The Penitent

Rating:
Summary: Powerful tale of one man's spiritual journey
Review: "The Penitent," a novel by Isaac Bashevis Singer, tells the story of a Jewish man named Joseph Shapiro. Joseph flees Poland during the era of Nazi aggression. He comes to America but eventually embarks on a spiritual journey that brings him to Israel. This is a relatively short book (117 pages in a paperback edition).

"The Penitent" is masterfully written by Singer. The book actually consists of one story "nested" within another; the "frame" story is told by a first-person narrator, a writer who meets Joseph in Israel at the Wailing Wall. This brief frame story leads into the main part of the book: Joseph's first-person narration as told to this frame narrator. Thus the book could be read as an extended character study.

Joseph turns from worldliness to orthodox Judaism, and "The Penitent" is essentially the story of this spiritual journey. Joseph's story is fascinating. He is a very opinionated narrator, and although you may disagree with many of his declarations, I found his voice to be consistently compelling. In his story he touches on many significant issues: sexual and ideological temptation, the complex linguistic world of the Jewish people, the relationship of the Jewish Bible to rabbinical writings, vegetarianism, etc. The shadow of the Holocaust is a key theme in Joseph's story.

Throughout the book Joseph is a harsh critic of the modern world, especially of its literature and sexual values. Joseph has constant arguments with "the Evil One" throughout the book. Are these actual conversations with a demonic being, or just representations of Joseph's inner psychological state? Whichever they are, this device is used brilliantly by Singer. "The Penitent" is a richly peopled, remarkable work of fiction.

Rating:
Summary: Successful diatribe about "modern" life
Review: Although tagged as a novel, this work is a singular example of a polemic or diatribe even rant in the form of a monologue by one Joseph Shapiro whose target is modern America (c 1969) which country and its customs is synonymous with Sodom. Art, marriage etc in their modern manifestations are instances of how corrupt this society is. Purity can be found in the traditional Jewish faith. Joseph might be right. But it doesn't necessarily make for a riveting read. Most debates where only one side is heard, don't. For the converted only who like the sound of their own ideas.

Rating:
Summary: good book
Review: Isaac Bashevis Singer's The Penitent is a captivating novel of lust, luxury and eventually Jewish orthodoxy. It begins with a pious man by the name of Joseph Shapiro meeting up with his long time favorite author Isaac. After meeting, the two begin talking and Joseph goes into detail about his metamorphosis from an immoral sinner to a pious Jew. Singer's writing style is one of elaborate detail and heartfelt emotion. Some of his major themes in the novel are suicide, the purpose of life, sexism (specifically the role of women) and mainly Jewishness. Being a Jewish man, Singer's knowledge of the religion is greatly reflected in this novel surrounded by debauchery and sinicism. Anyone questioning his faith or in need of entertainment should read this book.

Rating:
Summary: good book
Review: Isaac Bashevis Singer's The Penitent is a captivating novel of lust, luxury and eventually Jewish orthodoxy. It begins with a pious man by the name of Joseph Shapiro meeting up with his long time favorite author Isaac. After meeting, the two begin talking and Joseph goes into detail about his metamorphosis from an immoral sinner to a pious Jew. Singer's writing style is one of elaborate detail and heartfelt emotion. Some of his major themes in the novel are suicide, the purpose of life, sexism (specifically the role of women) and mainly Jewishness. Being a Jewish man, Singer's knowledge of the religion is greatly reflected in this novel surrounded by debauchery and sinicism. Anyone questioning his faith or in need of entertainment should read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Recommended
Review: This is a very short novel about a holocaust survivor who later moves to America and becomes a successful businessman. Eventually he becomes disgusted with his immoral lifestyle. He decides to get away from immoral influences by moving to Israel. Once he is there, he finds that there are immoral people everywhere, even in the Holy Land. Throughout the book he struggles with a little voice that tells him not to worry about morals and to just have fun no matter what. When he finally does meet some moral people in Israel he decides to stay there and commit his life to being a good person. This is a book that most people can relate to. We struggle to be good and often blame our immoral actions on the bad influences of others. There is probably not one person in the world who is not in need of some improvement, so I recommend this book to everyone.