And Related Readings (Literature Connections) - The Chosen

I read this book as a teenage boy, and it changed my life forever. It satisfied me in an emotional and intellectual way that no book had managed previously (and would not do again until reading another Potok novel, "My Name is Asher Lev"). Although I am a Gentile (and an atheist), this book moved me so strongly that I still feel linked to Judaism. My own angst and confusion seemed mirrored in the tale of these two true friends. I recommend this book to all thoughtful readers, children and adults, who wish to explore themselves as they explore the adolescence of troubled young men growing to mature manhood.

This former library book is kind of smelly. I could not place it with my other books in case of mold, so it is sitting in the freezer. After a week or 2 I will see if I can read it. Sometimes this works, sometimes the moldy books will make me itch. I checked it after a couple days and have hopes for a good outcome.

I am a secular Jew - a "jewish goy' as Daniel's father - Rev Saunders would call me. This book has opened up a world to me that I want to explore - my jewish history. I'm not saying that I will become a practicing Jew or a Hasidic - but it has whetted my appetite to learn more about my legacy and history as a Jew. That is what a good book should do - open new horizons and interests - teach you while entertaining you. Great book.

I probably wouldn't have read this book if it wasn't required reading for school because at first glance it seemed like a boring book, but I really ended up enjoying it. The vocabulary and culture differences were difficult to understand at first, but I got used to it. I have to admit, there were some parts of the book that almost put me to sleep, but in the end it turned out to be a good plot and I really liked the story. I also like the fact that during the entire book, the author sneaks in little turning points and events happening in the war at that time so that you can relate the story to history.

This book is my second all-time favorite book! (George Orwell's 1984 is my favorite.) This should be read by anyone, especially people exposed to much diversity. Throughout the masterpiece, I would think in my mind what I thought would be the most effective cont nuation of the story from whereever I was, and I would say 99 times out of 100 (No exageration!) the book took the course that I thouught would be most effective. If you are looking for other books that empathize with the Jews, try EXODUS by Leon Uris. While EXODUS is not as good, it really gets you wrapped up in the story. READ THIS BOOK!

I had to read The Chosen for an English class, which I guess made it worse, but it got really dull at a few points. There were times that I didn't want to read it at all, but I'm glad I did, because it was well written. It's a good story about boys holding onto friendship even through adolescence. I only wish the author would have included more women, because it almost seemed like an old story because Danny's sister and mother were practically the only women that had any lines in the book. I would recommend this more towards guys and only if you're committed, because it gets very boring at parts.

This book was pretty good. I thought the beginning was the best part of the whole story. I am not Jewish, so I did not understand all the terminology. I think Jewish people would be able to understand and connect better to it. But it did send out good messages and themes. Although at many points I found myself forcing myself to go back to reading it, I was assigned to read it for Honors English. It was boring at some parts, to the point where once or twice I awoke to find that I had fallen asleep while reading it. But other parts are very interesting, like the beginning, for example.

The Chosen is a heart warming tale of two friends, Danny and Robert, who meet after a baseball accident. They both have completely different fathers and Jewish beliefs, but overcome these challenges to become great friends. Though the book is a little under 300 pages, it will keep you on the edge of your seat. I like the plot between the friends and it it will keep you reading. The style is the same as some of his other books such as My Name is Asher Lev. They are both about Jewish families and both take place in Brooklyn, New York. They also take place in the 1940's and post World War 2. It is a book you will surely enjoy and love. It is a keeper!

This book is a true story about the meaning of friendship, but also about the heartache it can cause. Two jewish boys (one orthadox, the other reformed) form a special friendship. While they may start out as enemies, they end up with a friendship that takes us all the way through to their college years. While both value the bond that they share, one is controlled more by his father and his duties to the community, while the other is forced to just deal with it. I couldn't put it down. It truly stirs up every emotion a person can have. You feel as though you are right there with them and it is as if you are a part of the book. The story also describes to some degree the Jewish religion and the differences that the two kinds of jewish communtities can have and how it affects their friendship. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, because it can drag at some points, but not for long. In my opinion this book is a must. It shows how we all have to take a stand in our lives and how we all need support to sometimes do it.

I read The Chosen for my literature class at school, and I enjoyed it very much! Chaim Potok did a wonderful job of portraying the life of two young Jewish-American boys. Based in Brooklyn in the 1940s, we first meet the narrator, the modern Orthodox Reuven Saunders, as a 15 year old. An incident occurs to where he becomes close to his Ultra-Orthodox (Hasidic) counterpart, Danny Saunders. One is a mathematician and the other aspires to become a psychologist. Both are brilliant scholars of the Torah and the Talmud. Although I had little knowledge of Jewish customs and cultures, after reading this book, I learned some aspects of Judaism I never knew before. Potok defined many Jewish and Yiddish terms that otherwise I would not have any clue understanding. He made this a novel which looks into the lives of two brilliant young men who struggles to preserve their friendship and their own beliefs.

Chaim Potok wrote one of the most memorable books I have ever read. "The Chosen" clearly displays the effect of religion on teenagers. The two main characters, Danny Saunders and Reuven Malter, meet during the most unusual of circumstances. Danny actually injured Reuven while playing in a baseball game. Throughout the years, they developed a long-lasting friendship. The respect and devotion they show towards one another display the coming of age of two young men. This novel is perfect for anyone who enjoys reading about the importance of maturing over time.

Sometimes a tragic occurrence can be the catalyst that sparks a bond of friendship between two people of dissimilar backgrounds. This is demonstrated aptly in Chaim Potok's novel, The Chosen, first published in 1967. In this outstanding book, two fifteen year old boys, Reuven Malter, the son of a secular Jewish professor, and Daniel Saunders, the son of the Rabbi leader of a very conservative Russian Hasidic sect, confront each other on the baseball field. The lives of these two boys and their families are forever altered when Daniel hits Reuven in the eye with a line drive shot, nearly blinding him. At first Reuven feels terrible contempt toward Daniel, but in time the boys grow to understand and respect each other and there develops a bond between them that overcomes their significant differences.
The story takes place in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, starting in 1944 when World War II is coming to an end and the full tragedy of the holocaust is being discovered. It follows the lives of the two boys as they finish their studies at Yeshiva and go onto Jewish college together. Reuven learns about the very different upbringing of his friend when he moves in with Daniel's family for a few weeks while Reuven's father is away. He learns that Daniel's father does not speak to his son except during prayer services, and only then to test him on his knowledge of the Talmud. Reuven learns that Daniel is expected to follow in the family tradition and inherit his father's position as head Rabbi of his sect. But he also learns that Daniel has different desires and is torn by his loyalty to his father. "Reb Saunders's son is a terribly torn and lonely boy", Reuven's father explains. "There is literally no one in the world he can talk to. He needs a friend. The accident with the baseball has bound him to you, and he has already sensed in you someone he can talk to without fear."
The story is told through the eyes of Reuven. Through his eyes we experience the difficulties of trying to comprehend another culture so different from one's own, and we see the growth of Reuven's understanding of Reb Saunders and his approach to parenting. Reuven also learns that possibly there is a greater purpose to seemingly random events. As his father explains, "Reuven, as you grow older you will discover that the most important things that will happen to you will often come as a result of silly things, as you call them-`ordinary things' is a better expression. That is the way the world is." This book is a compelling novel that tells a story of growth and understanding and the meaning of true friendship. I recommend it.

The book The Chosen is a classic story about friendship and discovering what kind of a person you are inside. The setting is New York City, in two Jewish neighborhoods during World War II. The two main characters, Reuven and Danny, meet each other after Danny smacks a hit off Reuven's eye in a baseball game. Reuven is angry at first, but after encouragement from his father, he and Danny become friends. Reuven is then invited to Danny's house to study the Talmud with Reb Saunders, Danny's father and the tzaddik or leader of the Hassidic Jews in the area. Although Mr. Saunders doesn't agree with Reuven and his father's views, he permits the friendship. While Reuven is a bright boy, Danny is brilliant and "one in a million". He is, however, plagued by the fact that his father never speaks to him as part of his preparation to inherit the position of tzaddik. Danny would rather pursue a career in psychology, but he is terrified of telling this to his father.
Years pass and both boys are attending a Jewish college together. Everything is going smoothly until Reuven's father leads a rally in the city promoting Palestine as a Jewish state. Reb Saunders is enraged that his son is friends with someone whose father believes in such things. He tells his son never to speak with Reuven again and threatens to pull him out of college if he disobeys. After two years, the silence ban is lifted and Mr. Saunders shocks Danny by announcing that he knows about Danny's wishes to go to psychology school and he agrees to pay his way. Both Danny and Reuven are thrilled and everything ends happily.
All four of the main characters in this story were extremely plausible and well rounded. They had strong opinions about their faith and were overwhelmed at times by the complexity of life. Both fathers had good intentions, but struggled at times with the magnitude of raising a son and juggling their jobs. I enjoyed the style of the book because it was in first person as Reuven told it. I was able to see inside Reuven's mind and understand the struggles in his relationship with Danny and his father. I don't think that I would have enjoyed the book as much if it had been in third person. This story has a very strong theme, which can be linked to almost any friendship that anyone, anywhere, will ever have in life. The main theme is that strong friendships, no matter how complex or troubling, are very important in life. Both Danny and Reuven learned so much from each other and they became much better people because of that. A smaller theme is that you should never judge a person when you haven't met them and spent real, quality time with them. Reuven was so angry with Danny for hitting him that their great friendship almost never took place.
I felt that Chaim Potok did an excellent job with this story. He molds the life of young Jewish boys at that time with a compelling and compassionate tale of a friendship that will last a lifetime. He explored the characters' minds and their feelings toward life in general. However, I felt that the story was a little predictable and that once you were led down a path, the story continued that way. There were few shocking twists in the story. Also, I felt that there was little suspense or action in the first few chapters. The story starts fairly slowly compared to later chapters. It would have been nice also, if the boys' school life had been explored in greater detail as there was never even a classmate's name mentioned anywhere in the story. Lastly, I wish that more had been foreshadowed in the end about Danny's brother's future. Levi seems to be the one to inherit the tzaddik title even though he seems gravely ill at times with an unnamed illness.
Overall, this is a great story that I would recommend to anyone. It really makes you think about life and the importance of those close to you.

After recently viewing a public television special on Hasidic Jews, I found reading The Chosen to be a very special experience. The author depicts in a very sensitive manner the relationship between two teenagers who come from very different Jewish backgrounds. Also, Potok portrays beautifully the loving relationships between fathers and sons. He focuses on the pain parents and children must endure when children do not choose to follow the expectations of their parents. This is a wonderful coming of age book that I recommend for teenagers and adults alike.

The Chosen by Chaim Potok was never excited or intense in its events that took place in the story of Reuven's and Danny's lives together. However, so many things can be learned from the story that make up for the lack of action. Potok embedded messages in this story through the way Reuven changed and looked at things differently as he matured and grew older. Potok displayed a situation in which Danny was torn between pleasing his fatherand doing what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. The Jewish culture is a mystery t the majority of readers, and Reuven's and Danny's lives would seem strange to most, but the general situations of decision making and continuous maturation lead to many similarities between everyone and these two boys. The Chosen was thrilling not for action, but for all the knowledge one gains from it in Jewish culture and history, and what everyone around the world shares.

I think that overall The Chosen was an informative book to read. It not only teaches about different religious faiths and views in our world, but it also goes through the lessons of growing up. Both main and minor charactersin the story contribute to the lessons taught in the novel. It teaches forgiveness, freedom, and most importantly, acceptance. The novel goes through the lives of two young Jewish boys, and shows that through the story their lives are changed by one another. In addition to important live lessons shown, it teaches the level of destructiveness that can be caused by lies and secrecy. Through the course of the novel, you witness both characters maturing and becoming different, and it causes you yourself to think of your own life, because it's easy to relate to the varied conflicts. The Chosen is worth reading because you learn and you relate.

The Chosen is a very interesting, if a little slow, novel. The main characters are both Jewish, but the novel appeals to a wide audience beyond Judaism, because of its universal themes of family, friendship, secrecy, and understanding others. The story is about two friends, Danny and Reuven, who come from very different branches of Judaism. Due to their families different viewpoints, their friendship is pulled a part, but they are gradually reunited. Throughout this plot, the reader can learn many different lessons, such as loyalty to a friend, especially when that friend is in through, and understanding others' points of view. The Chosen's lack of female characters was a weak point, but overall it is a pretty good book.

