Tova Reich — The Convert: Five Stories and a Novella - with Michael Feuer — at Conn Ave
Featured Book
The Convert: Five Stories and a Novella
"The searing and hilarious satire of Tova Reich knows no boundaries. In her latest novel, Camp Jeff (Seven Stories, 2024), a Borscht Belt resort turns into Camp Jeffrey Epstein, where sex offenders find their come-uppance. Here, in only her second short story collection along with The House of Love and Prayer (Seven Stories, 2023), Reich turns up the heat to greet our end-times-a book of stories of end-of-life truths and surprises, and one that actually dares to make some sense of the alarming dilemma of the meaning of Jewishness in a world that is drowning in violence. In "Managed Care," a beloved son drafts his mother's obituary in advance, and hastens her demise as a final act of filial devotion. In "Solidarity," the recipient of a widow's generosity turns violently against her. In "Mengele in Jerusalem," as the title suggests, we meet the former Nazi war criminal in the most unlikely of places. Then there is the title novella, in which a convert must carry on after the death of her dominating mistress, herself also a convert. In "Gifted and Talented," the doting mother of a gifted child catalogues her losses. And finally, in "Moscow Night in New York," a group of Russian expats gathers in Brooklyn to wonder why all the important things have been washed away by all the unimportant ones. When it is over, our host finds his wife weeping at the kitchen sink. "Why?" he asks. "Because I'm out of cigarettes," she replies furiously"-- Provided by publisher.
This book will be available for purchase at the event.
About This Event
A new story collection from the razor-sharp wit of Tova Reich, who was described by Jonathan Safran Foer as "fearless, hysterically funny, and with the sharpest eye for truth and falsity. . . a brilliant writer."
The searing and hilarious satire of Tova Reich knows no boundaries. Here in this story collection, she explores end-of-life truths and surprises, daring to make sense of the dilemma of the meaning of Jewishness in a world that is drowning in violence. In “Managed Care,” a beloved son drafts his mother’s obituary in advance, and hastens her demise as a final act of filial devotion. In “Solidarity,” the recipient of a widow’s generosity turns violently against her. In “Mengele in Jerusalem,” as the title suggests, we meet the former Nazi war criminal in the most unlikely of places.Then there is the title novella, in which a convert must carry on after the death of her domineering mistress, herself also a convert. In “Gifted and Talented,” the doting mother of a gifted child catalogues her losses. And finally, in “Moscow Night in New York,” a group of Russian ex-pats gathers in Brooklyn to wonder why all the important things have been washed away by all the unimportant ones. When it is over, our host finds his wife weeping at the kitchen sink. “Why?” he asks. “Because I’m out of cigarettes,” she replies furiously.In her previous work, Reich has turned a Borscht Belt resort into Camp Jeffrey Epstein where sex offenders find their just desserts (Camp Jeff, Seven Stories, 2024), she has shown aspects of the Holocaust legacy as a competitive game of one-uppance (My Holocaust, 2007).
Here, Reich turns up the heat to greet our end-times.TOVA REICH is the author of the novels Mara, Master of the Return, The Jewish War, My Holocaust, One Hundred Philistine Foreskins, and Mother India, which was longlisted for the South Asian Literature Prize and a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. Her most recent novel is Camp Jeff, which Booklist called “an audacious and righteous torrent of wisecracks and ironies that coheres into a whirlwind of ‘divine apocalyptic madness.’” Her stories have appeared in the Atlantic, Harper’s, Ploughshares, and in her collection The House of Love and Prayer (Seven Stories, 2023). She lives on the fringe of Washington DC.
Reich will be in conversation with Michael Feuer. He is Professor of Education and International Affairs at George Washington University, where he was the immediate past dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development, and holds visiting appointments at the University of Pennsylvania and Tel Aviv University. He has written three books about education policy, two of which were featured here at Politics and Prose, where he has been a neighbor and friend since the store opened. Aside from his academic research, Michael has written many commentaries and essays, and some poems, on Judaism, Israel, and the Holocaust, and is at work now on a book about his intersectional identity as an American, Jewish, Liberal, Zionist. He hopes to finish it in his new home in Tel Aviv next year.
This event is free with first come, first serve seating.
To request accommodations for this event or to inquire about accessibility please email events@politics-prose.com ideally one week in advance of the event date. We will make an effort to accommodate all requests up until the time of the event.
Featured Author
Reich, Tova
TOVA REICH is the author of the novels Mara, Master of the Return, The Jewish War, My Holocaust, One Hundred Philistine Foreskins, and Mother India, which was longlisted for the South Asian Literature Prize and a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. Her most recent novel is Camp Jeff, which Booklist called “an audacious and righteous torrent of wisecracks and ironies that coheres into a whirlwind of ‘divine apocalyptic madness.’” Her stories have appeared in the Atlantic, Harper’s, Ploughshares, and in her collection The House of Love and Prayer (Seven Stories, 2023). She lives on the fringe of Washington DC.
In Conversation With
Michael Feuer
Michael Feuer. is Professor of Education and International Affairs at George Washington University, where he was the immediate past dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development, and holds visiting appointments at the University of Pennsylvania and Tel Aviv University. He has written three books about education policy, two of which were featured here at Politics and Prose, where he has been a neighbor and friend since the store opened. Aside from his academic research, Michael has written many commentaries and essays, and some poems, on Judaism, Israel, and the Holocaust, and is at work now on a book about his intersectional identity as an American, Jewish, Liberal, Zionist. He hopes to finish it in his new home in Tel Aviv next year.
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Saira Mohamed — What a Country Owes Its Soldiers - with Darin Johnson — at Conn Ave
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Judith Bowles — They Spoke of the River - with David Keplinger — at Conn Ave
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