Sweet Like Sugar

Fiction & Literature, Literary
Cover of the book Sweet Like Sugar by Wayne Hoffman, Kensington Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Wayne Hoffman ISBN: 9780758274380
Publisher: Kensington Books Publication: September 1, 2011
Imprint: Kensington Books Language: English
Author: Wayne Hoffman
ISBN: 9780758274380
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication: September 1, 2011
Imprint: Kensington Books
Language: English

With eloquence and wit, Wayne Hoffman explores the unlikely camaraderie between a young Jewish man and an Orthodox rabbi, in this rich, insightful novel about love, honesty, faith, and belonging.

In Yiddish, there is a word for it: bashert—the person you are fated to meet. Twentysomething Benji Steiner views the concept with skepticism. But the elderly rabbi who stumbles into Benji's office one day has no such doubts. Jacob Zuckerman's late wife, Sophie, was his bashert. And now that she's gone, Rabbi Zuckerman grapples with overwhelming grief and loneliness.

Touched by the rabbi's plight, Benji becomes his helper—driving him home after work, sitting in his living room listening to stories. Their friendship baffles everyone, especially Benji's sharp-tongued, modestly observant mother. But Benji is rediscovering something he didn't know he'd lost. Yet the test of friendship, and of both men's faith, lies in the difficult truths they come to share. With each revelation, Benji learns what it means not just to be Jewish, but to be fully human—imperfect, striving, and searching for the pieces of ourselves that come only through another's acceptance.

"A story that is beautifully told, profound and funny." --Jonathan Rosen, author of Joy Comes In The Morning

"A stirring story about the face of love on many different levels." --Carolyn Hessel

"An unforeseen tale of friendship and faith." --Dave King, author of The Ha-Ha

Wayne Hoffman is a writer and editor whose cultural reporting has appeared in the Washington Post, Village Voice, The Forward, The Advocate, and elsewhere. Wayne is currently deputy editor of Nextbook Press. He lives in New York City and the Catskills.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

With eloquence and wit, Wayne Hoffman explores the unlikely camaraderie between a young Jewish man and an Orthodox rabbi, in this rich, insightful novel about love, honesty, faith, and belonging.

In Yiddish, there is a word for it: bashert—the person you are fated to meet. Twentysomething Benji Steiner views the concept with skepticism. But the elderly rabbi who stumbles into Benji's office one day has no such doubts. Jacob Zuckerman's late wife, Sophie, was his bashert. And now that she's gone, Rabbi Zuckerman grapples with overwhelming grief and loneliness.

Touched by the rabbi's plight, Benji becomes his helper—driving him home after work, sitting in his living room listening to stories. Their friendship baffles everyone, especially Benji's sharp-tongued, modestly observant mother. But Benji is rediscovering something he didn't know he'd lost. Yet the test of friendship, and of both men's faith, lies in the difficult truths they come to share. With each revelation, Benji learns what it means not just to be Jewish, but to be fully human—imperfect, striving, and searching for the pieces of ourselves that come only through another's acceptance.

"A story that is beautifully told, profound and funny." --Jonathan Rosen, author of Joy Comes In The Morning

"A stirring story about the face of love on many different levels." --Carolyn Hessel

"An unforeseen tale of friendship and faith." --Dave King, author of The Ha-Ha

Wayne Hoffman is a writer and editor whose cultural reporting has appeared in the Washington Post, Village Voice, The Forward, The Advocate, and elsewhere. Wayne is currently deputy editor of Nextbook Press. He lives in New York City and the Catskills.

More books from Kensington Books

Cover of the book I'm Your Girl by Wayne Hoffman
Cover of the book Color Me Murder by Wayne Hoffman
Cover of the book Something She Can Feel by Wayne Hoffman
Cover of the book Purses and Poison by Wayne Hoffman
Cover of the book Deadly Intentions by Wayne Hoffman
Cover of the book Dearly Departed by Wayne Hoffman
Cover of the book Obsessed by Wayne Hoffman
Cover of the book Another Man Will by Wayne Hoffman
Cover of the book Mistletoe Murder by Wayne Hoffman
Cover of the book Show and Tell by Wayne Hoffman
Cover of the book Who Loves Ya, Baby? by Wayne Hoffman
Cover of the book Home for the Summer by Wayne Hoffman
Cover of the book Wicked Witch Murder by Wayne Hoffman
Cover of the book Spirit of the Wolf by Wayne Hoffman
Cover of the book Dirty Tricks by Wayne Hoffman
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy