Rating: 
Summary: A must-read book for Jewish audiences
Review: I was stunned by this book, which has so many layers that it will surely appeal to everyone. I saw it just won the National Jewish Book Award. I am not surprised. Here is a new and fresh voice that speaks with authority and compassion. This is a great addition to anyone's collection.
Rating: 
Summary: a bust for Norton
Review: I work in the publishing industry and know that Norton spent a lot of money on this book. It's not selling very well, sadly, but if you read this turkey you'll know why. It features some of the most stilted, mawkish, faux-insightful prose I've ever read. Not even good for a laugh.
Rating: 
Summary: Captivating!
Review: My husband and I shared our copy, and took turns reading this book. We had trouble deciding who was going to get to read it, because we both found it compelling. But it's more than a page-turner. Each chapter is rich with history and the kind of facts and details that makes you feel as if you're living the drama, not just reading about it. The ties between the characters are fascinating, and reveals how each of our lives has the potential to impact another. As a Jew, this book made me think about the value of ritual practice (or not), and how I define myself in terms of my culture and religion. My husband and I used the book as the basis for some wonderful discussions, and I recommended it to the book group at my synagogue. A winner!
Rating:
Summary: The best of the bunch
Review: The last year has seen a spate of first novels by Jewish -- and, more importantly, Jewishly aware -- authors. For whatever reason, Jonathan Safran Foer's "Everything is Illuminated" received most of the press, something many murmur is due less to the merits of his work than his personal connections. Regardless, "Illuminated" has sold a lot of copies, overshadowing other new works in the process. "In the Image" is one of the works that has been, at least for the time being, pushed aside to make room for Foer's media blitz. Which is a shame, because it's a phenomenal read. Any student of Yiddish literature will recognize deliberately traced patterns of Singer, Peretz, Sforim and other giants of the Yiddish canon throughout what proves to be a carefully crafted, deeply thoughtful meditation on identity and meaning in modern life. This is not to say that one has to be a Yiddishist to appreciate it as a work of art: "In the Image" is the beautiful, well-written and closely felt statement of a brilliant mind. Make no mistake: its relative lack of flattering press clippings notwithstanding (and it is encouraging to note that those publications that have reviewed this book have done so in the most positive, enthusiastic fashion imaginable), this is the best work of Jewish-themed fiction -- one might even say the best work of fiction, period -- by a new author in years. Other writers may opt to rely on their personal connections and puff pieces to sell books, but Dara Horn has genuine talent and evidences an equally genuine passion for the written word. I look forward to following her career as it develops.
Rating:
Summary: The best of the bunch
Review: The last year has seen a spate of first novels by Jewish -- and, more importantly, Jewishly aware -- authors... "In the Image" is... a phenomenal read. Any student of Yiddish literature will recognize deliberately traced patterns of Singer, Peretz, Sforim and other giants of the Yiddish canon throughout what proves to be a carefully crafted, deeply thoughtful meditation on identity and meaning in modern life. This is not to say that one has to be a Yiddishist to appreciate it as a work of art: "In the Image" is the beautiful, well-written and closely felt statement of a brilliant mind. Make no mistake: its relative lack of flattering press clippings notwithstanding (and it is encouraging to note that those publications that have reviewed this book have done so in the most positive, enthusiastic fashion imaginable), this is the best work of Jewish-themed fiction -- one might even say the best work of fiction, period -- by a new author in years... Dara Horn has genuine talent and evidences an equally genuine passion for the written word. I look forward to following her career as it develops.
Rating:
Summary: The best of the bunch
Review: The last year has seen a spate of first novels by Jewish -- and, more importantly, Jewishly aware -- authors..."In the Image" is the beautiful, well-written and closely felt statement of a brilliant mind. Make no mistake: its relative lack of flattering press clippings notwithstanding (and it is encouraging to note that those publications that have reviewed this book have done so in the most positive, enthusiastic fashion imaginable), this is the best work of Jewish-themed fiction -- one might even say the best work of fiction, period -- by a new author in years. Other writers may opt to rely on their personal connections and puff pieces to sell books, but Dara Horn has genuine talent and evidences an equally genuine passion for the written word. I look forward to following her career as it develops.
Rating:
Summary: I was hooked
Review: This book is a very engaging read. I started it--knowing that I had a midterm the next day--and just never quite got to studying for that test. However, I found the story mesmerizing and highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Wondrous First Novel!
Review: This is a beautiful book, and nearly impossible to explain. The book is about the life of a young suburban girl in America. The book is about the life of an elderly man whose family has gone through persecution in Europe and struggle in America. But most importantly, the book is about the way lives intertwine and overlap, sometimes without our even realizing it. I suppose that description sounds like it could apply to other books. But this book is truly special, culminating in a terrific ending. I would especially recommend it to anyone who loves rereading books and finding new things each time or is interested in a book which is a loving rendering of stories of immigrants. The main reason I am not going to give it five stars is because I believe even better things lie ahead in the future for this very young and very talented author.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most enjoyable things I've read in a long time
Review: This is a fantastic book; I would recommend it to anyone: Jew, gentile, and in-between. The story lines are great, especially those set in modern times; I think that some of the scenes in the book will resonate strongly with (and amuse!) anyone who has had contact with the religious Jewish community. (I especially got a kick out of the use of the term "Mad Hatter" to describe a formerly non-religious Jewish boy who turns deeply religious later in life.) The balance between seriousness and glibness is struck perfectly. What I found most impressive about this book was its accessibility. It is a really cleverly-written book with many layers (with all kinds of references to stories and ideas from the Bible and Jewish tradition... and I'm sure there are many that I missed), yet it is not pretentious at all. This is rare and very refreshing. Horn is able to write a great book without resorting to making her writing purposefully obscure or weird; this quality truly distinguishes _In the Image_.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely and Precise
Review: This is a lovely and precise novel about the ways in which memory and the past and things that almost could have been permeate our lives, color our decisions. Reading it is like looking at slides, one on top of the other so that you can see two things at once. Hmm. That sounds confusing. But trust me -- the book isn't. This is a beautiful story.
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