UNFINISHED PEOPLE

This description and analysis of the Jewish immigrants who flocked to New York from Eastern Europe between the 1880’s and 1920’s is liberally glossed with personal reminiscence of the author’s Depression-era youth. An accompanying CD, available separately by mail order, offers specially recorded performances of music (mentioned in the book) that was central to this culture. Except for odd pronunciations of Hebrew and Yiddish, Anna Fields gives an unidiomatic but competent interpretation of this touching and nostalgic volume. She is best when she allows herself to get caught up in the author’s warm descriptions of her youth. Of course, these passages give her the most to work with, for the author has invested much more in her memories than in her thesis, which is lame, and analysis, which is superficial. Fields amplifies the book’s primary strength--the making comprehensible a culture that seems alien even to the children of the author’s generation. In this light, Fields's GOYIFICATION of the text seems apt, even necessary. Y.R. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 00]