Snow in August

Rating:
Summary: Not about the ending.
Review: Contrary to many reviews previously posted, this book is not about running away from your problems into a fantasy world, and Mr. Hamil isn't "avoiding the harsh realities of life." This book is about having faith in God. It is an extremely well written story that uses the Golem not as a solution to life's problems, but as a metaphor for faith and religion. Hats off to Mr. Hamil for a remarkable book.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: This book is one of the most wonderful books I have ever read. When I finished it, I cried because it was such a good book. Pete Hamill did a wonderful job telling the story of Michael Devlin. His imagry and symbolism made me feel like I too was in the book. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

Rating:
Summary: Great begining, end just lost me
Review: This book started out wonderfully, with great vivid discriptions and real life problems. I could really relate to it, until the end. The book just changed around completely. I thought it was awful.

Rating:
Summary: Finally, A Goyish Book That Shows How Great Judaism Is
Review: What I found most significant about this book is how openly and warmly it describes the humanity and charity of Judaism, and what great literary and theological gifts Judaism has given to the whole world. It also quickly disproves that old, hideous chestnut about the Jews killing Jesus (the Romans did it, folks) - - and makes much of the fact that Jesus was a practicing Jew until the day he died (rem: the Last Supper was a Passover seder). Most non-Jewish publications and books that I read take pains to conceal or gloss over Jewish culture, and / or the Jewish identity of, say, the protagonist of a story. Usually, you have to pick through the prose until you come to a phrase like "______'s father was a Russian immigrant, who worked in the Garment District in New York," or some such nonsense. How refreshing to discover a book by a non-Jew that celebrates Jewish tradition.

Rating:
Summary: Post WWII-story of picking right path
Review: Story of great depth, WWII took alot from Mike Devlin. It also gave him a male role-model to replace the one it stole in his father's death in Europe. Together they learn to battle the ugly face of ignorance and bigotry. Set in Brooklyn - the melting pot tips and burns both of them as they both grow to be stronger.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting work with vivid themes.
Review: "Snow in August" is a beautiful book that I believe has powerful themes. One theme is that of "when good people do not act, bad people flourish." The strength of the Falcons was secured by the silence of people like Michael and his mother. This theme is reminiscent of the Holocaust when the world was silent as Hitler "cleansed" Germany and then more and more countries of Jews.

Another powerful theme in this book is that ignorance is the cause of prejudice and knowledge is the force that destroys it. This was shown by Michael who in befriending and learning from the Rabbi, dissipated his own incorrect ideas about the Jews. The problem that he and many others face is how to deal with people who aren't enlightened.

This was a beautiful work of literature and I congratulate Pete Hamill on effectively conveying such powerful and vivid themes.

Rating:
Summary: A great book for the first 4/5's.
Review: The begining of this book is fantastic. I love the way Hamill makes you a part of all that goes on in 1947 Brooklyn. Unfortunately the ending is extremely disapointing. What was until then a beutiful book and completely believeable is ruined by fantasy, and on top of that when the antagonist is finaly put in his place it's done with one of the most grotesquely bloody revenge scenes I have ever read. I felt almost cheated by the way the book turned out. A very disapointing ending!

Rating:
Summary: A unique, one-of-a-kind read
Review: I must admit, I have never read anything such as "snow in August", and perhaps that is the main reason I enjoyed it so much. I had no idea this book would be a work of fantasy thrown in with reality. I loved the characters, and Pete Hamill made all of his symbolisms simple, yet complicated and understandable. The Golem seemed kind of weird, however I enjoyed the ending a lot. I was glad the book had a happy ending-maybe it would have had more depth if things didn't work out, but even still, this is a fabulous story, and I recommend it to any and everyone!

Rating:
Summary: not for realism freaks
Review: Despite all the wonderful parts of the book, the ending left me wondering if Hamill wants us to believe that running away from a problem or invoking a mystical superman is a solution. I need real world, not "snow in August."

Rating:
Summary: It was a very enjoyable read.
Review: It deserved five stars because of the way it was written, mixing mysticism and reality. Pete Hamill did his homework.