Kasher in the Rye

By: Moshe Kasher

Narrated by: Moshe Kasher

Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

Rising young comedian Moshe Kasher is lucky to be alive. He started using drugs when he was just 12. At that point, he had already been in psychoanlysis for eight years. By the time he was 15, he had been in and out of several mental institutions, drifting from therapy to rehab to arrest to...you get the picture. But Kasher in the Rye is not an "eye opener" to the horrors of addiction. It's a hilarious memoir about the absurdity of it all.

When he was a young boy, Kasher's mother took him on a vacation to the West Coast. It was more of an abduction - just not officially. She stole him away from his father and they moved to Oakland, California. That's where the real fun began, in the war zone of Oakland Public Schools. He was more than just out of control - his mother walked him around on a leash, which he chewed through before running away.

Those early years were part Augusten Burroughs, part David Sedaris, with a touch of Jim Carrol...but a lot more Jewish. In fact, Kasher later spent time in a Brooklyn Hasidic community. Then came addicition.

Brutally honest and laugh-out-loud funny, Kasher's first literary endeavor finds humor in even the most horrifying situations.

©2012 Moshe Kasher (P)2012 Hachette

An entirely difference

Would you listen to Kasher in the Rye again? Why?

Hearing Kasher read his own story was very emotional for me. I am a big fan of his comedy and now have an entirely different respect for him.

What did you like best about this story?

It was a classic story of a troubled child and his struggles to change. However, I did not find this repetitive or cheesy. The story was raw. With the luxury of having Moshe Kasher tell it with his own voice, you could feel how real his experiences were.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both. Kasher has a real talent to take a serious subject and finding humor in it (without making you feel bad for laughing).

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Wow

As a former drug user, it's so awesome to hear stories of people who have recovered and made something amazing out of their life. To learn about the upbringing by two deaf parents and struggling through the education system. It's just awesome to see him where he is now. Moshe is a hilarious and well-written author, and I love the emotion and wit in the way he reads. Will definitely be listening to this one again.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Possibly the best book I've ever listened to

This is the first review I've ever left,
I felt I had to.
I am going through some heavy stuff with an addict in my life. I have read and listened to almost every book there is on drug addiction. I wanted something lighter but that still dealt with the crap going on in my real life. I am so glad I picked this book! It is hilarious! There were so many times I would just burst out laughing. It showed both the "fun" side of the beginning of addiction, then made the serious stuff funny as hell too.

Thank you for writing this book! As I said I am in a really dark place with "my" addict and your book helped me get through so many hard days. I found myself not wanting to listen because I didn't want it to be over... I still don't! I know it sounds cheesy but I wish I could express how much this book helped me. I cry a lot & your book took me out of that for a little bit each day. Thank you for sharing your story, thank you for making me smile, thank you for giving me hope.

A good guy, that's what you became.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Loved this audiobook!

This is one of those books that I think is better as an audiobook. I really enjoyed hearing the author read his story. He has (not surprisingly) a great sense of humor and delivery.

I love well-written memoirs, and this is definitely among the best I've read. I am amazed that this guy made it out of childhood alive. A wonderful book—I loved every second of it.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Gripping and emotionally riveting

The story is tremendous, touching on so many emotions. Moshe takes you deep into a pit of despair lifting your spirits occasionally with the underlying humor that you cling to just to fight back the tears. A combination of misery, comedy, redemption and darkness delivered with the charisma and sorrow that only the one who lived all of it could do.

great story

we listen to alot of comedy books and this is the best. he had a great story to tell and it was told very well.

Fantastic

This book was great! I will definitely strongly suggest it to others. Thanks for the story.

Being read one's difficult and long gone memories

Thank you Moshe for your incredible and unexpectedly painful story, it's been an intense journey. I've loved your work long before discovering this book, and now I appreciate what you managed to turn yourself into even more.

This book is why I stole my wifes Audible account.

Where does Kasher in the Rye rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the single most impressive audiobook that I have ever consumed with my ears. Out of 2 total audiobooks.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Kasher in the Rye?

I didn't anticipate the stuff between the stories. Chapters start with Rap Epigraphs, many from Bay Area legends. I knew some basic plot points about the author from interviews on comedy podcasts...but I didn't expect to hear any Del the Funky Homosapien quotes. However, I also didn't expect the occasional open copyright Klezmer and HipHop beats that would glue the chapters together. And they did their job... softly guiding me to the transition from one circumstance to another.

Which character – as performed by Moshe Kasher – was your favorite?

I like the Moshe Kasher character.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Listening to it on the 40 mile trek home from working a graveyard shift, I would find myself circling the block until the chapter was over.

Any additional comments?

When I wasn't laughing, I would nod my head and agree. "Yep...That's what THAT felt like." I have never related so much to biographical literature. If you are an urban whiteboy born between 1978 and 1983...you will be able able smell the starter jackets and feel the FILA hat on your brow, and will have no problem immersing yourself into the portrait of Oakland that Moshe Kasher paints with a Phillies Blunt brush dipped in a St. Ides pallet.

fantastic

Fantastic book by a really great comic. Heartwrenching story with some funny bits to lighten the mood. Very it's narrated by Moshe.