People of the Book
On People of the Book, award-winning author Meryl Ain chats with notable authors, and brings you the best in books with Jewish content. From novels to memoirs to short stories to scholarly tomes, we cover a wide range of reads. Our freewheeling conversations are thought provoking and intimate. They span historical themes, contemporary issues, the writing process, and the influences that inspire and empower writers to tell their stories and share them with the world.
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Alex Kor: A Blessing, Not a Burden, a memoir from the child of two holocaust survivors
Meryl chats with Alex Kor about his 2024 memoir, A Blessing, Not a Burden, which chronicles his incredible journey as the child of two Holocaust survivors to his present day mission of keeping alive his parents’ legacy. They also discuss his mother’s controversial decision, as a Mengele twin, to forgive the Nazis. Orig
Meryl chats with her bibliophile cousin, 99-year-old Arthur Fischman, about his love of reading. During the past three years, he’s read 235 books on audio due to diminished eyesight. They also talk about family, and the importance of maintaining a positive attitude as we age. Arthur Fischman was born in Newark, New Jer
Michelle Cameron discusses her new novel, Napoleon's Mirage, sequel to Beyond the Ghetto Gates
Meryl chats with Michelle about her new novel, Napoleon’s Mirage (November 12, 2024). They discuss how Michelle came to write this sequel to Beyond the Ghetto Gates and the themes she wanted to raise for readers. They also talk about the role of women in history, Napoleon and his relationship to the Jews, and antisemit
Bylines and Blessings: Judy Gruen's memoir about balancing career, family, and Jewish values
Meryl chats with Judy Gruen about her 2024 memoir, Bylines and Blessings, which chronicles her journey to pursue a career in journalism with an Orthodox lifestyle. They talk about balancing motherhood with both a career and a commitment to Jewish values. They also discuss the current wave of antisemitism and its impact
Encore Presentation: Meryl Frank's memoir UNEARTHED & the important lessons of the Holocaust
Meryl chats with Meryl Frank about her new memoir, Unearthed: A Lost Actress, a Forbidden Book, and a Search for Life in the Shadow of the Holocaust. They discuss the author’s multi-year, multi-country research journey to unravel the story of what happened to her cousin, Franya Winter, a celebrated actress in the Yiddi
Esther Goldenberg chats with Meryl about researching & writing The Scrolls of Deborah
Meryl chats with Esther Goldenberg about her new novel, The Scrolls of Deborah, Book One in the Desert Songs Trilogy. They discuss how Esther came to write about this Biblical narrative, and how she melded Bible stories with a feminist perspective. They also talk about historical fiction, Esther’s writing and research
