Upcoming Schedule | Books We’ve Read
Sunday, November 1st, 10:30 a.m.
The Ghost of Hannah Mendes (1998) (384 pp) by Naomi Ragen
When Catherine da Costa, a wealthy Manhattan matron, learns she has only a short time to live, she realizes that her family tree will die unless she passes on its legacy and traditions to her granddaughters. But Suzanne and Francesca, beautiful young women caught up in trendy causes and ambitious careers, have no interest in the past. Catherine almost despairs until one night she is visited by the ghost of her family’s anscestor, an indomitable Renaissance businesswoman named Hannah Mandes.
The ghost of Hannah Mendes encourages Catherine to use every trick in the book to coerce the granddaughters to journey across Europe and acquaint themselves with their roots. While the sisters honor their grandmother’s request out of loyalty, they believe their quest is futile–until it starts to uncover ancient pages from Hannah Mendes’s fascinating memoir, and brings new loves into their lives.
Get the book
The library has multiple copies to borrow (contact-less pickup from TIS parking lot). Contact librarian@tiferethisrael.com. Also available in Kindle and Audible form.
Join us via ZOOM here.
The Braun Library Book Club meets most months (usually on the first Sunday of the month) at 10:30 a.m. All meetings are currently held via Zoom.
Books are chosen by the group, and represent a variety of genres, all with a connection to Jewish history or culture. There is no fee, and meetings are open to all interested TIS members.
Multiple copies of all books are available for loan from the Braun Library (contactless pickup from the TIS parking lot). To reserve, send email to library@tiferethisrael.com. Most books are also available to download in eBook and Audible formats.
The book club is supported by generous donors to the Braun Library fund. Donate here.
Upcoming Schedule
December 6th, 2020
The Worlds We Think We Know (2017) (248 pp) by Dalia Rosenfeld
January 10th, 2021
The History of Love (2005) (255 pp) by Nicole Krauss
February 7th, 2021
Three Floors Up (2015) (255 pp) by Eshkol Nevo
March 7th, 2021
Visible City (2014) (256 pp) by Tova Mirvis
April 11th, 2021
The Yid: A Novel (2016) (320 pp) by Paul Goldberg
Books Read
All books are all available for loan from the Braun Library. In addition, we have used copies of most books for purchase. Write to librarian@tiferethisrael.com for contactless pick-up.
2020
The Ghost of Hannah Mendes — Naomi Ragen
A Backpack, a Bear, and Eight Crates of Vodka: A Memoir — Lev Golinkin
The Color of Water — James McBride
The Hotel Neversink — Adam O’Fallon Price
People of the Book — Geraldine Brooks
Everything Is Illuminated: A Novel — Jonathan Safran Foer
Drawing in the Dust — Zoe Klein
A Bend in the Stars — Rachel Barenbaum
The Muralist: A novel — B.A. Shapiro
2019
The Secret Chord — Geraldine Brooks
Moonglow — Michael Chabon
Naamah — Sarah Blake
Bee Season — Myla Goldberg
A Marriage of Opposites — Alice Hoffman
A Pigeon and a Boy — Meir Shalev
A Tale of Love and Darkness — Amos Oz
The Golem and the Jinni — Helene Wecker
The River Midnight — Lilian Nattel
I am Forbidden — Anouk Markovits
Mr. Mani — Abraham B. Yehoshua,
Ritual Bath — Faye Kellerman
2018
Waking Lions — Ayelet Gundar-Goshen
The Chosen — Chaim Potok
American Pastoral — Philip Roth
Bread Givers — Anzia Yezierska
Einstein and the Rabbi — Naomi Levy
The Best Place on Earth, — Ayelet Tsabari
The Weight of Ink — Rachel Kadish