Goyhood

A Novel

De: Reuven Fenton

Narrado por: Mike Lenz

Reuven Fenton's novel Goyhood is a brilliant debut about a devoutly Orthodox Jewish man who discovers in middle age that he's not, in fact, Jewish, and embarks on a remarkable road trip to come to grips with his fate.

When Mayer (nee Marty) Belkin fled small-town Georgia for Brooklyn nearly thirty years ago, he thought he'd left his wasted youth behind. Now he's a Talmud scholar married into one of the greatest rabbinical families in the world.

But his mother's untimely death brings a shocking revelation: Mayer and his ne'er-do-well twin brother David aren't, in fact, Jewish. Traumatized and spiritually bereft, Mayer's only recourse is to convert to Judaism. But the earliest date he can get is a week from now. What are two estranged brothers to do in the interim?

So begins the Belkins' Rumspringa through America's Deep South with Mom's ashes in tow, plus two tagalongs: an insightful Instagram influencer named Charlayne Valentine and Popeye, a one-eyed dog. As the crew gets tangled up in a series of increasingly surreal adventures, Mayer grapples with a God who betrayed him and an emotionally withdrawn wife in Brooklyn who has yet to learn her husband is a counterfeit Jew.

©2024 Reuven Fenton (P)2024 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Oy!

I loved this book! A fabulous read for anyone who practices Judaism! But, the narrator should really know how to pronounce Hebrew! Most Hebrew words were mispronounced. 😏

Good read…awful listen

The actor reading the well written story absolutely butchered all Hebrew and Yiddish phrases - I enjoyed the story but almost couldn’t finish because listening was so difficult

An Epic unexpected journey

I really loved this book! It was pure entertainment for me. Some plot points seemed like a stretch but they made for a fun ride and an unexpected ending. I’m not sure which character most embodies me: Mayer (Marty), David, or Mom. Maybe all three.

Terrific twisting and winding story

Entertaining from beginning to end as the author creates a funny and thoughtful story about the possible complications of orthodox jewish life

The commonality of being Jewish

I liked everything about this story he is a great detailed storyteller and a great writer