There are two things Paul Beckman and Zvi A. Sesling have in common. One is their individual Jewish backgrounds which they bring to this book in all its forms of humor and pathos. Another is the manifestations of love of their heritage which, while not always simple, is continuously entertaining. Entering their worlds is learning that Jews are different in many ways.
FORTY STORIES
“What’s the Jewish American experience without nachas, nudnicks, and a little nudging? When it comes to kvetching and kvelling, it’s hard to imagine a savvier duo than Sesling and Beckman, who’ve put together their stories into one collection, FORTY STORIES. In between weddings and funerals are interfering aunts, errant uncles, and reluctant rabbis. You want a portrait of what it was like growing up Jewish in Memphis? It’s here. You want to know what it’s like to be one of the chosen people living in the projects and have to fight about it? That’s here, too. Quarrelling and affection share the pages. After all, what’s a family argument if not an act of love? And everything is in bite-sized stories each the size of a nosh.”
~ David Galef, My Date with Neanderthal Woman
“A close look into a variety of scenarios—interfaith weddings, a man building an imaginary picket fence that will signal the end of the marriage once the fence is completed, a woman who plans to visit old age homes searching for a substitute mother after her own mother dies—and so many more. A creative and memorable collection showcasing two master storytellers.”
~ Francine Witte, Just Outside the Tunnel of Love