Sep 10, 20 as the subject matter demands, the lion seeker is an ambitious novel. Kenneth bonert s south african epic the lion seeker hasnt gotten much attention. The lion seeker by kenneth bonert book club discussion. Oct 15, 20 the lion seeker brings to life south africa, its jewish community, its energy and brawny vernacular, as isaac struggles toward his goals against the specter of a dark family secret and against his own impetuous temper and sensuous nature. Feb 26, 20 kenneth bonert s first novel, the lion seeker, won the national jewish book award, the edward lewis wallant award, and the canadian jewish book award. The lion seeker npr coverage of the lion seeker by kenneth bonert. Excerpt from the lion seeker by kenneth bonert, plus links. The lion seeker is a promising debut and is recommended to jewish and philosemitic. Sep 23, 20 the lion seeker, a 561page doorstop of a novel, is part bildungsroman, part immigrant saga about a redheaded, twofisted roughneck of unbridled chutzpah and limited conscience who claws, scratches and cheats his way out of poverty, spurred on by his eternally demanding motherwhom he ultimately cheats as well. The lion seeker brilliantly brings to life the world of south african jewry in all its raw energy and ribald vernacular.
In his debut novel, kenneth bonert tells the story of a family. The lion seeker by kenneth bonert kenneth bonerts ambitious debut novel arrives as this years only addition to random house of canadas new face of fiction series, following a long list of careerlaunching titles that includes annmarie macdonalds fall on your knees, ami mckays the birth house, and yann martels self. Not only do we now have books written by canadians of chinese, indian, and jewish. Kenneth bonerts first novel, the lion seeker, won the national jewish book award, the edward lewis wallant award, and the canadian jewish book award. A thrilling ride through the life of one fumbling young hero, the lion seeker is a glorious reinvention of the classic family and comingofage sagas. He was born in south africa and now lives in toronto, ontario. The lion seeker brings to life south africa, its jewish community, its energy and brawny vernacular, as isaac struggles toward his goals against the specter of a dark family secret and against his own impetuous temper and sensuous nature. Bonnets style is described as being a cross between don johnson in miami vice and james dean. The lion seeker paperback changing hands bookstore. The lion seeker explores moral themes on the large scale of humanity and the more intimate level of one mans nature. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers.
A brawny, brilliant debut novel about the epic struggles of an immigrant son in a darkening world. Will you find a way to lift your family out of johannesburgs poor inner city, to buy a house in. If the lion seeker wasnt the best jewish novel id read in 20, it was damn close. But its richly detailed account of jewish johannesburg makes it one of the best novels of the year. Bonerts special charm is the language in which he has written this book. When a novel grabs and holds me it tends to be the. The lion seeker kenneth bonert is a south africancanadian writer. The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. The lion seeker by kenneth bonert, a young toronto writer, adds to the unique diversity in canadian literature. It follows the adventures of jewish immigrant isaac helger as he grows from boy to man, navigating a delicate path between his father abels faith and belief in the rewards of hard work and his mother gitelles unbridled ambition for her son. Early on in kenneth bonerts raw and ambitious novel of workingclass jewish life in south africa in the 1930s and 40s, isaac helger, the angry. We are caughthearts open and wreckedbetween the urgent ambitions of a mother who knows what it takes to survive and a son straining against the responsibilities of the old world, even as he. Ken bonert s debut, the lion seeker, is a comingofage novel set primarily in johannesburg, south africa. Bookbrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Graham bonnet born 23 december 1947 is an english rock singer and songwriter. Set in 1980s south africa, this uneven literary thriller from national jewish book award winner bonert the lion seeker focuses on 16yearold martin helger, a bored student at a private rel. Fiction, historical the son of lithuanian jews who left the country in the 1920s and moved to south africa, isaac helger grows up. The lion seeker by kenneth bonert, a young toronto writer, adds to the unique. In the tradition of the great immigrant sagas, the lion seeker brings us isaac helger, son of lithuanian jewish immigrants, surviving the streets of johannesburg. He has recorded and performed as a solo artist and as a member of several hard rock and heavy metal bands including rainbow, the michael schenker group, alcatrazz, and impellitteri. And still farther on, it becomes something of a moral fable as isaac, ever more aware of what. Kenneth bonert s first novel, the lion seeker, won the national jewish book award, the edward lewis wallant award, and the canadian jewish book award. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle ebooks, audible audiobooks, and so much more. Kenneth bonert s second novel,the mandela plot, is simply brilliant.
