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| Chosen, The | 
 enlarge | Author: Chaim Potok
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Category: Book
List Price: $9.95
Buy New: $2.23
You Save: $7.72 (78%)
Buy Used/Collectible from $2.23
Avg. Customer Rating:  (312 reviews)
Sales Rank: 465860
Media: Hardcover
Edition: Book Club Edition
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
ISBN: 0671136747
EAN: 9780671136741
ASIN: 0671136747
Publication Date: April 28, 1967
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
Few stories offer more warmth, wisdom, or generosity than this tale of two boys, their fathers, their friendship, and the chaotic times in which they live. Though on the surface it explores religious faith--the intellectually committed as well as the passionately observant--the struggles addressed in The Chosen are familiar to families of all faiths and in all nations. In 1940s Brooklyn, New York, an accident throws Reuven Malther and Danny Saunders together. Despite their differences (Reuven is a Modern Orthodox Jew with an intellectual, Zionist father; Danny is the brilliant son and rightful heir to a Hasidic rebbe), the young men form a deep, if unlikely, friendship. Together they negotiate adolescence, family conflicts, the crisis of faith engendered when Holocaust stories begin to emerge in the U.S., loss, love, and the journey to adulthood. The intellectual and spiritual clashes between fathers, between each son and his own father, and between the two young men, provide a unique backdrop for this exploration of fathers, sons, faith, loyalty, and, ultimately, the power of love. (This is not a conventional children's book, although it will move any wise child age 12 or older, and often appears on summer reading lists for high school students.)
Product Description
"Anyone who finds it is finding a jewel. Its themes are profound and universal."
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
It is the now-classic story of two fathers and two sons and the pressures on all of them to pursue the religion they share in the way that is best suited to each. And as the boys grow into young men, they discover in the other a lost spiritual brother, and a link to an unexplored world that neither had ever considered before. In effect, they exchange places, and find the peace that neither will ever retreat from again....
From the Paperback edition.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 307 more reviews...
 Very Educational Entertainment October 14, 2008
I read this book because it was on the reading list at George Wythe University. I loved this book because even though I wasn't familiar with baseball or Jewish religions, I could easily follow the plot and enjoy the strong characters, friendship and parenting styles behind the scenes.
Danny and Reuven transformed strong hostility into friendship, which was amazing! How Danny was acting at the baseball game and his seemingly intentional injury on Reuven's eye would have been unpardonable. It wasn't intentional and Danny didn't even know why he wanted to kill Reuven. He gathered his courage and went to apologize to Reuven. It was of course a shock to Reuven, but with his father's kind guidance, Reuven developed listening ears not only to Danny but Danny's father later on.
Danny's father and Reuven's father were both Jewish, but they had a totally different approach to find a meaning on the death of six million Jewish people. They both deeply loved those Jewish and wanted to do the best for them. Since Danny's father was in a very visibly respected position in his neighborhood, I was wondering if Danny's father was going to win the battle but it wasn't so. Reuven's father won more support by publishing his opinions and making public speeches. I myself should be more involved in the government, so they were good examples to me, no matter what the result, to fight for our beliefs.
I didn't know much difference between "mind" and "soul" until I read this book, but the difference was a huge deal. Danny, an heir to his father's rabbinic position, has a brilliant mind with photographic memory, but not a soul to understand other people's anguish. Danny does not want to and cannot be a rabbi without a soul. But because of his father's intensive Torah education, Danny was able to become a tzaddik in the world, whatever he chose as an occupation.
There was a constant criticism on Reb Saunders' way of raising Danny, but I wonder if Danny would have chosen to be a rabbi if he was raised by Reuven's father. As a parent, I do believe that parenting matters, but I wonder if things happen just because, like a fate.
Like I said, characters in this book are very strong. I do not know personally anybody who is like a character in this book. Maybe Danny's mother and sister, maybe. I know now that I cannot stereotype Jewish people anymore.
Since the description of everything was very intense, I was worried that the author was going to describe Reuven's injury intensely, but thank goodness, it was pretty much omitted out and I was not grossed out. I thought this book was very focused on emotions and very much in style ;)
Over all, I was constantly entertained and educated throughout this book. I recommend this book with 5 stars.
Another of my top ten September 23, 2008
I absolutely loved this book. I had to read it for my class, but I wanted to read it again the second I got done. It was the first book that I read that I got emotional about. I really recommend this book.
 slight damage September 8, 2008
my book came today, and it looked perfect EXCEPT the top right corner had signs of wear and possible usage. Along the whole top on the back half, it's black and some of the pages are worn down like maybe it touched a sander for a second. Overall great book great shipping, just slight damage!
Amazing book! September 1, 2008
This book was amongst one of the very best books i have ever read. I honestly must say this books looks so well into the boys lives. The Choosen is amazingly insightful and Chaim Potok just has an amazing way with words. If you're looking for a book that will keep you drawn into the story, this is it. You will want to read it a million times.
Masterful. August 31, 2008
The Chosen is a book that will, not only produce a full, rich, exhilarating experience, but stays with you for quite some time. There can be no doubt that this book, along with its author have reached the pinnacle of the literary world and achieved what few books can: Masterpiece. The book is set in Brooklyn and the premis is of two young boys who have traveled very different roads, who have seen life through very different views, come together at a baseball game where these two unlikely souls form a close friendship that lasts a life-time and shapes their path toward manhood. The time is set just prior to WWII and Reuven and Danny are Orthodox Jews who will capture your hearts as Chaim Potok pens his masterpiece. This is definetly one book that should find a home on everyone's must read list.
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