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PARENTS OF
JEWISH SINGLES

Brodkey Is Attempting
The Great Jewish Novel

and hysteria of the foster
mother's losing battle over the
JOSEPH COHEN
years with cancer. She is a vain,
Special to The Jewish News
sexually frustrated woman de-
stroyed by her mastectomies,
t looks as if the great
compelled to hurl her bitter
American Jewish novel is
abuse at Wiley, her 13-year-old
headed our way. It won't be
adopted son, her only target
out tomorrow or next week or,
after the rest of the family has
possibly, even next year, but it
moved away to escape her
is definitely coming. I realize
wrath.
making predictions of this sort
Brodkey's writing in "Lila" is
could be hazardous to 'my liter-
like a juggernaut; he uses words
ary health.
as one would use a bulldozer to
It wasn't all that long ago
sweep away whole forests of ap-
when any number of critics
pearances in order to get to the
touted Alan Lelchuk's American
reality, in this instance, of pain.
Mischief as the forthcoming
There is a dazzling display of
"messiah" of novels. Like Sab-
metaphorical and other contexts
batai Zevi, Lelchuk's book didn't
employed by Brodkey in Wiley's
live up to its advance reputa-
behalf, enabling the young pro-
tion.
tagonist to describe himself and
That's unlikely to happen to
his parents in memorable im-
Harold Brodkey whose book
ages.
Party of Animals (a working
Of his origins he says he came
title which one hopes will be
from a "long line of magic-
changed) has been under con-
working rabbis," who were "eas-
tract to Knopf for years. Party of
ily infuriated, often rhapsodic"
Animals is supposed to be the
on one side of the family and
Great American Jewish novel
from "a thousand years or more
of Talmudic scholars" on the
other side. His natural father,
The writing is
he tells us "had been a semi-
professional gambler, a brawler,
superb, intense and
a drunk, a prizefighter before
luminous, and
settling down to be a junkman."
(It is a career that curiously
marked by
parallels the career of Canadian
versatility, vitality
writer Mordecai Richler's
and virtuosity.
father.)
Of himself, - Wiley says as a
13-year-old, "I had a face that
we've all been waiting for. We
leaked information."
have? The reason we know it
Brodkey suggests that the as-
isn't going to bomb is that parts
saults on Wiley's feelings are
of it have already appeared, first
like "episodes in Kafka." But
as stories in The New Yorker
they go beyond Kafka, where
and more recently, under the
the enemy is anonymous. In
title Women and Angels in the
"Lila" the enemy is excruciat-
Jewish Publication Society's
ingly familiar. The net effect of
Author's Workshop Series.
Lila and her cancer is a
The stories are "Ceil," "Lila,"
monolithic depression reminis-
and "Angel." They are not
cent of the effect Thomas Mann
merely good, they are really
was able to -create in the depic-
outstanding. The writing is su-
tion of his tubercular ridden
perb, intense and luminous, and
characters in The Magic Moun-
marked by versatility, vitality
tain.
and virtuosity. There is enough
Like Mann, Brodkey is a mas-
evidence here of a major talent
ter at employing all the senses,
to claim for it uniqueness at an
most of them simultaneously, in
elevated imaginative level.
conveying the ravages of the
Brodkey was born in 1930 in
monster disease. With Wiley, we
Staunton, Ill. His mother, the
see Lila's disfigurement, hear
"Ceil" of the first story in
her anguish, smell and vicari-
Women and Angels, died when
ously taste the radium burns,
he was two years old. His adop-
touching her mortality as she
tive parents moved from Staun-
touches ours. The impact is
ton to University City, a suburb
powerful and memorable.
of St. Louis. There Brodkey
If Brodkey's Party of Animals
lived until he went to Harvard.
live up to its advance billing it's
The second story "Lila," con-
going to be phenomenal. We can
cerns itself
only wait and see.
with a "Divine Apparition"
Copyright 1986 Joseph Cohen.
Brodkey's narrator Wiley sees
while he is attending Harvard.
the "Divine Apparition" might
Dance Features
just possibly be God.
"Ceil" is the least compelling
Computer Dating
of the three pieces. "Angel"
Computer dating will be an
commands respect for its sheer
virtuosity. A small masterpiece,
extra treat at the Jewish
Community Center's annual
it contains passages of prose
winter dance Wednesday at 8
which sing like poetry, recalling
p.m. at the main Jewish Cen-
the lyrical grace and the
spiritual wonder of
ter.
Called Compumatch, the
Wordsworth's magnificent paean
service, provided at an extra
to God, the "Intimations of Im-
fee, will give participants the
mortality" ode.
names of three persons to call
But the most breath-taking
to meet for a date.
story of all is "Lila," a harrow-
The dance, titled The Only
ing account of the rage, hostility

I

Spot in Town, will feature a
piano bar and entertainment
and music for dancing by
Sheila Landis and Top
Drawer.
There is an admission fee.
For information, call Babs
Sepe or Jill Cole, 661-1000,
ext. 347.

Give your son or daughter
a unique Hanuka gift
A membership in LO-LA

THE JEWISH DATING SERVICE

For FREE interview or brochure call - 356-0949

NYE Ski Trip
Reservations Open

The Chai Ski Club (21-45)
is still taking reservations for
its New Year's ski trip slated
for Dec. 28-Jan. 1 at Boyne
Mountain.
Cost of the trip includes
downhill and cross country
skiing, lodging, breakfast,
dinner, snacks, wine and
cheese party and New Year's
Eve party.
There is a fee. For details,
call Bernie Botwinik, 288-
0338.

Socialites Plan
Holiday Brunch

The Rose Sherer Socialites
will have a holiday meeting
and brunch on Sunday at
12:30 p.m. at the Northgate
West club house.
Chanukah will be cele-
brated with latkes, Jewish
bingo and prizes. There is a
nominal charge, and reserva-
tions are necessary, by cal-
ling Ida Zabel; 546-1843 or
President Dorothy Goldberg,
548-6850.
This group is open to men
and women age 55 and up.

Or Write: Lo-La, P.O. Box 254
Lathrup Village, MI 48076}

Claire Arm
Millie Rosenbaum

THE BRIGHT IDEA

send

THE JEWISH NEWS

354-6060

as a gift

Excellent Cuisine
In A Beautiful,
Gracious & Elegant
Atmosphere

Now Appearing

Kevin DeCosta Trio

Tues.-Sat.

For Dancing and
Listening Entertainment

Las Vegas Night
Saturday At Center

Casino games of all types
will be played at the annual
Chanukah Las Vegas Night
to be held at 8 p.m. Saturday
at the main Jewish Commu-
nity Center.
Winnings are limited to
$500, and other prizes will be
awarded throughout the eve-
ning.
There is an admission
charge. Proceeds will support
special programs at the Cen-
ter. For ticket information,
call Marty Oliff, 661-1000,
ext. 240.

Singles Party
In Toronto

Metro Toronto Jewish Sing ,.
les will have an inter-city
singles party at 8 p.m. Jan. 4
at the convention hall of the
Triumph Hotel in Toronto.
Singles from Detroit, Toronto
and Montreal are invited.
For information, call Sid
Dorfman in Toronto, (416)
222-7111.
To get to the Triumph
Hotel from Detroit, take
Highway 401 out of Windsor
to Toronto and exit north off
401 to Keele St. The Hotel is
on Keele St., just north of
Highway 401.

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425-5650
855-5240 .
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