Rating: 
Summary: "My Name" exceeds "The Gift"
Review: "The Gift of Asher Lev" is a sequel to "My Name Is Asher Lev". If you are planning on reading either book, then I would recommend reading them IN ORDER. I have read a few reviews that suggested some confusion in the second book, but they had not read the first. Although there is still some confusing parts about the intracasies of the Hasidic Jewish religion, most of the base for the second book is laid down in the first. If you have read, or are reading "The Gift of Asher Lev" without reading "My Name is Asher Lev" first, you will most likely have some confusion at various parts. Just for clarification, the reference to Chagall in the second book is not a CHARACTER in the first, but actually the Jewish artist, Mark Chagall, whom many compare to Asher. I recommend reading these novels as they are well-written works, but my opinion is that the second book is not as enjoyable as the first. It seems the entire time that Asher is depressed. The ending was especially a downer for me after being built up by the wonderful ending of the first book. The end of "The Gift of Asher Lev" is uneventful and without resolution.
Rating:
Summary: "My Name" exceeds "The Gift"
Review: "The Gift of Asher Lev" is a sequel to "My Name Is Asher Lev". If you are planning on reading either book, then I would recommend reading them IN ORDER. I have read a few reviews that suggested some confusion in the second book, but they had not read the first. Although there is still some confusing parts about the intracasies of the Hasidic Jewish religion, most of the base for the second book is laid down in the first. If you have read, or are reading "The Gift of Asher Lev" without reading "My Name is Asher Lev" first, you will most likely have some confusion at various parts. Just for clarification, the reference to Chagall in the second book is not a CHARACTER in the first, but actually the Jewish artist, Mark Chagall, whom many compare to Asher. I recommend reading these novels as they are well-written works, but my opinion is that the second book is not as enjoyable as the first. It seems the entire time that Asher is depressed. The ending was especially a downer for me after being built up by the wonderful ending of the first book. The end of "The Gift of Asher Lev" is uneventful and without resolution.
Rating: 
Summary: Hidden Treasures
Review: Although The Gift of Asher Lev, by Chaim Potok, was at times slightly confusing, it was a remarkably enjoyable book. A person who is interested in stories centered around family values and religion will enjoy this book. Asher Lev is a Ladover Jew living in Paris, with his wife, Devorah, and their two children, Rocheleh and Avrumel. He tells his life story from early childhood to the present. Asher recounts difficult times that he has endured, including the death of an uncle, and how he has relied on his wife and his painting to help him through these times. His love of painting inspired him to become an artist although his religious beliefs are against it. Through all of the hardships, Asher realized that his family would always support him. The Gift of Asher Lev sometimes seems confusing. At times, the reader is baffled because as soon as he begins to figure out who all of the characters are, more are brought into the story. After introducing his whole family, Asher begins to tell about all of his father’s friends. The new people, and their confusing names, make it difficult to follow the story line. Also, there are references made to outside bodies of knowledge, that the average reader may not know the meaning of. For example, Asher’s father said that Asher looked "so skinny and pale. Like Chagall" (97). Chagall was a character in another book in the Asher Lev series, not the artist, Mark Chagall. If one had not read other Chaim Potok books, this reference would have no meaning. Although the book was confusing, it was extremely enjoyable. The idea of strong family values played a significant role in the story. Asher’s passion for art and painting was looked down upon by his community. His ten year old daughter, Rocheleh, was the first person to defend him and his beliefs because she said that she "loved [her father] for who he was, not what he did for a living" (185). That quote summarizes this book perfectly because it exemplifies how tightly knit the Lev family really is. His family, as well as his painting, were gifts that he treasured.
