Welcome to the November Jewish Book Carnival!

We're a month away from our next Jewish Festival of Lights (yes, I'm already waiting for Hanukkah), but we still have this month's Jewish Book Carnival to look forward to and to help us spread more inspiration and brightness. This month is packed with something for everyone from new poetry at Life is Like a Library, to an exciting mystery/thriller review, to a Hannukah round-up of new Jewish kids books, and a post right here on my own site from my guest this month, author Liza Wiemer. 

The Jewish Book Carnival was started by Heidi Rabinowitz and Marie Cloutier "to build community among bloggers and blogs who feature Jewish books. It runs every month on the 15th (or close to the 15th when it falls on Shabbat)." 

So let's get started:

  • Heidi Slowinski recently reviewed Nine Tenths of the Law, by Claudia Hadadus Long. This mystery/thriller explores the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship and survivors guilt wrapped up in a fast-paced mystery that will hold your attention from beginning to end.
  • Thank you to Barbara Bietz for getting us into the holiday spirit with her HAPPY HANUKKAH ROUND UP! over on Jewish Books for Kids 
  • In her blog, Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb, Deborah interviewed Kathy Kacer about her new middle grade novel for kids, The Brushmaker's Daughter.
  • The Association of Jewish Libraries invites you to a free Jewish Book Month Author Showcase on Tuesday November 17 at 7:30 pm Eastern Time on Zoom!
  • The Book of Life has a great double interview with the authors of Fish Out of Water and Turtle Boy, exploring similar themes in these two wonderful bar mitzvah novels. 
  • The Sydney Taylor Shmooze is a mock award blog that evaluates Jewish kidlit by the standards of the real Sydney Taylor Book Award. Here's a recent review of middle grade contemporary novel No Vacancy by Tziporah Cohen. 
  • Check out a review of Rabbi Zimmerman's book about Torah and Rationalism at the Rachack Review. 
  •  At Life Is Like a Library, a reading of Lesléa Newman's new collection of poetry, I Wish My Father (Headmistress Press, 2021) sparks some fond memories of another father named "Edward."
  • Each week, Erika Dreifus's My Machberet blog curates links from the world of Jewish books and writing. Here's one recent example.
  • Here on gilagreenwrites,  I am delighted to host author Liza Wiemer who recently released her YA novel The Assignment with Delacorte Press. Her blog post offers valuable advice for writers.                                     

Thanks to all who participated this month and I will take this opportunity to wish everyone a Hanukkah Sameach!

Photo by Ben Ostrower on Unsplash