Book of the Day: Shylock Is My Name By Howard Jacobson

Blogoratti August 02, 2017

Quote of the day: 

Be true to yourself. Make each day a masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day. -John Wooden




Imagine a world without books, certainly a scary proposition to imagine. Herman Hesse said it best 'Without words, without writing and without books there would be no history, there could be no concept of humanity'. But that is not the case and for that one must consume a many books as time will allow.

Shylock is my Name is a novel by award wining British writer and broadcaster Howard Jacobson. It is the second to be published in Vintage's Hogarth Shakespeare series (a project where Shakespeare's works are retold by acclaimed and bestselling novelists of today). It is a reworking of The Merchant of Venice, a sort of modern version of the classic play by William Shakespeare. It focuses on Simon Strulovitch, a wealthy art collector and philanthropist who is often conflicted about his Jewishness, and the antagonist Shylock -a character in search of closure and one filled with wit and purpose. They both meet in a graveyard-each with his own intimate thoughts about a lost loved one. Along the way Shylock becomes the house guest of Strulovitch -who is struggling to come to terms with his daughter's betrayal of their family values and Jewish upbringing -an echo of the original play by Shakespeare. As the two men bond, most of the novel expands upon their individual relationship, and the twists and dialogue between these two main characters, sprinkled with a few other notable characters and moments of subtleties from the second half of the book.

Howard Jacobson is great at turning satire into seriousness. He delves deep into issues of family conflict, self doubt, fatherhood, history and religion in this wonderful and modern take on Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice'. His interpretation is brilliant, witty and truly a delightful book to read.


What books are you currently reading?


Peace. Love. Light* 

Current Listen: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Are You Real?
Blogoratti

Posted by Blogoratti

Love the smell of rain, white clouds turning gray. Have a thing for poetry, music,art and design.. I take each day as it comes. let me take you on this journey. It's your ideas that matter. For collaborations: blogoratti@gmail.com

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41 Comments

  1. Hilary Melton-Butcher2 August 2017 at 18:27

    Hi Blogoratti - so great to have this review from you - I'll put it into my TBR list and definitely bear it in mind - thanks ... interesting to read retellings of Shakespeare's stories .. thanks - Hilary

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    1. Blogoratti3 August 2017 at 12:57

      You are welcome and it sure is interesting to read new material on Shakespeare. Greetings to you.

      Delete
  2. Catarina2 August 2017 at 19:02

    I like today's quote very much indeed. I try to follow it (or most of it) every day.

    One of the books I am reading now, or rather, listening to (audiobook format) is..... A Strangeness in My Mind!!: )) I am loving it!!

    I have 21 more books from the library (I keep renewing them) to read. Next I will start either "The Wings of the Dove" by Henry James or "The Last Crossing" by Guy Vanderhaeghe (Canadian) which will be discussed in September (Book Club).

    Today's book will on the "to be read" list.

    Thanks

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    1. Blogoratti3 August 2017 at 12:59

      Good to know you've checked out the book by Orhan Pamuk, certainly a great choice which I'm sure you are enjoying. Thanks for sharing your book reading and also those lined up.Greetings!

      Delete
  3. Couture Carrie2 August 2017 at 19:29

    Fab quote and review!

    xoxox,
    CC

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  4. Martha Jane Orlando2 August 2017 at 20:04

    This sounds like a great read! I'm definitely going to add this to my growing wish list of books. Thanks and blessings!

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  5. Pantherka2 August 2017 at 20:43

    Very beautiful post.
    Greetings.

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  6. Beauty Unearthly2 August 2017 at 21:00

    Excellent post (as always)!

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  7. Leigh Caron2 August 2017 at 21:17

    Great quote. Me? I'm reading Stephen King's, End of Watch, and also Astrophysics for People in a Hurry - Neil De Grasse Tyson

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    1. Blogoratti3 August 2017 at 13:04

      Thank you. Stephen King is definitely a favourite although I haven't read anything of his recently. Nice of you to share, greetings!

      Delete
  8. Marie Smith2 August 2017 at 22:40

    A Field Guide to the Birds East of the Rockies by Roger Tory Peterson is my current reading material. During morning walks to beat the heat, we have encountered many different species of birds. It's been fun to identify and read about them.

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    1. Blogoratti3 August 2017 at 13:21

      That sure sounds like great fun, to read about birds and then be surrounded by mother nature, and different species. Wonderful indeed.

      Delete
  9. Crystal Collier2 August 2017 at 22:47

    The book sounds fascinating. I'm currently reading two novels, one is portal fantasy, and the other is the last Odd Thomas book. Both are excellent so far.

