I would like to first warn people that this is pretty graphic in terms of gore. There is also a moment of sexuality that is not in this day and age ethical.
This was a hard read, which is probably why it took so long to get through. The main character, Chaim Skibelski, is supposed to be based off of Skibell’s grandfather who was a victim during the Holocaust. In the first few pages you find him part of a mass shooting that was not uncommon for those in certain death camps, and as the story progresses he tries to find his way to the World to Come.
In retrospect, the book sounds like one hallucinogenic trip when read; I do not blame you for not wanting to read this. It is incredibly dark and apparently it has turned a lot of people off. Personally, I do not know if I would read it again because of that major part in the first third that became a little bit much. I can handle gore and dark because of the common sense of it being fiction, but that moment is pretty stinkin’ high on the Richter scale of willingness. I will give the book credit for how it was written, though; it was mesmerizing to read despite the challenge of subject.
If it is alright, if those in the Jewish community have read this book, I have questions because I want to learn.
If you would like to read A Blessing on the Moon, it is available here. Depending on the version you get, there are discussion questions in the back.
7/10
Chofa Times on the Chofa 