My Name Is Asher Lev
Written by: Chaim Potok
Editorial Reviews:
Asher Lev is a Ladover Hasid who keeps kosher, prays three times a day and believes in the Ribbono Shel Olom, the Master of the Universe. Asher Lev is an artist who is compulsively driven to render the world he sees and feels even when it leads him to blasphemy.In this stirring and often visionary novel, Chaim Potok traces Asher’s passage between these two identities, the one consecrated to God, the other subject only to the imagination.
Asher Lev grows up in a cloistered Hasidic community in postwar Brooklyn, a world suffused by ritual and revolving around a charismatic Rebbe. But in time his gift threatens to estrange him from that world and the parents he adores. As it follows his struggle, My Name Is Asher Lev becomes a luminous portrait of the artist, by turns heartbreaking and exultant, a modern classic.
If you like "My Name Is Asher Lev, you might also like ...
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Who Am I?
Comment: I've heard good things about Potok's "Chosen" and it sounds like that's his book that most people have read. I enjoyed his style here and I suspect I'll pick up The Chosen to read later.
Content/Theme
Before commenting on anything else, I need to comment on the theme and content of the book.
This book is deeply entrenched in the Jewish culture and has many references that are likely very commonplace to those in the Jewish culture, but were very foreign to me. I got the general meaning of most things from context, but I still have a long list of terms, phrases and actions to look up and better understand.
This book also has a lot of great detail about the art world. This is another realm in which I am an inexperienced traveler. I had a better understanding of art than Judaism, but there were still numerous names, periods, phrases and theories that I didn't understand directly.
One suggestion that I would make which added huge depth to me, is to Google the names of the various paintings/sculpures/artists that are referenced and that Asher studies intently. Some are more important than others, but just seeing what it is he's seeing and experiencing brought a huge new depth to the book.
Characters
Obviously, Asher is the main character. He is a very deep character with a ton of internal conflict and a lot of passion which he doesn't understand or know fully how to direct. His development throughout the novel was very subtle. I found it very interesting that he was portrayed largely as a pawn in his own life. A few times, he tells his father that he "can't control it", meaning his art. In much of the "dialog" that happens between Asher and most characters, he is largely a character who isn't directing the actions of his world. He is often silent and lets others make their assumptions and their decisions. And yet, through that silence, he imposes his will on those who are closest to him.
Asher's parents are also very lucid characters. Asher's mother is passionate and very torn between her devotion to her husband and to her son. The final climactic work of Asher truly captures his mother's character. His father was also very well portrayed. I found myself frustrated with him at times but also sympathizing with him. There was a section where Asher tries to explain art to his father, going into the technical artistic terms and phrases. That scene was a very profound description of the huge disparity between their two worlds.
The other characters in the book were largely there as tools either for Asher's own development or for exploring the gap between Asher's two worlds, art and Judaism.
Plot/Writing/Pacing
There were times that I would have liked the story to pick up the pace a bit. The descriptions were great (very artistic) and the depth that the scenes gave to Asher and his family and friends was huge. I'm not sure what scenes I would have cut or tightened up, but there were times that I would to have liked it to speed up a little.
The plot itself was intense. The novel was divided into "books" outlining different parts in Asher's life and development. Each "book" built on those before it and none of the sections came to a final "conclusion" or at least to a "happy ending." Even though I would not like to see them split into stand alone books, looking back, I see that as a possibility. They each had their own rising action, climax, and hint of resolution. And together through the course of the novel, they provided an overall rising action, with the final book having the greatest climax before the final "resolution."
Overall
Even though this book focussed on conflict between art and Judaism, it goes much deeper than that dynamic. I found myself relating many times to things that Asher would say or think. He was conflicted between his religious heritage and the "carnal" world. He was conflicted between respecting his parents and becoming his own person. He was conflicted between Tradition and Growth. He was conflicted between two things that were both "good." So much of his character development embodies principles that apply to us all.
The story and the writing was very interesting and thought provoking. I enjoyed reading it. The final climax made my soul churn as I realized there was no "happy" way for things to resolve. I'm not one to beg for happy endings, but after getting so attached to Asher, I had hoped that things would turn out better. Still (not to spoil the end), things didn't end up as grim as they could have done. I believe Potok wrote a second book about Asher Lev. I may have to read that as well to see what becomes of him beyond this novel.
