the largest deja-vu ever, or I've read this before. Did Potok publish this somewhere else, as a short story maybe? Did I find an exerpt in some magazine? Maybe it's been used for a TV-show or something? I have no idea where I've read this, but I definitely have read that story before!

I guess the book should've set me thinking. After all, Arthur's problem is hardly a trivial one. For some reason, it didn't work for me, though. Maybe I went throuhg it too quickly... Still, I did enjoy it, and I'm certainly glad you got me the opportunity to read it, Potok-fan!

I've got DoveiLibri's address, so I'll send it off again soon. 

Journal Entry 5 by RonOren from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Friday, March 24, 2006

Just sent it off to Doveilibri. Hope you'll enjoy it! 

Journal Entry 6 by Dove-i-libri from Fort Myers, Florida USA on Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Journal Entry 7 by debnance from Alvin, Texas USA on Monday, May 15, 2006

My Name is Asher Lev is one of my all-time favorite read-and-thinks. I am eager to read another by Potok. I am about halfway through with another book and I don't want to rush this one, so I'll probably start it in two or three days.

 

Journal Entry 8 by debnance from Alvin, Texas USA on Sunday, May 28, 2006

Not a book that you want to rush through, I found. My first thought was that The Book of Lights is markedly different from My Name is Asher Lev, yet some of the same themes dominate the book. What does it mean to be a Jew? What are one's responsibilities to one's family? Should one go through the motions or should one find one's passion? How can a person be both faithful to his family's traditions and faithful to making his way in the world? Important questions, all.

Like Asher Lev, Lights is a book to be read slowly, carefully. I almost wished I had my own rabbi to help me through parts. I was left with more questions than answers; perhaps that, for me, is the mark of a great book. I rarely reread, but this is a book I might. A book that is both deeply depressing and deeply hopeful. Recommended. 

Journal Entry 9 by debnance at please use CONTROLLED RELEASES country -- thanks! in Alvin, Texas USA on Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (5/30/2006 UTC) at please use CONTROLLED RELEASES country -- thanks! in Alvin, Texas USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

 

Journal Entry 10 by Suefitz from Saratoga, California USA on Monday, June 12, 2006

Looks interesting - thanks for letting me join the bookray