The Chosen is a novel that revolves around two adolescent boys, Danny Saunders and Reuven Malter, who are a part of Jewish society though they differ in their specific faiths. This book is filled with lessons to be learned and information about the Jewish faith and the Zionist movement that anyone can benefit from. The themes of friendship, secrecy, acceptance, tradition, and angst all play pivitol roles in the maturation of the two characters. Specifically, Danny learns that he has a right to live his own life despite growing up in an extremely tradition-based household. Reuven learns to accept different methods of teaching and thinking, despite the fact that he doesn't agree with them. The absence of female characters is inconsequential in the plot because they do not have a dominant role in the Jewish society. There are many minor characters met a long the way as well who all convey a certain message that Reuven and Danny can benefit from. Overall, The Chosen is a novel that will teach one to open his/her eyes to the differences in the world and they can help positively shape our lives.
We are all very prejudiced. We judge each person by what they look like, what they sound like, and where they come from. This book destructs all of our prejudiced ideas when two boys of the most prestigious groups of Jews become friends. Their friendship is continuously strong through all of the bonds that are broken by the rules of their religion. It teaches life lessons concerning family life, and facing your deepest fears. It had a strong plot and reading what helpful in learning more about the Jewish religion that caused Reuven and Danny so much trouble. Every family has problems, and without pushing away the strong iron gates of secrecy is unable to reach mutual understanding or resolution, which slowly breaks apart the family they thought they new.
The Chosen by Chaim Potok is a book about friendship, conflicts, and the clashing of two worlds that are similar but different. It contains lots of information concerning Judaism to help the non-Jewish reader understand what is happening. It is a book where secrecy abounds and the characters are often hurt as a result of this secrecy. Overall, The Chosen contains many good lessons about friendship and accepting others. This book, while not my favorite read, was gripping at times and is a good read for older readers.
Chaim Potok's novel, The Chosen, was a narration appeals to both the young and the old, by the means of eloquent lessons Potok preaches. It is the story of two teen age boys, Reuven and Danny, who find that even though they live in radically different worlds, they have more in common than they know. The book accompanies the adversity faced in adolescence, with the rich Jewish heritage shared by both boys. The novel seems more real than other fabricated fiction because it speaks to all of us. It focuses on humanistic qualities that we are often blind to in own lives. Life, we realize at the completion of the novel, is something that is fleeting. We are faced with choices and those choices drastically affect our lives. But, what if we were "chosen" and we didn't have a choice? How would you choose to live? The lessons you learn after reading are life-altering, but the quality of the book is determined by how you receive those lessons.
The Chosen is a great book for everyone. Chaim Potok created a miraculous story about friendship, secrecy, and differences. Although both protagonists, Danny and Reuven, are Jewish it does not affect the overall comprehension of the story. This bildungsroman has a powerful and inspirational plot that relates to everyone. It displays the true meaning of friendship and what being a friend means. Even the minor characters instill hope in the reader, and teach moral life lessons, like not taking things for granted. This book reveals inner turmoil that is present in everyone. The Chosen also helps give insight on the Jewish religion. Throughout the maturation of Danny and Reuven, the reading audience matures too, learning life lessons valuable to everyone.

Every so often you go through a period of reading lacklustre books that make the lazy demon in you think of stopping, then you pick up a book like this and your thirst for the written word returns with a vengence!
I was recommended 'The Chosen' some years ago, and turned to it after just such a lull and it truly delights; its a great story well told that gives the reader an insight into the conflicts that lay within Judaism;Danny the orthadox Hassid and Rueven become friends after Danny injures Rueven in a baseball game.The story flows with wonderful imagry from the hospital with Mr Savo and Billy;the streets the two boys live in;the Hassidic home of Reb Saunders,the historical background of WW2 and the birth of Israel;how the mass murder of 6 million Jews brought on a re think of passive waiting for a messiah in a harsh and modern world.
This is great writing;up there with Bellow, Bashevis Singer, Malamud and Appelfeld.

I accidentally came across this book. My brother was forced to read this book for school and I decided to read it myself despite the fact that at first I didn�t expect much.
Still I started reading and soon was captivated. The warmth and love that dominates this book took me over. potok describes different opinions and different personalities with a lot of affection and acceptance of their differences.
The book tells the story of two Jewish boys that come from different ways of life and their growing friendship despite the differences and all that happens around them in the world.
Upon the first glance it may seem that this book talks about what it is to be a Jew. It does deal with this issue but in seeing only this side of the story, I think, you lose the real beauty and depth of the story. It deals with so many universal issues, issues that are greater than religion .one of the issues is what it is to be a human being in an ever changing world, a world which you cant always understand. Other issues are what it is to be a friend, a son, a father, deals with the growing pains and the realization of truth and that there isn�t one global truth.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to fall in love with amazing characters, who wants a book that provokes feeling and thought.
This is one of the rare books that make you thankful for being alive and thankful for being able to read.

I recommend "The Chosen" to all, Jewish or non-Jewish. I myself am not Jewish, but the material discussed, though rooted in Jewish religion, pertains to all. This story is about a boy who learns about life through his father, his religion, and through his best friend, whom he first thought of as an enemy. I couldn't put this book down once I started it. After reading it, you feel as though you have experienced it. Chaim Potok is a very talented author whose words read like a movie. I recommend this book for anyone who's seeking a good story!

I only read this book in 4 days while I was on a road trip and those 4 days could not have been better spent than reading The Chosen. It was superb (the best way to put it).
The book is about a Jewish teenager in the 1940's. He's not a traditional Jew, he's more of a modern world. One day, this kid DOES meet up with a traditional Jew and they eventually become best of friends. Their friendship becomes dampered because the traditional Jewish way of thinking is to never mingle with people who are corrupted, which, of course, is everyone but themselves. It gets even worse because his father is a Rabbi.
I truly enjoyed this book for its beautiful content and a great story. I give it full marks!

this book is what fiction should be like. although it's intelligent, historical, meaningful, thematic, complex, what's at the core tying all these things together is sympathy, such that these characters can sneeze or look at the yard and you're totally enthralled. How much better then when they're unusually interesting people involved in fascinating things. life is made and shown to be deeply fascinating. you ride along in their lives as if they are alternate lives of your own, and afterward feel that you yourself truly have lived through something. This book is what happens when someone has a true genius for his art - there's no need for him to show off, you're simply swept along.

I was in my mother's room one day, kind of bored, when she handed me the chosen. She told me it was a very beautiful story and made her cry and that I should read it. I was 16. I rolled my eyes. I am not a person who cries and I certainly didn't feel like reading some book that my mother thought was beautiful. But I was bored and had nothing to do and so I started reading it. The intersting thing about the book it that it starts very simply. To make a long story short I really liked the book and it had a pretty strong impact on me. Its the story of a boy living in New York. The captivating thing is that this boy is very different to us, he has a religion and culture that is strange to me as I have never been exposed to it in my life (Orthodox Judaism). He is very different from most people arround him, and in the book he shares with us his deepest feelings about this. The book had a very strong impact on me as it allowed me a glimpse of a different world, viewed from the eyes of a boy so different from me, but in many ways so simmilar. His loneliness, his difference echoed my own.
I strongly reccomend reading this book as it gave me a perspective I didn't have before, it was a beautiful and captivating story and gave me a window into a new world.

A friendship is difficult to maintain, and good ones are always the hardest to find. For Reuven Malter half of the dilemma is already solved, he has been appointed a friend by that person�s father. But before he gets that far, he has to meet him first.
Danny Saunders, a Hasidic Jewish boy, living merely four blocks away from Reuven, is introduced as an extremely �conservative� and radical follower of a Jewish sect. His father, Reb is the leader of a church and Danny himself is destined to become a rabbi for it is in his blood, �the family dynasty� as he puts it. Your assumption of Danny�s strict Hasidic rules and guidelines quickly diminish as Reuven and Danny�s friendship grows.
The first words ever passed between the two are durin an asphalt baseball game were a little less than friendly. If you want to get on someone�s good side, chances are calling their denomination of religion an abomination to the basic fundamentals of the religion they practice probably isn�t the best choice of words.
Well, anyway, to make an extremely great story a little shorter, Reuven pitches the ball to Danny, Danny hits it sending the ball flying towards Reuven�s head, nailing him in the eye and landing him in the hospital for a week. Many things happen to Reuven during his stay at the hospital, he meets two new people that become distinct, but not well developed characters. Danny visits Reuven in the hospital twice, this marks the beginning of a friendship throughout the entire book. Two characters who you would never dream would get along let alone develop a lifelong friendship filled with many conflicts and obstacles along the way.
Reuven, the main character of the book is a moderately libral Jew, considering his friend Danny. His father offers him advice on the many problems his friendship with Danny brings up.
Danny is a troubled character, on the outside it seems completely opposite. He is tortured day after day by his father�s methods of raising him. He wants to become a psychologist, he reads many books about the subject, and even learns German to read one in it�s original language. All of this he hides from his father.
David Malter is Reuven�s father, he is a source of guidance for Reuven, Reuven is forbidden to see Danny when Reb Saunders discovers the fact of his pro Zionist ideals.
Reb Saunders is the very stern father of Danny. He pressures him to study the Talmud and become a rabbi like himself. He doesn�t speak to his son unless they are studying the Talmud.
Chaim Potok creates a novel moving on many levels. His style is somewhat simple in summarizing entire chapters in the last couple of sentences, almost like the very end of a great Wonder Years episode. All of the characters are extremely round and well developed. An extremely good book worth everyone�s time.

The Chosen is ok for a general book. But as a classic it is not that good. It was a deptessing tale about two people that could not be friends because of religous differences. What religion in this age? nothing any more decremination will be almost completely terminated in 100 years so Chaim took people's time to read about a unrealistic plot and it has become a classic! I could write about me and my friend's father that had some differences so then we can't be friends.
For a plot this stupid it was an excellent book but the plot was to radical.

I am a 17 year old Junior. This book was assigned as a summer reading project. It was excellent in every regard. I do not think this book would overwhelm or bore younger students, it is a simple, easy, and very enjoyable read. Not only was this book simple, it is inspirational. I feel this book has changed me, changed the way I look at life, change the way I approach life. I am not saying this will happen for everybody, I'm a teenager still looking for meaning in my life. But if it affects me this strongly, I am sure it can have at least the slightest beneficial influence on you.

Simply put The Chosen speaks to all of us.
The story is of family loyalty, cultural conflict, love, and most importantly the strenght of a true friendship. What more can I say that hasn't been said? Just this...if you haven't read this novel please do because it is excellent and will draw you into a world and culture you may not know about(or want to know more about). What do you have to loose? If you have read story please reread it and try to find new and interesting ways to view the whole strory. Above all enjoy!!!

Like few authors have, Chaim Potok vividly illustrates the precious bond of friendship and its profound impact on choosing one's destiny as well as one's path to becoming a man. From worldly issues of war to personal issues of faith, Potok delves deep to provide a moving story.
Potok subtly but brilliantly depicts the inability of humans to get along with each other. In the midst of WWII when the Jews are experiencing extreme persecution, still they bicker with members of their own faith over rather trivial issues. While the central conflict is between the two Jewish sects, many other more underlying conflicts exist. Potok illustrates the existence of conflicts inside conflicts thoroughly enough to show that that this situation does not just apply to the Jewish faith. From a Hasidic Jew to Liberal Jew, Hindu to Punjab, Shinto to Taoist, Chinese Buddhist to Shin Buddhist, humans have an incapability of keeping peace and good nature not only with each other but within their own faith as well.
On a less global matter, Potok also portrays the difficulties of the transition from adolescent to adult from the perspectives of two Jewish boys. A young Hasidic Jew named Danny struggles with choosing his path in life. He wants to please his rabbi father by becoming a rabbi himself, but at the same time yearns to have the close bonded relationship his best friend Reuven has with his father so he can tell him that his true passions in life lie away from a strict Jewish life. Reuven struggles with his father's illness as well. Their paths to manhood are twisted and rocky, but each boy makes the trip with the other's friendship.
The theme of friendship is explored comprehensively as well. Despite Potok's tone of multiple conflicts, the two boys of very different Jewish background come together to form a bond carried through the toughest of times. During a long-term separation they both find a piece of themselves missing and are not really happy until reunited.
The novel is an inspirational story of a struggle between paving your own path in life and walking one paved, while all at the same time making sure the path leads you to happiness. Potok always makes sure you feel for the character in every situation and in turn teaches lessons to be applied to all of our lives.

It made me laugh and it made me cry. I wished the story wasn't over after I was done, and then I read it again. When I found out there was a sequel I did a little dance. I love this book and everyone should read it. It's a book about friendship and war, men and their children, and life. You fall in love with the characters and you fall in love with the story. I have never come across a book that has had such a strong force over me like this one, and it should be read by everyone who has a father, a religion, or a friend.

