Jim shepards new book, the book of aron, tells the story of a jewish boy growing up in poverty and desperation. In jim shepard s latest novel the book of aron, wellknown reallife child advocate and the childrens guardian, dr. Shepard has recently earned more renown for his short stories you think thats bad, 2011, etc. Shepard shows korczak in all the private discouragement and desperate loneliness that could make him shorttempered with those who. The book of aron, by jim shepard the new york times. My mother and father named me aron, but my father said they should have named me what have you done or what were you thinking.
The book of aron by jim shepard mcclelland and stewart 272 pps. Cnanprsfetoh mb auun eiranm ur auun etta hum mb aron ruca i oy atom. Guest star mark dostert author of up in here and benjamin rybeck marketing director the book. The book of aron, the stunning new novel from massachusetts writer jim shepard. This book needs to be read anthony doerr heartbreaking, shattering, charming and brilliant there isnt one word that isnt the young boys. Jim shepard s novel, the book of aron, has won the inaugural l. As the walls go up around the ghetto in warsaw, as the lice and typhus rage, food is stolen and even jewish. Five of his short stories have been chosen for the best american short stories, two. Bartel the wooden poore book tond new book ph talmonc. By national book award finalist jim shepard, a deeply affecting novel that will join the shortlist of classics about the holocaust and the.
The book of aron is a breathtaking novel of extraordinary craft, humanity, and masterful storytelling. Buy the book of aron by shepard, jim july 2, 2015 hardcover by isbn. Details are vivid, like hair turned grey by a covering of lice, and simply. The book of aron, by jim shepard, is a masterpiece. Shepard is the winner of the rea award for the short story for 2016. The book of aron, a novel by jim shepard, does that job brilliantly. Aron, the narrator, is an engaging if peculiar and unhappy young boy whose family is driven by the german. Aaron shepard is the author of many books, stories, and scripts for young people, as well as professional books and resources for writers and educators. Jim shepard is the author of seven novels, including most recently the book of aron, which won the sophie brody medal for achievement in jewish literature from the american library association and the pennew england award for fiction, and five story collections, including his new collection, the world to come. His seventh novel is a powerful statement about history and compassion, set in the warsaw.
The book of aron, jimshepard shop online for books in. Jim shepard has masterfully made this childseye view of the darkest history mesmerizing, sometimes comic despite all odds, truly heartbreaking, and even inspiring. A national book award finalist for his collection, like youd understand, anyway, which won the story prize, shepard has taught film and writing at williams college for many years. Jim shepard s superb the book of aron, his seventh novel, set in the warsaw ghetto, is a work of straightahead naturalism, but it is nothing like wiesels pioneering 1960 novel. The narrator of jim shepard s harrowing new novel, the book of aron, is the sort of anarchic and undomesticated boy who would be dubbed a rapscallion in the lexicon of mark twain. Shepard will be honored march 8 at the wittliff collections in texas states alkek library. The beautifully titled the book of aron the title implies that the narrative is of biblical proportionis american writer jim shepard s contribution to the literature of the holocaust, and specifically deals with a piece of the history of the warsaw ghetto, created by the gestapo in order to starve the polish jews within it to death, and. It is a superb contribution to the extensive literature about world war ii. The book of aron vintage contemporaries jim shepard on. Buy the book of aron by jim shepard from amazons fiction books store. Officially confined to the jewish quarter, with hunger, vermin, disease and death all around him, aron makes his way from apprentice to master smuggler until. Jim shepard has written some of the best books ive read. In observance of the day of holocaust remembrance, the pbs program.
The book of aron by shepard, jim july 2, 2015 hardcover. Janusz korczak, tells the smallest ones, before they leave warsaw, that. A masterful depiction of life in the ghetto and the demands of heroism. Something like this imperative motivates national book award finalist jim shepard s seventh novel, the book of aron, a loosely historical account of the children of the warsaw ghetto. His 2015 novel the book of aron involved massive research into the holocaust, which he called critically important. Jim shepard has written some of the best books ive read and the book of aron is his best. The most recent of his seven novels, the book of aron, won the pennew england award, the sophie brody medal. The novel begins with the relocation of aron and his family to polands capital under the pretext of containing a typhus epidemic. The book of aron by shepard jim for sale online ebay. Shepard s seventh novel is a powerful statement about history and compassion, set in the warsaw ghetto. Jim shepard the book of aron politics and prose bookstore. This is not one of those predictable tales of the heroic but doomed warsaw ghetto uprising.
The book collects the sharp lives and conversations of the children and adults around him, each a point of life in the face of death. Aron is a nineyearold polish jew, and a troublemaker. Shepards seventh novel is a powerful statement about history and compassion, set in the warsaw ghetto. Jim shepardthe book of aronbookbits author interview. The book of aron by writer jim shepard follows the life of the orphan aron as he is taken into an orphanage in the warsaw ghetto by janusz korczak. Iscriviti a prime ciao, accedi account e liste accedi account e liste resi e ordini iscriviti a prime carrello. The acclaimed national book award finalist one of the united states finest writers, according to joshua ferris, full of wit, humanity, and fearless curiosity now gives us a novel that will join the short list of classics about children caught up in the holocaust. Signed first edition a novel about children caught up in the holocaust. Jim shepard is the author of four previous collections, including like youd understand, anyway, which won the story prize and was a finalist for the national book award, and his short fiction has often been selected for best american short stories and the peno. Jim shepard s tender new novel, the book of aron is set in the warsaw ghetto.
Fearless, and devoid of sentimentality, it looks squarely into the face of unspeakable suffering, evil and lawlessness, revealing the persistence and strength of the human spirit despite all odds and the redemptive power of love. Full text of the times, 1998, uk, english internet archive. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the book of aron. Jim shepards new novel follows a depressed and probably doomed young boy in the warsaw jewish ghetto during world war ii. The making of robert altmans masterpiece, can be reached at jan. I finished reading the book of aron shortly before yom hashoah.
It begins before the germans invaded poland and, through aron s eyes, takes us from the polish countryside into the depths of the warsaw ghetto and then into the famous orphanage for destitute children run by the reallife janusz korczak. Aron, the narrator, is an engaging if peculiar and unhappy young boy whose family is driven by the german onslaught from the polish countryside into warsaw and slowly battered by deprivation, disease, and persecution. The action takes place in the months leading up to the uprising. Jim shepard wins inaugural clark fiction prize for book. Anyone who hears aron s voice will remember it forever. Shepard has created a powerfully disturbing and memorable description of life in the warsaw ghetto, told through the eyes of a bright boy, who comes of. Shepards new novel, the book of aron, set in the warsaw ghetto, is another historical fiction, but a departure of sorts. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. The book of aron is his best roddy doyle book of the year.
Jim shepard s new book, the book of aron, tells the story of a jewish boy growing up in poverty and desperation. Fishpond new zealand, the book of aron by jimshepardbuy. Roddy doyle the book of aron is a novel of profound and delicate simplicitypassivity, almostbut one which calmly and indelibly delivers the bluntest of impacts. He and a handful of boys and girls risk their lives by scuttling. The book of aron, by jim shepard, is a masterpiece the. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Everyone ever calls shepard a writers writer, a term with some builtin obscurity. I must admit that i knew nothing about the authors past work before reading the book of aron. He has also worked professionally in both storytelling and readers theater, as a performer, director, and teacher trainer. Get it today with same day delivery, order pickup or drive up.
1080 1179 29 1499 1159 699 1569 13 949 87 138 279 837 869 916 280 539 575 184 1439 787 1139 1318 124 1441 813 1321 581 252 1174 1474 50 1061 1235 89