Lists

100 Must-Read Works of Jewish Fiction

Excellent works of Jewish fiction from across the world!

Michelle Anne Schingler Dec 30, 2016

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Michelle Anne Schingler

Staff Writer

Michelle Anne Schingler, a former librarian and Hebrew school teacher, is the managing editor at Foreword Reviews. Her days are books, books, books; she knows how lucky that makes her. Twitter: @mschingler

View All posts by Michelle Anne Schingler

While we at the Riot take some time off to rest and catch up on our reading, we’re re-running some of our favorite posts from the last several months. Enjoy our highlight reel, and we’ll be back with new stuff on Tuesday, January 3rd.

This post originally ran July 15, 2016.

“Jewish continuity has always hinged on uttered and written words….ours is not a bloodline but a textline,” say Fania Oz-Salzberger and Amos Oz in their beautiful book, Jews and Words. I am a returnee to the tradition–my great-grandparents left it; I converted back in after seminary. But I’ve always loved books, and, particularly, Jewish literature. The Ozes’ words thrilled through me the first time I read them; maybe that love was something inherent.

In any case: reading through the diverse and ever-expanding Jewish literary canon is a natural way to work toward understanding a community that, while comparatively small, is incredibly diverse. This list draws Jewish voices in from all corners of the diaspora, from several continents as well as from Israel itself. The voices on it have different conceptions of what it means to be Jewish; some of these novels embrace the tradition self-consciously, some are more ambivalent about it, and some don’t mention religious traditions at all.

If we’re to believe Oz and his daughter: that diversity itself is something of a mitzvah. “Jews,” they say, “display a deeply rooted belief in the power of words to create and re-create reality.” To seek truth, they say, in new ways.

One hundred Jewish writers, or writers writing about Jews, on this list: that means at least, what?, 101 understandings of Jewish identity? There’s beauty here, and depth; reverence, and fun. With hope that you find something new–I certainly did, while reaching past my own shelves to find new titles, and with the help of my friend and literary guru, Ethan H.,–and with equal hope that you’ll add your own titles below: here are 100 works of Jewish fiction that, in this Jewish woman’s opinion, should not be passed up.

1. The History of Love, Nicole Krauss

2. The World to Come, Dara Horn

3. The Collected Stories, Grace Paley

4. American Pastoral, Philip Roth

5. The Invisible Bridge, Julie Orringer

6. A Room Where the Star-Spangled Banner Cannot Be Heard, Hideo Levy

7. The Autograph Man, Zadie Smith

8. The Golems of Gotham, Thane Rosenbaum

9. The Believers, Zoe Heller

10. Albina and the Dog-Men, Alejandro Jodorowsky

11. The Liars’ Gospel, Naomi Alderman

12. Isles of the Blind, Robert Rosenberg