The reading isn't "heavy", but the tone of the book is heavy. But Definitely Recommended.
****
3.5 Stars
Customer Rating:
Summary: Baruch ata Adon --- OMG, CRUCIFIX!!!
Comment: OK, so the book is about this Hasidic kid who fights his way out of aesthetic blindess.
He is poor. He is suppressed. Nobody understands him. He is also a lousy Jew.
Why, you may ask, is he a lousy Jew?
Well, to begin with, if the only way he could express grief was to drag in a crucifix, while there are hundreds, no, millions of Jewish subjects he could have called on, then yes, I would say he is a bad Jew. He hasn't understood the point either of art or of Judaism. Does he seriously think the only thing to learn about in art is nudes? This whole book could not have been written if he'd been a violinist.
I must say that the whole business of his uncle dying and the mother having a serious breakdown, not eating, not talking, just sitting there looking like death day after day after day after day... OK, so she didn't get the whole shiva thing, did she? You're not supposed to go overboard like that, and she probably didn't.
Actually, I found his parents tried to be a little understanding. His father even finally managed to deal with the nudes. How on earth did anyone expect him to deal with a crucifix, with himself and his wife in the picture with it? It's a miracle they didn't kill him.
You mean to tell me that there's a single Jew in all of NYC that talks only in monosyllables and doesn't answer questions, the way Asher does? Example:
In the book:
Prof: You will take French.
Asher: Why?
Prof: Because the rabbi wants you to learn French.
Asher: *silent*
Prof: *staring down at Asher sternly*: Asher Lev, you will learn French.
Asher: Yes.
Prof: You will take four years of French.
Asher: Yes.
Prof: You will get good marks in French.
Asher: Yes.
Prof: OK, goodday.
OK, here's what DID happen:
Prof: You will take French.
Asher: Why?
Prof: Because the rabbi wants you to learn French.
Asher: But I don't want to learn French.
Prof: The rabbi wants you to. So you'd better.
Asher: Give me one good reason why I should take French. I've got so much else to do. Seriously, do I have to?...
Prof: ......
Asher: .......
Prof: ......
Admittedly, if you're not Jewish, you're probably not going to get the fakeness of the whole thing. Asher Lev is not a Jew, is not a person, has zero backbone. It's hard to believe he's such an awesome artist because he doesn't have one single creative idea in his head. The book is badly written (by the way, it's weird how they keep calling him his whole name all the time) and it's very pretentious.
For anti-Semites, this book is a field day. So yeah, if you want to hate Jews, please, by all means, read the book, but don't think you'll know very much more about them than you did when you started reading.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Art, sacrifice, and religion.
Comment: Let me start by saying Chaim Potok is my favorite author - so my review may be slightly bias....but judging the favorable reviews his books receive my opinion may be the norm. The emotions and passion conveyed in his writing is nothing short of masterful - Chaim Potok is truly an author that has mastered his craft. And while I can spend this whole review speaking only of the man, let's break away for awhile and discuss his work, shall we?
My Name is Asher Lev, simply put, is about a young boy who has been given the gift of artistic expression and quickly learns of the sacrifices he must make for his voice to be heard. But instead of being simple, let's delve into what makes this book so special. Imagine if you will, the life of an Hasidic Jew living in New York shortly after World War II and trying to reestablish the Jewish culture's heritage. Aryeh Lev is young Asher's father and a Rabbi that hails from a long line of devote Chasidic Rabbis. It is Aryeh's mission to restore what was almost completely destroyed during the war and wishes his son, Asher, continues this daunting task. Yet, from the beginning, it is apparent that Aryeh has little, if any, compassion for his son or involvement in his direction.
Asher's mother, Rivkah, on the other hand, begins her child's upbringing by reaffirming Aryeh's convictions. It isn't until her brother's death that she sheds the traditional model of a Jewish wife and grows independent. Her first step toward pursuing her interests is by attending school and achieving a PhD in political science. It is Asher's mother that pushes and guides him to let the world hear his artistic voice. But the biggest role in this budding artist's future was made by Yudel Krinsky, who introduces young Asher to the prominet Jewish artist, Jacob Kahn. Under his guidance, Asher finds the road that leads to his voice being heard, while understanding how to balance truth, faith, and self-gratification through the stroke of a paint brush.
