Jewish Genre Reading Challenge discussion

Read books to fulfill the following six prompts. All books must have a Jewish main character. If a book has no main character (e.g. essays, cookbook), the author and topic must be Jewish.

THE PROMPTS
1. Read a Jewish history - fiction or nonfiction - that doesn't take place during the Shoah (Holocaust)/WWII or Biblical times

2. Read either a Jewish book in translation, or one where a second language is featured in the story/text

3. Read a Jewish book with a main character who is different from you in some significant way 

4. Read a Jewish book with a queer/LGBTQ focus

5. Read a Jewish book that prominently features joy

6. Read a Jewish book in a format other than prose (graphic novel, poetry, play or screenplay, art & photography, cookbook)

Book Lists:
Prompt 1:
Jewish Nonfiction History (not WWII or Biblical): https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Jewish Historical Fiction (not WWII or Biblical): https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Prompt 2:
Jewish Books in Translation or Featuring Other Language: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Prompt 4:
LGBTQ/Queer Jewish Books:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Prompt 5:
Joyful Jewish Books:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Prompt 6:
Jewish Graphic Novels: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Jewish Poetry: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Jewish Plays & Screenplays: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Jewish Art & Photography: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Jewish Cookbooks: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Details and Frequently Asked Questions for the Prompts Challenge

Why the focus on main characters? What if a book has more than one main character? What if it has none?

To read about why we focus on main characters, visit the JGC website at www.readjewishly.com/about. If a book has more than one main character it's fine for only one of them to be Jewish. The “main character” in a memoir is the author. If a book has no main character (e.g. essays, cookbook), the author and topic must be Jewish.

Does the book's author need to be Jewish?

The book's author does not need to be Jewish, only the main character (or one of the main characters). When reading a book written by a non-Jewish author, pay attention to the portrayal. Does the character feel nuanced and authentic, or rely on tiresome stereotypes? Let us know about stereotyping or antisemitic portrayals of Jewish characters and culture in the Stereotypes and Antisemitism discussion.

Do the Jewish characters need to be religious?

Jewish characters do not need to be religious or practice Judaism. Jews are an ethno-religious group that includes both secular and religious members.

Why should historical books be set in times other than World War II and the Holocaust/Shoah?

If you look up any list of Jewish literature, the first books you find in almost any category will be related to WWII and the Holocaust. The Jewish Genre Challenge encourages readers to step outside that time period to explore other Jewish stories.

Still have questions about the Prompts Challenge? Check out our website FAQ (www.readjewishly.com/faq) and if you don't find an answer, post your question here below.