People of the Book

GJC’s Jewish book reading group meets monthly, reading and discussing fiction and nonfiction books of Jewish interest written mostly (but not solely) by Jewish writers and chosen by the group. Volunteer group members lead the discussion. For more information and the link to access the Zoom meeting, please contact Nan Myers.

December’s book is “Absurdistan” by Gary Shteyngart.

After his gangster father murders an Oklahoma businessman in Russia, Misha Vainberg abandons hope that he’ll be granted a visa back to the U.S. where he went to college. Misha, who is Jewish, just wants to live in the South Bronx with his hot Latina girlfriend, and a corrupt consular officer in the fictional country of Absurdistan who will sell him a Belgian passport could be his salvation– until a civil war breaks out and Misha suddenly find himself installed as minister of multicultural affairs.