Customer Rating:
Summary: My Name is Asher Lev
Comment: I have never been one to read a book more than once, but after reading it for a course in college, I decided to read it again for pleasure. Absolutely phenomenal book. My heart breaks for Asher Lev and how he must live as an outsider in his world because of his artistic abilities from the Other Side.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Alexander's Class Review
Comment: Following are two reviews written collectively by the students of my High School Junior Literature class, Spring 2008. The class gave the novel 3 stars, and this is how they expressed their thoughts:
1. "My name is Asher Lev" allows readers to imagine what life is like being a Hasidic Jew that has a fascination with art. Asher Lev turns out to be a very complex character. He goes against Hasidic tradition, his community, and his own father and does what he decides is best. Other conflicts are very interesting to get into; it's not only the usual conflict with one another, but also with religion, one self, a whole community, and even a mentor. As the novel progresses, you see art the way Asher sees it; something beautiful and amazing. In the end, who will he choose? Will he choose his community, family, and religion? Or will he decide to stick with what he knows best, being a painter?
2. Asher Lev is a book that teaches the beauty of life, love, art, and religion. It's about a boy named Asher Lev who has an incredible artistic gift but cannot express it because of his religion. What lies ahead of him are many challenges that will test himself as a religious person and an artist. The main character Asher Lev is very complex and will continue to develop throughout the story. Even though the book is about a Hasidic Jew trying to be an artist, it's also about finding oneself and others finding themselves through you. In this novel you will learn about how the Hasidic Jews live and what their way of life is like. Although Asher is trying to discover himself, he also has to watch out what he does because something drastic could happen to him or the community. You will find many intriguing experiences in this novel, whether they be good or bad. Watch as the story unfolds and this brave character develops into the person that he is. Once you're done reading this book, it will leave you wanting to know more.
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9781400031047
ISBN: 1400031044
Label: Anchor
Manufacturer: Anchor
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 384
Publication Date: 2003-03-11
Publisher: Anchor
Release Date: 2003-03-11
Studio: Anchor
 | Format: Paperback List Price: $14.95 Our Price: $10.17 Your Save: $ 4.78 ( 32% ) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Customer Rating:  |
Editorial Reviews:
Asher Lev is a Ladover Hasid who keeps kosher, prays three times a day and believes in the Ribbono Shel Olom, the Master of the Universe. Asher Lev is an artist who is compulsively driven to render the world he sees and feels even when it leads him to blasphemy.In this stirring and often visionary novel, Chaim Potok traces Asher’s passage between these two identities, the one consecrated to God, the other subject only to the imagination.
Asher Lev grows up in a cloistered Hasidic community in postwar Brooklyn, a world suffused by ritual and revolving around a charismatic Rebbe. But in time his gift threatens to estrange him from that world and the parents he adores. As it follows his struggle, My Name Is Asher Lev becomes a luminous portrait of the artist, by turns heartbreaking and exultant, a modern classic.
If you like "My Name Is Asher Lev, you might also like ...
 | The Chosen (Ballantine Reader's Circle) |
 | The Gift of Asher Lev |
 | Dr. Faustus (Dover Thrift Editions) |
 | The Importance of Being Earnest (Dover Thrift Editions) |
 | The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn |
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Who Am I?
Comment: I've heard good things about Potok's "Chosen" and it sounds like that's his book that most people have read. I enjoyed his style here and I suspect I'll pick up The Chosen to read later.
Content/Theme
Before commenting on anything else, I need to comment on the theme and content of the book.
This book is deeply entrenched in the Jewish culture and has many references that are likely very commonplace to those in the Jewish culture, but were very foreign to me. I got the general meaning of most things from context, but I still have a long list of terms, phrases and actions to look up and better understand.
This book also has a lot of great detail about the art world. This is another realm in which I am an inexperienced traveler. I had a better understanding of art than Judaism, but there were still numerous names, periods, phrases and theories that I didn't understand directly.
One suggestion that I would make which added huge depth to me, is to Google the names of the various paintings/sculpures/artists that are referenced and that Asher studies intently. Some are more important than others, but just seeing what it is he's seeing and experiencing brought a huge new depth to the book.
