Growing up in NJ I was very aware of Hamill as a journalist/columnist, but have never read any of his books. This sounds great. Echoing the sentiments of many here: I wish you could have been my teacher. The breadth of the books you've discussed so far is admirable, to say the least.
Hello Pat, thank you so much for introducing me to this book. I’m from Brooklyn New York as well and I know of Pete Hamil but I never heard of this book. My grandmother never learned English, only spoke. Yiddish and my mother spoke Yiddish and English, but never taught me. I returned to Judaism later in life and I’m studying the Torah and parts of theKabbalah with a friend in Jerusalem. I call my partner my Shabbos goy although I’m not Kosher or strictly observant. I don’t eat pork or shellfish though and I light the candles on Friday night. I remember the Brooklyn Dodgers and when they left for LA, they were called dem bums. I’m enjoying your series very much. I wish I had a teacher like you when I went to school way way back then. Aloha friend.
@@MarilynMayaMendoza hello, dear Marilyn! Michael Devlin, the boy in the novel, tells the Rabbi that they call the team “dem bums” when they become disillusioned with their performance! You will love this book! I used to teach my kids some Yiddish words and phrases when we read this book to go along with the Rabbi’s lessons. Such a richly expressive language. Really, you will adore this book! So great to hear from you, my friend!
@MarilynMayaMendoza I’ve never heard anyone talk about it here on BookTube. It was very popular when it came out in the 1990’s, and I thought it was a great book to teach because of the important themes it has. I think anyone who grew up in Brooklyn would certainly appreciate the way Pete Hamill creates a sense of time and place.
Every time I watch one of this series, I wish you had been my English teacher. I’d never heard of Pete Hamill or the book but it sounds so fabulous that now I want to read it. Brilliant Pat 😊
@@RaynorReadsStuff Debs, as a lifelong journalist, you would love Pete Hamill. He wrote mostly for the tabloids, but he wrote in depth about big topics, like Vietnam, 9-11, all things NY. He has one memoir, too, about alcoholism. But this little novel is a very special coming of age story. I think you’d love it. Thank you, as always, Debs, for this lovely comment.
I’ve been wanting to read Pete Hamil for a long time and now this has to be my first. It sounds like a perfect novel. I love the assignments you gave your students. So cool.
Wow, I got such a shock when I saw your thumbnail holding this book … you see, I have that exact edition and it was one of my grandfather’s favourite books!!! Thanks for reminding me of that in such a delightful way. Warm regards, Eleanor.
I had heard of Pete Hamill but have not read this book, or any of his books. You have inspired me to look for this novel. My father told me stories of getting a nickel for extinguishing the lights at a synagogue when he was a young boy. In addition, his immigrant father, my paternal grandfather, viewed baseball as a way to become American. I feel like this novel will hit home for me. Thank you.
I have never heard of Pete Hamill before, but the novel sounds incredibly interesting. I love this series that you do. You are very good at introducing books and explaining what makes them worth reading. Thank you again, Pat!
@@joshuacreboreads thank you, Josh. Pete was a big NY City journalist who was very well known in these parts. As a baseball player, you might really love the baseball history in this book too with Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Thanks, Josh.
@@TimeTravelReads thanks, Melissa. It’s a lovely little book. I don’t think it’s taught anywhere else, but it worked for us. Big, important ideas and themes to discuss-racism, prejudice, poverty, the effects of WWII, the need for heroes…There’s a lot there.
I've never heard of this book. Thank you for bringing it to the attention of your viewers! I appreciate you including some of the assignments from your lesson plans.
@@vintagesf thank you, Richard. Pete Hamill was a well known journalist in NY, but his fiction is less well-known, I think, even though he wrote at least ten novels.
I read this book years ago and loved it. I can’t find my copy of it now so may need to order for a reread. I’m loving these videos Pat, think we all wish you’d been our English teacher❤️
It really is a lovely story--very atmospheric. You feel like you are in Brooklyn in 1947. The whole story of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson runs throughout, and it's an important complement to the main story about the friendship between the Rabbi and Michael.
