Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: Profound Review: Of all the books I have read, "The Chosen" is perhaps the most deeply moving work I've had the fortune to discover. Although very educational about Orthodox and Hasidic Jews, this book is not merely about two Jewish boys but opens our eyes to a vast range of emotion and depth - the family ties that bond us, the friendships that free us, and the deepest desires of our hearts that drive us beyond where we ever imagined we could go. It's a disturbing book that requires much courage on the part of the reader to understand its depth and beauty. Potok writes in such a way that I was shaking at the end. Danny and Reuven were not just characters I was reading about; they became a part of me, a part of my heart. Though the whole book is moving, the ending especially is extremely intense. I wept with Danny - not only for him, but with him. His weeping tore me apart, and no longer was the typed page a barrier between me and these characters, no longer holding back suffering, forgiveness, and love. "The Chosen" transcends all preconceptions and barriers to reveal profound universal truths. It is a gift.
Rating: ![2 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-2-0.gif) Summary: Not bad.... Review: This book is ok...it teaches important life lessons, but the whole book is a waste of time and too long to read. I found it to be very very boring and didnt want to finish but i had to for a school report
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: A look into different types of Judaism in 40's New York Review: Mr. Potok gives a brilliant look into the differences in the lives of two boys growing up Jewish, and in different worlds just a few blocks away from each other. It illustrates the ups and downs of Hassidic Judaism and Zionism in a difficult time for the Jews and America in an unusual and unlikely friendship that started by a freak accident involving a baseball, glasses and Reuven's left eye. We watch Danny and Reuven grow through the war, their life, their schooling, their fathers and their friendship.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: The Chosen Review: The book started off great, you could tell the friendship between the two boys was full of hatred, but it ended up to be a great story of how a boy lives on his life with his father practically controlling his every move, but does it in silence. Great book, highly recommended.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Not perfect, but powerful. Review: I am a Freshman in high school, and had to read this book for Communication Arts. I myself am Jewish, so I figured okay, here's a book about a Jew; nothing new. While reading the book, many interesting ideas were brought up, but the overall appeal of the story was just alright. As it progressed, I began to fall deeper and deeper into the story and characters. By the last chapter, I was in tears. Why? No, not because it was happy. No, not because it was sad. It was because everything worked out just as you would have imagined, and it all fit together like one big puzzle. Give this novel a chance, you will not be disappointed.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: The Choice of The Chosen Review: This book doesn't do anything for me. The Chosen, by the late Chaim Potok is very misleading to me. From what I get, it is about a Jewish teenager who learns how to grow up in a Jewish culture. The first time I read this (and believe it, I've read this many times!) I couldn't get it. I was all uh...err... and just couldn't make sense of it. So I started over, and over, and over. But if you, however, are used to more advanced novels, read this. From what I did get, this book was quite intriguing. So take it from me, this is a great book about cultural diversity. Or don't, depending all on how you look at it.
Rating: ![5 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-5-0.gif) Summary: A classic Review: The measure of a writer is the diversity of people whose hearts he or she can reach. By this standard, Chaim Potok was a genius. His story of a Jewish boy growing up in 1940's Brooklyn spoke directly to me, a Catholic girl growing up in small-town West Texas at the most recent turn of the century. The story of unlikely friendship was beautiful and one to which I think many people can relate. Who would have thought the son of a Zionist and the son of a Hasidic rebbe would be such good friends? Their beliefs were as different as two Jewish people's could be. They didn't- but God did. That is clear in this book. It meant a great deal to me, as my own best friend is a member of the Church of Christ. We're as opposite in beliefs as two Christians can be. But we help each other. That's what friendship is- that's what The Chosen is about.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: a subtle story, written simply Review: This highly lauded book is a tale of fathers, sons, differing traditions, changing times, and ageless truths. Written in deceptively simple style and from the point of view of Rueven, a teen-aged Jewish boy in WWII era New York City, "The Chosen" is the story of his unlikely friendship with Danny, the son of a leader of Hasidic Jews in Williamsburg.Inextricably woven through the narrative is the study of the Talmud, which in terms of time and attention, is the center of both boys' lives. The two boys must work out their relationships among themselves and their fathers, and must find a way to pursue their callings. Ironically, Danny's vocation is to become a "secular" psychologist rather than, as tradition dictates, a rabbi in the footsteps of his father. Rueven is the one who senses a call to the rabbinate. Potok writes cleanly, never letting his style get in the way of the story. At its close you will know the hearts of its four major characters.
Rating: ![1 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-1-0.gif) Summary: WOW- This is a REALLY GREAT BOOK---LOL Review: Oh- wow- a softball game. It is just amazing the way chaim potok can make something such as softball turn into death and gore. This is sooooooo exiting!!!Its almost as god as resident evil,only it is really boring and a waste of trees if i wanted to read about jews, i would read the bible, and if i wanted to read about softball i would read some biography...even that is more fun than this book do not waste money OR trees unless you must get this for school. it is BAD by the way, im 14 not 12, i just didnt feel like getting an account have a nice day(unless you are willingly reading this in which case: may your bookshelf catch on fire) would anyone like to buy this from me?
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: The Chosen: Subtle and Likeable Review: When I was reading through this book, because I found it on the back to school shelf at the bookstore, I told my roommate it was enjoyable and informative, but that i didn't see how it could be a classic because it had no climax and was going nowhere fast. Well, then, towards the very end and with very subtle fingers, the climax touched me and I cried. This was a subtle, enjoyable book and I'm happy I read it.
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