Snow in August

A Novel

By: Pete Hamill

Narrated by: Steven Jay Cohen

Deeply affecting and wonderfully evocative of old New York, Snow in August is a brilliant fable for our time and all time - and another triumph for Pete Hamill.

Brooklyn, 1947. The war veterans have come home. Jackie Robinson is about to become a Dodger. And in one close-knit working-class neighborhood, an 11-year-old Irish Catholic boy named Michael Devlin has just made friends with a lonely rabbi from Prague.

Snow in August is the story of that unlikely friendship - and of how the neighborhood reacts to it. For Michael, the rabbi opens a window to ancient learning and lore that rival anything in Captain Marvel. For the rabbi, Michael illuminates the everyday mysteries of America, including the strange language of baseball. But like their hero Jackie Robinson, neither can entirely escape from the swirling prejudices of the time. Terrorized by a local gang of anti-Semitic Irish toughs, Michael and the rabbi are caught in an escalating spiral of hate for which there's only one way out - a miracle....

©1997 Deidre Enterprises, Inc. (P)2020 Tantor

Just what we need

This atmospheric fable is spot on for late forties Brooklyn. ( I didn't grt there until the early 50's but the atmosphere rings true,) The fable is uplifting and "chicken soup for the soul."

a fairy tale we all need

what happens when Jackie robinson, a rabbi, a 12-year-old Irish alter boy and a golem get together? to find out you'll have to read this book!

A favorite of mine beautifully performed

I have loved this story since it was first published. What a gift to find it on audible and narrated with such heart.

Fabulous.

Extremely engaging, probing, and well written social commentary. A narrative that is ageless and relevant to today’s world. Read it to the end-everyone!

A good book to listen to when you’re having trouble sleeping

Took me a long while to get through this book. Hard to listen to without falling asleep.

Highly recommended

Pete Hamill is a master story teller. He seamlessly weaves the essence of New York history with stories of daily living. These stories, “North River”, “Forever” and here also “Snow in August” are brought to life by the harmony of realism and the occasional thrill of magic that only Pete can create so perfectly. Having just finished Snow in August, I struggle to choose which one of his books is the best. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a masterpiece.

Overdrawn plot with disappointing ending

This story had many good aspects like character development. However the auther uses an irritating plot device where the primary character is present in events that took place hundreds of years earlier. This insults the reader by having the lead character explain what took place in the past. The story is very well written when discussing the race and religious views. The mystical ending takes away from a plot which was real and impactful. I couldn't recommend it to a friend, but I am glad I read it for the race and religious details. That is why I gave it 3 stars. This could have been a magnificent novel. Too bad.

A painful feel good story

A spellbinding dissertation on tolerance, intolerance & fear with a somewhat surprising ending. In fact the ending is a little improbable but leaves one with the feeling of satisfaction.
I recommend this book to everyone especially those interested in Jewish mysticism.

A Miracle of Faith

I love everything about this book. Once I began it I could not stop listening unit it was finished. The writing is beautiful and the story unfolds at a pace that draws you forward with revelation after revelation. I will probably re-read it several times!