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Loading... Kaaterskill Falls (1998)by Allegra Goodman
Highly recommended - a sympathetic portrayal of a way of life that is unfamiliar to many of us. (  ) DowntownLibrarian | Jun 10, 2012 |  i feel like I am still chasing my first Allegra Goodman high of Intuition. My thoughts on Kaaterskill Falls are a little mixed. I loved the setting - I thought Goodman gave a great sense of place in the Catskills and also back in the city. The writing was good - definitely a step up from most writers. The plot was where this novel fell short. Is it possible for there too be just not enough plot but way too many storylines? That is how I felt about this story. There are 2 major stories to follow in this book - they both march along at maddeningly slow speed with very little dramatic tension. Then - there are about a dozen (at least!) small stories that are thrown in and alternated through. With so many characters to keep track of and story lines to keep straight reading this book became somewhat of a chore. I will still read Goodman - i think she is one of the better contemporary writers out there (and she lives one town over from me!) - despite the awards it won - it fell short for me. (  ) alanna1122 | Sep 1, 2011 | Great book about what it means to be a member of a community, and how it's possible to still feel alone and separated from others. In this case, it's a community of orthodox Jews who live in Washington Heights, NYC, but spend most of the summer in Kaaterskill Falls in upstate New York. Goodman's characters have depth, and they feel real. Her writing is very, very good. Some readers have pointed out that not much "happens," which is true if you're looking for drama, but each character struggles: with questions of faith, family, honor, or just plain living. I loved this novel! (  ) Bellettres | Aug 18, 2011 | This was my review from June 27, 2002: After reading both KAATERSKILL FALLS and PARADISE PARK, I feel that Ms. Goodman's talent lies in masterful characterization. From the lost yet loveable Sharon Speigelman of PARADISE PARK to Elizabeth Schulman and the surrounding Kaaterskill community, the characters are always interesting, always real! KAATERSKILL FALLS is the story of a community of Orthodox Jews who migrate between Washington Heights (Brooklyn) and Kaaterskill Falls, an Upstate NY community, in the summer. This novel deals with this community's relationship with both non-Jews and non-religious Jews as well as with their own feelings toward their religion. I have read some reviews saying that this book went nowhere. My perspective is somewhat different: Ms. Goodman writes here about a slice of life and life doesn't always have definite conclusions; it doesn't usually wrap itself up in a neat little ball. Plateaus may be reached but there are always new mountains to climb and ongoing decisions to be made.The novelist, in my opinion, is intentionally leaving us with questions, thus enhancing our imagination and perhaps even leaving the door open for a sequel (How about it, Ms. Goodman? I'd love to find out how Chani ever managed to explore her budding yet forbidden Zionist sentiments! How does she ever manage to get to Israel anyway?) I look forward to reading Allegra Goodman's short stories next! ( ) KindleKapers | Apr 21, 2011 | Another book I picked up because of the cover: "The National Bestseller" and a silver emblem "National Book Award Finalist." This one should be on my bookshelf, though I had never heard of it or the author. A remarkable story in that its characters are deeply complex and developed yet simply told through many narrators with whom we come to feel neighborly. Large amounts of the novel are by and about Elizabeth Shulman, a seemingly plain and devoted Jewish housewife who follows the teachings and law of one Rav Kirshner. Yet, we learn that even the most religious and pious of people long for something more than blind adoration. Many of Kirshner's New York City Washington Heights followers spend their summer in Kaaterskill Falls with the Rav and his family. A humble set of intwined lives that continuously reflect on their past and try and change their future - from the bored teenager Renee to the intellectual son of the Rav, Jeremy, to the longings of Elizabeth and the greater visions she dreams for her daughters. A thoughtful, intimate read that you will want to linger over each evening, as if chatting with friends. ( ) librarianshannon | Feb 25, 2011 | no reviews | add a review
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