Alan NewmanCritiques

Good Heart is a multi-generational story presented in disjointed chapters that jump between years. At first I felt interested in the story, but I found the writing to be also disjointed. I found the reading slow-going, and was only able to read half the book before I lost interest. This is because, at this point, I felt the writing was pedantic and instructional. I thought I was reading a novel. If I wanted to learn about Israel I would purchase a non-fiction book about it. For these reasons, I was unable to finish reading this book.

I received this book in a LibraryThing early reviewers giveaway. I was really moved by this story! The relationships were wonderful. I also found this book educational especially learning about the founding of the modern Israeli state. I loved the stories from Indiana because I also grew up there as well. I highly recommend this book! I really loved it.

Good Heart is a story about a jewish family and a christian family over 3 generations...

a wonderful book, I read with interest how both families were described, thank you for this librarything early review.

Review: Good Heart by Alan Newman.

This is an Early Reviewers book about a Jewish family and a Christian family’s insight over three generations. What’s fascinating is how Newman interweaves Israel’s history ad culture into the story. I was hoping for more information about Israel but what was written was interesting. Some of the personal stories stated in this book are symbolic to success and sacrifices through three generations of two different families and their interaction.

The story is about the friendship between two boys of different cultures who live in America bringing two families together over the years. The reader is taken through tribulations of both family’s plus the belief, honesty and respect they had for each other. I was captivated by how they all achieved social prominence and compassion for even ancestry history that came between them. I enjoyed reading how the friends planned a trip to Israel to view the sights and see how Israel has changed through generation of advancement slowly like experiencing an evolution.

The book was great, well written, creative developed characters and the history of a Country I knew nothing about.½

I do not care for this book. Plot line seemed hackneyed. Sensitive subject matter, but the story line did not work for me.

This was a wonderfully nuanced book about two families growing up in the same town in Indiana with a deep connection to Israel. It was clear that the author had an in depth knowledge of Israel and the nuances around the cultural and language differences. While it was a powerful and, at times, heart-wrenching, I truly enjoyed reading this book.

“Good Heart” by Alan Newman, is a glimpse into how a true friendship between a Jew and Christian can transcend all barriers in sharing family history and traditions. It tells of unwavering friendship from boyhood throughout their lives, an inspiring tale of how a devout pro-Israel Christian, a lone soldier from USA, who served with the IDF in combat in Israel share their lives. It is refreshing to learn how the families can bond and share despite differences in each others’ history and differences. This is a book you will want to share with your children and grandchildren.

Sunie Levin MEd

This story did pull me in but it was missing something. I was expecting it to be overly political but it actually wasn't. I just felt that it did not go into the depth I would expect from a multigenerational saga which is a lot to ask of a 250 page book. I did like it I just wanted more from it.

I was excited to read "Good Heart" as I have always had an interest in Israel and the conflict that is at the heart of this country. I had hoped this novel would help me to finally understand what tears this country apart. This did not happen for me. I did catch glimpses into the heart of this country but mostly from an American point of view.
I also was confused by the language used by the writer. I kept wondering if this book was written for a younger audience as I felt talked down to in the descriptive writing. Perhaps he author is not really a professional writer.½

"Good Heart" by Alan Newman is a charming novel that introduces interesting characters who we watch mature into their meaningful adulthoods. What is fascinating about this book is how the author cleverly weaves Israeli history and culture into the story. We meet a cast of characters like Danny, Bobby, Dahlia and May. We learn their individual stories and we are each exposed to the cultures of people from other countries and get to understand different religious and secular points of view.

I enjoyed the author's interspersed wisdom throughout this book. Readers will appreciate the rich history of Israel and learn about dedicated people who founded and improved the plight of so many settlers who were escaping war ravaged lands. The personal stories revealed in this book as part of the plot are symbolic of the triumphs and sacrifices of the Jewish people.

We follow a Jewish and a Christian family over three generations. We witness how their lives connect with each other. Readers will grow personally from the experience of reading this novel. I recommend it especially for high school age readers! At times, the writing can be a bit didactic but all in all this is a book worth reading!

While this was not really my type of reading, I appreciate the opportunity to read about a culture I know nothing about. Good Heart is the story of three generations of two different families and the interactions of these families over the years.
Thank you LibraryThing for allowing me to read Good Heart.

Described as an interweaving story of three generations of a Christian American family and a Jewish family, I was expecting "Good Heart" to be a simple read. It is a story of faith, conviction, friendship, openness, and respect. At a time when we are bombarded with division and growing intolerance, it is refreshing to become absorbed in a tale where humanity rises above differences and stereotypes are eliminated.

While only 245 pages in the length, the author does an outstanding job of moving the characters through life without sacrificing the task of letting the reader grasp the complexities of life. Great care has also been taken to avoid political details or to fall into a history lesson. He explains in his acknowledgements that his goal was to whet the reader's interest in learning more of the history and culture. He has succeeded.

Prior generation's values and decisions have shaped the subsequent generations - and is a reminder to take hold of interests, determination, and response to your convictions, whether militarily or peacefully, is an uplifting witness to others.

The acceptance and respect for Christian and Jewish faith is brought closer as three older couples visit Israel. The lens through which the Christian looks views the landscape vs. the Jewish eyes is different, but each respects and allows the other to savor their own experience. When the travelers are joined at the Wall, each places their prayers in the same Wall but are praying to the God of their own understanding. Unity.

Israel's history is still unfolding and "Good Heart" is a welcomed read into their past and the sacrifices made along with those that continue to be made on behalf of those who call her -- Home.

I received my copy of "Good Heart" through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program and I would encourage others to discover this book.

Thanks to LibraryThing and Gefen Publishing for this ARC.

I loved books about generations, Jewish families, especially and this was one of my favorites.

Two friends from a small town in Indiana, Bobby and Danny, Bobby is Christian, Danny is Jewish and they form a friendship over the years of their lives despite being different faiths and how Bobby's father was involved in the Holocaust himself.

It evolves into their families, their lives, and ultimately, Bobby's friendship with Arnie in his later life in FL. Not going to spoil on how they met though.

A wonderful book that will stay with me.

Good Heart by Alan Newman begins with a military action by the Israeli Defense Forces in a Gaza town and you are not really sure if this is a flashback or flash forward, who this Yoni is or what is his connection to the story. The next chapter goes back to Indiana and sets the groundwork for the story; the Langfords who are Christian and the Baransons who are Jewish, how they arrived in Indiana and came to be friends. There are some plot surprises, but it's not a complicated tale. It is truly a story of friendship. The story introduces readers to the forming of the State of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces, pro-Israel political action groups and Christian Zionists, through these two families and their circle of friends and family.

The characters seemed familiar, even if you are not from the Midwest, these could have people we met in our home towns anywhere in America Or people we met in college, like Danny Baranson and Bobby Langford met their wives. The trip the friends take to Israel seems like a trip we could take with our friends, to view the Holy Land or see the sights of modern Israel. Descriptions of the sights and sounds are very vivid, making us want to travel to this ancient, modern land backed up against the Mediterranean Sea. We might even learn something while we're there, as we did by reading this book.½

I felt like I was apart of the story. I felt like I was in it and deeply enjoyed the book I recommend everyone to get this book.