Revisiting Asher Lev
Welcome to Reading Revisited, a place for friends to enjoy some good old-fashioned book chat while revisiting the truth, beauty, and goodness we’ve found in our favorite books.
Today we have writing a little reflection on My Name is Asher Lev for this Friday’s essay. I hope you enjoy her ability to make you think more deeply and beautifully about a book we read. If you didn’t read this book with us, then see below the essay for the posts on this book (back from October). Without further ado…
Stories are an invitation into a community of relationships, from those we have with the characters, the authors, and even the art of storytelling itself, to the connections we make with other readers, and especially the relationship we have with ourself. A good book’s ability to reveal truths about ourself in much the same way a trusted friend might, is an invaluable guide on each of our personal journeys of discovering our own identity.
Chaim Potok, in his novel My Name is Asher Lev, wields the themes of relationship and identity as brushes that paint a personal portrait of each reader with the unfolding of the story. So delicately does he detail the “tenuous balance between light and darkness,” the bridge between suffering and beauty, and the battle between intellect and emotion within the human heart that the utter necessity of art is made undeniable.
Asher’s story is a testament to the idea that it is through an act of creation that we were made and is, therefore, by creating that we not only come to better understand our broken world, but also, enter into relationship with the Master Artist in whom our true identity is found.
Until next time, keep revisiting the good books that enrich your life and nourish your soul.
Asher Lev Posts (w/ podcast links)
In Case You Missed It
Reading Revisited ep. 3: Crossing to Safety with , , and special guest
A Few Reminders
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Book lists from previous years can be found here.
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