My Name is Asher Lev

My Name is Asher Lev is one of those books that you come across once in a lifetime - if you are lucky. The book charts Asher Lev growing up in a very strict Hassidic community, endowed with a God given artistic talent that is entirely at odds with the beliefs of his family and his people.The conundrum that Lev faces is that he is at all times a devout and scholastically outstanding Hassid, and yet at the same time a brilliant artist, who intially tries to deny his talent before growing to embrace it.The quality of this book is that it shows equal sympathy for, on the one hand, Lev's artistic journey and on the other hand, his religious struggle. Just as importantly, Potok brilliantly depicts the context of the community and family. In particular, as with other Potok books, the father-son relationship is lovingly drawn, showing both the pride and pain that arises here.This is a book to treasure, to read and to re-read, and which will shed new insight each time.

excellent read, witty, informative and original. Well written story of an artistic prodigy who is at odds with orthodox judaism and his family . He was taken under the wing of an another eminent artist who was a lapsed Jew, and it described their relationship and its effect on his family and community. I learnt so much about the painters world and also orthodox customs.Lev wins out after much emotional turmoil - ars long, vita brevis

I have only recently discovered Chaim Potak and I loved this book, thought provoking, interesting, well written and I didn’t want it to end. You are drawn into Asher’s life. Loved it.

I liked it rather than loved it. I found it quite repetitive. The characters were excellently portrayed and very memorable. It was particularly interesting to learn about the more orthodox Jewish beliefs.

I speak as somebody who is uninterested in religion and even less interested in art. This book however concentrates on the conflict between the two and is spellbinding. In terms of genre, I suppose you would call this a coming of age book, but it is a splendid novel with a lot to say about how to live life. I was reluctant each time I had to stop reading and get on with my own life.

I purchased this book for a friend who found it most enjoyable. I had previously read this moving book about a young man trying to come to terms with his desire to be an artist and to keep faith with his deeply religious parents. It is beautifully written.

I read this book for the first time more than 20 years ago, and have since then re-read it several times, and I keep giving it away to friends as a gift. I won't go into what the book is about because many other reviews here do that very nicely, but will say that it has been and continues to be a treasure for me.

A well written sensitive book with so many levels. Opened a new world of Hasid Jews to me.

Interesting read. Don't pick which characters to sympathise just yet, they all have their complicated reasons that inform them of the decisions they make.

The author Chaim Potok has captured the essence of a child’s awareness of his growing artistic gift. It is a wonderful novel. This is my third copy as I tend to give them away

What a book! It is deeply moving and thought-provoking. The story takes you on an emotional journey through art, faith, and personal identity. It leaves you reflecting long after the last page. A must-read!

A qualidade literária é elevada. É um livro que começa lentamente, e depois acelera; é preciso lê-lo com disponibilidade.Além do choque tradição/indivíduo, além da análise das relações pai/s/filho, este livro trata ainda do que é a arte.Excelente!

Granted, quality is subjective, but describing the condition of the book as "good" is a lie.The cover is cracked; the spine is torn. Not even the cover matches the one shown on the page.Never again.Sin duda, la calidad es subjetiva, pero es una mentira decir que este producto está en "buen estado".La portada está rajada; la cubierta del lomo, rota. No siquiera la portada es la misma que se muestra en la página.Nunca más.