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Cover of The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family by Joshua Cohen

The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family

by Joshua Cohen

Approximately 242 pages

A campus visit becomes an unruly historical comedy, driven by argument, embarrassment, and a deliberately abrasive clash of personalities.

Difficulty

Challenging

Pace

Medium

Mood

comic, abrasive

Book club

High

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Is this book for you?

Read this if you enjoy

  • readers of intellectual comedy
  • fans of campus novels

Consider another book if

  • abrasive characters are exhausting
  • you prefer a straightforward domestic plot

What it is about

"The Netanyahus" is a fictional narrative centered around a fictionalized version of the Netanyahu family. The story is set in the early 1980s at a small college in upstate New York. The protagonist, a Jewish professor named Ruben Blum, becomes entangled with the Netanyahus during their visit.

The family is in the U. S. as the father, Benzion, seeks a teaching position.

Tensions arise from cultural clashes and political discussions. The novel explores themes of identity, family dynamics, and the immigrant experience. It reflects on the complexities of Jewish life in America.

The narrative combines humor with serious undertones. Characters grapple with their heritage and personal aspirations. Ultimately, the book examines the interplay between personal and political histories.

Award recognition

2022 winner

Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

United States

View the winners list: Pulitzer

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