Rating:
Summary: Hidden Treasures
Review: Although The Gift of Asher Lev, by Chaim Potok, was at times slightly confusing, it was a remarkably enjoyable book. A person who is interested in stories centered around family values and religion will enjoy this book. Asher Lev is a Ladover Jew living in Paris, with his wife, Devorah, and their two children, Rocheleh and Avrumel. He tells his life story from early childhood to the present. Asher recounts difficult times that he has endured, including the death of an uncle, and how he has relied on his wife and his painting to help him through these times. His love of painting inspired him to become an artist although his religious beliefs are against it. Through all of the hardships, Asher realized that his family would always support him. The Gift of Asher Lev sometimes seems confusing. At times, the reader is baffled because as soon as he begins to figure out who all of the characters are, more are brought into the story. After introducing his whole family, Asher begins to tell about all of his father’s friends. The new people, and their confusing names, make it difficult to follow the story line. Also, there are references made to outside bodies of knowledge, that the average reader may not know the meaning of. For example, Asher’s father said that Asher looked "so skinny and pale. Like Chagall" (97). Chagall was a character in another book in the Asher Lev series, not the artist, Mark Chagall. If one had not read other Chaim Potok books, this reference would have no meaning. Although the book was confusing, it was extremely enjoyable. The idea of strong family values played a significant role in the story. Asher’s passion for art and painting was looked down upon by his community. His ten year old daughter, Rocheleh, was the first person to defend him and his beliefs because she said that she "loved [her father] for who he was, not what he did for a living" (185). That quote summarizes this book perfectly because it exemplifies how tightly knit the Lev family really is. His family, as well as his painting, were gifts that he treasured.
Rating:
Summary: What is the gift of Asher Lev?
Review: Before I read this book, having read its superlative predecessor "My Name is Asher Lev", I would have said that the title refers to Asher Lev's incredible artistic talent. After finishing the book, I realized it was referring to something much more precious, more along the lines of the gift Abraham was asked to sacrifice on the altar. As a grown Asher revisits Brooklyn with his family on the occasion of the death of his uncle, he not only has to confront his past, but his present and future as well. Not only his future, in fact, but the future of the entire Jewish sect in which he was raised. The conflict between his art and his religion is brought into a much sharper, more painful inner battle than even displayed in the first book.This sequel is less straightforward than the first novel. There are more flashbacks, hallucinations (or are they?), riddles, and supernatural occurrences here. Sometimes the book seems to wander a little bit, just like Asher wandered the streets of Paris for awhile. It is not as riveting from beginning to end as the first book was, and the ending is a little more inconclusive, which is why I gave it four stars instead of five. It never confirms whether Asher's suspicions are correct or not. Which means, of course, that I am eagerly awaiting a (hopeful) follow-up to this book and a satisfying conclusion to the Asher Lev saga.
Rating:
Summary: What is the gift of Asher Lev?
Review: Before I read this book, having read its superlative predecessor "My Name is Asher Lev", I would have said that the title refers to Asher Lev's incredible artistic talent. After finishing the book, I realized it was referring to something much more precious, more along the lines of the gift Abraham was asked to sacrifice on the altar. As a grown Asher revisits Brooklyn with his family on the occasion of the death of his uncle, he not only has to confront his past, but his present and future as well. Not only his future, in fact, but the future of the entire Jewish sect in which he was raised. The conflict between his art and his religion is brought into a much sharper, more painful inner battle than even displayed in the first book. This sequel is less straightforward than the first novel. There are more flashbacks, hallucinations (or are they?), riddles, and supernatural occurrences here. Sometimes the book seems to wander a little bit, just like Asher wandered the streets of Paris for awhile. It is not as riveting from beginning to end as the first book was, and the ending is a little more inconclusive, which is why I gave it four stars instead of five. It never confirms whether Asher's suspicions are correct or not. Which means, of course, that I am eagerly awaiting a (hopeful) follow-up to this book and a satisfying conclusion to the Asher Lev saga.
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the first one...
