The specific vibe I’m going for is “witty, snarky East Coast Jewish girl is a little lost but has a lot to say about life”. I LOVED reading Heartburn by Nora Ephron and The Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank (and watching the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel). Are there any books you’ve read in this genre, or are they three of a kind?
I’m a New England Jewish girl living New York, with a New Yorker mom. This kind of narrative is like my comfort food. Any suggestions are appreciated!
by lightenup-buttercup
11 Comments
Different vibes and in part following to see what suggestions are, but deeply Jewish books I’ve loved recently:
The World to Come (Dara horn)
Nobody will tell you this but me (Bess Kalb)
The five people you meet in Heaven
by Mitch Albom
This may sound like an odd suggestion, but hear me out… Dave Grohl’s book, The Storyteller. The man is fueled by caffeine, nicotine, and whiskey, loves his mom, knows how to tell a story, has learned a few things about life, has a great sense of humor, and a great respect for the musicians who came before him. I really enjoyed it.
I loved Heartburn too and got the same kind of vibe from Carrie Fisher’s novels Delusions of Grandma and Surrender the Pink
Welcome to my planet: where English is sometimes spoken. by Shannon Olson.
So not jewish or east coast, but snarky take on being an adult and how that changes the relationship with her mom.
Nora Ephron’s essays are a delight.
Have you read Judy’s Summer Sisters? You might enjoy it. I’m 55 (and love Judy!). I read this book the first time around (1999?) and hardly remembered it which is not surprising as I had two small children at the time. I recently reread for book club and was entertained! I passed it on to my 28 year old daughter, too. Not a literary masterpiece but it may prove some of what you’re looking for. She also published a book a few years back called In the Unlikely Event which is about a real plane crash in New Jersey and its effects on the community.
You may also enjoy Cathleen Schine. Mostly set in New York. I loved her book The Grammarians.
Have you ever read A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith? Highly recommend. Set in NY.
Time and Again by Jack Finney. Sort of historical sci-fi, this is a genius novel set in two different New York
timelines about time travel. Mr Finney is most well known for his story Invasion of the Body Snatchers but I highly recommend this one (although body snatchers is great too, and I read it aloud to my kids when they were small and they LOVED it lol!) (Time and Again is very non-sci-fi reader friendly!)
Also check out Kevin Wilson! He’s so charming. I think you’d like his vibe. I’ve read all his novels and Nothing to See Here is my favorite.
Check out Melissa Bank’s other book The Wonder Spot.
You also might enjoy Rona Jaffe and Meg Wolitzer.
(Per the wife) check out [The Interestings](https://amzn.to/3F3o5A8) by Meg Wolitzer
Try Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Have you read Brazen by Julia Haart? It’s a memoir and is coming from the perspective of already having figured things out (as much as you can when you are questioning and deconstructing your faith). It can be dense because she explains the doctrines, rituals, and customs with the assumption that her readers will know little to nothing about Judaism.