In The Enemy Camp, Jerome Weidman looks at Jewish-Gentile relations through a Jew’s eyes. Weidman is a fine storyteller with a keen eye for characterization. He weaves a complex story about a basically nice guy with a few blind spots.
Archive for February, 2008
The Enemy Camp Takes Aim at Prejudice
Posted in 1958 Bestselling Novels, tagged antisemitism, Gentiles, Jews on February 27, 2008 | Comments Off
The Winthrop Woman Makes History Live
Posted in 1958 Bestselling Novels, Adventure, Fictional biography, Historical, My Top Pics, Religious, tagged colonial America, Dutch, Massachusetts, Puritans, witchcraft on February 20, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Historical fiction doesn’t get any better than The Winthrop Woman, Anya Seton’s fascinating tale of Puritan America. The facts, dates, and circumstances are all true. Sexton said the story didn’t need any additions to make it exciting. (She’s right.) She even incorporated characters’ written words into the novel’s dialogue.
Ice Palace Value Has Melted
Posted in 1958 Bestselling Novels, Historical, Romance on February 13, 2008 | Comments Off
Edna Ferber dazzled readers in 1958 with Ice Palace, a tale that went behind the headlines of Alaska’s fight to become a state. Ice Palace is part travelogue, part tract. Ferber takes readers through Alaska with the enthusiasm of Rick Steen, then lambastes corporate greed with the zeal of John Bunyon.
Eloise Induces Christmas Depression
Posted in 1958 Bestselling Novels, Humor, Juvenile/Youth, Picture book, tagged Christmas, Hilary Knight, juvenile. Plaza Hotel on February 5, 2008 | Comments Off
Eloise at Christmastime is more merchandise than storybook: the literary equivalent of Disney character drinking glasses sold for 99ยข with a McDonald’s cheeseburger. There’s no real story here. It it weren’t for Knight’s drawings, there would be no book.