This book sounds great Pat. Like most commenters here, i wished you were my English teacher! I thoroughly enjoyed your insights, especially your expansion on the book’s themes. I bet your kids had some interesting assignments and ideas for comics.
Oh, interesting, Pat! I'm aware of Pete Hamill and I always associate him with NYC but I haven't actually read his work. This book sounds so engaging for a class novel study.
I read Snow in August a number of years ago. It is one of my favorites overall - certainly at the top of my list of favorite coming of age fiction. Don’t wait. Grab the book in your preferred format…It’s Wonderful.
@@constancecampbell4610 thanks, Constance. Most of my videos have ads. I’m not monetized. I have no say. RUclips has been putting ads in my videos all along. I have no choice in the matter at this point.
I love this series. I have heard of Pete Hamill but never read anything. This books sounds like it would generate some great discussions in a class. I'm going to add Pete Hamill to my list of authors to check out.
So glad to see your choice for this episode. Pete Hamill is one of those writers I keep meaning to read but never get around to. I have memories of him on talk shows in the 70s and 80s and recall him as a smart and charming raconteur who genuinely cared about issues that mattered. (And it didn’t hurt that he was quite handsome.) I’ve read some of his journalism over the years but have never picked up one of his books. Thanks for reminding me about him. 🙂
That sounds like a great novel I’ve never heard of. At first it all sounded rather dated, with the references to Captain Marvel and Billy Batson, etc., but when I heard about the shop keeper getting beat up I revised that opinion and thought, “Oh it sounds like good preparation for modern times”. I wouldn’t mind a history lesson about Old Prague either.
@@davidnovakreadspoetry the chapters on Old Prague are fascinating. The present tense of the novel is 1947 where a little kid is navigating the world without his father who was just killed in the war. And along comes the Rabbi, who is, of course, a survivor of the Holocaust. They find each other, and an incredible and unlikely friendship starts. I loved it.
@@Bookishtravels1 thank you for this lovely comment. The author was a big NY City journalist. It’s a lovely coming of age novel with lots of big themes which made it good for teaching.
@@anotherbibliophilereads it’s a lovely novel. I think it does a great job of depicting time and place-post-World War II NY-and there are some really big themes that made it a great book to discuss in class.
@ The audiobook is currently free on Audible for members. I snagged it. But I can’t listen to it until I’m done with my RWYOC if I want to count the pages for my goal.
@@anotherbibliophilereads I just snagged it too even though I own the hardcover and paperback editions. I didn’t realize that Audible had it. Thanks, Greg.
❤
♥
Growing up in NJ I was very aware of Hamill as a journalist/columnist, but have never read any of his books. This sounds great. Echoing the sentiments of many here: I wish you could have been my teacher. The breadth of the books you've discussed so far is admirable, to say the least.
@@Nina_DP thank you, dear Nina. ❤️
Hello Pat, thank you so much for introducing me to this book. I’m from Brooklyn New York as well and I know of Pete Hamil but I never heard of this book.
My grandmother never learned English, only spoke. Yiddish and my mother spoke Yiddish and English, but never taught me. I returned to Judaism later in life and I’m studying the Torah and parts of theKabbalah with a friend in Jerusalem.
I call my partner my Shabbos goy although I’m not Kosher or strictly observant. I don’t eat pork or shellfish though and I light the candles on Friday night.
I remember the Brooklyn Dodgers and when they left for LA, they were called dem bums.
I’m enjoying your series very much. I wish I had a teacher like you when I went to school way way back then. Aloha friend.
@@MarilynMayaMendoza hello, dear Marilyn! Michael Devlin, the boy in the novel, tells the Rabbi that they call the team “dem bums” when they become disillusioned with their performance! You will love this book! I used to teach my kids some Yiddish words and phrases when we read this book to go along with the Rabbi’s lessons. Such a richly expressive language. Really, you will adore this book! So great to hear from you, my friend!
@ hi Pat, I can’t believe I’ve never heard of the book. That’s why I love book tube and creators like you. Aloha friend.
@MarilynMayaMendoza I’ve never heard anyone talk about it here on BookTube. It was very popular when it came out in the 1990’s, and I thought it was a great book to teach because of the important themes it has. I think anyone who grew up in Brooklyn would certainly appreciate the way Pete Hamill creates a sense of time and place.
