In Brooklyn, in the Age of Disco, Valentine Kessler -- a sweet Jewish girl who bears a remarkable resemblance to the Virgin Mary of Lourdes -- has an unerring gift for shattering the dreams and hopes of those who love her. Miriam, her long-suffering mother, betrayed and anguished by the husband she adores, seeks solace in daily games of mah-jongg with The Girls, a cross between a Greek Chorus and Brooklyns rendition of the Three Wise Men, who dispense advice, predictions, and care in the form of poppy-seed cake and apple strudels. When her greatest fear for Valentine is realized, Miriam takes comfort in the thought that it couldnt get any worse. And then it does.
Sagacious, sorrowful, and hilarious, An Almost Perfect Moment is a novel about mothers and daughters, star-crossed lovers, doctrines of the divine, and a colorful Jewish community that once defined Brooklyn.
This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.Kirshenbuam is an amazing writer
Binnie Kirshenbaum's An Almost Perfect Moment is a lovely book that takes us back to (secular)Jewish Brooklyn in the 70's, days of Mah-jongg and strudel, when neighbors were tightly knit friends and a primary support system and teenagers (then, as always) had to find their way. Kirshenbaum's characters are as real as biting into a peach and just as delicious. The main characters are the mother/daughter pair of Miriam and Valentine Kessler. Miriam is a strong, loving, overweight adoring mother who refuses to wallow in self-pity despite her shattered dreams, frustrated desires and unimaginable losses. Valentine is a teenager who identifies with the Virgin Mary and develops more than a small curiosity with her high school math teacher and the Catholic religion.
Kirshenbaum has quickly become one of my favorite contemporary writers. She achieves a perfect balance between rich characters and a compelling story. She has keen insight into the connection between humor and pain which is ever-present in life, and this counter-intuitive combination has a distinctly Jewish flavor.
Buy Almost Perfect Moment, An: A Novel (P.S.) by Binnie Kirshenbaum At The Lowest Price!
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