Not only does The Chosen present an entertaining story of the relationship and maturity of two young men, it also presents a deeper theme of the mental maturity of all people and the essence of human nature. Potok introduces the two main characters, Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders, as rivals, or enemies, however, through the fateful accident during the baseball game the two are brought together and become the closest of friends. The two are practically inseparable and each plays a major role in molding the mind of the other, effectively helping each other come to decisions concerning each one's own future. Together, the two experience adolescence and eventually adulthood while sustaining a friendship that endures their religious differences and forced separation by Danny's father.
From the beginning, The Chosen is packed with symbolism such as the baseball game, Reuven's friends in the hospital and Potok's references to sight, which run throughout the novel. In the story, the baseball game is simply a contest between schools and the bringing together of Reuven and Danny. Symbolically, the game represents two groups of Jews playing the "greatest American past time," baseball, showing that they, as Jews, can be as American as everyone else. Additionally, the game sets the attitude of each Jewish sect with respect to the other, which is, of course, unfriendly. The irony of this situation lies in the current world events during the time of the setting of the novel. WWII and rumors of the holocaust are evident in the background of the novel. Even with the extreme persecution of the Jewish people, these two groups of Jews in America let their petty differences and religious disagreements lead to feelings of hatred among themselves.
An enlightening novel, The Chosen presents the journey through life of two friends and relates to all people, for all people must first discover their place in the world and then have the courage to pursue their dreams. Only then is life lived to the fullest and happiness finally achieved.

The chosen by Chaim Potok is a novel that traces the development of a young protagonist. What makes the chosen so different from other books is its focus on the development of two main characters instead of one. While the story is told through the point of view Reuven Malter, Danny Saunders is an integral part of the plot. They are both Jewish teens growing up in New York City during the time of World War Two. However, Reuven is the son of a more modern, open-minded man, while Danny Saunders is the son of a strict Hasidic rabbi.
The story begins at a baseball game with Reuven's team playing against Danny's team. When Danny steps to bat he hits the ball straight into Reuven's face, shattering his glasses and sending him to the hospital. Danny visits Reuven in the hospital and at first Reuven doesn't want to talk to Danny, but eventually the two of them overcome their differences and become friends. Their friendship faces many obstacles, including prejudice from both sects of Jews, but Danny and Reuven stay close, even through a period where they are literally not allowed to speak to each other. This friendship is an essential part of the story and is used to show how people from different backgrounds can accept each other's differences and use them to grow as individuals.
Religion is another major part of the story and is consistently used as a means of showing the similarities and differences between Danny and Reuven. Danny's father wants his son to take over as tzaddik, or leader of the Hasidic community when he gets old enough. While Reuven's father is less strict about what he wants his son to do and will except and decision he makes. The friendship between them helps each boy do what they want to do and not allow religion or their father's to decide their fate.
The theme of sight is an important one in this book. When Reuven is hit in the eye, he first begins to look beyond the strange appearance of the Hasidic Jews and let go of his prejudice. Potok stresses the importance of looking beyond appearances and accepting people as they are.

I really enjoyed this book when I was assigned to read it in school. There was so much layered into this character's life as he delved into his Jewish faith and compared it to that of another boy who seemed to be part close friend and part rival. I loved seeing how they each grew through their beliefs and also suffered because of them.

I really liked the historical aspect of the book. Though a work of fiction, it helped me to understand many ideas among the Jewish followers. A little too slow at times for my tastes (particularly the Talmud discussions). A certain amount was necessary to comprehend the background and situation but it went a bit overboard for me.

Overall I thought this was worth the time invested in reading it and I feel like a gained new insight into the Jewish faith and relationships in general.

A novel so fresh, honest and symbolic as to reach below our cultural appearance to pierce the depths of the human spirit must be labeled as striking. When indulging in the journey of two teenage boys as they tread through the complicated web of the Jewish religion, one cannot help but be swept away by a tide of impressive literature. Filled with an abundance of figurative language, from a fateful baseball game, set in the heart of a great American pastime, to the last religious debate, The Chosen puts to light the finest inner struggle; the bond and duty of a son to his father, and perhaps more importantly, to himself. Danny Saunders becomes, through the course of the novel, a most prominent example of a mind begging to be set free. And as his once archrival (Reuven Malter) descends from the realm of a more liberal Jewish sect, Danny opens his eyes to the world outside of his religion. Danny discovers the courage to explore the many facets of knowledge separate from Talmud.
Chaim Potok slips in so many hidden emblems behind Billy's unseeing eyes and pressed between the pages of Danny's psychology textbooks, that even the most efficient hunter cannot help but miss a few of his carefully aimed shots. By indulging in this novel, the inner recesses of the human race merge into a single, striving being, yearning for our own place in the trite society of the 21st century. With the comprehension of this simple yet complicated tale, comes the ability to see beyond the physical world into the depths underneath. The book eloquently presents the true struggle of the human spirit through such characters as Reb Saunders, the father who lives through his remarkable son, and Danny Saunders, as he searches for his own path, separate from his father's. The Chosen enriches each individual's own quest for destiny. Just as the day the first ink spread the title on a cover, today's world could learn a great deal from the trials and triumphs of Danny Saunders, Reuven Malter, and each of their lives.

The Chosen by Chaim Potok is about two boys, Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders, who meet at a baseball game, when Danny accidentally hits Reuven in the eye with a baseball, and Danny and Reuven become instant friends.While they are friendly, they have some problems. I thought that the book was a good portrayal of how good friends should always stick together, but I found that the author, Chaim Potok is confusing at times. He used Hasidic and Hebrew words that the reader if not Jewish might have difficultly understanding.The book was good for someone Jewish; otherwise, it was a flop.

The book begins with two boys divided by their religion. Throughout the book is a wonderful portrayal of how friendship can overcome boubdaries. The Jewish language causes a bit of a stunbling block. However,the reader can simply bypass that block by looking at the context describe in the surrounding sentences. This book is an eye opener about common Jewish people and how they handle different struggles. I recommend it to everyone who is interested in a heartwarming book that crosses all religious boundaries.

"The Chosen", by Chaim Potok, is a narrative about two Jewish boys, Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders, who are from different Jewish sects. The novel is all about their friendship and about them growing up together and the troubles they face due to their different religious interpretation. The boys are raised in different styles Reuven is raised in a regular manner, while Danny's father raises him in silence. Silence is a recurring, mysterious theme of the novel and the way they are raised greatly affects what they become in life. Silence is Danny's father Reb's way of raising Danny so that he will become a good rabbi by learning the ability to figure things out independently. Unfortunately, silence also separates Reuven and Danny when Reuven's father stresses the need to form a Jewish state. He supports "Zionism" while Danny's father does not and this causes Reb to forcibly separate the two boys.

In the novel Potok uses silence as a literary device that gives the text depth and mystery. The style of Potok's writing is sometimes very mysterious and, for me at least, confusing. The steady moving story shows the ways friendship can mature and change through different uncontrollable factors. It also gives insight into the different beliefs about raising children. I would recommend this book for someone who is prepared to think on a deeper level about the things of life, about differences, and about what can unite us.

I don't understand how people can say that this book was slow and boring. Perhaps they did not understand it. I read the book at the beginning of this year for English and loved it. Our teacher helped us to understand the conflicts and underlying themes. This book is a challenge if you want to unerstand all of it. Chaim Potok uses a lot of symbolism. Many times what is happening really symbolizes something totally different. This was a good school book, but it would not be as good without class discussions.

Although often assigned to young adults, this book is really meant to be re-read throughout life, as it can be understood and enjoyed on many levels as the reader matures. The old "ParDeS" method of analysis (an acronym for Hebrew words meaning: literal, moral, allegorical, and mystical) can be applied to this story, and it is excellent on each of these levels. Literally it is a moving story about growing up, friendship, families, making choices, and finding one's place in the world rather than letting it be assigned by others. Morally, it shows different life choices in a remarkably non-judgemental way--the two diametrically opposed families each find a way that fits their character to make meaningful choices and contributions to the world without compromising their principles, and both are partially successful, but both pay a price. The sons must choose for themselves which elements to retain and which to reject from their traditions. Allegorically, it shows the tension between the interior life, symbolized by the Hasidic family, and the exterior life, symbolized by the politically activist Orthodox family. Neither way has all the answers, and both suffer (the Hasids mentally, both father and son; the Orthodox, physically, again both father and son). Each son has to learn to adopt elements from the other approach to grow up a complete person. It is on the mystical level, however, that this book touches me the most. The terrible silence of the Hasidic father, which seems so senseless and destructive to his talented but tormented son, is revealed to have a transcending reason. This is like the experience so many of us have with a God Who remains silent despite even the most desperate attempts to make contact with Him. We can't see why a supposedly loving God would be so cold and remote when we cry out to Him the most. This book provides a model which might apply to this, perhaps man's oldest and most painful question.

The Chosen was a great book, written by a great author. I finished this book in a matter of two weeks and I am still thinking about it. The book was so good, at night before I went to bed at night I thought I would read a chapter. That didn't always work out, I would just keep going through chapters, until I realized that it was close to eleven o'clock or sometimes even midnight. The book was so good I couldn't put it down.
I found I liked Chaim Potok's way of descriptive writing, explaining every aspect of the novel and every scene in geat detail, not seeming to miss anything, or leave anything untouched. At the beginning of the book, you see a great example of this within the first few pages. After that its just captivating. Some parts were really heart-wrenching and others were intense, such as in the baseball game in the beginning of the novel. Chaim Potok makes you feel what the characters are feeling and makes you want to get back at the person whose hurting them, in some way, but you can't because its just a book. A great example of this is Danny's "evil" father, or so I thought until the end, when he explained his ways, and everything came into perspective, like pieces of a puzzle falling into place evenly and smoothly.
I really like Mr. Potok's way of writing and will probably be reading another one of his novel's very soon. You can tell in his writing that he likes the subjects that he is talking about, and that he does a lot of research on them, or that he is just very well informed about the topics that he speaks of. That is what makes his writing even more unique.

This book gives a lot of detail and insight into the lives of two jewish father son relationships. if you can get past understanding the yiddish and hebrew terms you will find a very good insightfull book. the two boys leid very different lives and met by a chance incounter. they become instant and very close freands. as they grow older and hae different things expected from them they help each other trew lifes tryals and tribulations. recomend this book to anyone whos looking for a great book about life.

As a teacher, I use this book to teach 8th graders about history. Of course, it's lessons go so very deep. Fathers, sons, traditions, expectations, choices, responsibility to name so very few. Told against the backdrop of the the end of second World War and the founding of Israel, the story is timeless. Although it certainly doesn't hurt to be well versed in Jewish history, this book is about applicable to all young people (and the not so young). A beautiful tale of coming of age and learning.

"The Chosen", by Chaim Potok, is a narrative about two Jewish boys, Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders, who are from different Jewish sects. The novel is all about their friendship and about them growing up together and the troubles they face due to their different religious interpretation. The boys are raised in different styles Reuven is raised in a regular manner, while Danny's father raises him in silence. Silence is a recurring, mysterious theme of the novel and the way they are raised greatly affects what they become in life. Silence is Danny's father Reb's way of raising Danny so that he will become a good rabbi by learning the ability to figure things out independently. Unfortunately, silence also separates Reuven and Danny when Reuven's father stresses the need to form a Jewish state. He supports "Zionism" while Danny's father does not and this causes Reb to forcibly separate the two boys.

In the novel Potok uses silence as a literary device that gives the text depth and mystery. The style of Potok's writing is sometimes very mysterious and, for me at least, confusing. The steady moving story shows the ways friendship can mature and change through different uncontrollable factors. It also gives insight into the different beliefs about raising children. I would recommend this book for someone who is prepared to think on a deeper level about the things of life, about differences, and about what can unite us.

I don't understand how people can say that this book was slow and boring. Perhaps they did not understand it. I read the book at the beginning of this year for English and loved it. Our teacher helped us to understand the conflicts and underlying themes. This book is a challenge if you want to unerstand all of it. Chaim Potok uses a lot of symbolism. Many times what is happening really symbolizes something totally different. This was a good school book, but it would not be as good without class discussions.

Although often assigned to young adults, this book is really meant to be re-read throughout life, as it can be understood and enjoyed on many levels as the reader matures. The old "ParDeS" method of analysis (an acronym for Hebrew words meaning: literal, moral, allegorical, and mystical) can be applied to this story, and it is excellent on each of these levels. Literally it is a moving story about growing up, friendship, families, making choices, and finding one's place in the world rather than letting it be assigned by others. Morally, it shows different life choices in a remarkably non-judgemental way--the two diametrically opposed families each find a way that fits their character to make meaningful choices and contributions to the world without compromising their principles, and both are partially successful, but both pay a price. The sons must choose for themselves which elements to retain and which to reject from their traditions. Allegorically, it shows the tension between the interior life, symbolized by the Hasidic family, and the exterior life, symbolized by the politically activist Orthodox family. Neither way has all the answers, and both suffer (the Hasids mentally, both father and son; the Orthodox, physically, again both father and son). Each son has to learn to adopt elements from the other approach to grow up a complete person. It is on the mystical level, however, that this book touches me the most. The terrible silence of the Hasidic father, which seems so senseless and destructive to his talented but tormented son, is revealed to have a transcending reason. This is like the experience so many of us have with a God Who remains silent despite even the most desperate attempts to make contact with Him. We can't see why a supposedly loving God would be so cold and remote when we cry out to Him the most. This book provides a model which might apply to this, perhaps man's oldest and most painful question.