Feb 22, 20 the lion seeker by kenneth bonert, a young toronto writer, adds to the unique diversity in canadian literature. The lion seeker, by kenneth bonert before world war ii, numerous jewish emigrants left lithuania for south africa. In his debut novel, kenneth bonert tells the story of a. Booklist south africanborn canadian writer bonert serves up a latterday exodus in this debut novel. The lion seeker kenneth bonert random house canada the governor generals literary awards will be announced on nov. A remarkably assured debut, the lion seeker is a riveting, lyrical, and profound journey towards the intersection of private lives and public destinies. Kenneth bonert has all the makings of a major novelist. Kenneth bonerts south african epic the lion seeker hasnt gotten much attention. None of the characters were particularly loveable but characters all the same. A profoundly moral exploration of how wider social forces act on families and individuals, it is the kind. A titanic novel about ashkenazi jews in south africa. The lion seeker ebook by kenneth bonert 9780547898414. Buy the paperback book the lion seeker by kenneth bonert at indigo. The son of lithuanian jewish immigrants, he runs around the streets of.
Less well known is that the country has a sizable jewish population, which also had to confront war and prejudice. Kenneth bonert audio books, best sellers, author bio. In the tradition of the great immigrant sagas, the lion seeker bri. We are caught hearts open and wrecked between the urgent ambitions of a mother who knows what it takes to survive and a son straining against the responsibilities of the old world, even as he. The life and times the lion seeker is noholdsbarred, bare. His debut novel the lion seeker won both the 20 national jewish book award for outstanding debut fiction 1 2 and the 20 edward lewis wallant award. The lion seeker was also a shortlisted nominee for the 20 governor generals award for englishlanguage fiction, and the 20 amazon. Before world war ii, numerous jewish emigrants left lithuania for south africa.
Mar 15, 20 the lion seeker by kenneth bonert knopf canada 576 pp. Discuss the lion seeker by kenneth bonert in an online book club. Such is the refrain in isaac helgers mind as he makes his way from redheaded hooligan to searching adolescent to striving young man on the make. The lion seeker arrives in bookstores this week, and bonert, who wrote for the canadian press and the pembroke observer before turning to fiction, has spent the better part of a past decade. A family saga set in wwiiera south africa offering both pageturning thrills and a painful meditation on destiny npr, all things considered. Kenneth bonert s first novel, the lion seeker, won the national jewish book award, the edward lewis wallant award, and the canadian jewish book award, and was a finalist for amazon canadas first novel award. How does the lion seeker use or upend these narrative traditions. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. The son of lithuanian jewish immigrants, he runs around the streets of johannesburg. The lion seeker by kenneth bonert knopf canada 576 pp.
Kenneth bonerts first novel, the lion seeker, won the national jewish book award, the edward lewis wallant award, and the canadian jewish book award, and was a finalist for amazon canadas first novel award. Kenneth bonert talks about the lion seeker, his first novel about a jewish emigrant family who settle in south africa before the second world war. Buy this book a stupid or a clever, a lion or a lamb. What other novels have intrigued readers in this same manner. Making ones way through the mixture of english, afrikaans, zulu, and yiddish, the reader. The mandela plot by kenneth bonert, paperback barnes. His debut novel the lion seeker won both the 20 national jewish book award for outstanding debut fiction and the 20 edward lewis wallant award. The lion seeker by kenneth bonert kenneth bonert s ambitious debut novel arrives as this years only addition to random house of canadas new face of fiction series, following a long list of careerlaunching titles that includes annmarie macdonalds fall on your knees, ami mckays the birth house, and yann martels self.
The lion seeker by kenneth bonert published by houghton mifflin harcourt publication date. September 10, 20 the recent history of south africa is often reduced to the boer wars and the antiapartheid struggle. Bonert s comingofage novel captures the reader because of its historical perspective, diverse characters, and narrative through the lives of immigrants. Set in south africa from 1920s to 2006, bonert s characters and plots are brilliantly drawn and thought out. Bonert succeeds at creating largerthanlife characters and stories that lure the reader through the novel but with so many it is difficult to develop them all.
A sequel of sorts to his first novel, the lion seeker, the sweep of bonert s writing in both books is amazing. When a novel grabs and holds me it tends to be the kind for lingering over, maximizing immersion. In this extraordinarily powerful novel, kenneth bonert brings alive the world of south african jewry in all its raw energy and ribald vernacular. Bonert was also a finalist for the sami rohr prize and the governor generals literary award. Click to read more about the lion seeker by kenneth bonert. In his debut novel, kenneth bonert tells the story of a family among. Oct 15, 20 a remarkably assured debut, the lion seeker is a riveting, lyrical, and profound journey towards the intersection of private lives and public destinies. The lion seeker by kenneth bonert overdrive rakuten. Its a big, sweeping novel about a jewish emigrant family who settle in south africa before the second world war. Comedic, searing, lyrical and with a snapperfect ear for dialogue, the lion seeker is a profoundly moral exploration of how wider social forces shape us and shatter us, echoing through history with.
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