Title
How Strange It Seems: The Cultural Life of Jews in SmallTown New England,Used
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Jews have lived in smalltown New England since the colonial era, but during the last hundred years they have been especially active contributors to the region's cultural life. Part oral history, part ethnography, and part literary portrait, How Strange It Seems tells the story of this often overlooked group, tracing its patterns of settlement, economic activity, civic involvement, and religious life since the late 1800s. Based on more than fifty interviews with men and women of all ages from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, it seeks to understand what is distinctiveand not so distinctiveabout contemporary Jewish communities outside the larger urban centers of the Northeast. Michael Hoberman weaves the personal stories of these individuals and families into a collective narrative that offers as much folklore as history and is equal parts Jewish and Yankee. He introduces us to Hiram Adelman, a Russian immigrant peddler and potato farmer who settled in northernmost Maine because its climate was comparable to his native Siberia, and to Shmuel Simenowitz, an urban transplant who produces kosher maple syrup in southern Vermont. We also meet Suzie Laskin, who moved to the White Mountains region of New Hampshire in the 1900s and soon established a local havurah, and Bob August of Whately, Massachusetts, who once ran what may have been the world's only Christmas tree farm owned by a Jewish family. Each section of the book explores how smalltown New England Jews have both departed from and mimicked the broader patterns of Jewish American experience, while also illustrating how they have acclimated themselves to local practices without relinquishing a strong sense of Jewish identity. Accompanying the text are photographs by Janice Sorensen that include portraits of many of the interviewees and lively glimpses of the region's presentday Jewish revival.
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- Q: What is the main theme of 'How Strange It Seems'? A: The book explores the cultural life of Jews in small-town New England, detailing their historical presence and contributions to the region's cultural identity.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author is Michael Hoberman, who combines oral history, ethnography, and literary portraiture in his storytelling.
- Q: What type of interviews are included in the book? A: The book is based on more than fifty interviews with Jewish individuals and families from various states in New England, including Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
- Q: What can readers expect to learn about Jewish communities in this book? A: Readers will learn about the distinctive characteristics of contemporary Jewish communities outside larger urban centers, including their patterns of settlement, economic activity, and civic involvement.
- Q: Is this book suitable for those interested in Jewish history? A: Yes, the book offers insights into the Jewish American experience, particularly in small-town settings, making it suitable for readers interested in Jewish history and culture.
- Q: What is the condition of the book being sold? A: The book is listed as 'Used Book in Good Condition', indicating it has been previously owned but remains in an acceptable condition for reading.
- Q: What is the page count of 'How Strange It Seems'? A: The book has a total of 288 pages.
- Q: What format is this book available in? A: This book is available in paperback format.
- Q: When was 'How Strange It Seems' published? A: The book was published on May 16, 2008.
- Q: Does the book include photographs? A: Yes, the book includes photographs by Janice Sorensen, showcasing portraits of interviewees and scenes from the region's Jewish revival.