Overview
A new story collection from the razor-sharp wit of Tova Reich, who was described by Jonathan Safran Foer as "fearless, hysterically funny, and with the sharpest eye for truth and falsity. . . a brilliant writer."
The searing and hilarious satire of Tova Reich knows no boundaries. Here in this story collection, she explores end-of-life truths and surprises, daring to make sense of the dilemma of the meaning of Jewishness in a world that is drowning in violence. In “Managed Care,” a beloved son drafts his mother’s obituary in advance, and hastens her demise as a final act of filial devotion. In “Solidarity,” the recipient of a widow’s generosity turns violently against her. In “Mengele in Jerusalem,” as the title suggests, we meet the former Nazi war criminal in the most unlikely of places.
Then there is the title novella, in which a convert must carry on after the death of her domineering mistress, herself also a convert. In “Gifted and Talented,” the doting mother of a gifted child catalogues her losses. And finally, in “Moscow Night in New York,” a group of Russian ex-pats gathers in Brooklyn to wonder why all the important things have been washed away by all the unimportant ones. When it is over, our host finds his wife weeping at the kitchen sink. “Why?” he asks. “Because I’m out of cigarettes,” she replies furiously.
In her previous work, Reich has turned a Borscht Belt resort into Camp Jeffrey Epstein where sex offenders find their just desserts (Camp Jeff, Seven Stories, 2024), she has shown aspects of the Holocaust legacy as a competitive game of one-uppance (My Holocaust, 2007). Here, Reich turns up the heat to greet our end-times.
The searing and hilarious satire of Tova Reich knows no boundaries. Here in this story collection, she explores end-of-life truths and surprises, daring to make sense of the dilemma of the meaning of Jewishness in a world that is drowning in violence. In “Managed Care,” a beloved son drafts his mother’s obituary in advance, and hastens her demise as a final act of filial devotion. In “Solidarity,” the recipient of a widow’s generosity turns violently against her. In “Mengele in Jerusalem,” as the title suggests, we meet the former Nazi war criminal in the most unlikely of places.
Then there is the title novella, in which a convert must carry on after the death of her domineering mistress, herself also a convert. In “Gifted and Talented,” the doting mother of a gifted child catalogues her losses. And finally, in “Moscow Night in New York,” a group of Russian ex-pats gathers in Brooklyn to wonder why all the important things have been washed away by all the unimportant ones. When it is over, our host finds his wife weeping at the kitchen sink. “Why?” he asks. “Because I’m out of cigarettes,” she replies furiously.
In her previous work, Reich has turned a Borscht Belt resort into Camp Jeffrey Epstein where sex offenders find their just desserts (Camp Jeff, Seven Stories, 2024), she has shown aspects of the Holocaust legacy as a competitive game of one-uppance (My Holocaust, 2007). Here, Reich turns up the heat to greet our end-times.
While major retailers like Amazon may carry The Convert (Five Stories and a Novella), we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.
We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.
Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of The Convert (Five Stories and a Novella).