Judy Gold

Judy, Jewish lesbian comedian, and Kate Moira Ryan, Irish Catholic comedian, set out to interview Jewish mothers to figure out what makes them tick and if Judy is doomed to turn out like her mother.

I was expecting either more of a comedy act or more of a sociological survey of Jewish mothers, but this turned out to be more solipsistic and semi-memoir-ish with tidbits of perspective from the folks she interviewed. Once I got used to that, and beyond the fact that Gold's act is entirely show more reliant on the guilt, anxiety, and neuroses due to her relationship with her mother - the book became a bit more enjoyable. It was also became a bit more comfortable after understanding Gold's boundaries, principles, and relationship with her religion (she does have them all despite denying so).

While there were moments and anecdotes of amusement and some things I could relate to or am familiar with, the book was more poignant than funny. The more meaty questions were left for the middle and end of the interviews, and these were the more interesting answers and discussions. Questions of family, mixed marriage, spirituality and religious practice, the Holocaust, Israel, and how Jewish mothers approach perceive and are perceived in the world are all tackled.

Great questions, and I imagine the interviews were thoroughly interesting, enlightening, and entertaining. It's just a shame that the book turned out to be All About Judy And Her Mother rather than relating more of what these women had to say. show less