The Chosen by Chaim Potok

I should have been taking notes while I was reading this book so I could remember all I wanted to say about it. It was a very thought-provoking read, and I wish I had a book group to discuss it with...you could really get into some deep discussion about the various characters' personalities, choices, motives, etc. The main characters (the two boys and their fathers) are very well developed.

Sometimes I really have a difficult time with first person fiction, but this style felt very natural and real, maybe because even though it's Reuven telling the story, sometimes it felt more like the book was actually about Danny.

I will say that it's not a very fast-paced book. There's quite a bit of repetition, and I kept waiting for something really dramatic to happen, but the book really isn't so much about drama as it is about soul-searching and being true to oneself.

Finding out more about Jewish culture was truly fascinating to me. I still can't remember many of the terms (and definitely can't pronounce them), but I feel a little more cultured and well-rounded. :-)

I wrote this review before creating this blog.