The Hebrew Tutor of Bel-Air

Content Type: Book Reviews, Feminist Review, Nonfiction Subject Matter: feminism, gender, religion, romantic relationships, sex Published: Feminist Review

Originally Posted On:  The Feminist Review

By Allan Appel
Coffee House Press

The back copy for The Hebrew Tutor paints a picture that is enticing:

Under threat of nuclear war and the gorgeous California sun, the two [Norman and Bayla] forge a tentative truce. They may not be learning Hebrew, but through the miracle of motorcycles and the epiphanies of the road, Bayla and Norman just might learn to shape their own destinies. And—for a few precious hours—become a latter-day Bonnie and Clyde searching for a reverse Jewish nose job in the City of Angels.

This paragraph implies that we will spend quite a bit of time with “the two,” Norman the Hebrew tutor and Bayla the tutored. It implies that this time will be full of adventure, riding motorcycles, under threat from things unseen, playing at Bonnie and Clyde. It suggests a cheeky ‘eff you’ to Hollywood dogma. All of this happens… but it doesn’t receive the focus the copy suggests.

Read More: http://feministreview.blogspot.com/2009/08/hebrew-tutor-of-bel-air.html