Foreskin's Lament: A Memoir

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Foreskin's Lament: A Memoir
Shalom Auslander - Foresin's Lament - A Memoir.jpg
Cover of first run hardcover edition
AuthorShalom Auslander
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreMemoir
PublisherRiverhead Hardcover
Publication date
October 4, 2007
Pages320
ISBN 1-59448-955-6
OCLC 122425087
813/.6 B 22
LC Class PS3601.U85 Z46 2007
Preceded by Beware of God: Stories (2005) 

Foreskin's Lament: A Memoir is a book by Shalom Auslander. The book chronicles his upbringing as an ultra-Orthodox Jew, and his efforts to break free from it. Portions of the book have been featured in various media, including the PRI program This American Life .

Critical reception

The Globe and Mail called the tome "humorous, but burdened", and said that "the book ably captures the strain between elements of Judaism". [1] USA Today called it "edgy" and "bitterly funny". [2] People magazine also called it "hilarious", and gave the book three-out-of-four stars. [3] Regarding it as "one of its best memoirs", Time magazine called the memoir "blackly funny". [4] More conservatively, Entertainment Weekly gave the book a B+, calling Auslander a "gifted writer", but concluding: "He's never going to find [something deep and rich in his problematic past] lunging after every sophomoric laugh." [5]

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References

  1. A. J. Levin. Globe and Mail, November 24, 2007: D28
  2. Minzesheimer, Bob (December 6, 2007), "Experience that 'very special gypped feeling'". USA Today
  3. Abrahams, Andrew (October 29, 2007), "Foreskin's Lament". People. 68 (18):53
  4. No byline (October 15, 2007), "Foreskin's Lament". Time. 170 (16):79
  5. Reese, Jennifer (October 5, 2007), "Shtick Figure". Entertainment Weekly (957):73