The Chosen was a great book, written by a great author. I finished this book in a matter of two weeks and I am still thinking about it. The book was so good, at night before I went to bed at night I thought I would read a chapter. That didn't always work out, I would just keep going through chapters, until I realized that it was close to eleven o'clock or sometimes even midnight. The book was so good I couldn't put it down.
I found I liked Chaim Potok's way of descriptive writing, explaining every aspect of the novel and every scene in geat detail, not seeming to miss anything, or leave anything untouched. At the beginning of the book, you see a great example of this within the first few pages. After that its just captivating. Some parts were really heart-wrenching and others were intense, such as in the baseball game in the beginning of the novel. Chaim Potok makes you feel what the characters are feeling and makes you want to get back at the person whose hurting them, in some way, but you can't because its just a book. A great example of this is Danny's "evil" father, or so I thought until the end, when he explained his ways, and everything came into perspective, like pieces of a puzzle falling into place evenly and smoothly.
I really like Mr. Potok's way of writing and will probably be reading another one of his novel's very soon. You can tell in his writing that he likes the subjects that he is talking about, and that he does a lot of research on them, or that he is just very well informed about the topics that he speaks of. That is what makes his writing even more unique.

This book gives a lot of detail and insight into the lives of two jewish father son relationships. if you can get past understanding the yiddish and hebrew terms you will find a very good insightfull book. the two boys leid very different lives and met by a chance incounter. they become instant and very close freands. as they grow older and hae different things expected from them they help each other trew lifes tryals and tribulations. recomend this book to anyone whos looking for a great book about life.

As a teacher, I use this book to teach 8th graders about history. Of course, it's lessons go so very deep. Fathers, sons, traditions, expectations, choices, responsibility to name so very few. Told against the backdrop of the the end of second World War and the founding of Israel, the story is timeless. Although it certainly doesn't hurt to be well versed in Jewish history, this book is about applicable to all young people (and the not so young). A beautiful tale of coming of age and learning.

Chaim Potok's emotional heart-warming story The Chosen captivates its readers from page one. The intense ball game grabs the reader and involves him in the lives of Reuven and Danny from the start. Potok knows how to hold the reader's attention and concern him with the day-to-day happenings in both boys' lives. The historical events show accurate reactions toward events such as D-day rejoicing and pure sock after President Roosevelt's death. Every character has a role; there weren't any extra personalities to detract from the main action of the book. Potok introduces the different beliefs among the Jewish sects and helps the reader to better understand the religion and its affect on father son relationships. Reuven and Danny's friendship strengthens as they come to realize that their father's way of doing things isn't always the only right way.
Danny and Reuven's friendship get them through some of their toughest ordeals. It is even able to survive the ban set by Reb. Saunders. True friendship stands the tests of time. I know that when I need advice or support, my true friends are there to help me though whatever problems I'm having, even if they don't live in the same state. This novel has helped me realize how important real friendships can be.
This book is highly recommended for those looking for a compelling insightful novel. It is great for anyone struggling with a friendship because it helps the reader to realize how important friendships are. The friendship between Danny and Reuven gets stronger through each hardship they go though.

The Chosen encompasses some of the most important ideas that human beings face during the course of their lifetimes. Potok investigates the theme of self-discovery in the growth of both Reuven and Danny as individuals. These characters start out with blinders on in regards to the real world, but due to a high intellect are able to see past what their social surroundings have hidden from them. Reuven has an easier time with this than Danny mostly because of his father's guidance while Danny on the other hand must rely on books at the library.
The concept of questioning one's own religion or lack of is apparent when Reuven compares his particular sect of Jews to the orthodox followers of Reb Saunders. Reuven wonders if the Hasidic ways are really right which leads him to examine his own beliefs. Danny even takes this so far as to break away from the traditional Jewish hierarchy which would have forced him to fill in the position of tzaddick and starts on his way to becoming a psychologist instead. This situation illustrates the struggle to find an answer in religion, the same struggle that is common to all people.
The competition between two similar groups of individuals as seen in the early baseball scene can be compared to almost any fight between two types of people. Potok uses the friction between the orthodox Jews and the "apikorism" to remind the reader of how out of hand things can get when people take small ideas such as physical or religious differences too seriously. We can use the situation to help us recognize the inconsequential issues that we face in our daily lives.

The Chosen seems very unrealistic and unbelievable. Some times , Chaim Potok uses Jewish words that only people who are Jewish or study Judaism could understand. Potok uses a word and then a few pages later gives a brief definition of that word . The book brings up the topic of Danny and Reuven's friendship and how odd it is that the two could be so close . Potok discusses this far too much in this novel and it seems very unrealistic . When teenagers get caught doing things that they are not allowed to do by their parents, they usually get reprimanded and have some type of punishment. In this novel the parents do not ask as most parents would. However, this book gives great details on how Hasidic Jews act, what they wear , and how they follow the Talmudic Laws . This book gives the reader a great insight on how all of these aspects affect how they run their lives . This novel helped me understand more about Jews and their beliefs on how they lives there life based on the Torab .

The blink of an eye is in itself nothing. But the eye that blinks that is something. A span of life is nothing. But the man who lives that span, he is something. He can fill that tiny span with meaning, so its quality is immeasurable though its quantity may be insignificant. Chaim Potok THE CHOOSEN
That passage there, makes any amount of time spent reading a book so worth while. YOu can't get that from a movie, you cant get that feeling out of a drink, you cant get that high out of a joint. YOu have to read, and you have to read the great classics, if you want knowledge. If you want to know what live is all about, read that quote until you get it. I also highly recommend reading the Bible, both the Old and the NEW testaments.

The readers sit, captivated by the novel, The Chosen. This summer I was one of those readers. I think that the reasons for this captivation are the two boys' friendship, the changing of their understanding of religion, and the phases of growing into men. All of the reasons above come together in friendship because their friendship changes, as they understand religion and manhood. These changes in friendship are especially hard for Rueven because he has to understand Danny and Danny's father. These misunderstandings between Rueven and Danny's father make the conflict very exciting. One of the major arguments that make the boys' friendship very tense is about Zionism. This argument is between Rueven and Danny's father. The book is also very powerful because as you go through it you begin to understand the politics that are going on at that time. Rueven starts talking about Zionism and how so many people want it. Reb Saunders, Danny's father, becomes very angry, and comes back with a speech that ends with, "True Jews do not say such things!" (199). This makes Rueven think about what a true Jew is; although Rueven is very religious. It also makes Rueven think about their contrast in thoughts before speaking to Reb Saunders again. Their friendship changes as well because Danny doesn't want his father to get so angry, but he secretly agrees with Rueven on Zionism. This is an example of a religions and political phase changing a friendship phase in their lives. The Chosen is a coming of age book. The main point the author, Chaim Potok, is trying to get across is the change from boyhood to adulthood and how this change affects the boys' friendship and their friends. The book changes from a childhood story to a deep moving story about two men. This is done by starting out with a childhood activity: playing baseball. As the book progresses the boys' conflicts become more sophisticated and their ideas about religion change as well. An example of a younger conflict is Rueven not wanting to become friends with Danny although Danny is truly sorry for what he did. This is resolved by Rueven's father who knows Danny. He tells Rueven to befriend Danny and finally Rueven gives in. An example of an older, more sophisticated conflict is about Danny. He should become the next rabbi, but he wishes to go to college instead. Reb Saunders does not want him to go, and Danny does not want to see his father angry with him. He decides to go to college, convinced by Rueven and his own inner feelings. This is a conflict only an older and more mature boy would have. Through these changes the boys' friendship really changes. When Rueven is in the hospital he really grows from a boy into a teenager. He does this by learning that Danny is not an enemy. As they grow into men their friendship goes through phases of talking and not talking. This is because Reb Saunders forbids Danny to talk with someone who is in favor of Zionism. I think that when they are not talking they grow and learn more. This is because they have to learn to keep their friendship alive in silence. The Chosen is an amazing book for many other reasons as well, such as the politics, Danny's regular reading periods with Rueven's father, and Rueven's father learning to deal with his health. The ones I have discussed are the ones that I think hold the book together. I think that Chaim Potok did a very good job at getting his message of how boys grow up and the different phases of their feelings that help them grow into men across. The story really draws you into the book so you are living with the boys, trying to help the along. I really enjoyed this book and I would greatly recommend it.

A touching book which relates to all readers. The Chosen is a symbollic and uplifting experience. Chaim Potok succeeds in defining two different sects involved in Judaism. It possible for the reader to experience the problems each character conquers. The Chosen, although about Judaism, can be related to by all people which go through religious questioning. Chaim Potok shows that all dreams can come true. Overall, this book was the best I have ever read and I recommend it to all readers.

Mr. Potok has done a great job; from the moment he starts the book, til the very last word, I felt as if I were actually part of the story. The way he portrays the character makes it so you feel as if you've known that character for your entire life. This book only goes to show that friendship really is forever, despite what happens in life. I truly hope that readers, young and old, will discover this book, and enjoy it as much as I did.
Some words however, were in Hebrew or some other foreign language, and were hard to understand. Context clues didn't help my frusteration. I suggest that a glossary should be added, or maybe a Hebrew-English dictionary.
Because of the uncomprehendable words, I am forced to only award this book 4 stars.

I have my book club to thank for this one. I'd never heard of it, or even the author, before. Of course, starting with the two main characters playing baseball together was sure to make me love the book from the start.

What I loved so much about the story was the reflections it gave me on friendship and being a father to my son. I just hope I can have the kind of communication with my son that Reuven's dad has with him. It is also a beautiful reminder to be circumspect in one's judgement of others.

While full of rich themes and complex characters, this book is not for those looking for action and a fast moving plot. Through the story of two Jewish boys, it deals with the value of friendship, but also with the reality of being born into a lifestyle that one must eventually choose for oneself, or reject. The author blends rich dialogue with a detailed plot making it easy to sympathy with characters and situations. Additionally it offers a unique behind the scenes look at Hasidic Jews.

This famous book is as flawed as it is fascinating. Basically an historical narrative about how a small Orthodox Jewish community in New York City coped with the strains of World War II, the horrifying revelations about the Holocaust, and the unexpected and dramatic rise of the State of Israel, the book reads like a literary newsreel. Were it not for the fascination of the historical events themselves, however, the book would be quite boring. The characters are shallow and stereotypical in both their words and actions. Much of the book is long winded narrative and preachy monologue. It is almost like a 300 page religious discourse. Some of the book's more serious flaws are listed below.

(1) The main character's father, Rabbi David Malter, provides a long explanation to his son, Reuven, for the rise of the Hassidic movement that splintered Jewish Orthodoxy into rival sects back in the 1700s. He describes the founder of Hassidism, Israel Ba'al Shem Tov, as a genuine spiritualist, whose miracle cures were accomplished via his practical knowledge of healing plants and herbs, not via superstitious incantations and mystical powers as later legends would report. But the father's attitude to subsequent generations of Hassidic leaders is considerably less charitable, depicting them as greedy powerbrokers preying on the fears and superstitions of their followers.

(2) This jaundiced view, however, is contradicted by the Hassidic rabbi, Reb Saunders, who is father of the other main character, Danny. This man is extremely erudite and seems to differ from Rabbi Malter only in dress and outward comportment, not in matters of substantive belief or knowledge.

(3) The only serious point of contention between the two rabbi-fathers concerns the Zionist movement, which Reb Saunders adamantly opposes due to its secular nature, while Rabbi Malter actually becomes one of the movement's major North American spokesmen. This leads to a two-year rupture in the friendship between the two teenagers, Reuven and Danny.

(4) Unfortunately, the author Potok allows his own enthusiasm for Zionism to intrude here and fails to give a fair hearing to Reb Saunders' opposition to Zionism. Reb Saunders had a brilliant brother back in Europe who left the faith, became a secular Jewish intellectual and professor, and eventually was murdered in the Holocaust. Reb Saunders cannot accept Rabbi Malter's belief that the establishment of the State of Israel will serve as a vindication of the Holocaust victims, many if not most of whom were secular Jews, since that State too would be a secular entity. Reb Saunders' view is very reasonable, and it continues to be shared by many Hassidic adherents to this day (cf. the Naturay Karta Movement), but Potok fails to give it due consideration and seems to ridicule it as reflective of the kind of primitivism that evidently he feels characterizes Hassidism in general.

(5) Potok's prejudice also shows when, following a series of Arab attacks on Jewish settlements in Palestine following Israel's unilateral declaration of independence in May 1948 (a declaration that actually violated the terms of the UN Partition Plan for Palestine), the Hassidim terminate their anti-Zionist campaign at the local yeshiva. I have known anti-Zionist Hassidim personally, and anti-Jewish Arab violence does not mitigate their own anti-Zionist beliefs at all. Rather it confirms to them that Zionism itself, as a destabilizing movement, alone bears responsibility for all the tragic violence in Palestine, whether Jew against Arab or Arab against Jew. Perhaps this depiction of the sudden silence of the anti-Zionist Hassidim reflects Potok's own experiences growing up, but the reader should not believe for one minute that anti-Jewish Arab atrocities alter in any way shape or form the anti-Zionist beliefs of Hassidic groups like Naturay Karta; indeed in many ways these atrocities actually strengthen their resolve to oppose the Zionist movement.