Every time I watch one of this series, I wish you had been my English teacher. I’d never heard of Pete Hamill or the book but it sounds so fabulous that now I want to read it. Brilliant Pat 😊
@@RaynorReadsStuff Debs, as a lifelong journalist, you would love Pete Hamill. He wrote mostly for the tabloids, but he wrote in depth about big topics, like Vietnam, 9-11, all things NY. He has one memoir, too, about alcoholism. But this little novel is a very special coming of age story. I think you’d love it. Thank you, as always, Debs, for this lovely comment.
I’ve been wanting to read Pete Hamil for a long time and now this has to be my first. It sounds like a perfect novel. I love the assignments you gave your students. So cool.
Thanks. It’s a terrific coming of age novel. It has a lot of gritty NY realism combined with some wonderful magical fantasy elements.
Wonderful episode! Pete Hamill is underrated and I love his novels!
@@thewestisthebest Thank you! I agree! 😊
Wow, I got such a shock when I saw your thumbnail holding this book … you see, I have that exact edition and it was one of my grandfather’s favourite books!!! Thanks for reminding me of that in such a delightful way. Warm regards, Eleanor.
Awww thank you for sharing this memory with me. It’s a very special book.
I had heard of Pete Hamill but have not read this book, or any of his books. You have inspired me to look for this novel. My father told me stories of getting a nickel for extinguishing the lights at a synagogue when he was a young boy. In addition, his immigrant father, my paternal grandfather, viewed baseball as a way to become American. I feel like this novel will hit home for me. Thank you.
I think you will love it, given what you are telling me about your own family history.
I have never heard of Pete Hamill before, but the novel sounds incredibly interesting. I love this series that you do. You are very good at introducing books and explaining what makes them worth reading. Thank you again, Pat!
@@joshuacreboreads thank you, Josh. Pete was a big NY City journalist who was very well known in these parts. As a baseball player, you might really love the baseball history in this book too with Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Thanks, Josh.
Pretty appropriate lessons for our time. TY Pat.
I think so too. Thank you! 🥰
I had never heard of this book... but after your discussion of it i may look for it to read. Thank you for another interesting book discussion!
Thank you so much for watching and commenting.
I've never heard of Snow in August. It sounds wonderful. Thanks for telling us about it.
@@TimeTravelReads thanks, Melissa. It’s a lovely little book. I don’t think it’s taught anywhere else, but it worked for us. Big, important ideas and themes to discuss-racism, prejudice, poverty, the effects of WWII, the need for heroes…There’s a lot there.
I've never heard of this book. Thank you for bringing it to the attention of your viewers! I appreciate you including some of the assignments from your lesson plans.
@@vintagesf thank you, Richard. Pete Hamill was a well known journalist in NY, but his fiction is less well-known, I think, even though he wrote at least ten novels.
I read this book years ago and loved it. I can’t find my copy of it now so may need to order for a reread. I’m loving these videos Pat, think we all wish you’d been our English teacher❤️
@@Ali-AvidReader thank you, Ali. You’re very kind.
You had me at "shared love of baseball" lol. I had not heard of this book before. It sounds great. I've added it to my list.
It really is a lovely story--very atmospheric. You feel like you are in Brooklyn in 1947. The whole story of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson runs throughout, and it's an important complement to the main story about the friendship between the Rabbi and Michael.
This book sounds great Pat. Like most commenters here, i wished you were my English teacher! I thoroughly enjoyed your insights, especially your expansion on the book’s themes. I bet your kids had some interesting assignments and ideas for comics.
@@kevintowle9665 thanks, Kevin. They did! Very creative responses.
Snow in August is one of my all-time favorite novels.
@@mariasmiles68 awww nice. It’s a very sweet book.
Oh, interesting, Pat! I'm aware of Pete Hamill and I always associate him with NYC but I haven't actually read his work. This book sounds so engaging for a class novel study.
@@readandre-read thanks, Angelia. It’s a lovely little novel and great for study with kids, though I haven’t heard of it being taught anywhere else.
