I was given this book by a friend who knows that I would like to learn Yiddish someday. Lots of really interesting things about the language and the customs, attitudes, and worldview both of and in it. ( )

I read up to page 139 years ago, and never felt the urge to continue. I seem to recall that the author annoyed me at one point by being overly condescending in his assumption of what any real Jew would know or how they would have been raised. I'm still interested in Yiddish and will seek out another book on the topic eventually.

Actual rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. A bit of a lengthy read - I took a four year break (!!!) because the first time I tried to read it, it was too dense for me - but definitely a delightful look at Yiddish and a good taste of future reads in the same vein. ( )

A more serious version of some of the other Yiddish culture books I own. Personally, I think that makes it drier than it should be.

I really wanted to like this book and like the curate's egg, it was good in parts. Wex tells us early on that Yiddish is the language of complaint and sets out to prove that statement the entire rest of the book. The book is very scholarly and much of it is of interest but still, towards the end I was so depressed it was a struggle to finish it. Yiddish may be the language of complaint but its complaints turned humorous in possibly the most onomatopoeic language in the world. (Does schmuck sound anything but a stupid person? Does a schloff not sound like the nap you need after too big a lunch?)

Jewish humour is a very strong strand in the humour of the US. Where the prevailing paradigm is to be on the side of the winner, always to have great self-esteem and to look good in the eyes of the world, the humour is the opposite: the small man who triumphs despite the odds. Two of the most well-known proponents of this are Woody Allen and Mel Brooks and where would they be without their joyous use of Yiddish? Indeed where would New Yorkers be if all the yiddish words were taken from their slang?

The book would be best enjoyed by dipping into it now and again, no point in being heroic and finishing it straight through. A good book, a worthy book, but enjoyable - hmmmm? ( )