Joy Comes in the Morning, Jonathan Rosen
Joy Comes in the Morning, Jonathan Rosen
1 Rating(s)
List: $22.95 | Sale: $16.07
Club: $11.47

Joy Comes in the Morning

Author: Jonathan Rosen, Yuri Rasovsky

Narrator: Lorna Raver

Unabridged: 13 hr 11 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/26/2005

Synopsis

Deborah Green is a woman of passionate contradictions, a rabbi struggling with her own doubts and desires. Her life changes when she visits the hospital room of Henry Friedman, an older man who has attempted suicide. His parents were murdered in the Holocaust when he was a child, and all his life he has struggled with painful questions. Can happiness come after such loss, or does the very wish profane the dead? Can religious promises ever be fulfilled?Deborah’s encounter with Henry draws her into his world, which includes his wife, Helen, a photographer fiercely devoted to her husband but frightened by him, too; his son, Lev, a science reporter who left his fiancée at the altar; and Lev’s best friend from childhood, Neal, whose life fell apart after a psychotic break. As Deborah and Lev fall in love, they strive to bind themselves to something sacred in the midst of modern chaos.

About Jonathan Rosen

Jonathan Rosen is the author of two novels: Eve's Apple and Joy Comes in the Morning, and three nonfiction books, including the highly acclaimed The Best Minds, finalist for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Biography/Memoir. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, New Yorker, The Atlantic , and numerous anthologies.

About Yuri Rasovsky

Yuri Rasovsky (1944–2012) was the leading writer, producer, and director of audio drama in the United States. Also a distinguished actor, narrator, and critic, his numerous honors include two Peabody Awards, eight Audie Awards, and a Grammy.

About Lorna Raver

Lorna Raver, named one of AudioFile magazine’s Best Voices of the Year, has received numerous Audie nominations and AudioFile Earphones Awards. An experienced stage actress, she has also guest-starred on many top television series and starred in director Sam Raimi’s film Drag Me to Hell. Among her many Blackstone titles are The Age of Innocence, Up from Orchard Street, The Lodger, Selected Readings from the Portable Dorothy Parker, and Diamond Ruby.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Judy

Wow, another five-star book! I'm going to have to alter my self-image as a book-review curmudgeon, or stop reading books recommended by friends. (Who recommended this one? Whoever you are, thank you!) This book hit me close to home, as it concerns a woman rabbi whose professional persona ricochets be......more

Goodreads review by Patty

It is amazing what serendipity does to expand my reading pleasure. This talking book was a shot in the dark and I really enjoyed it. I know very little about Jonathan Rosen, but this story of a contemporary woman rabbi has whet my appetite for more of his writing. Rabbi Green has a pretty good life.......more

Goodreads review by Stephanie

Parts of this book were so beautiful, inspiring and moving. I loved the themes of faith, culture, history and religion - but other parts were extremely hard to relate to and less enjoyable for me.......more

Goodreads review by Jill

I enjoyed how the author brought Judaism into the everyday life of his characters. There are so many ways to be a Jew, and this book explored some of them. It made me think about how we deal with faith, doubt, science, and the past.......more

Goodreads review by Rachel

I feel like I’ve been waiting to read a book like this for a long time. Even if it was, at times, veering into “autofiction.” :P At the turn of the 21st century, Deborah Green is a Reform rabbi who is kinda treading water. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say that like many people, one element of her l......more

Quotes

“Lorna Raver is a marvelous performer whose depth and ability to reveal character transform a beautifully written novel about a loving family into a rare listening experience. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.” AudioFile

“Offers a rare and vibrant portrait of a contemporary Rabbi.”   San Francisco Chronicle

“Beautiful...[Joy Comes in the Morning] fills the reader with happiness at the most unexpected moments. Mr. Rosen leads the reader through his characters emotions with old-fashioned assurance, and his dual mastery of sincere religiosity and searing embarrassment promises an explosive future for the family romance.”
New York Sun

“Exquisitely attuned to the vagaries of the inner self and the richness of Jewish spirituality, Rosen has created a marvelously accessible and touching novel that is at once profoundly philosophical and simply radiant.” Booklist

Awards

  • AudioFile Earphones Award
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