|
Mazornet's
Jewish Book Club
Bee Season by Myla Goldberg (Published:May 2001)
Review by: Roza M.
 "Bee Season" is the
story a family who disintegrates as each of its members searches for
spiritual enlightenment. It is a tale of a "normal" Jewish family
that is not all that normal. It is a story of nine-year-old Eliza
Naumann, an ordinary girl, whose unexpected victory in a district
Spelling Bee, earns her a space in the national finals, and propels
her family into emotional and spiritual disarray.
Saul Naumann, Eliza's father, a cantor and a scholar immersed the
world of mystics, is not and never was aware of his wife's mental
illness or his children's social ineptness.
Infatuated with
mysticism, Saul fails to engage Judaism as a family unifier.
Instead, smitten with Eliza's newly discovered talent, Saul brings
her into his world of Kabbalah, while neglecting Aaron, who up until
the "Bee" was the "favorite son." Aaron, stunned by his father's
neglect, embarks on a search of his own, and eventually joins a Hare
Krishna temple. And Miriam, the mentally and emotionally disturbed,
brilliant lawyer, who never bonded with her husband or children,
seeks "Tikun Olam" (literally perfecting the world) or perfection by
thieving.
This story is a comment
on the contemporary Jewish family whose wishes may be to maintain
Judaism, yet lack the knowledge or commitment to so. When Judaism
becomes an idea or an ideal rather than a way of life; when a
"Divine Connection" is one of mysticism and elusive spirituality
rather than the God in the here and now, Jewish identity evaporates.
There's nothing intrinsically Jewish about Eliza or Aaron. There is
nothing identifiably Jewish in Miriam. There is no warmth; there is
no heart. There is emptiness.
Mazornet's Book Club - Home Page
Have you read "Bee
Season" and would like to comment?
Send Your thoughts to: bee@mazornet.com.
Tell us if you want your comments and (or without) your email
posted.
Join
the MazorNet JEWISH Book Club -- Click
Here
Suggest a book for the book club: write
to BookClub@mazornet.com
Write your comments about the featured
books to
BookClub@mazornet.com
Buy "Bee
Season " -
Click
Here
|