Sounds like a wonderful book. Will add it to the never ending TBR pile.
@@krzysamm7095 it’s a lovely book. Very atmospheric-really creates a sense of post-World War NY. I loved the main characters.
I read Snow in August a number of years ago. It is one of my favorites overall - certainly at the top of my list of favorite coming of age fiction. Don’t wait. Grab the book in your preferred format…It’s Wonderful.
Thank you for this lovely comment! 😊
Hi, Pat. Thanks for telling us about this book. It sounds wonderful. (Did you know there are ads on this video? I hope it is because you chose it. 🤗)
@@constancecampbell4610 thanks, Constance. Most of my videos have ads. I’m not monetized. I have no say. RUclips has been putting ads in my videos all along. I have no choice in the matter at this point.
snow in august is one of my favorite all time books
@@marciaalbaum2597 it’s a very special book.
Interesting discussion. I had not heard of the author or book
@@stuartgriffin1001 he was more well known as a NY journalist, but he’s written a whole bunch of books.
😊
@@JessBookgirlTV 🥰
I love this series. I have heard of Pete Hamill but never read anything. This books sounds like it would generate some great discussions in a class. I'm going to add Pete Hamill to my list of authors to check out.
@@ariannefowler455 thanks, Arianne. I think it’s a lovely story with some BIG themes in it.
So glad to see your choice for this episode. Pete Hamill is one of those writers I keep meaning to read but never get around to. I have memories of him on talk shows in the 70s and 80s and recall him as a smart and charming raconteur who genuinely cared about issues that mattered. (And it didn’t hurt that he was quite handsome.) I’ve read some of his journalism over the years but have never picked up one of his books. Thanks for reminding me about him. 🙂
@@patriciah8579 thanks, Patricia. It’s a lovely little book with big themes.
This sounds like a great book! I’m also a child of Irish immigrants from Belfast, so the perspective interests me. Going on the wish list!
@@spreadbookjoy I didn’t know that about you, Jack! You’d love this book, I think.
I don’t know this book, but I want to now. This series just keeps getting better! ❤️
@@vickicoleman2474 awww thank you, Vicki!
Oh! On my list! Thank you! Have you read any Chaim Potok? I love “My Name is Asher Lev” and “I am the Clay”.
Thank you. Yes, I’ve read The Chosen and My Name Is Asher Lev. Wonderful!
Snow in August sounds like something I will really enjoy. I have ordered it. Thanks again, Pat.
@@lindawalker2451 aww thank you, Linda. It’s a lovely book.
That sounds like a great novel I’ve never heard of. At first it all sounded rather dated, with the references to Captain Marvel and Billy Batson, etc., but when I heard about the shop keeper getting beat up I revised that opinion and thought, “Oh it sounds like good preparation for modern times”. I wouldn’t mind a history lesson about Old Prague either.
@@davidnovakreadspoetry the chapters on Old Prague are fascinating. The present tense of the novel is 1947 where a little kid is navigating the world without his father who was just killed in the war. And along comes the Rabbi, who is, of course, a survivor of the Holocaust. They find each other, and an incredible and unlikely friendship starts. I loved it.
I would have loved to have been your student😊
Not heard of this book or the author but shows through how much you enjoyed it :)
@@Bookishtravels1 thank you for this lovely comment. The author was a big NY City journalist. It’s a lovely coming of age novel with lots of big themes which made it good for teaching.
@ Yes indeed 😊 Most welcome 😃
I have only read The Guns of Heaven by Hamill, a crime novel, and I don’t remember much. Snow In August sounds interesting.
@@anotherbibliophilereads it’s a lovely novel. I think it does a great job of depicting time and place-post-World War II NY-and there are some really big themes that made it a great book to discuss in class.
@ The audiobook is currently free on Audible for members. I snagged it. But I can’t listen to it until I’m done with my RWYOC if I want to count the pages for my goal.
@ well, hold onto it then. You have plenty to read, for sure. 😊
@@anotherbibliophilereads I just snagged it too even though I own the hardcover and paperback editions. I didn’t realize that Audible had it. Thanks, Greg.