RHYS BOWEN: Since it's almost Hanukah I thought I'd share a scene from the book Clare and I have just finished. It's called, tentatively IN SUNSHINE OR IN SHADOW and it's set in a fledgling Jewish bungalow community in the Catskills. For those of you who don't know the details, early in the century Jewish residents of New York, wishing to escape the city heat and disease, started renting cabins (bungalows) from Jewish farmers in the mountains. This gradually morphed into the grand resorts of the 1920s.
Molly has been invited to join her friend Sid's family. Sid has been estranged from them as they are pressing her to get married and behave like a normal young woman. Things become serious when a matchmaker is invited. I won't give away what has happened so far, but the family is in shock before this scene.
After a rather quiet dinner Jacob got the Weiss children involved in stacking firewood in a stone fire ring in the clearing between the bungalows. We pulled logs, chairs and benches around the fire. At first only Mira joined us from Sid’s family. Sid and Gus recited some poetry as promised. I even got up and recited a poem I had memorized at school. Then Professor Rosen and Jacob began to play. They played a folk song in Yiddish that sounded mournful and longing. Jacob sang the melody in a clear voice and Professor Rosen joined in on the chorus, “A shvue, a shvue, af lebn, un toyt.” As the song came to an end, we saw Sid’s grandparents standing at the edge of the firelight.
“That was beautiful,” Sid’s grandmother had tears in her eyes.
“Come and join us, Bubbe,” Sid said and we made room for them.
“I wonder if you know this one,” Sid’s grandfather said and sang the first line, “’Oyfn priptchik brent a fayerl,’ Appropriate don’t you think?”
“Fayerl is a little fire,” Sid whispered to me. “My grandfather always used to sing this song to me when I was a little girl. It’s about learning the Hebrew alphabet.”
“Also actually about preserving the Jewish culture.” Jacob had overheard. “I know the song. We teach it to kindergartners.”
“I know it too,” Professor Rosen nodded and began to play the tune. Jacob joined in with the accompaniment. Sid’s grandfather sang along in a voice that was still surprisingly strong. Hearing Zayde sing brought the rest of the family to the fire. Mr. and Mrs. Weiss joined us as well. I was not accustomed to night in the forest. In the lulls between the music I could hear the wind sighing through the tall trees, making branches creak and crack. In the distance an owl hooted. Sparks rose from the fire to be swallowed into the night. It was magical but a little alarming. If I turned my head from the fire, I could see nothing but darkness. It was as if the rest of the world had disappeared. We were in our own private universe. Perhaps that made us less self-conscious. The mood became less somber. Mr. Weiss sang a song that made everyone laugh. Sid tried to translate it for me but couldn’t keep up.
Everyone was in a good mood as we carried our lanterns back to the bungalows. It was hard to remember that only that morning Mr. Levin had been alive.
With that a happy Hanukah to all who celebrate!
And if you’d like to get in the Christmas spirit, my Molly book AWAY IN A MANGER is on special at Amazon right now at $2:99
Great story! Look forward to reading!
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely, Rhys . . . the scene certainly draws the reader into the story; you can almost hear the crackle of the fire and feel its warmth. Thanks for sharing this lovely scene; I’m looking forward to reading this story . . . .
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joan
DeleteI can't wait! Did you have a Bubbe consultant for the songs and lyrics, an older-generation Jewish person?
ReplyDeleteA Bubbe consultant! Lovely phrase. Yes, I have a good friend in New York who has been so helpful. But we had Jewish friends to dinner on Sunday and lamented that Yiddish has all but died out. Only the very oldest can speak it now.
Deletesounds intriguing Rhys! When will it be available?
ReplyDeleteI think it's slated for March 2024
DeleteUm, no-- but I can't seem to connect privately. Could you please contact me at Kozakmedialaw at gmail?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Hanukkah starts Dec. 18 this year.
ReplyDeleteRHYS: That is a comforting scene by the campfire. Looking forward to reading more.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to this book, Rhys. The scene you shared is evocative of a time that seems familiar and yet just out of reach for me. The Yiddish, the songs, the plays. My father spoke the language perfectly but all I know is words and phrases.
ReplyDeleteI love the respect you have for all of your characters in the Molly Murphy series, even the most peripheral ones. Molly, dropped into the middle of that melting pot that was New York at the turn of the 20th.Century, has a deeper understanding of humanity than one would expect of a wide-eyed peasant girl from the Old Country. She is such a wonderful character.
