Books Archives – Kveller

Literary giant Philip Roth died Tuesday night. While the first words frequently used to describe him are “Jewish-American writer,” he would vehemently oppose that characterization. I know that… because I got to personally ask him about it. I interviewed him as a reporter for my college newspaper 25 years ago. (Yes, I find that as unbelievable to type as you must find it to read). In the course of our almost hour-long interview, he ranged from snarky to petulant, but he was vehement… >> Read More

writers

10 Writers Not Named Philip Roth Capturing the Female American Jewish Experience

Emily Burack

Philip Roth, a literary giant, passed away at age 85. As Charles McGrath wrote in his obituary in The New York Times, "he was drawn again and again to writing about themes of Jewish identity,… anti-Semitism and the Jewish experience in America." But what Roth provided, of course, was a uniquely American Jewish male experience. As Shayna Goodman wrote in Lilith Magazine in 2014, "In his novels, Roth often writes about masculinity impaired by female sexuality; and this reveals something big and troubling about Roth’s attitudes towards women." And as… >> Read More

Books

9 Novels About Mental Health That Everyone Should Read

Kate Kort

May is chugging along, which means school is winding down, spring is actually here, and Shavuot is just around the corner. But this cheerful, blossoming time of year also holds a more serious… significance: It’s Mental Health Awareness Month. As a literary fiction writer who focuses on mental health, this month is incredibly important to me: It’s a time in which we strive to broaden our understanding of mental illness and amplify the voices of those who struggle. One excellent way to do this is through writing and… >> Read More

work-life balance

Randi Zuckerberg: You Can Have It All, Just Not Every Day

Randi Zuckerberg

"The entrepreneur's dilemma: Maintaining friendships. Building a great company. Spending time w/family. Staying fit. Getting sleep. Pick 3." — @randizuckerberg, December 9, 2011. When I first… posted this tweet in 2011, I discovered I truly touched a nerve, and not just among entrepreneurs. CEOs, parents, students, freelancers, and everyone in between seemed to be struggling with how to truly have it all, on their own terms. The truth is that you can have it all — just not every day. Each… >> Read More

kveller q&a

Mara Wilson Talks ‘Matilda,’ Activism & Anti-Semitism

Joanna C. Valente

Mara Wilson knows a thing or two about the excitement of storytelling. Though she's most famous for starring in the beloved film Matilda — based on Roald Dahl's classic children's book of the same… name — Wilson is a writer, too. You could say her entire life revolves around the magic of books. So it's fitting that Wilson, 30, is judging Roald Dahl Estate's Imaginormous Challenge Writing Contest for children. The contest is unique because it isn't about writing the perfect story — rather, it's about having a wonderful idea for… >> Read More

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