Evening Book Club's Discussion of Snow in August by Pete Hamill

The evening book club had a lively discussion about Pete Hamill's Snow in August. The book is about the friendship that develops between Rabbi Hirsch and Michel Devlin, a catholic, in Brooklyn during the years 1946 and 1947. Some members of the group disliked the book. Others loved it. One of the first comments made a member made was she was surprised and amused that it is a fairy tale. Other initial comment was there is a lot of detail in the book, and more can be gained from it from a second read. Someone questioned why Michael was allowed to go out in a blizzard to serve as an altar boy at daily Mass. Some thought it was because he was a staunch catholic, and nothing would prevent him from going to Mass. Also, he didn't want to let the priest down, who he felt a connection to. One member who has a 10 year old son said she wouldn't be able to keep her son out of a blizzard. It also was commented that Michael was mature for an eleven year old; he was the man of the house since his father died in World War II. Many people liked the relationship between the Rabbi and Michael, and how they followed the story of Jackie Robinson. Jackie's battle with prejudice gave courage to Michael to fight prejudice in his own neighborhood. When the Rabbi is attacked by a gang, Michael retaliates by creating a Golem, a mystical creature who takes revenge on the gang. The Rabbi had tried to create a Golem in World War II, but he failed. The group thought Michael succeeded because he had more of a belief in self and in God. The Rabbi lost hope after his wife was taken by the Nazis. At the end of the book, the Rabbi is reunited with his wife, and they are dancing. Everyone took this to mean that the Rabbi died. One person thought the ending could have just been Michael imagining in his head that the Golem came. Someone thought the ending was a metaphor. Some people had trouble with the swearing in the book. Others thought it would not have been as realistic without the swearing. Almost everyone liked Michael's mother Kate. She was good with the Rabbi, and when her son was in danger, she found a way to move out of the neighborhood to protect him. One person commented that she thought it was nice that Michael wanted his mother to be with somebody. He wasn't possessive of his mother. The group talked about the scene at the Ebbets Field ballpark and how real the author made it. They could feel the bleachers, hear the baseball, and smell the hot dogs. Someone brought up if kids have as many as heroes now as they did in Michael's time. One person said no. Another person said the media exposes more of the personal lives of people which makes them harder to appear heroic. Others said that there still are heroes like Obama, or parents, or different types, athletes and non-athletes. Most thought the Rabbi was not a hero to Michael but an equal. They thought the priest was more of a hero and father figure to him. One person disagreed and thought the Rabbi was a father figure to Michael. This discussion was a great way to kick off the first meeting of the new evening book club.