Characters
Obviously, Asher is the main character. He is a very deep character with a ton of internal conflict and a lot of passion which he doesn't understand or know fully how to direct. His development throughout the novel was very subtle. I found it very interesting that he was portrayed largely as a pawn in his own life. A few times, he tells his father that he "can't control it", meaning his art. In much of the "dialog" that happens between Asher and most characters, he is largely a character who isn't directing the actions of his world. He is often silent and lets others make their assumptions and their decisions. And yet, through that silence, he imposes his will on those who are closest to him.
Asher's parents are also very lucid characters. Asher's mother is passionate and very torn between her devotion to her husband and to her son. The final climactic work of Asher truly captures his mother's character. His father was also very well portrayed. I found myself frustrated with him at times but also sympathizing with him. There was a section where Asher tries to explain art to his father, going into the technical artistic terms and phrases. That scene was a very profound description of the huge disparity between their two worlds.
The other characters in the book were largely there as tools either for Asher's own development or for exploring the gap between Asher's two worlds, art and Judaism.
Plot/Writing/Pacing
There were times that I would have liked the story to pick up the pace a bit. The descriptions were great (very artistic) and the depth that the scenes gave to Asher and his family and friends was huge. I'm not sure what scenes I would have cut or tightened up, but there were times that I would to have liked it to speed up a little.
The plot itself was intense. The novel was divided into "books" outlining different parts in Asher's life and development. Each "book" built on those before it and none of the sections came to a final "conclusion" or at least to a "happy ending." Even though I would not like to see them split into stand alone books, looking back, I see that as a possibility. They each had their own rising action, climax, and hint of resolution. And together through the course of the novel, they provided an overall rising action, with the final book having the greatest climax before the final "resolution."
Overall
Even though this book focussed on conflict between art and Judaism, it goes much deeper than that dynamic. I found myself relating many times to things that Asher would say or think. He was conflicted between his religious heritage and the "carnal" world. He was conflicted between respecting his parents and becoming his own person. He was conflicted between Tradition and Growth. He was conflicted between two things that were both "good." So much of his character development embodies principles that apply to us all.
The story and the writing was very interesting and thought provoking. I enjoyed reading it. The final climax made my soul churn as I realized there was no "happy" way for things to resolve. I'm not one to beg for happy endings, but after getting so attached to Asher, I had hoped that things would turn out better. Still (not to spoil the end), things didn't end up as grim as they could have done. I believe Potok wrote a second book about Asher Lev. I may have to read that as well to see what becomes of him beyond this novel.
The reading isn't "heavy", but the tone of the book is heavy. But Definitely Recommended.
****
3.5 Stars
Customer Rating:
Summary: Baruch ata Adon --- OMG, CRUCIFIX!!!
Comment: OK, so the book is about this Hasidic kid who fights his way out of aesthetic blindess.
He is poor. He is suppressed. Nobody understands him. He is also a lousy Jew.
Why, you may ask, is he a lousy Jew?
Well, to begin with, if the only way he could express grief was to drag in a crucifix, while there are hundreds, no, millions of Jewish subjects he could have called on, then yes, I would say he is a bad Jew. He hasn't understood the point either of art or of Judaism. Does he seriously think the only thing to learn about in art is nudes? This whole book could not have been written if he'd been a violinist.
I must say that the whole business of his uncle dying and the mother having a serious breakdown, not eating, not talking, just sitting there looking like death day after day after day after day... OK, so she didn't get the whole shiva thing, did she? You're not supposed to go overboard like that, and she probably didn't.
Actually, I found his parents tried to be a little understanding. His father even finally managed to deal with the nudes. How on earth did anyone expect him to deal with a crucifix, with himself and his wife in the picture with it? It's a miracle they didn't kill him.
You mean to tell me that there's a single Jew in all of NYC that talks only in monosyllables and doesn't answer questions, the way Asher does? Example:
In the book:
Prof: You will take French.
Asher: Why?
Prof: Because the rabbi wants you to learn French.
Asher: *silent*
Prof: *staring down at Asher sternly*: Asher Lev, you will learn French.
Asher: Yes.
Prof: You will take four years of French.
Asher: Yes.
Prof: You will get good marks in French.
Asher: Yes.
Prof: OK, goodday.
OK, here's what DID happen:
Prof: You will take French.
Asher: Why?
Prof: Because the rabbi wants you to learn French.
Asher: But I don't want to learn French.
Prof: The rabbi wants you to. So you'd better.
Asher: Give me one good reason why I should take French. I've got so much else to do. Seriously, do I have to?...