(6) Conversely, while Rabbi Malter deplores instances of anti-British and anti-Arab violence committed by Jewish terror groups like the Irgun (Menachem Begin's organization), his disillusionment is ephemeral and within a few days he returns to his pro-Zionist lobbying efforts. Rabbi Malter's reaction is almost a caricature of Jews: wringing their hands over moral dilemmas but unable, in the end, to allow those dilemmas to catalyze within them a new perspective that will help them repudiate their ill-founded and unwarranted beliefs. Rabbi Malter stands exposed, in this regard, as a morally shallow person, making cynical utilitarian calculations without even being aware of it. And there is clear evidence that the more ruthless and cynical Zionist leaders, to this day, know that whatever crocodile tears ethical Jews like Rabbi Malter might shed, as soon as they wipe them away and dry their cheeks their enthusiasm for Zionism will return unabated, and indeed strengthened.

(7) This is perhaps the most glaring example of Potok's own prejudices marring the novel, since Rabbi Malter emerges clearly as the hero of the book, which concludes with Reb Saunders retreating into a kind of self-imposed shell and appearing a much less self-confident and polished person, ill equipped to deal with the complexities of balancing traditional religious values and customs with the exigencies of the modern world.

There admittedly is a lot of interesting material about the inner workings of Orthodox Jewish life: daily prayers, dietary laws, Sabbath and Festival celebrations, and most of all Yeshiva studies, including detailed depictions of Talmudic study and Talmud classes, with their unique culture of erudite exegesis. The book seems to assume a certain amount of Jewish background knowledge, however.

If you are interested in a general depiction of Orthodox Jewish life that accurately characterizes today's Jewish communities, both in and out of Israel, this book is worthwhile reading, but be vigilant for the kinds of flaws and prejudices mentioned above.

Reuven Malther and Danny Saunders are two 15 year old boys who share a friendship while growing up in Brooklyn during World War 2. At first it seems that they are quite different as Danny is a Hasidic Jew while Reuven is merely a Orthodox Jew, but actually they are quite similar. Both boys spend hours each day studying, debating and dissecting the Talmud, an ancient book of Jewish wisdom. They are both fixated on the past to the extent that one wonders if they are aware of what is happening in the city around them. The Talmud is everything to them and its value is unquestioned.

Although the relationship between Danny and his father is what we would now call dysfunctional Danny has great respect for the man, distant, cold and unsympathetic tho he may be. Later we learn why Danny's father shows no love for his son. Danny's father sees religion, morality and redemption as an all or nothing sort of a thing. Everything is either black or white, there are no shades of gray. A person either has God's favor or he does not. There is no in between, no middle ground and no matter of degrees. Most importantly there no sympathy for anyone who is anything less than perfect. Love would only weaken the boy, or so Danny's father believes.

It has been said that religion is the cruelest form of tyranny because it is tyranny of the mind. After reading this book I would agree. Danny is able to reject his arranged marriage to follow his dream of becoming a psychologist. But just like Michael Jackson, Bobby Fisher and Macaulay Culkin, Danny never experienced a normal childhood so what sort of psychologist could he be? I wouldn't take my problems to him.

I just finished The Chosen, and it has to be one of the best books I have ever read. Both Danny and Reuven have their own special talent, and although their friendship is unlikely, it is extremely strong. For Danny, Reuven is a lifeline - someone he can talk with honestly. Danny also has a large effect on Reuven's development. Reuven experiences another world that he never had more than a glimpse of earlier. This story is touching and realistic. I would recommend it to anybody.

The book had a different subject than from what am used to. I had to read it for 8th grade English and about quarter of the class enjoyed it. It was very into the Jewish religion, however, many people didn't know much about it and found it sometimes difficult to understand. The main subject seemed to be the physical silences between charcters that occurred throughout the novel. Many different silences occur through different events in the plot, as different family views get in the way of a friendship. It was a novel that was a bit difficult to understand, and not the best plot I have ever read.

The positive outcome from reading The Chosen is that I learned about Hasidic Jews. I never knew much about these very unusual people , but after reading, I have come to understand them. In fact some of the issues they deal with, are common to many teenagers. This novel is mainly meant for adults. Most kids or teenagers who read this inn my class got bored and weren't able to understand most of the book. I recommend this book to a more mature reading audience.

I am not Jewish nor was this book required reading. In fact, theboys in this book.... But I found this book deeply moving andsatifying. I am not going to change my Faith because I read it, andit seems to me that it is encouraging that belief is held as deeply asis illustrated by the characters in this very fine work. I am goingto read the sequel because I want to know what comes next in the livesof these intelligent, admirable characters. This is one of the bestbooks of fiction I have read in a long time.

To me this book is about the importance of understanding different positions. It is about the importance of interaction and not reaction to problems. It shows how two boys who are very different and start their relationship hating each other, turned into kids that were best friends. It taught me a lot about understanding and finding a middle ground. It's funny, although the book is about two Jewish boys, it seemed almost Buddhist in nature.... Anyway, read this book.

The Chosen is a fascinating book! Chaim Potok writes about two Jewish boys who develop a deep unexpected friendship from a rare incident. The book takes place in Brooklyn during World War I. The two boys, Danny and Reuven are completely different Jews. Danny is the heir to a Hasidic rabbi, while Reuven is an Orthodox Jew to a Zionist father. The book explores the struggles Danny and Reuven go through. Even though they both are Jewish they have many spiritual clashes with their fathers. Chaim Potok builds the two main characters to be very believable and realistic. As I read the book I felt I knew the characters and could feel what they were going through.
I really enjoyed this book because I learned a lot about Jewish culture. This book put my life into a different perspective. I thought about my family and how much pressure I receive. I also thought about my relationships with my friends and how it compares to Danny and Reuven's relationship. I highly recommend this book to anyone. It does not matter if you are Jewish or not. I myself am a strong Catholic and found it interesting to learn about a different religion.

Possibly one of the best books that I have read ever. It taught me a lot obout the joys and heartaches of a truly great friendship. A quick review of my life led me to the realisation that some of the best things in life coming out of 'ordinary things'. A fact which amazes Reuven Malter as well. I have read this book over and over again and each time I discover a little piece of wisdom that I had missed before. A truly inspiring book!

Potok is one of my favourite authors. I am not even Jewish, but I found this book in my mother's library. I read it in High School and was totally intrigued by Judaism and the Jewish culture. I learned about Jewish life, Hasidism, Hasidics' view of Conservative (or secular) Jews and vice-versa, father-son relationships, and following one's dreams which might go against a parent's expectation.
I absolutely cherished this book (sadly it was already falling apart and I had to tape the cover page back on).
For anyone who is interested to know more about the topics that I mentioned above, go ahead and read it.

I had never heard of this book but I decided to get it because it was one of the books on my 8th grade reading list; and my mom said it was good. Even though a book about 2 boys' friendship may sound boring, as it did to me, this is a verrry good book. I could hardly ever put the book down. Not only was it a great book it also taught me a lot about Judaism. I had no idea of the bad sentiment between the Hasidim and non-hasidim Jews.

I read this book as a school asignment and when I was handed it by my 10th grade teacher, I groaned. By law, I hate reading school assigned books, but I ablsoutely loved this one. This has got to be one of the best books I have ever read. The way in which Chaim Potok explored the friendship between Reuven and Danny (the main characters) and their relationships with their fathers is wonderful. This was not a book that you read and then you move on. This is a book that changes the way in which you look at your life and the happenings around you. The story will affect your life, feelings, and way of thinking. Go read it and see what I mean!

The Book The Chosen by Chaim Potok is an experience like no other. It's insight into post World War II experiences made me feel like as was living in them. The auther brilliantly introduces religious discrimination and how it affects society. This book always made me feel as though I were part of the action, wheather it was from baseball game, to the the dramatic disiplin of the Hasidic religion. This book is a must read.

Reuven Malter has lived all his life in the city of New York. The part of the city he lives in is heavily populated with Jewish sects. He had led a good life with little problems to worry about until an early June,s ball game. It was a Sunday afternoon and his team was scheduled to play the winning team of another neighborhood league with a reputation for having a wild offensive. The day he was hit with a baseball by one of the opposing team members, Danny Saunders. This marked the beginning of a beautiful relationship between Danny and Reuven even though they didn't share the same Jewish traditions and heritage. Something they also didn't have in common and plays a big part in the relationship between them and their fathers. The book then takes on challenging problems that friends encounter.
This book is absorbing and will leave you wanting more. You will be able to relate to some of the reallife problems the book deals with. Although the book deals with a lot of Jewish heritage, it should not only intrigue adults but young readers too. The reallife problems and concepts of life are sure to make you want to read this book over and over again.

It's kind of late tonight, but I just had to get this off my chest, after reading "The Chosen" again this evening.

But there appears to be a rather sizable error in Chapter 7. Ironic, as most of the chapter deals with Talmudic study and Reb Saunders quizzing Danny and Reuven about particular items in his sermon. But I think the Chaim Potok may have inserted an error in the plot in this chapter, which is interesting as this chapter deals with errors; and I don't seem to find record of this anywhere!

Chapter 7 takes place on Shabbat and the completion of Shabbat. Meaning, when Reuven finally comes home late around 10:30pm ON SATURDAY NIGHT, upsetting his father somewhat... they go over the details of the day... and at the end of the conversation Reuven's father tells him they must get to bed, as tomorrow is a school day. Reuven attends secular school on Sundays?? Odd. And that's how Chapter 8 begins, back in school the next morning!

Have I mis-read this? Or did Chaim Potok purposefully place a timeline error in the plot? And is it possible I am the first one to notice this!?

Thanks,

Rick Singer

this book is one of the most powerful pieces of literature written about the pain of being a man, a father, trying to mold one's son into a man. what more needs be said? oh yeah-the monologue at the end, spoken by the rabbi: wow. it is immense. read it. then read it again. then once more just to catch some other wrinkles that may have escaped you the first 2 readings!

I LOVE this book! I thought about it for weeks after I first read it. This is most definitely worth a read. I learned a lot about Jewish culture that I had never known before and about people in general. I must admit that the book started getting a bit boring when they went into depth about certain things, mainly because sometimes the author went on for pages...but other than that, the book was very, very good.

This is one of those books that come back to you. The thoughts of the readers, the highlighted moments, their downfalls and upheavals. I just want to share with you the main point that Potok is trying to make in the book.
"Human beings do not live forever. We live less than the time it takes to blink an eye, if we measure our lives against eternity. So it may be asked what value is there to a human life. There is so much pain in the world. What does it mean to have to suffer SO MUCH...if our lives are nothing more than the blink of an eye?
I learned a long time ago that the blink of an eye itself is nothing. But the eye that blinks, THAT is something. A span of life is nothing. But the man who lives that span, HE is something. He can fill that tiny span with meaning, so it's quality is immeasureable though the quanity may be insignificant. Do you understand what I am saying? A man must fill his life with meaning, meaning is not automatically given to life. It is hard work to fill one's life with meaning. THAT I do not think you understand yet.
A LIFE FILLED WITH MEANING IS WORTHY OF REST. I want to be worthy of rest when I am no longer here."
THAT is what The Chosen is about.

"One of the most compelling novels that I have read is written by Chaim Potok. The Chosen is so well-written you won't be able to put it down, compiled with undulating emotions, it will make you reach for the tissues. The turmoil of a friendship caused by one father's selfishness teaches the reader about the trials and tribulations between Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish religions. Filled with love and compassion it will make you want to rejoice and maybe even shed a few tears. Chaim Potok gives the reader exactly what they want, and even more. The novel really opened up my eyes and gave me an insight on how people react to those of different religions. The Chosen helped me to understand the Jewish religion, while teaching me to cherish friendships. Potok brings hope and gratitude to the things we have and those that we wish to have. I recommend this book to everyone, because it not only educates the reader on religion, but it teaches how to love and respect people for who they are."

I finished this book at 12:30 last night, my face wet with tears, and my heart thankful that I found this book. There is not enough fiction written about the emotions of men and boys. For this and a thousand other reasons, this book is jewel. It holds relevance for every level of existence and should not be missed; it is a very big piece of the puzzle.
Also, It made me want to go schul every Saturday.

" Touching and sentimental, all together one of my favorite novels. The journeys and paths Reuven and Danny had to take really hit home. It had so much to do with real life, and there were so many things I could realate to; Jewish or not I felt that The Chosen focussed on life in general. The Jewish society, picayune to some and important to others, is finally "unmasked" and everything you wanted to know is finally being told. I found that by reading this book my eyes were opened and I saw a whole new world filled with strength and wisdom. Chaim Potok gave me something I can carry with me through my experiences yet to come. Fresh and mature, I would recommend this book to ANYONE interested in finding the truths of our society that are concealed in Potoks writings pertaining to Orthodox and Russian Hasidic Jewish cultures. Read this book and I garauntee you will be given the same gift that will open your eyes and your heart to Jewish beliefs and the strengths in friendship. "

The Chosen lets readers of any background get a good insiders view the life of religious Jews, their life, their thoughts and feelings.
It gives readers the chance to understand that we are all humans, with similar fears, emotions even though we may be of different backgrounds or religions.
If there was one author that I was to name to help people understand and sympathise with one another, Chaim Potok would be it. In his books, you will find yourself feeling the emotions, understanding the fears of the characters, and this, hopefully will help us all realize that we are similar as humans, although we may be different in lifestyle or belief. Empathy and sympathy is, after all, what we need alot of.