Judy, we had dinner with Jewish friends and lamented that Yiddish has almost died out. Only the very oldest can still speak it. I hope it will be preserved somehow.
DeleteRhys + Clare = more magic!! A foggy morning here--so foggy, schools canceled--the image of the fire and the music so warm and comforting.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Flora! Clare will be thrilled.
DeleteA lovely story. As a child my parents and I spent several weeks in the Catskills. Made many fond memories.
ReplyDeleteOn another, note: Christine Falcone, Jane Haertel, Edith Maxwell and Ang Pompano made a trip to the South Windsor Public Library in South Windsor, CT, yesterday, as part of the library's Booked for Lunch program. We had a wonderful time participating in an exercise called "Mystery Making." Lots of fun and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!! Also, we all look forward to reading their books.
Carol Flynn
OMG, how did I not know about that program? I live 20 minutes from South Windsor.
DeleteThanks for coming, Carol! Judy, I didn't do a very good job of advertising it. Sorry to miss you!
DeleteAlso, several of us on the panel mentioned the authors on this blog as people we read.
DeleteRhys, it sounds like you and Clare have done a ton of research for this book. I've so enjoyed feisty Molly and her openness to having friends like Sid and Gus and their theater pals.
ReplyDeleteIt's super foggy here today, too. I couldn't see the road, 200' away, when I first looked out this morning.
Clare is the great researcher. She's found out so many interesting things about the Catskills that have made this story richer. And we have a Jewish friend in New York who is the mentor for this story
DeleteRhys, I look forward to reading your new novel. I have a few questions.
ReplyDeleteWHO is Jacob?
Does Sid's grandmother shave her head and wear a wig? I saw a movie about a Jewish wedding and the bride shaved her head then put on a wig. It seems that married women in the orthodox Jewish religion shave their heads and wear wigs.
Would Molly's young son pick up the Yiddish language? I remember that children often are good at learning languages. I remember learning Sign Language when I was 2 years old then a different sign language when I was 8 years old. I also learned some French when I was ten years old.
Diana
Jacob was a character in For the Love of Mike. He's a Jewish activist and makes another cameo appearance in this book. Molly's son is not with her--luckily as it turns out.
DeleteWhat a lovely scene, Rhys. I can imagine Molly feeling a little isolated in a dark forest.
ReplyDeleteRhys, this sounds wonderful. YOu've really captured a vivid moment in time and place. As always...
ReplyDeleteOops, that was me, Hallie -
DeleteAs I was reading this, the song Danny Boy kept going through my mind. And I thought--HUH? But wait..."In Sunshine or in shadow" comes from the lyrics! (Or is it "AND in shadow"? Anyway--is that what you meant!? And Rhys, you and Clare are quite an a amazing team! Molly's self-consciousness is so perfect. HURRAY!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if we called it Or in Shadow or And in Shadow. I'll have to check. But definitely from Oh Danny Boy.
DeleteLove that! Xxxx
DeleteWhat a moving scene. Looking forward to the book
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Rhys! You really convey the magic sense of gathering around a fire, and it's a lovely metaphor for a riven family tentatively coming together. I'm so looking forward to reading this book!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely scene, Rhys, so vivid, and that time and culture is so interesting. Can't wait to read this one!!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, it's foggy here in North Texas this morning, too!
There's nothing like a campfire at night to pull people in to comfort and mellowness. I can't wait to read about Molly in the Catskills.
ReplyDeleteThe juxtaposition of the complete darkness and the fire where the family is gathered is perfect. The fire encourages a bonding against the forces of the dark surrounding them. You and Clare have created a powerful scene and, yet, it's also a soft, intimate scene. The rest of the book must be amazing.
ReplyDeleteAnd, this book is already making me want to learn more about the history of the Jewish resorts in the Catskills. I think my first awareness of these resorts that catered to the Jewish population was in the Dirty Dancing movie, where it was a tradition for Jewish families to return year after year to a resort.
We are right at the start of it in 1907. Just farmers renting out cabins for the summer because Jews were not wrk one at established resorts. ( Rhys)
DeleteClare: I’m so glad you shared this scene. I think it is my favorite in the novel! Thank you to everyone for the kind words.
ReplyDeleteHub and I frequently talk about buying a vacation spot in the Catskills - your new book will likely make us want one even more! Can't wait!
ReplyDelete