Review – Goyhood by Reuven Fenton
Synopsis
Thirty years after leaving Georgia, Mayer Belkin, a Talmud scholar married into a prestigious Brooklyn rabbinical family, faces a shocking revelation after his mother’s death: he and his twin brother aren’t actually Jewish.
Traumatized, Mayer decides to convert, facing a week-long wait for the earliest appointment. In the interim, the twins embark on a surreal Rumspringa through the Deep South with Mom’s ashes, joined by an Instagram influencer, and a one-eyed dog. Amidst bizarre adventures, Mayer grapples with his perceived betrayal by God and contends with his emotionally distant wife in Brooklyn, who has yet to learn of his counterfeit identity.
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Review
This tale is about life, death, and discovering who you really are despite what you grew up believing.
Mayer is quite an intriguing character. He has devoted his life to studying the Talmud, but the passing of his mother opens a can of worms. I found Mayer very rigid, and perhaps that is how he should have acted, considering his life as a scholar. But, a few days with his twin brother opens up a new world for him. He resists it as much as he can, but accepting this twist in his life isn’t easy.
David, Mayer’s twin, has lived a somewhat carefree life. He has jumped from job to job but seems to have found his niche. He is the opposite of Mayer, but their relationship works. I think it helps loosen Mayer up from his rigid life, but at the same time, Mayer has a steadying influence on David.
I loved their adventure from Georgia to New Orleans and then up to the Appalachian Trail. Each stop and the interactions with those they meet along the way are insightful and humorous.
There is a dog in the book, one they affectionately call Popeye. I think there is more to Popeye’s story, but we only know what we are told.
I might attach the “coming of age” label to this book despite the fact that these are grown men. However, their adventure does help bring them into their own, even if it is 20+ years too late.
My only negative is the number of Hebrew words and phrases. It is to be expected since one of the main characters is Jewish (or so he believes). While the author does a good job interpreting them, it was a bit much for this non-Jewish person. It doesn’t take away from the book, but I did tend to skim over those sections.
This was a fun book to read, and I think it would be great for men hitting that mid-life crisis.
We give the book 4 paws up.
About the Author
Reuven Fenton has been covering breaking news for the New York Post since 2007, and has earned national recognition for his exclusive reporting on myriad national stories. He is a graduate of Yeshiva University and Columbia University School of Journalism. Goyhood is his debut novel.