I just finished reading this book for the third time. Each time I read it, I find something new love and appreciate about it. Reading it is a miriacle within itself. It teaches acceptance, appreciation, and friendship through example, not preaching. In fact, this book never preaches. It is, in fact, a book for everyone. I adore it. It is my favorite book. It's sequel The Promise is very good also.

"One of the most compelling novels that I have read is written by Chaim Potok. The Chosen is so well-written you won't be able to put it down, compiled with undulating emotions, it will make you reach for the tissues. The turmoil of a friendship caused by one father's selfishness teaches the reader about the trials and tribulations between Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish religions. Filled with love and compassion it will make you want to rejoice and maybe even shed a few tears. Chaim Potok gives the reader exactly what they want, and even more. The novel really opened up my eyes and gave me an insight on how people react to those of different religions. The Chosen helped me to understand the Jewish religion, while teaching me to cherish friendships. Potok brings hope and gratitude to the things we have and those that we wish to have. I recommend this book to everyone, because it not only educates the reader on religion, but it teaches how to love and respect people for who they are."

I finished this book at 12:30 last night, my face wet with tears, and my heart thankful that I found this book. There is not enough fiction written about the emotions of men and boys. For this and a thousand other reasons, this book is jewel. It holds relevance for every level of existence and should not be missed; it is a very big piece of the puzzle.
Also, It made me want to go schul every Saturday.

" Touching and sentimental, all together one of my favorite novels. The journeys and paths Reuven and Danny had to take really hit home. It had so much to do with real life, and there were so many things I could realate to; Jewish or not I felt that The Chosen focussed on life in general. The Jewish society, picayune to some and important to others, is finally "unmasked" and everything you wanted to know is finally being told. I found that by reading this book my eyes were opened and I saw a whole new world filled with strength and wisdom. Chaim Potok gave me something I can carry with me through my experiences yet to come. Fresh and mature, I would recommend this book to ANYONE interested in finding the truths of our society that are concealed in Potoks writings pertaining to Orthodox and Russian Hasidic Jewish cultures. Read this book and I garauntee you will be given the same gift that will open your eyes and your heart to Jewish beliefs and the strengths in friendship. "

The Chosen lets readers of any background get a good insiders view the life of religious Jews, their life, their thoughts and feelings.
It gives readers the chance to understand that we are all humans, with similar fears, emotions even though we may be of different backgrounds or religions.
If there was one author that I was to name to help people understand and sympathise with one another, Chaim Potok would be it. In his books, you will find yourself feeling the emotions, understanding the fears of the characters, and this, hopefully will help us all realize that we are similar as humans, although we may be different in lifestyle or belief. Empathy and sympathy is, after all, what we need alot of.

I just finished reading this book for the third time. Each time I read it, I find something new love and appreciate about it. Reading it is a miriacle within itself. It teaches acceptance, appreciation, and friendship through example, not preaching. In fact, this book never preaches. It is, in fact, a book for everyone. I adore it. It is my favorite book. It's sequel The Promise is very good also.

It is a shame that some teachers assign this book without preparing their classes with a basic understanding of Judaism. However, because one does not understand a book at first try does not mean the book has no meaning. Reading The Chosen is an opportunity to gain some insight into another culture, as well as another time and place. The characterizations are very rich and the themes are universal.

The Chosen is one of those books that goes beyond the ability of the author, and has a Life of its own. It is a work of art meant for the enrichment of the heart and the soul in pain. For those who live in the tender places of the heart, this work is for you. It is a story of love and truth and deep meaning. Beautifully written and timeless in its depth and simplicity, The Chosen is a authentic and beautiful and compassionate book.
The metaphor of God's love within the silence and pain is for me, something far beyond helpful, and something I could never articulate properly.
But I do feel that this book is a Divine gift to those who need it.

Chaim Potok's book, THE CHOSEN, is an extremely well written book. If you read and enjoyed MY NAME IS ASHER LEV, also by Potok, I would highly recommend this book to you! Besides the fact that the story itself was excellent, the vocabulary and context of the story are very easy to follow.

The story begins with a baseball game that includes excellent details that keep even a non-baseball lover intrigued. During this game, the protagonist, Reuven, is injured by a player on the opposite team, Danny. This book discusses the growth of the relationship between Reuven and Danny. It goes through the struggles Reuven has with Danny's father, as well as talking about each of their personal growth. Danny, the son of a Hasidic rabbi, wants to become a psychologist, while Reuven, the son of a professor and great thinker, wants to become a rabbi. This book describes their lives chronologically through Reuven Malter's eyes.

This book was yet another success for Chaim Potok! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great story and wants to learn a little more about Hasidic history.

In all honesty, this was "borrowed" from a friends somewhat meagre library....I was unable to return it due to markings almost covering some of the pages...

I will let this book mainly speak for itself and offer little of my own.

Do you ever feel that you are nothing? That you cannot trust God or man and that, if you were that God, you would crush this little ant called yourself under-foot without a second thought? Do you ever look up at the stars and admire not only their beauty but your own magnificent meaninglessness? If so, this book was written just for you!

(For the book's part...)

"Human beings do not live forever, Reuven. We live less than the time it takes to blink an eye, if we measure our lives against eternity. So it may be asked, what value is there to a human life. There is so much pain in the world. What does it mean to have to suffer so much if our lives are nothing more than the blink of an eye? I learned a long time ago, Reuven, that a blink of an eye itself is nothing. But the eye that blinks, that is something. A span of life is nothing, but the man who lives that span, HE is something. He can fill that tiny span with meaning, so its quality is immeasurable though its quantity may be insignificant. Do you understand what I am saying? A man must fill his life with meaning, meaning is not automatically given to life. It is hard work to fill one's life with meaning. That I do not think you understand yet. A life filled with meaning is worthy of rest. I want to be worthy of rest when I am no longer here." (From The Chosen)

she who is no longer the Angel of Music

The Chosen is an awesome book. The author Chaim Potok writes about these two Jewish boys who became friends from a weird incident. The story takes place in Brooklyn, New York during World War II. Although the two boys, Danny and Reuven are both Jews, they have completely different lives. Danny's family comes from a Hasidic rabbi, while Reuven is a traditional Jew to a Zionist father. But they discover that what they want in life is the opposite of what their fathers are expecting from them. This book explores the struggles that Danny and Reuven go through. Even though they are both Jewish, they have many spiritual clashes with their fathers. The author makes the two characters very realistic. The word of the author makes you think that you are another character in the story. As I was reading the book, I felt like I knew the characters already and could feel what they were going through. It is very interesting to read about how such a good friendship grows. There are many obstacles the two overcome in order to keep their friendship alive. The end of this book is very exciting and keeps you in suspense. I really enjoyed this book because I learned a lot about Jewish culture. Although, at times some parts do become confusing since I am not familiar with Jewish concepts. It put my life someway into a different prospective. It's a funny thing because I receive the same pressure from my family as Danny and Reuven. I also think of my relationship with my friends and how similar it is compared to Danny's and Reuven's relationship. I highly recommend this book to anyone. It does not matter if you are Jewish or not. I found it interesting to learn about a different religion. This is a great book that will make you never want to put it down.

I run into "The Chosen" by browsing the "Summer Reading" desk on a local bookstore, and what a marvelous find. The book tackles universal and controversial topics. Growing up, religion, becoming an adult, tolerance, but overall it is about the relationship between fathers and sons. If you are a parent you should definitely read this, if you are not you should too, it will make you reflect in your past, present and future choices in life.

Spend sometime with Danny and Reuven, they will enrich your life.

I have just completed this book as a report for my school. Potok tells the interesting story of two boys, of completely different religions who againest all odds form a friendship like no other. The book takes place during Word War II in Brooklyn, New York. The two boys run into each other when they both play in a baseball game. Potok's ability to catch readers attention really shows when he writes the story of the baseball game. It just catches your attention and grasps your soul even after the story is through. This unique story of two boys who even though the parents dont want them to be friends it happens. Reading this story will be just like a roller coaster ride: there are scary parts in it and really exciting parts where you just dont want to put the book down. This book is an awesome story of friendship that i would recomend to everyone to read. After reading this book i have learned valuable lessons on friendship and more things about certain religions and the Holocaust that i reccoment it to everyone and give this book 5 stars.

I first read The Chosen as a summer reading assignment in high school. It quickly became my favorite book. I read the sequel, The Promise, on my own time and have read both books many times since then. The unlikely friendship of Rueben and Danny, two boys from totally different backgrounds is a perfect lesson for young adults to learn. It should be on all summer reading lists.

I think that Chaim Potok's novel The Chosen is one of the few novels out today that a young adult can relate to. As a young adult from a different country coming to this society has been not only hard on me but my parents, because I am confronted with different pressures of todays society, while they still believe in their traditional ways of up bringing. I would have never read Mr. Potoks book if it hadn't been for my english teacher telling me to research Chaim Potok For my research paper. I am grateful she did to because this book has expressed my feelings so much that I feel I am one of the characters. I really can relate to Danny Saunders the most because not only do my parents want me to follow my religion carefully, I also want to go into psychology, plus my father and I are not communicating very much!And that is something that has started happening since I was a teenager!

Absolutely beautiful, could not put it down. The relationships are deep and meaningful, the writing compelling and the story woven to perfection. I cannot get it out of my head and am richer for having read it.

There is no questioning Potok's heart or intelligence, but he misses this elusive thing called, for the lack of better word, "literary talent". The story reads as a Hasidic tale, but simply does not rise to the level of a novel. The style is too generic (essentially, lacking distinctive personality), and the same applies to the characters - they miss little something which makes them individuals as opposed as literary devices for expressing author's ideas. This is especially felt in the last scene between Reb Saunders, Danny and Reuven - it was supposed to be catharthic, but due to mediocre writing is completely anti-climactic. Still, the book is written with true feeling and can be recommended for this reason alone. And perhaps as a "Hasidism 101" introductory course

I found the cover intriguing on my way through the bookstore, and picked this one up. Being raised Catholic, I wasn't sure that I would relate, but the premise seemed interesting, so I bought it. This novel really turned me on to Potok's work, and I've since purchased all of his other books. I find this work the easiest to read by far, as those who are not familiar with the Jewish faith will still be able to follow it well.

This is the BEST book I have ever read!!! It is very well written, its subject is great, and its characters are very well rounded. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes realistic fiction. READ THIS BOOK!! My mom bought it for me when I was 10 because she liked it when she was a child and is now reading it after I told her it was outstanding. The rest of my family also wants to read it.

I first read this book as a teenager, and have re-read it numerous times since. I'm now in my mid-40's. As a teen, it opened my eyes to a world most of us never encounter - Jewish Brooklyn, the sphere of the Hasids, Talmudic study. As I've aged my enjoyment of the book has matured. These days, it's particularly interesting in light of Mid East politics and the controversy surrounding the founding of the State of Israel. Through all these years, though, the relationships between the boys and their fathers remains as touching, as profound as they were upon first reading. I cried the first few times I read this book. I still re-read certain passages just for the emotional "oomph".

A tremendous, powerful book that bears up well for a lifetime's enjoyment.

I read this book in my sophomore language arts class. I was not very interested in Jewish religon but after reading this book I have decided that it was one of the best books we read this year. I recomend it to anyone, I also suggest when reading it to find out more about the Jewish culture and what some of the words mean, without that you will be lost.

First thoughts: I didn't know much about this book other than it often shows up on lists of books to read.

What I liked: I like the complicated friendship that the two boys had as well as both their relationships with their fathers.

What I didn't like: I'm not sure if I can say that I didn't like aspects of this book, or rather, just did not understand a good deal of it. I am not Jewish, nor do I know much about the religion aside from a tiny bit of research back in 6th grade for a social studies report and one semester of a Jewish Mysticism class in college. I think because of this lack of knowledge made what could have been a very good story...just really boring.

A nice coming of age story, but unfortunately it gets bogged down by a lot of information that went over my head.

"The Chosen" is a great novel. I loved all the suspense. I liked all the themes and how the related to one another. It was a comedic, upsetting novel, and it was brilliantly written. One of the most important things I learned was about the Jewish religion and culture. I only knew a little about the Jewish way of life, but after reading this book, I expanded my knowledge. I felt this book is for anyone, regardless of religion, race or beliefs. However, Jewish people and people who study the Jewish religion might have a better time understanding or relating to the book then me.
It talks about two boys and their fathers, what they learn from their fathers, and what they learn from each other. Their friendship started during the most unusual circumstances, strengthened, had to be put on hold, but continued again.
This is one of the best novels I've read. I felt enlightened after reading this book. At first, I didn't find this book intriguing or anything. But you can never judge a book by its cover, literally!

