A Cruel and Dangerous Treatment that May Have Worked--This Time
This is the story of two boys in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, and their fathers, during the 1940s. Danny's father is a Hasidic rabbi, and Reuven and his father are orthodox Jews, but not Hasidic. The story begins with a (softball/baseball) game--the author seems to confuse the two games--in which a ball hit by Danny strikes Reuven, the pitcher, breaking his glasses and putting him in the hospital. Danny comes to the hospital to apologize to Reuven, but Reuven angrily rejects Danny's apology. Reuven's father counsels him to apologize for his rude rejection of Danny, which he does, and they become best friends.
I suspect that many of the one-star reviews were written by folks who read no farther than this; I must admit I came close to quitting at this point and giving it one star, but fortunately I persisted, and soon thereafter the boredom ceased, and I could hardly put the book down after that.
Several reviewers have commented on Rabbi Saunders' silent treatment of Danny, which may, in this case, have accomplished its purpose of developing compassion. However, most children develop compassion as they grow up, without the silent treatment, which was cruel, and was uncomfortably close to the parenting style that, according to what I have read*, has been found to be common to most serial killers such as Ted Bundy. The ending could easily have been tragic, and it is not exactly happy, but life will go on, and will probably be bearable. Reuven will probably get married eventually, and maybe Danny will, too.
There are some surprises which I won't spoil. This is not a book for children; you need the life experience of growing up to adulthood to fully understand and appreciate it. I doubt that I was ready for it before age 35. But at 77, I am very glad that I read it.
I suspect that many of the one-star reviews were written by folks who read no farther than this; I must admit I came close to quitting at this point and giving it one star, but fortunately I persisted, and soon thereafter the boredom ceased, and I could hardly put the book down after that.
Several reviewers have commented on Rabbi Saunders' silent treatment of Danny, which may, in this case, have accomplished its purpose of developing compassion. However, most children develop compassion as they grow up, without the silent treatment, which was cruel, and was uncomfortably close to the parenting style that, according to what I have read*, has been found to be common to most serial killers such as Ted Bundy. The ending could easily have been tragic, and it is not exactly happy, but life will go on, and will probably be bearable. Reuven will probably get married eventually, and maybe Danny will, too.
There are some surprises which I won't spoil. This is not a book for children; you need the life experience of growing up to adulthood to fully understand and appreciate it. I doubt that I was ready for it before age 35. But at 77, I am very glad that I read it.
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