The third book in the local book series on Jewish Literature at the local library was O My America by Johanna Kaplan. I didn’t enjoy the process of reading the book as much as the first two in the series, the writing style is a bit disjointed in places, skipping from various times in the characters’ lives and throwing in a mix of phrases and quotes and poems in different languages – which I guess in a sense adds to its authenticity a bit – but it made it more difficult to get through than I would have liked.
The book itself, while it does not have the stand out characters of Tevye, Reb Smolinsky or Sara Smolinsky that are previous books, does have much, much more social commentary interspersed throughout the book. In a way, its much easier, for me at least, to view the book as one of social commentary exclusively without much character development or plot – a book that simply uses archetypes and plot situations to comment on various social issues. Thus, if I look to the book for memorable characters and a developing and interesting plot, I am bit disappointed with it. However, if I look to the book for criticism of certain social institutions and for the hypocrisy that often exists between one’s social life and one’s personal life, the book is a success. Really a good lesson in perspective and expectations on that level.
Throughout the myriad of settings and characters, you have commentary on the inequality of justice (i.e., rich people have more justice than poor people); the contradiction of much of the youth/hippie movement during the 60s; the battle between formal education and informal education; the hypocrisy of social revolutionaries that exists between their preaching and their personal life; and the devaluing of women, from their intellect and emotions, to their wants – regardless if it is modern (career) or traditional (family). They can’t win.
The central character really is Ez Slavin, a renowned social commentator who preaches, among others, originality in thinking, against going to war in WWII, and how the simple transcends the complex. To me, he’s what a combination of Marx, Emerson, Thoreau, and a 60s hippie would be – he’s highly critical of anything different than him, preaches for more sharing and equality, and is a legend among left leaners and college students, yet, in his personal wake, he leaves a trail of 3 wives and 1 mistress, one daughter who can’t think for herself and needs his help (and he won’t ever give it), another daughter that is simply worn out by him; a son that refuses to acknowledges his existence (these last two were thrown to other relatives to be raised when their mother died), meaning that Ez leaves with no significant personal relationship, and his children that are close to him fall into similar traps of finding no one significant to spend time with.
The irony and distortion all comes to a head at the end at Ez’s funeral *(EZ has actually just passed away at the beginning of the book and the story consists of flashbacks) when non-family members speak wonders about what a great and significant and caring man Ez was, and his children are once again faced with the contradiction of their father’s public life and his private life, and ultimately probably feeling slighted.
The book provides plenty of little situations that mirror the irony and distortion of Ez’s funeral, which ultimately provides an opportunity for the reader to reflect on these situations, the author’s commentary through the characters, and how much of it is still sadly relevant to today’s society. Definitely a book that benefits from having a discussion about it with others, as opposed to reading in solitude. But would provide great opportunities for discussion in a class, or, like our meeting last night, a library’s book series.
Filed under: Books