The setting is in Brooklyn, Ny during WWII and a few years after the war. The story focuses on the relationhip that develops between two Jewish boys, Reuven and Danny. The book describes how their different customs and loyalties to the church make it impossible for the two to become friends. Danny is a Russian Hasidic Jew, and Reuven is an Ultra-Orthodox Jew. The two boys start out as enemies, but after an accident at a softball game, things begin to change and they begin to overlook their differences and develop a unique friendship. Each are brought up in two different homes. Danny's father is a Rabbi who seldom talks to him. Reveron's father is a secular scholar, who is very close to his son. This story addresses some of the personal issues they go through to see past each other's different backgrounds.

I read "The Chosen" as an assignment preceeding my becoming a Bat Mitzvah. The basic story was very easy to understand for a 12-year-old, and it described the evolving frienship of two once-enemies, now best buds. There are three books within the novel, and as the second book culminates and the third book starts, the text begins to get "heavy". The average reader easily becomes distracted with the in-depth writing about Hasidic Jews, the Talmud, and other subjects pertaining to the Jewish religion. Even I, a well-educated Jew for my age, was confused. In a nutshell, "The Chosen" deserves four stars for its vivid description and interesting plot; however, it was a incredibly intricate.

This story was impressive because of the myriad of themes it covers in such a short, comprehensive read: the voyage of boyhood to manhood, friendship, compassion, faith, family ties, the pursuit of knowledge, loyalty, respect, etc. Although the story involves the lives and beliefs of two Jewish families, it is easy enough to understand for those not of the Jewish faith. The theme best covered is the nature of parental love and it made the book a worthwhile read.

This story explains the relationship that a young Hasid man has with his father. It portrays to us the feelings of rage that he experiences when ever he is around his father. The relationship that he has with Danny gives him release from his father- the silence that is between them. Simply a marvelous piece of literature!

I first received this book a couple weeks ago from my English 2 Preap teacher, since I'm a 10th grader, I didn't think much of it. When I started reading the story, it caught my eye about the friendship that was built around two complete opposites of "the world" per say. Then I became slightly confused with the story, not sure what it was trying to tell me, and I went in search of answers to my question.
"What was this book truely about?"
I found it out while talking with other students and teachers that had read the book and all found it interesting. Only one source truely helped me and I found inspiration in the story, though many still ask me what it was. Heh...I can't truely say what the moral of the story conveys, I believe you can only understand when you read it for yourself. It is worth it, definietly.

The Chosen is a spectacular book and I totally disagree with what someone said as being a total waste of time...Out of a baseball game that nearly became a religious war , two Jewish boys become friends. Danny comes from the strict Hasidic sect that keeps him bound of Orthodoxy. Reuven is brought up by a father patiently aware of the twentieth century. Everything tries to destroy their friendship. But they use Honesty with eachother as a shield. It proves an impenetrable protection. I am 16 years old and studying The Chosen as a literary unit.. I honestly think its one of the best books I've read and I think every teenager and also people of any age should try and read this book..You truely will find this book soul enriching...

in reading "The Chosen" i was very pleased with the book. The plot was very touching as we saw the boys (Danny and Reuven) grow from the grounds of a baseball field to the advanced college campus. Their friendship was very strong and was normally able to overcome most obstacles...except for the silence that Danny and Reb Saunders had between them. Mr. Malter brought Rueven up in talking, so Rueven began to hate the silence simply because he couldn't understand it. i believe that that applies to much of life. If we don't understand something completely, we tend to write it off as bad, hard, or tend to hate it. i would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a good book for any occasion.

What a find! Not sure how I stumbled upon this, but I'm glad it came my way. I am not Jewish, really not even religoius at all, but you don't need to be Jewish to appreciate the humanity in this story. The writing is masterful. The characters and their world come so alive when reading this. Eaxacly what happens to them is not even as important as just being able, through the author's magic, to inhabit their special world for a short time. A very moving story that should not be missed. Also, the sequel, The Promise, is at the same level. I read them in reverse order because I did not know about The Chosen until after I read The Promise, but even in this order nothing was lost.

This book was a wonderful read. Very good indeed. I expected that the book would be very deep and meaningful, but I didn't expect it to come across so well.

One thing that is minorly surprising is C. Potok never really talks about Reuven's (the main character) faith.

All in all this book has earned it's place among the great classics.

This book is about a Jewish boy and how he grows up in a small Jewish ghetto called Williamsburg in Brooklyn during the era of the holocaust. In this story young Rueven Malter must face the challenges of growing up in a strict and powerful Jewish society. During the length of this story Rueven meets the son of a highly respected Jewish rabbi. The two boys become best friends after an unfortunate baseball accident. Even though their parents have different views of how and what holy things occur, the boys manage to remain friends until college when they are forbidden to see each other. This story however ends with the two back together. Personally I thought the subject was interesting, but was told in an uninteresting way. The author took too much time discussing Jewish history and costums that he didn't really explain enough of Danny and Rueven's lives. After finishing this story I am still wondering what the writer's reason for creating this book, what was he trying to get across? Mabey I spent too much time trying to pick out the details of the boy's lives to understand what was happening. If you are the kind of person who enjoys reading things in which the writing is mechanically correct than this would be your book. The mechanical writing was perhaps the only thing that really reminds me of this book, other than that I am surprised that the Jewish philosophy did not interest me.

I am a Freshman in high school, and had to read this book for Communication Arts. I myself am Jewish, so I figured okay, here's a book about a Jew; nothing new. While reading the book, many interesting ideas were brought up, but the overall appeal of the story was just alright. As it progressed, I began to fall deeper and deeper into the story and characters. By the last chapter, I was in tears. Why? No, not because it was happy. No, not because it was sad. It was because everything worked out just as you would have imagined, and it all fit together like one big puzzle. Give this novel a chance, you will not be disappointed.

This book explores the friendship that develops between two Jewish boys in New York City during the Second World War. I loved it for it's beautiful story and how it weaves together the very different lives of the boys, their relationships with their fathers, and the eventual interactions of all four of the characters. Potok includes numerous desriptions of Jewish tradition and customs, which is vital to the story as well as fascinating information. I found myself seeking to learn more about the Jewish faith when I finished this book. The plot is complex in how it balances the characters and their lives, all while teaching the reader about the various sects of Judaism. At the same time, it is told in beautiful language that is very easy to understand and appreciate. The entire book is muted and wonderfully understated, and it feels like you are listening to an old man recount his youth in a soft yet spirited voice. Potok's book "The Promise" follows up the story of "The Chosen" nicely, but the first book in the sequence is by far the best. At times tragic, jubilant, and thoughtful, this is by far one of the best books I have ever read, if not THE best. I feel like I'm a better person for it. Everyone should have a chance to read this book.

A classic story of an unlikely friendship between two boys divided by a common culture. Orthodox and Conservative Judaism clash in the lives of two boys coming of age at the close of WWII.

This compelling story transcends the culture it is set in--but those interested in Judaism will find many enlightening insights into the culture and religion.

Reading this story made me realize the awesome responsibility that passed to American Jewry when they realized the acknowledged keepers of their culture, European Jewry, had but all been wiped out of existence. The mantle was now upon them to preserve their forefathers' traditions, culture, and worship.

This is one of my favorite books of all time and I love it just as much now as when I originally read it in the early 90's. My life has changed but the simple truths in this book are timeless.
Potok is a master and I think every teenager should read this book.

I found The Chosen to be a captivating book that gave me both emotional and spiriyual fulfillment. Potok is proven a master in this book about two young boys and how they help each other to find themselves. Potok gives us a look at unexpected friendship as well as spiritual growth from two different points of view. The Chosen is a modern masterpiece of courage and friendship. It explores how difficult being a friend can become.

The Chosen was a very interesting book. I rated it as a four star, because the flow of the book was great. A main point that stuck out to me was when Danny had caused the accident with Reuven. This was interesting because it caused the theme of friendship. It had brought the two of these people together and they both had realized "forgiveness" was a key role. I enjoyed this book, and i have read several books, and this was most likely one of my favorites. This is because it had many themes that had a major impact on how the characters acted. one example is how the Jewish religion had affected Danny's life of studying the Talmud all the time and not having many activities going on in his life.

in my opinion, The Choosen is a good hook, but not nearly as good as some others that I have read! This novel taught me a lot about the Jewish religion in general, mostly because of Danny and Reuven's differences in opinion. It can drag at some points though! For instance, when Danny and Reuven are forbiden to see each other! And from the time when they begin colleage to the ending, there are some parts where little action takes place! That's why I gave it three stars!!!!

I just loved all the irony in this book! Two boys, one an orthodox ad one an unorthodox Jew, become good friends in New York City. They both are in truth unorthodox, but almost everything else about them is different. Danny, the son of a tzaddik, an orthodox rabbi, does not wish to continue the rabbi "dynasty". The other boy, Rueven, the son of a pro-Zionism demonstrater wishes to become a rabbi despite the fact that his father would perfer for him to be a university professor. Touching! Emotional! A true allegory as well!

After four years of Honors and AP English courses I have had the pleasure of reading many wonderful works by various talented authors. This book, however, is by far one of my favorites. The touching story of these two friends and their heart-wrenching relationships with their fathers brought tears to my eyes. Chaim Potok offers an intimate look into the traditions and everyday lives of two very different Jewish families. Never before have I had such a clear glimpse into these very different worlds. I must be thankful that this wonderful story gave me a greater appreciation for my relationship with my father.

This was I am sure one of the best books I have ever read. Reuven and Danny's struggling relationship in so interesting tht you will find yourself not able to put it down. Reuven has a wonderful story to tell. I am telling you READ THIS BOOK!

i also had to read this book for school, and i think its superbly written and a very emotional and touching story. I'm sorry that the other students still can't understand what good literature is when they see it. this is a very strong book.

I had to read this book for a high school enlish class. I put the book off for several weeks and when I decided to read it I read it all at once. It started me reading again after about 2 years. I want to read The Promise now!

Wow. I can see why this book was a finalist for Book of the Year. Mr. Potok brought me right into the soul of the characters in this book, and even though I know very little about Hasidic culture, I was certainly not at a loss to the plot. This is great writing, and a great story. I have read hundreds of great books in my lifetime (including classics), and I enjoyed this one more than any so far. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

I am not under 13, in fact I'm 22. Wasn't in the mood to go through all the "what is your email address" stuff.

Read the book in grade 11 at the high school. Guys you WON'T regret reading it. Absolutely amazing. Cannot remember the details though, but I'll try to summerize the book in like 4 lines.

It is the story of a clever dude who was living in a strict jewish family. In a baseball match, his ball hit an opponent and hurt him. They took him to a hospital and after a while, the two boys became good friends. The book is concentrated on the friendship of the two and the challanges that they face living through life.

As a said, You'll enjoy reading it.

This masterpiece is not just a novel, it's an inside view of Jewish history from before the dark ages. It gives the reader not only a good story, but an insight into the various schools of thought, how they developed over history, and how it affects the Jewish Nation and the world today. This story isn't just for those of Jewish extract, it's a great and interesting story for anyone who enjoys history and an absorbing novel. It may have been published thirty years ago, but the events and characters are timeless. A fine addition to anyone's library!

I think this book is a real good one. I've read it for a schools assignment and first I thought it was boring to do, but later when I was reading the book, I started to like it. It is a very interesting and high quality book, and even easy to understand for people who don't read English very well. I would recommend it to everyone!

I read this book my freshman year of high school and I loved it. The only assigned reading book I've enjoyed this much so far. Then, I was happy to see it on a suggested summer reading list for the summer before my junior year, being very proud I'd already read it. So if you're in high school and looking for a book that's not too challenging but not easy and actually interesting, this is it.

I read this book for outside reading in my English 10H class, and i loved it. The prose was wonderful and i really appreciated the themes. The ending almost made me cry. It is true that there is not much action in the story, but that is because this book is about friendship and the relations between fathers and sons, not about runaway trains and hijacked nukes. If you want action, go buy the latest John Grisham or Stephen King. This is a really moving book for those who want reading material with more depth. It is well worth reading.

I was asigned The Chosen for a class. And I read it in 2 days. I just could not put it down. When I finished it and saw that there is a sequel I was so happy. I was not yet ready to leave Reuven and Danny.

The chosen was very boring and uneventful. It was this happens, then something else happens, then over and over again. The story of the friendship between Reuven and Danny is told well, but besides that, it was horrible.

This novel was one of those iffy books. Its theme was really interesting and true to life. The characters' development were intriguing in that you could see how they reached what they were to become. However, I didn't like this book. The theme was very good, but it was something that was already known to me. It didn't have that much an impact on me. But people who don't understand life in the way that is shown in the book would find it very interesting. I would recommend this book to anybody. This book is worth a try. I did not like it all that much, but other people will find it very interesting through its theme and the way the author tried to reach his theme.

