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.

March’s book is “I.M. Memoir” by Isaac Mizrahi.

Fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi includes his early life as a yeshiva boy in the Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn who favored the arts over Judaic studies, his celebrated career as a fashion designer actor, writer, producer, television host and cabaret performer. He negotiates his repressive, lonely childhood — punctuated with insults and mockery from rabbis and schoolmates alike — by hiding in a self-made bedazzled world. Mizrahi’s life changes drastically when he’s allowed to take the subway every day into Manhattan to attend the High School of Performing Arts. He begins to come to terms with his depression, his anxiety about being gay and his tortured battle with his weight.