Hi everyone! How are you all? It’s Friday, and it’s time for another review. Today, I’m reviewing Reuven Fenton’s debut novel, Goyhood.
Goyhood is set to be released on 28 May 2024 by Central Avenue and is 288 pages long.
The Plot
After learning they are Jewish as children, twin brothers Marty and David Belkin begin to grow apart when David leaves Georgia to study Judaism in New York, leaving David behind in the care of their less-than-perfect mother.
However, upon her untimely death many years later, the brothers learn that they aren’t actually Jewish after all. Marty’s whole life is thrown into chaos; now a Talmund Scholar and married into one of the world’s finest rabbinical families, he must convert immediately to save his marriage and way of life. The only problem is that he must wait a week, leading to the brothers embarking on a road trip in the interim, which ends up being one big surreal adventure with a chance of reconnection.
Characters
Marty (Mayer) Belkin
At twelve years old, Marty is awed by the presence of a menorah on the front lawn of a synagogue. Later that day, he discovers, to his wonderment, that he is Jewish when he and his brother return from their bike ride to find the new town rabbi on their doorstep speaking to their mother.
Marty studies with the rabbi for a time, and then when he is 13, he leaves his hometown of Moab, Georgia, for Brooklyn, New York, to study Judaism. However, many years later, when his mother passes away, Marty, now going by Mayer, is dismayed to learn that she has lied to him and his brother and that they are not actually Jewish at all. Having married into a great rabbinical family, he must convert before his wife finds out.
As well as suddenly finding himself a gentile, Marty must wrestle with his and David’s personal differences and their very different views of the world.
David Belkin
David is Marty’s older brother (by 44 seconds) and the complete antithesis of Marty.
At thirteen, he is left behind in the care of their mother when Marty moves away, leading them to grow apart and lead very different lives. While Marty marries into money, David struggles for a time, hopping from one career opportunity to the next before finding his place (as well as his riches) in the world of e-cigarettes.
Throughout their journey through the American South, David tries hard to become close again with Marty, with Marty blocking his attempts at every turn.
Ida Mae Belkin
Ida Mae is Marty and David’s mother. When she passes away, her death draws the estranged twins back together for her funeral after years of not speaking, which is when they learn about her deceit from the town rabbi, Yossi.
Yossi Kugel
Yossi is the town rabbi who becomes good friends with Ida Mae. He helps her to get a job working with him as his secretary, and the two form a strong bond over the years. When she passes away, Yossi is left to reveal Ida Mae’s biggest secret to her sons and, upon doing so, encourages them to take a trip together.
Sarah
Sarah is Mayer’s emotionally withdrawn wife. She is beautiful, forthright, and entirely in charge of everything in their lives. She even makes some pretty big decisions without Mayer’s involvement.
Popeye
Popeye is a friend the twins meet along their way to New Orleans. A stray dog, emaciated, with a docked tail and scarred face, he is rescued by David from his prison – a lamppost to which he has been tethered by some parashoot cord and taken along on their road trip, much to Mayer’s chagrin, who would have preferred his brother set the dog free and leave him to fend for himself – at least at first!
Charlayne
Charlayne, a beautiful young woman, is an acquaintance of David’s whom he meets up with while they’re in New Orleans. She’s a social media influencer and brand ambassador on her way to trek the Appalachian mountain trail from Georgia to Maine. She becomes the second of the brothers’ travelling companions after Popeye.
Writing Style
I was instantly and wholly invested in this story from the prologue’s first paragraphs. I was struck with such intense nostalgia for the summers of the early nineties, when, like the twins, my siblings and I would trek through the local countryside (albeit in England), sweating and seeking coolness from the shade of oak trees. I could feel those scenes so intensely.
The book is nicely paced and written with an easy-flowing style that wonderfully, almost sneakily, draws you in and keeps you hooked until the end.
As well as the marvellous style with which Fenton writes, I also love how he describes things; the settings are so rich and inviting – the word cinematic came to mind repeatedly, especially whilst following the brothers on their trip through America’s deep south.
I’m not American and have never visited the United States, but in reading Goyhood, I feel like I have. I especially loved the fantastic, almost magical descriptions of New Orleans; I felt transported there so vividly that I could smell the coffee from the cafes and hear the music on the street.
I tend to use the word vivid way too much in my reviews, yet here, it’s the only word that truly fits. The characters, the settings – everything feels vivid, vibrant and authentic. The dialogue spoken between the brothers is distinctly realistic. It is very much how siblings actually speak to one another. At least, it’s how I sometimes talk to mine.
There were many moments throughout the book when I felt myself relating to each of the characters, and none more so than Mayer in the moments when he struggles to find the words to eulogise his mother; he ends up resorting to a fair bit of hyperbole, which I appreciated.
I’m often irked when, at funerals, people feel the need to ‘nice-ify’ a person’s life, glossing over some of the more off-colour aspects of their personality and fluffing up their finer points. It happened with my own mother; as lovely and kind a woman as she was, she wasn’t perfect. At times, because of an array of things like mental health struggles and just pure bad temper, she could be rather harsh and mean. But, alas, I digress.
The story was fascinating and such an easy read. I read it across three bedtimes and felt frustrated that I had to keep putting it down to sleep!
If I had one nitpick, it would be that the chapters were a little longer than I usually prefer; I always like to end a reading session on a new chapter, and sometimes, it can be frustrating if they’re on the longer side and you’re sleepy. However, the frequent scene breaks throughout make for handy stopping points, so it wasn’t a huge issue.
I must admit, as well, that I’m neither Jewish nor religious in any way (my Catholicism having surpassed ‘lapsed’ decades ago), so I found myself having to look up a few words here and there, which didn’t detract anything from the story and I ended up learning a lot.
Final Thoughts
I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed enjoyed Goyhood. It isn’t the sort of story I tend to go for. I usually read science fiction, horror and fantasy, but a little while ago, I decided to broaden my horizons. So, when I was offered the chance to give Goyhood a read, I jumped at it. I’m incredibly pleased I did.
For a debut novel, I have to say I am impressed, and I am very much looking forward to reading more of Reuven Fenton’s work.
Please read this book. It will make you feel the gamut of emotions, and you might learn some things along the way!
I should also point out that I was given an advance reading copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I am giving Goyhood a solid 9/10.
Thank you, as ever, for stopping by to read my review. It really means a lot!
Until next time,
George
© 2024 GLT
Categories: Book Reviews, Reading
GEORGE L THOMAS 
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