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Jewish writers
Elizabeth Wurtzel in 2015 (YouTube screenshot)
January 7, 2020, 8:52 pm
Elizabeth Wurtzel, writer of ‘Prozac Nation,’ dies at 52
Jewish author had yearslong battle with breast cancer; after she announced her diagnosis in 2015, Wurtzel became an advocate for early screening for the BRCA mutation
By AP and TOI staff
Susan Choi attends the 70th National Book Awards ceremony and benefit dinner at Cipriani Wall Street on November 20, 2019, in New York. (Greg Allen/Invision/AP)
January 4, 2020, 3:13 pm
‘Trust Exercise’ author Susan Choi hasn’t written about her Jewish roots — yet
The half-Jewish, half-Korean National Book Award winner calls herself a ‘menorah and latke’ Jew who grew up without pressure to conform to other people’s standards
By Josefin Dolsten
Ken Ludwig, at Studio 54 in New York City, April 29, 2019. (Walter McBride/ WireImage/ Getty Images/ via JTA)
December 5, 2019, 2:59 am
The king of farce’s new play is inspired by his parents’ love letters
‘Dear Jack, Dear Louise,’ by Broadway legend Ken Ludwig, weaves a bi-coastal correspondence at the height of WWII into a full-fledged romance tale — and a humorous one
By Curt Schleier
Cora Wilburn's novel 'Cosella Wayne: Or, Will and Destiny' is being published in book form for the first time, thanks to Jewish historian Jonathan Sarna. (Library of Congress/via JTA)
November 25, 2019, 4:05 pm
Newly discovered 19th century American Jewish novel includes rare feminist voice
Over 100 years after her death, Cora Wilburn is finally getting her 10 minutes of fame as she is recognized as likely being the first to write a great American Jewish novel
By Penny Schwartz
Howard Jacobson's latest novel is titled 'Live a Little,' and centers on two 90-year-olds. (Keke Keukelaar/via JTA)
September 25, 2019, 4:31 am
Howard Jacobson on his new novel, dwindling irony and anti-Semitism in the UK
The acclaimed British author laments both Brexit and bigotry in Corbyn’s Labour party, but hangs on to his sense of humor in his latest book about two 90-year-olds in love
By Emily Burack
Jared Diamond, author of the new book, 'Upheaval: How Nations Cope With Crisis and Change.' (Courtesy)
August 22, 2019, 6:05 am
These four looming threats may bring the end of civilization, warns top scholar
Pulitzer Prize-winning geographer Jared Diamond’s newest book is a look back at past political calamities and an examination of current hot-button issues menacing the planet
By JP O’ Malley
Abraham Sutzkever, right, before World War II in Vilnius, Lithuania. (Courtesy/via JTA)
July 27, 2019, 6:22 am
How poetry literally saved the life of a famed Yiddish writer
In 1944, Avraham Sutzkever and his wife Freydke had to walk through a minefield to reach the plane that would take them to freedom. They stepped to the rhythm of poetic meter
By Cnaan Liphshiz
Michael David Lukas at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco in 2014. (Wikimedia Commons)
May 2, 2019, 12:20 pm
Novel spanning centuries of Mideast Jewish life wins $100,000 literature prize
Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature awarded to Michael David Lukas for his book ‘The Last Watchmen of Old Cairo’ telling stories drawn from the Cairo Geniza
By Josefin Dolsten
Jewish author Jonathan Freedland. (Philippa Gedge)
April 12, 2019, 10:13 am
Novel envisions Yad Vashem burning as plotters eradicate historical truth
Leading UK Jewish journalist Jonathan Freedland once again turns his hand to fiction as his alter-ego, the best-selling thriller writer Sam Bourne
By Robert Philpot
Jamaica Kincaid listens during a panel on migration at the National Library of Israel's Global Forum, March 18, 2019. (Yonatan Kelberman)
March 31, 2019, 10:24 pm
Jamaica Kincaid is black and Jewish — but she’s through talking about identity
Speaking with The Times of Israel on the sidelines of the National Library of Israel’s Global Forum, the acclaimed author shares her thoughts on migration and religion
By Yaakov Schwartz
(Collage by Alma)
March 31, 2019, 5:11 am
9 writers who perfectly capture what it’s like for Jews of color
Jewish literature is an amazing, rich genre of diasporic Jewish stories, but these narratives are often left out of the tribe’s literary canon, and shouldn’t be overlooked
By Nylah Burton
Benjamin Markovits, author of 'A Weekend in New York.' (Courtesy)
March 12, 2019, 7:07 pm
In his 8th book, Benjamin Markovits writes what he knows: Jewish and complicated
Before speaking at London’s Jewish Book Week, the author opens up to ToI about how his newest novel, ‘A Weekend in New York,’ is informed by his mixed-faith upbringing
By Anne Joseph
(Collage by Alma; photo of T Kira Madden Madden courtesy of Madden/via JTA)
March 11, 2019, 3:24 am
Memoir takes on complex heritage of queer, Jewish, Chinese and Hawaiian author
T Kira Madden’s ‘Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls’ weaves a story of addiction, Florida, fatherless girls — and how Drew Barrymore saved her life
By Emily Burack
Author Austin Ratner and his new book, 'The Psychoanalyst's Aversion to Proof.' (Courtesy)
February 7, 2019, 3:53 am
New book puts Freud and psychoanalysis back on the couch
Medical doctor turned Sammy Rohr prizewinning author Austin Ratner analyzes why Freud’s school of psychology isn’t doing as well as it used to
By Cathryn J. Prince
Acclaimed American author Joyce Carol Oates will be the recipient of the 2019 Jerusalem Prize, to be awarded at the May 2019 Jerusalem International Book Forum (Courtesy Dustin Cohen)
January 23, 2019, 1:11 am
Acclaimed author Joyce Carol Oates to receive 2019 Jerusalem Prize
Award will be presented to the writer at May’s 2019 Jerusalem International Book Forum
By Jessica Steinberg
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