Review: The Dinner Party

 

Synopsis:

This Passover Seder is not just any Passover Seder. Yes, there will be a quick service and then a festive meal afterwards, but this night is different from all other nights. This will be the night the Golds of Greenwich meet the Rothschilds of New York City.

The Rothschilds are the stuff of legends. They control banks, own vineyards in Napa, diamond mines in Africa, and even an organic farm somewhere in the Midwest that produces the most popular Romaine lettuce consumed in this country. And now, Sylvia Gold’s daughter is dating one of them.

When Sylvia finds out that her youngest of three is going to bring her new boyfriend to the Seder, she’s giddy. When she finds out that his parents are coming, too, she darn near faints. Making a good impression is all she thinks about. Well, almost. She still has to consider her other daughter, Sarah, who’ll be coming with her less than appropriate beau and his overly dramatic Italian mother. But the drama won’t stop there. Because despite the food and the wine, despite the new linen and the fresh flowers, the holidays are about family. Long forgotten memories come to the surface. Old grievances play out. And Sylvia Gold has to learn how to let her family go.

My Rating: 5 stars

My Review:

The Dinner Party by Brenda Janowitz is definitely a must read. I hardly know much about the Jewish way of life and thought this was very interesting. Readers like myself will be drawn deep into the Jewish lifestyle and heritage and one woman tries to pull off the best dinner party. Many mothers can relate easily to the preparations and the tasks of setting up and cookking for any celebration but for Sylvia it means so much to her. She’s a mother who wants the very best for her family. Her children are grown adults with a special someone in their lives. I loved how Brenda Janowitz captured the family life in a real life like way, that brings humor and tears to all. A mash of different cutures is also, brought to readers, in this beautifully told tale. The Dinner Party is full of drama and love, that will fill readers with a sense of awe. Brenda Janowitz is indeed a talented writer whose words will leave readers coming back to her world again and again. Overall, I highly recommend this brilliant piece of fiction to all.