Comments on: Fiction Friday: My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok http://pastoralia.org/books/fiction-friday-my-name-is-asher-lev-by-chaim-potok Welcome. I'm a husband, a father, an ordained minister, and a postmodern pilgrim. You can check out some of the projects I'm involved with below. In this space I mostly write about the intersections of Christianity and culture. Wed, 16 May 2012 14:35:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jason Coker http://pastoralia.org/books/fiction-friday-my-name-is-asher-lev-by-chaim-potok/comment-page-1#comment-1050 Jason Coker Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:50:08 +0000 http://pastoralia.org/?p=1389#comment-1050 Thanks for pitching in your perspective Esther...it was a good choice! Thanks for pitching in your perspective Esther…it was a good choice!

]]> By: Esther http://pastoralia.org/books/fiction-friday-my-name-is-asher-lev-by-chaim-potok/comment-page-1#comment-1049 Esther Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:22:25 +0000 http://pastoralia.org/?p=1389#comment-1049 Just read this book last year. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I was really drawn in by the depiction of Ashers artistic eye. I found myself wishing I could see things in that way. I also enjoyed the relationship that Asher and his mentor had. I chose to read this book in light of trying to read more fiction. Great choice, if I do say so myself. :) Just read this book last year. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I was really drawn in by the depiction of Ashers artistic eye. I found myself wishing I could see things in that way. I also enjoyed the relationship that Asher and his mentor had.
I chose to read this book in light of trying to read more fiction. Great choice, if I do say so myself. :)

]]> By: Jen Abel http://pastoralia.org/books/fiction-friday-my-name-is-asher-lev-by-chaim-potok/comment-page-1#comment-1047 Jen Abel Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:16:52 +0000 http://pastoralia.org/?p=1389#comment-1047 I ordered it at the library - I'll let you know if Asher reaches his post-Crucifixion/resurrection potential, or stagnates in the morass of living limbo... that's the ending I don't want to read - too much like reality for fiction! I ordered it at the library – I’ll let you know if Asher reaches his post-Crucifixion/resurrection potential, or stagnates in the morass of living limbo… that’s the ending I don’t want to read – too much like reality for fiction!

]]> By: Jason Coker http://pastoralia.org/books/fiction-friday-my-name-is-asher-lev-by-chaim-potok/comment-page-1#comment-1041 Jason Coker Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:12:53 +0000 http://pastoralia.org/?p=1389#comment-1041 Haha...actually, I haven't read it. But if it's good, there's gotta be some tragedy, eh? Haha…actually, I haven’t read it. But if it’s good, there’s gotta be some tragedy, eh?

]]> By: Jen Abel http://pastoralia.org/books/fiction-friday-my-name-is-asher-lev-by-chaim-potok/comment-page-1#comment-1038 Jen Abel Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:00:40 +0000 http://pastoralia.org/?p=1389#comment-1038 You're kidding me! I hadn't looked - it's been a few years. Thanks! P.S. Does it have my happy ending or is there more torture in store - just a hint?? :o) You’re kidding me! I hadn’t looked – it’s been a few years. Thanks! P.S. Does it have my happy ending or is there more torture in store – just a hint?? :o )

]]> By: Jason Coker http://pastoralia.org/books/fiction-friday-my-name-is-asher-lev-by-chaim-potok/comment-page-1#comment-1036 Jason Coker Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:16:29 +0000 http://pastoralia.org/?p=1389#comment-1036 <strong>Jen -</strong> He did write a sequel: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0449001156?ie=UTF8&tag=pastoralia-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0449001156" rel="nofollow">The Gift of Asher Lev.</a> Jen - He did write a sequel: The Gift of Asher Lev.

]]> By: Jen Abel http://pastoralia.org/books/fiction-friday-my-name-is-asher-lev-by-chaim-potok/comment-page-1#comment-1035 Jen Abel Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:07:16 +0000 http://pastoralia.org/?p=1389#comment-1035 I loved this book - I thought the author did a wonderful job of portraying the tortuous development and demand of giftedness within a child, showing the sensitivities well. Along with that, we have the denial of the gift in this story due to the tragic super-religious lock on lives and emotions, and the struggle between loving yet not belonging with the "righteous and good" people... Potok deals with so many significant themes, internal and external! He artfully culminates with a glimmer of hope (I thought) through the forbidden Crucifixion paintings - the child then adult drawn to the suffering Christ through Art and his experience - bringing some level of needed freedom at last, though a great personal cost. After I finished reading, I wanted to know how Asher would have lived the rest of his life - it was unsettling for me not to know where he went from that point. He was still extremely vulnerable, hadn't yet entered the joy of his freedom, still lived his somewhat dark intensity, and I would have liked Potok to have given me the comfort of a happy ending! I loved this book – I thought the author did a wonderful job of portraying the tortuous development and demand of giftedness within a child, showing the sensitivities well. Along with that, we have the denial of the gift in this story due to the tragic super-religious lock on lives and emotions, and the struggle between loving yet not belonging with the “righteous and good” people… Potok deals with so many significant themes, internal and external! He artfully culminates with a glimmer of hope (I thought) through the forbidden Crucifixion paintings – the child then adult drawn to the suffering Christ through Art and his experience – bringing some level of needed freedom at last, though a great personal cost. After I finished reading, I wanted to know how Asher would have lived the rest of his life – it was unsettling for me not to know where he went from that point. He was still extremely vulnerable, hadn’t yet entered the joy of his freedom, still lived his somewhat dark intensity, and I would have liked Potok to have given me the comfort of a happy ending!

]]> By: john chandler http://pastoralia.org/books/fiction-friday-my-name-is-asher-lev-by-chaim-potok/comment-page-1#comment-1031 john chandler Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:10:46 +0000 http://pastoralia.org/?p=1389#comment-1031 This book was recommended by someone else this week. You just moved into in a firm "next fiction read" slot. This book was recommended by someone else this week. You just moved into in a firm “next fiction read” slot.

]]> By: Jason Coker http://pastoralia.org/books/fiction-friday-my-name-is-asher-lev-by-chaim-potok/comment-page-1#comment-1030 Jason Coker Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:07:02 +0000 http://pastoralia.org/?p=1389#comment-1030 <strong>Julie -</strong> I'm basically a full-time student these days, so... <strong>Jared -</strong> And you said you don't comment on blogs : ) I'd love to hear more about Justice Gardens. Julie - I’m basically a full-time student these days, so…

Jared - And you said you don’t comment on blogs : )

I’d love to hear more about Justice Gardens.

]]> By: Jared Boyd http://pastoralia.org/books/fiction-friday-my-name-is-asher-lev-by-chaim-potok/comment-page-1#comment-1029 Jared Boyd Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:54:28 +0000 http://pastoralia.org/?p=1389#comment-1029 Jason---this is one of my favorite books as is THE CHOSEN, also by Potok. Jason—this is one of my favorite books as is THE CHOSEN, also by Potok.

]]>