My Name Is Asher Lev | Chaim Potok

My Name Is Asher Lev | Chaim Potok | Layered and Beautiful

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My Name Is Asher Lev

	My Name Is Asher Lev Chaim Potok Anchor, 2003 - 384 pages average customer review:based on 107 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

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.

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A beautiful story

Asher Lev introduces himself in the opening lines of his story. He is an observant Jew, he is the talk of the town following the exhibiting of his painting Brooklyn Crucifixion - not only do observant Jews not paint crucifixions, they do not paint at all - he is viewed as a traitor.

The still very young Asher Lev then begins to recount his life that lead to this predicament. He starts from when he was about four years old, an ordinary Brooklyn lad the only son born to a scholarly Hasidic family. But it is soon evident that he has a remarkable talent fro drawing. The story follows the difficult realisation of the talent which leads him to great critical acclaim, but ostracism from is family and home.

Having truly enjoyed Chaim Potok's The Chosen and its sequel The Promise I immediately sought out more of his writing. I was not disappointed; this is a beautiful story, Asher is a fine boy who loves his family and respects his elders, but he cannot deny what is inside him, his need to create. The characters in the story are sincere and caring, even if they do want different things for Asher Lev. The writing is excellent, Chaim Potok has a very appealing style, and I especially like the manner in which Asher relates his conversations. There is sequel which having enjoyed this so much this I am compelled to read.

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Layered and Beautiful

Asher Lev is a Ladover Hasid, a Jewish boy growing up in the mid-twentieth century. He is quiet, intense, and sensitive. And in him there trembles the beginnings of a great and terrible gift - the gift of art, the gift of painting. Asher Lev the Jew becomes Asher Lev the painter. And that transition is the most defining, fulfilling, and emptying experience of his life.

This is a layered story, filled with the rare genius of one who can write simply, yet with vivid beauty. As easy as it is to read, I could spend months poring over these pages, teasing out their symbolism and inferences and truths. The literary beauty is striking. The back cover of the book describes the novel as "a luminous portrait of the artist, by turns heartbreaking and exultant, a modern classic." This is a perfect summary of this deeply meaningful book.

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An Artist and an Hasidic Jew

Chaim Potok knows how to portray complex relationships. Asher's artistic gift is seemingly at odd with his Hasidic Jewish faith and definately at odds with his father who does not understand this gift. The sacrifices Asher makes for his gift and the artistic processes are so accurately portrayed that you have an insight into a tortured soul. This is a beautiful novel.

My Name is Asher Lev

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.

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Alexander's Class Review

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.

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