Review: Chalk it up to yet another book where the ending let me down. _My Name is Asher Lev_, the first of the two books, is one of my favourite books of all time. _The Gift..._ seemed for a while like it would be a close rival, a truly great sequel. But then, the ending came. And I honestly did not believe it. I did not believe that Asher did what he did. It's really difficult to review this book, because I don't want to give away the ending. But I simply found Asher's final actions to be untrue to the person we'd watched him become. It was as if, after all he had achieved, he gave up-and he gave up when he didn't have to. There are really no more battles at the end of the book. Things have really settled down. So I was taken aback by the end; I didn't lose my faith in Asher so much as I lost my faith in the authenticity of his character. I didn't feel bad, I just felt disappointed. The book not only didn't end the way "I wanted it to" (which is fine), the ending just didn't seem right or true (which is not fine). The second book also lacks the freshness, the youth, the artistry of the first one. It seems more concerned with normal conversation and mundane things rather than with the imagery in the first book. People, even unlikable people, in the first book were described with a liveliness and a familiarity that doesn't exist in the second book. Perhaps Potok intended to write as Asher was becoming-less artistically inclined, more mature, less fanciful. But that doesn't make for a great book. Where the first book was a moving reading experience, the second book regarding the life of Asher Lev is merely a good story.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Novel but Asher Goes Too Far
Review: I can fully understand the conflict between expressing the creative world of art through one's own eyes and it being against the beliefs of Hassidism. I cheered when Asher followed his heart, even while remaining a practicing member of his Hassidic world. I was glad no one could force him into a mold. I read with delight of his paintings, and emphasized with the pressure he had to "stop this foolishness." However, I don't think he should have presented crucifixtions for public display especially with his mother as the main figure. Considering the huge number of Jewish people killed in Pograms in Europe etc. due to misguided Christians who sought vengance on Jews , I think this was uncalled for. I myself was called a "christ killer" when I was growing up and that is right here in the USA. As for Asher the hurt he caused to people might have happened from the rest of his art anyway, drawing nudes in his culture was frowned upon. However, that is not in the same catagory as painting his mother on a cross no matter how much he saw her suffering. Especially when his own family members were killed by misguided Christians . My grandfather told me when he lived in Europe Christians would have a Passion Play about the crucifixion and then stampede into Jewish neighborhoods killing and torturing them. That is but one example of this sort of thing. It would not be selling out if Asher never let these paintings be shown to anyone. If he had to draw them that is one thing as I am certain he meant no harm. But presenting them in a public art show I think was wrong and I joined his family in feeling upset. This does not mean I do not respect other religions but as a Jewish woman I could certainly understand why people got upset with him. I don't believe in breaks and hatred within a family even if they were upset with him. I am glad they reconciled in the end.
Rating:
Summary: A fulfilling end to an amazing story
Review: I loved the first book, but I always wondered how Asher's story ended. When I discovered there was a sequel, I was a little nervous at first. I wasn't sure if Potok's idea of Asher's future would agree with the way I had imagined it. I need not have worried. This book is a fitting conclusion to a story that began so many years ago.
Rating:
Summary: Sometimes the truth must be told in riddles
Review: Of all the Chaim Potok books I've read, (the last being about 8 years ago) this one has stayed with me the most, perhaps because it perplexed me at the time. Probably most people will prefer the first Asher Lev book, with its clearer narrative and dramatic plot. It covers the painful conflict between a traumatized community's survival and personal creativity so well it seems unnecessary to bring it up again. But to me it was merely the prequel for this second book.
Asher struggles to keep his son from being taken from him by the same Chasidic community that had banished him for his artistic intensity. I had the strange experience of being drawn into the books central conflict, only to reach the end realizing that a conclusion had been reached that I was entirely unaware of!
So I reread most of the book-- I had to go back very far to pick up the threads I missed-- and noticed an early scene in which the great Rebbe, standing from the balcony overlooking the Ladover community he leads, speaking about the key issue of who his successor shall be-- he has no children to follow him. He speaks in nonsense, something about Ones and Threes, and then explains that when a truth is difficult to bear, it is better to be pesented in riddles than more straightforwardly. So it was with this book, and for me it was one hell of a trick.
On the surface, nothing really happens. Asher mopes around Brooklyn and Paris broodingly, draws sketches of passing moments, talks to ghosts of Picasso and his own mentor, Jacob Kahn, and chooses the fate of himself and his son so subtly that it appears to be nothing at all. But it was frightening and wonderful when I finally got what he did: he gave his community the gift of Asher Lev. In the first book, 'the Gift' always referred to how his people saw his artistic talent, as a gift from God. But by the end of the second book, we see the gift he gives back to the community he has such intense love and bitterness for is something completely different.
Let me just add that I am a middle aged Jewish artist, about to go back to MY family from a 13 year exile abroad, and this book speaks very closely to my situation. ...
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