Religion:Foreskin's Lament: A Memoir

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Short description: 2007 book by Shalom Auslander
Foreskin's Lament: A Memoir
Shalom Auslander - Foresin's Lament - A Memoir.jpg
Cover of first run hardcover edition
AuthorShalom Auslander
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreMemoir
PublisherRiverhead Hardcover
Publication date
October 4, 2007
Pages320
ISBNISBN:1-59448-955-6
OCLC122425087
813/.6 B 22
LC ClassPS3601.U85 Z46 2007
Preceded byBeware of God: Stories (2005) 

Foreskin's Lament: A Memoir is a book by Shalom Auslander. The book chronicles his upbringing as an ultra-Orthodox Jew, and his efforts to break free from it. Portions of the book have been featured in various media, including the PRI program This American Life.

Critical reception

The Globe and Mail called the tome "humorous, but burdened", and said that "the book ably captures the strain between elements of Judaism".[1] USA Today called it "edgy" and "bitterly funny".[2] People magazine also called it "hilarious", and gave the book three-out-of-four stars.[3] Regarding it as "one of its best memoirs", Time (magazine) magazine called the memoir "blackly funny".[4] More conservatively, Entertainment Weekly gave the book a B+, calling Auslander a "gifted writer", but concluding: "He's never going to find [something deep and rich in his problematic past] lunging after every sophomoric laugh."[5]

References

  1. A. J. Levin. Globe and Mail, November 24, 2007: D28
  2. Minzesheimer, Bob (December 6, 2007), "Experience that 'very special gypped feeling'". USA Today
  3. Abrahams, Andrew (October 29, 2007), "Foreskin's Lament". People. 68 (18):53
  4. No byline (October 15, 2007), "Foreskin's Lament". Time. 170 (16):79
  5. Reese, Jennifer (October 5, 2007), "Shtick Figure". Entertainment Weekly (957):73