The Chosen is a capturing story of two boys as they grow and mature throughout their friendship and into adulthood. Reuven Malter is a secular Jew while Danny Saunders is a Hasid. The two are naturally opposed by their religion and unleash their anger toward each other in what is no ordinary baseball game. When Reuven is hit in the eye by a powerful ball hit by Danny, Reuven is rushed to the emergency room. It is while Reuven is recovering from the accident in the hospital that he and Danny official meet and begin their interwoven journey.
Danny and Reuven soon realize that they are opposites from one another. Reuven wishes to become a rabbi after graduating from college, while his father hopes for him to become a mathematician. Contrastingly, Danny dreams of being a psychologist even though he is the rightful heir to becoming a Hasidic rabbi. They are also raised by fathers who have contrasting methods of bringing up their sons. Still, it is through these family difficulties, the devastating tolls of the Holocaust, conflicting religion, and Danny's own secret from his father, that create the powerful and unique bond between the two boys. Join them as they teach each other lessons they could not have learned anywhere else and grow into the young adults they strived to be.

I love this story. I love the warmth, the compassion, the wisdom demonstrated by all four of the main characters. But I do want to note that Potok's depiction of women is flat, cursory, repressed. Women are mothers (or mother substitutes, in the case of the housekeeper) or sisters. They serve food, marry, and get pregnant. There's a half-sentence in which Reuven, the narrator, says he is "dating" and finding it fun, but doesn't romance... rate more than a few words in the world of a normal 19 year old?

The chosen was very boring and uneventful. It was this happens, then something else happens, then over and over again. The story of the friendship between Reuven and Danny is told well, but besides that, it was horrible.

The Chosen by Chiam Potok is a very deep novel with many subtle points being made and messages being sent just below the surface. Practices of Jewish and Gentile alike are challenged and the reasoning behind them is forced into the light.

Silence. Listen to the sound of complete and utter silence. It's cold, quiet, entirely devoid of life. Such is the relationship between Danny and his father, especially in the light of the warm relationship between Reuvan and Mr. Malter. The distance between Danny and is father is only closed during their debates over the Talmud. It's no mere coincidence that Reuvan is present at many of these occasions, as he is a means of breaking the silence.

These debates display the many ways which Danny's silence is broken. The competitive nature of the sessions provides Danny with a voice to speak his mind. Faith in his religion also helps him connect with his father like never before. This silence is later echoed in Danny and Reuvan's brief separation, but is ultimately conquered.

The concept of conformity and submission to authority is also heavily portrayed throughout the book. His family, both nuclear and the very memory of his ancestors, compel Danny into the rabbinate, but his heart leads him to the field of psychology. Conversely, Reuvan feels the urge to become a Rabbi while his father silently wishes him to enter the realm of mathematics. While Danny is very vocal about being highly pressured by the expectations of his parents and family tradition, Reuvan bears his burden of self-truth with quiet dignity and grace; however, it is a result of Reuvan's presence that inspires Danny to confront his family, and in essence Danny is "drawing" his strength from Reuvan.

In certain regard Danny can be seen as the "savior", or the "messiah" if you will. His family, his teachers, and his father's entire congregation look to him to take Reb Saunders' place and continue to teach and enlighten. He is seen as the all-knowing, the all wise, and the be-all and end-all of ethical and moral expertise. Reuvan in return is the unsung hero, the source of Danny's power. He is Danny's rock, his mountain in fact, without Reuvan Danny would be a mere seed unable to bloom. It is somewhat ironic that a good Hassidim like Danny would find his strength in an apikorsim like Reuvan.

Two teenage Jewish boys in the 1940s and their rabbi fathers and their relationships: the boys, their relationship with their fathers, and the relationship of all four with their religion. Beautifully written and approachable regardless of your knowledge of Judaism.

I have heard for years how good this book is. It never looked particularly interesting to me personally, so I put it off and put it off. I finally got around to picking up a copy, and was pleasantly surprised for the first 75 pages or so. It did engage me. And then...what I expected: the author began to describe the tedious nuances of the slightly-different faiths in excruciating detail. I just didn't care. I found myself skipping whole paragraphs hoping to get back to the storyline. Eventually, I just threw in the towel. Judging from all the positive reviews here on the store, and from friends and coworkers, I trust that there is something worthwhile here. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it. So, take the advice that makes sense for you. You know yourself better than most, right? I should have trusted my own instincts. But, sometimes we're wrong, right? Might be worth picking up at the library first. If you can make it to the end, more power to you...

Mr. Potok gives a brilliant look into the differences in the lives of two boys growing up Jewish, and in different worlds just a few blocks away from each other. It illustrates the ups and downs of Hassidic Judaism and Zionism in a difficult time for the Jews and America in an unusual and unlikely friendship that started by a freak accident involving a baseball, glasses and Reuven's left eye. We watch Danny and Reuven grow through the war, their life, their schooling, their fathers and their friendship.

Yes, this book is wonderful no matter your race or religion. I found it especially awakening because I am not Jewish and had always been intrigued by the whole New York Jewish culture. It is a very deep and moving story about the friendship between two people from different backgrounds and the history they both share.

I'm 14-years-old, and I read this book for school and it was a great. It shared the bonds between father and son. It also explained about religion and other heated topics in a very interesting manner.

Ok there are alot of reviews here so Ill keep it simple. This book is very important on a educational level alone. Real history is taught here about the war effort and its effect on the jewish community. Also, it gave me much insight to Judaism. Oh yeah, the story . . . very touching coming of age tale, great ending and a must read.

This book was recommeded by a Rabbi, and I cannot thank her enough. Potok takes you through the friendship of two Jewish boys, one Conservative, the other Hasidic, and examines the joys and sorrows of their friendship during the 1940's. The friendship of the two boys is tested by WWII and the differences in their beliefs. A must read.

The Chosen is my single favorite book. After reading this book (which I couldn't put down) I was amazed at Chaim's writing style and how different the writing was than other fictional titles I've read. It's about two friends who when growing up a few blocks from each other lived in two very different worlds. You'll love this book. If you can't buy it check it out at the library!

I found this book to be both highly moving and extremely educational. The characterizations are vivid and truthful. This would be a wonderful text for an adept high school literature class, but that doesn't mean it shoudl be confined to that purpose. "The Chosen" is a book for everyone.

Although it has many lessons to teach people about, it is long and filled with too much description. Any young reader is destined to fall asleep while reading it. If you are not compelled to read it you should not because you probably wont make it through it.

Ok there are alot of reviews here so Ill keep it simple. This book is very important on a educational level alone. Real history is taught here about the war effort and its effect on the jewish community. Also, it gave me much insight to Judaism. Oh yeah, the story . . . very touching coming of age tale, great ending and a must read.

This book was recommeded by a Rabbi, and I cannot thank her enough. Potok takes you through the friendship of two Jewish boys, one Conservative, the other Hasidic, and examines the joys and sorrows of their friendship during the 1940's. The friendship of the two boys is tested by WWII and the differences in their beliefs. A must read.

The Chosen is my single favorite book. After reading this book (which I couldn't put down) I was amazed at Chaim's writing style and how different the writing was than other fictional titles I've read. It's about two friends who when growing up a few blocks from each other lived in two very different worlds. You'll love this book. If you can't buy it check it out at the library!

I found this book to be both highly moving and extremely educational. The characterizations are vivid and truthful. This would be a wonderful text for an adept high school literature class, but that doesn't mean it shoudl be confined to that purpose. "The Chosen" is a book for everyone.

Although it has many lessons to teach people about, it is long and filled with too much description. Any young reader is destined to fall asleep while reading it. If you are not compelled to read it you should not because you probably wont make it through it.

If you manage to wade your way through the unbelieveably deep themes that lies in this overwhelmingly meaningful book, then you will find that you have enjoyed a great piece of literature and learned countless moral lessons. But be prepared to read paragraphs twice and thrice and also to THINK. Do not pick up if you are looking for an easy read, but if you're one of those people who could find meaning in a cheeseburger, you'll love it.

I still can not beleive the greatness of "The Chosen". I read tbe book for school in my Literary Thinking class and could not beleive the intensity and depth of the book. It will stay on my shelf and be read again.

This book is one of the best books around today. I read it for a school assignment in tenth grade, and it is now one of my favourite books. Chaim Potok's writing is magnificent, and the theme of the book is universal. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

I love getting books in the mail. I got it after forgetting I ordered it. Awesome...nice and used...Sarah Porter, thank you for writing your name inside the front cover.

Seriously, great book...inspired to buy it after watching an episode of "Lost."

Chaim Potok is a guiness. This book is the most wonderfully moving and well written peice of literature that I have ever read. I am a reform Jew and this book taught me what my Orthodox cousins must live like. Even if you are not a Jew, the themes in this book go so much deeper. Everyone can learn about being a person from reading this book.

The book started off great, you could tell the friendship between the two boys was full of hatred, but it ended up to be a great story of how a boy lives on his life with his father practically controlling his every move, but does it in silence. Great book, highly recommended.

This book is an amazing story of two different lives brought together by an accident. The two boys are symbols of how true friendship works. They learn and grow from each other. The story makes you want to keep going and never put the book down. It is heart warming and full of emotion that you can feel as you read it.

The Chosen by Chaim Potok is definitly an unregular kind of book, I must egmit that not every page is as attracting as the other. Although I liked reading it and I can tell you that doesn't happen so often. To everybody who has a certain doubt whether to open or skip the book,give it a chance, I can assure you you won't consider it a waste of your time afterwards.
A book you shouldn't refuse. Whithout a doubt!!

I haven't finished a book in about 5 years. I haven't found a book that could keep me interested. This book did. I am a high school student and this was part of our required summer reading. This is the reason I started reading the book. However, after I started reading I couldn't put the book down.

The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, was a great book about two Jewish boys from different sects of Judaism. Reuven Malter , one of the main charchters from the book gets hit in the head with a baseball by Danny Saunders, one of the Hasidic boys during a baseball game. Throughout the book, Danny and Reuven become good friends. The two boys do alot of things together, such as study torah and Talmud. Not only is this book about the boys good friend ship, but also about the relationship of father and son. But because of the different beliefs of both their fathers, the boys are not allowed to see each other. This book, demonstrated friendship and helped educate people on the Jewish Religion.

i was not only dissapointed about this book but bored with every moment of it. It did not draw me into it for one minute and if i hadn't of had to read it for school i would have stoped reading after the first chapter.

I absolutely loved this book. I had to read it for my class, but I wanted to read it again the second I got done. It was the first book that I read that I got emotional about. I really recommend this book.

This book was amongst one of the very best books i have ever read. I honestly must say this books looks so well into the boys lives. The Choosen is amazingly insightful and Chaim Potok just has an amazing way with words. If you're looking for a book that will keep you drawn into the story, this is it. You will want to read it a million times.

I remember having to read this in High School for a 6 weeks book report. I loved it so much I read it at least 4 times cover to cover, but I think it was actually 6 times. I can't wait to get hold of it now, almost 20 years later and read it again.

I had to read this book for my Honors Social Sudies class but everyone hated the book with so much passion that the teacher said we didn't have to finish it. I, however, am one of those people who can't stand not finishing a book once it's started, so I strugled through the ending. This book is basically meaningless, confusing, and most of all BORING!!! All there is is all these Jewish tems I didn't get, and the book basically went no where fast and was pointless. I don't mean to disrespect any Jews out there, I just don't get the Jewish termenology. What is a Tora anyway??? Well that's basiclaly it except I think everyone but Jewish people should avoid this book!!!!

This book was sensational it was a book that made you laugh and cry. it was the kind of book that made you wish you were there and stop all the wrong doing. Anyone who likes baseball or Softball should like this book

I found this book to be completely boring. Don't get me wrong-- it did have some good content, but it just wasn't exciting. I like to read a book where there are some suprises that keep me reading. This book had none, which may be the reason I had difficulty staying awake while reading. THe first chapter caught my attention, with the baseball game, but from then on I was bored. I do not recommend this book-- SO TAKE THAT DORIS!

This book was uninteresting. It was boring and uneventful. I felt it had a lot of unneccessary details that made the book even more unexciting and slow. The book had no meaning to me and I felt the ending was horrible. The author made led you believe that something would happen at the end because the rest of the book was not eventful. Instead, he just let everything go together! BORING!

my book came today, and it looked perfect EXCEPT the top right corner had signs of wear and possible usage. Along the whole top on the back half, it's black and some of the pages are worn down like maybe it touched a sander for a second. Overall great book great shipping, just slight damage!

This book is ok...it teaches important life lessons, but the whole book is a waste of time and too long to read. I found it to be very very boring and didnt want to finish but i had to for a school report

I enjoyed this book. It addresses those of the Jewish faith. The book involves two main characters, Danny, a Hasid with an inherited position from his father as a rabbi, and Danny, a Jewish boy whose father is a Zionist. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. I am eager to read the sequel.