Remember Me to God

Plot

This is one of the most wonderful novels I have ever read. It captures the essence of the struggle we all face -- to grow up, to be worthy, to find purpose and the righteous path. The writing style is a perfectly clear window upon a vivid world, very realistically rendered, and populated by colorful, believable characters. All in all, it's highly readable, very enjoyable, funny, and touching. I came away feeling strangely uplifted, thinking, "Yup, life is just like that -- hopeless and yet hopeful nevertheless." These are ideas that only novels can explore; much too subtle and complex for textbooks or non-fiction works.

The story begins in Boston, shortly before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It focuses on a middle class Jewish family: husband, wife, son and daughter. This is not a tale of big events or simple good versus evil; rather it's a pursuit of elusive answers in a world with much promise and much murk. Who to befriend? Who to oppose? Who to marry? Each decision carries consequences, and yet -- especially at a young age -- we often proceed based upon instinct and seductive theory, being unready to appreciate the reality. We make mistakes. How could it be otherwise? How do we survive at all, let alone grow and learn? I really don't know. But, as much as the answers are elusive, we must struggle with the questions. That's what it is to be human. When I read a novel like this, I am reminded that this tortuous and lonely path has been trod by others, and this fact is somehow reassuring.

Myron Kaufmann went on to write two other novels: "Thy Daughter's Nakedness", followed by "The Love of Elspeth Baker". His work has been acclaimed by many reviewers and major authors, including Norman Mailer and Meyer Levin. I've discovered that he (Kaufmann) is still alive, by the way, and considers "Elspeth Baker" to be his best work. I'm not disputing that claim (I haven't yet read "Elspeth Baker" (I will!), but I did read "Thy Daughter's Nakedness", and it is also superb). Perhaps I'll write about the others later, but right now I wanted to put in a word for his first book.