Prof: ......
Asher: .......
Prof: ......
Admittedly, if you're not Jewish, you're probably not going to get the fakeness of the whole thing. Asher Lev is not a Jew, is not a person, has zero backbone. It's hard to believe he's such an awesome artist because he doesn't have one single creative idea in his head. The book is badly written (by the way, it's weird how they keep calling him his whole name all the time) and it's very pretentious.
For anti-Semites, this book is a field day. So yeah, if you want to hate Jews, please, by all means, read the book, but don't think you'll know very much more about them than you did when you started reading.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Art, sacrifice, and religion.
Comment: Let me start by saying Chaim Potok is my favorite author - so my review may be slightly bias....but judging the favorable reviews his books receive my opinion may be the norm. The emotions and passion conveyed in his writing is nothing short of masterful - Chaim Potok is truly an author that has mastered his craft. And while I can spend this whole review speaking only of the man, let's break away for awhile and discuss his work, shall we?
My Name is Asher Lev, simply put, is about a young boy who has been given the gift of artistic expression and quickly learns of the sacrifices he must make for his voice to be heard. But instead of being simple, let's delve into what makes this book so special. Imagine if you will, the life of an Hasidic Jew living in New York shortly after World War II and trying to reestablish the Jewish culture's heritage. Aryeh Lev is young Asher's father and a Rabbi that hails from a long line of devote Chasidic Rabbis. It is Aryeh's mission to restore what was almost completely destroyed during the war and wishes his son, Asher, continues this daunting task. Yet, from the beginning, it is apparent that Aryeh has little, if any, compassion for his son or involvement in his direction.
Asher's mother, Rivkah, on the other hand, begins her child's upbringing by reaffirming Aryeh's convictions. It isn't until her brother's death that she sheds the traditional model of a Jewish wife and grows independent. Her first step toward pursuing her interests is by attending school and achieving a PhD in political science. It is Asher's mother that pushes and guides him to let the world hear his artistic voice. But the biggest role in this budding artist's future was made by Yudel Krinsky, who introduces young Asher to the prominet Jewish artist, Jacob Kahn. Under his guidance, Asher finds the road that leads to his voice being heard, while understanding how to balance truth, faith, and self-gratification through the stroke of a paint brush.
Customer Rating:
Summary: My Name is Asher Lev
Comment: I have never been one to read a book more than once, but after reading it for a course in college, I decided to read it again for pleasure. Absolutely phenomenal book. My heart breaks for Asher Lev and how he must live as an outsider in his world because of his artistic abilities from the Other Side.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Alexander's Class Review
Comment: Following are two reviews written collectively by the students of my High School Junior Literature class, Spring 2008. The class gave the novel 3 stars, and this is how they expressed their thoughts:
1. "My name is Asher Lev" allows readers to imagine what life is like being a Hasidic Jew that has a fascination with art. Asher Lev turns out to be a very complex character. He goes against Hasidic tradition, his community, and his own father and does what he decides is best. Other conflicts are very interesting to get into; it's not only the usual conflict with one another, but also with religion, one self, a whole community, and even a mentor. As the novel progresses, you see art the way Asher sees it; something beautiful and amazing. In the end, who will he choose? Will he choose his community, family, and religion? Or will he decide to stick with what he knows best, being a painter?
2. Asher Lev is a book that teaches the beauty of life, love, art, and religion. It's about a boy named Asher Lev who has an incredible artistic gift but cannot express it because of his religion. What lies ahead of him are many challenges that will test himself as a religious person and an artist. The main character Asher Lev is very complex and will continue to develop throughout the story. Even though the book is about a Hasidic Jew trying to be an artist, it's also about finding oneself and others finding themselves through you. In this novel you will learn about how the Hasidic Jews live and what their way of life is like. Although Asher is trying to discover himself, he also has to watch out what he does because something drastic could happen to him or the community. You will find many intriguing experiences in this novel, whether they be good or bad. Watch as the story unfolds and this brave character develops into the person that he is. Once you're done reading this book, it will leave you wanting to know more.
Technical Details
Binding: PaperbackDewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9781400031047
ISBN: 1400031044
Label: Anchor
Manufacturer: Anchor
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 384
Publication Date: 2003-03-11
Publisher: Anchor
Release Date: 2003-03-11
Studio: Anchor
