The Family Mashber - A Simple Jew's Review

I find the following review disappointing and shallow. The heck, I have asked A Simple Jew for it and committed to publishing it. I appreciate the effort, I mean people have been writing his blog for so long, its time to give back to the community. But alas a person who made a career out of romanticizing Chassidik life and specifically Ukrainian Chassidik life, suddenly gets bored when he reads how it was in reality. I read this book in three days in one exhilarating gulp, but I have to admit I did not have to push through the denial that the Jews might not be that simple after all.

"Totalling 688 pages, "The Family Mashber" by Der Nister requires a fairly substantial investment of time to read it all from start to finish. The physical size of the book did not intimidate me after reading that it was centered in the 1870's in Berditchev, had some characters who were Breslover Chassidim, and knowing that Hirshel Tzig, Chabakuk Elisha, and Tzemach all raved about it. While Tzemach initially told me that it would take at least 200 pages to really get into it, Chabakuk Elisha told me that it would take at least 300 pages.

I did enjoy this book from the first few pages though. Der Nister's rich and non-romanticised descriptions of the shtetl and its numerous colorful residents made the book a real narrative journey. No character is presented as being one-dimensional and they are all developed with the nuances of their pasts and current motivations fully explored.

Yet, these lengthy descriptions were not an entirely positive thing either. I often found myself skimming through pages hoping to find a new section that would prove to be more interesting; something I never do for a book that I truly enjoy.

While there were numerous parts that were very memorable, the book languishes at times for VERY long stretches. At times, I only kept reading it by keeping in mind Chabakuk Elisha's promise that the ending is what makes the book truly worthwhile.

The last few chapters really did keep my attention. I do did think, however, that the point Der Nister was trying to make in "The Family Mashber" could have been made in a shorter novel; perhaps editing out at least 300 to 400 pages

If you are looking for a nostalgic and rose-colored shtetl fairy tale, this is not the book for you. However, if you want to get a truer sense of the flavor of shtetl life, this book is a window into all its light and darkness."