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The Promise

*** By Chaim Potok. Lisa and I just finished (re-)reading this book, and I recommend it, just as I did the first, The Chosen. This one picks up where The Chosen left off, with Reuven and Danny starting college. The most important part of the story is watching Reuven develop: in the first book it was his relationship to Danny and both their fathers, in this book it's his relationship to the rest of his surroundings that we watch. An additional character, Michael, is thrown into the mix here. We find out early on that he has a problem with orthodox jews, but we don't know exactly what it is, or why. Reuven befriends him, and the two of them are bound tightly throughout the story, trying to figure each other out. I recommend reading both these books. They are both very good, and this one is probably even more interesting than the first—there are more characters, and the plot is more complex. I would recommend checking out The Chosen first to give yourself a solid understanding of Reuven and Danny's relationship, but you may be able to get away without it.

Posted by Joe on November 25, 2001 08:51 PM