One of the things about living in a town with a rather concentrated Jewish population is that I can buy taiglach at the local market on the day of Erev Rosh Hashanah. True, buying taiglach was an error—Your Humble Blogger is crazy about honey, but with the apples-and-honey, and the honey-glazed carrots, and the honey cake, too much was enough already even without the taiglach. Still, taiglach.
Another is that the local branch of the library has all of the All-of-a-Kind Family books, shelved over with the series books. And when I couldn’t remember the author’s name, the librarian didn’t have to look it up. Are these still popular? They seem so dated. The whole thing, the urban poverty with its pretensions of—I was going to say gentility, but that’s an odd word under the circs—anyway, the ironed petticoats, the dusted front parlour, and the importance of pennies, all seem evoke another world entirely. Which, of course, is the point, and was the point even back when the books were written. Still.
One thing that (I hope) dates the book particularly is the attitude towards women. The girls accept their secondary status unquestioningly, and although they love the idea of going to shul with Papa for the holiday, they don’t expect to be an actual part of the congregation. Everybody understands what a tragedy it is for Papa to have five daughters and no sons, and when he weeps, alone, at the thought that the sixth will inevitably be a daughter as well, the reader is supposed to sympathize. And, of course, Mama doesn’t have a job, and although most women in their neighborhood work (mostly at needles, although there is a (Christian) library lady), it’s clear that such is the force of necessity, rather there being any non-monetary benefit to a job. Not to mention, the Lord forbid, independence.
chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek,
-Vardibidian.
I read as many of these books as could be found in my local public library when I was, oh, whatever the age they’re aimed at. Many times. I loved them dearly, and still have a fondness for them. Having grown up in an extremely whitebread town, I credit them with about 75% of my knowledge of Jewish beliefs and customs.
I can’t say as how I really recognized the attitude toward women in the book when I read them as a child; I guess that I lumped it in together with all of the other “another world” aspects of the books (the clothes, the pennies, etc.).
I started a project of re-reading them a couple of years ago (the juvenile collection at my library school had most or all of them) but didn’t get far – perhaps I should get back to that. I wonder if my current, less-whitebread (though equally Gentile) town’s public library has them?
Great Gooly Mooglies, they do! Well, some of them, anyway:
http://tinyurl.com/ejdxy
As a warning-the second book is More All-of-a-Kind Family, which I’ve just read, and is ninth on the list of Book Reports I Haven’t Done Yet. It isn’t very good, I’m afraid. There are a couple of good chapters, but on the whole, it didn’t work. I think there are six books, altogether, including (if I remember correctly) one about Ella and her husband after the War.
Thanks,
-V.
Rosh hashanah is here now. Happy rosh hashanah everybody. Enjoy, the two day holiday.
[This appears to be spam, so I’ve removed the link, but there’s no reason Gentle Readers should not have a nice Rosh Hashanah anyway. Thanks, -V.]