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    1. Blogoratti3 August 2017 at 13:22

      Thank you very much for sharing your book reading. Greetings!

      Delete
  10. John Going Gently3 August 2017 at 01:02

    Watership down....again

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  11. Midnight Cowgirl3 August 2017 at 01:47

    I think I need to add this to my TBR list!

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  12. Anonymous3 August 2017 at 01:54

    Enticing review. Unfortunately I'm book booked (hee-hee)

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  13. Christine3 August 2017 at 01:57

    Such an intelligent review, it sounds like a great book thanks for sharing.

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  14. magiceye3 August 2017 at 02:09

    Review suggests a promising read. Shall pick it up one of these days! Thank you.
    Just finished reading 'Sapiens' authored by Yuval Noah Harari. An excellent book on Evolution of mankind and civilization.

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  15. Susan Flett Swiderski3 August 2017 at 03:23

    The quote at the top of your post is super. (I had to read it twice just to let it sink in nicely...)

    I'm usually not a fan of modern rewrites of the classics, but I'd be willing to give this one a try. (After all, I DID love "West Side Story"...)

    I don't even want to THINK about a world without books. (shudder) I'm currently reading a delightful translation of the French novel "P.S. From Paris" by Marc Levy.

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    1. Blogoratti3 August 2017 at 13:55

      It certainly is a great quote isn't it. I'm wary of modern rewrites myself, but this one proved to be very well done.

      A world without books and where would our humanity be. Thanks for sharing your book and warm greetings!

      Delete
  16. Chris Lally3 August 2017 at 03:24

    Will move this book to the top of the list. Sounds wonderful, Blogoratti. Thank you for the honest review & lovely quote!
    (Am currently reading non-fiction, "Alternative Art Surfaces.")

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    Replies
    1. Blogoratti3 August 2017 at 13:54

      Thank you and you are welcome. It sure is a great read. Greetings!

      Delete
  17. Dr. Theda3 August 2017 at 07:01

    did not have internet when young... and read and researched Many books...

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  18. So Alice3 August 2017 at 07:05

    Sounds very interesting :-)

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  19. Miguel Gouveia3 August 2017 at 08:04

    Thanks a lot :D

    Super interesting content my dear. I would like to read

    NEW OUTFIT POST | I’M SO, SO PROUD OF HER. <3
    Instagram ∫ Facebook Official Page ∫ Miguel Gouveia / Blog Pieces Of Me :D

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  20. Bob Bushell3 August 2017 at 08:20

    Nice book, and I love Art Blakey.

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  21. RO3 August 2017 at 08:25

    Being true to ourselves, and drinking deeply from good books sounds like a perfect plan to me. Great quote! Hugs...

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  22. Amanda Peters3 August 2017 at 10:04

    I do like the quote at the top of the page as well as "without words" quote, I love collecting books, but have lost the stillness to read... the book sounds good.
    Amanda xx

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    Replies
    1. Blogoratti3 August 2017 at 13:31

      Thanks for stopping by and its nice that you collect books. Greetings!

      Delete
  23. PerthDailyPhoto3 August 2017 at 10:10

    I can't even imagine a world without books B! Currently I have a pile of ten on my bedside table awaiting my perusal 😀 and am reading 'One Day' by David Nicholas.

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    1. Blogoratti3 August 2017 at 13:24

      I can't either so it's nice to have books to read! And I can also relate to having a pile of books waiting to be read. Thanks for sharing your book reading. Greetings!

      Delete
  24. Terry3 August 2017 at 11:32

    I'm currently reading 'the game of thrones'.

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  25. Pat Hatt3 August 2017 at 12:47

    Witty sure is a win any day at our loony bin.

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  26. Oksana Zolotukhina3 August 2017 at 13:32

    It sounds like a very interesting book. I haven't read it before. Thanks for the recommendation.

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  27. Charles Gramlich3 August 2017 at 15:00

    thanks for the heads up on this. I didn't now it existed.

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  28. Nancy Chan3 August 2017 at 15:16

    Good review. Have a great day!

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  29. bazza3 August 2017 at 15:22

    Jacobson's Redback is one of the funniest novels I ever read! This one looks like a good read too!
    CLICK HERE for Bazza’s adroit Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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  30. Kelly3 August 2017 at 16:44

    I keep getting drawn back to that quote and the part that reads "drink deeply from good books". Excellent!

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  31. Marcia4 August 2017 at 13:09

    I haven't heard of this one but have read "Vinegar Girl" by Anne Tyler, a retelling of Taming of the Shrew.

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  32. UplayOnline7 August 2017 at 13:03

    I like this a lot. Great post!


    แตกใน xxx

    ReplyDelete

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