BOOKS
Continued from Page 19
some of the big questions in life: how do we cope with grief?
How does living change when we realize we’re not invincible?
Does knowing our likely fate make it harder or easier to face the
future? How do you motivate yourself to go on your OkCupid
date when you’re struggling with your own mortality? Written
in her inimitable, wry and insightful voice, Edelstein’s memoir is
by turns heartbreaking, hopeful and yet also disarmingly funny.

This Really Isn’t About You is a book about finding your way in
life. Which is to say, it’s a book about discovering you are not
really in control of that at all.”
7. The Magnificent Esme Wells
by Adrienne Sharp
Want to go to Las Vegas this summer
but maybe it’s not in the cards? (Get
it? Because gambling? Sorry.) Read this
coming-of-age story instead, narrated
by the 20-year-old Esme that moves
between pre-WWII Hollywood and
post-war Vegas.

“Esme Silver has always taken care of
her charming ne’er-do-well father, Ike
Silver, a small-time crook with dreams of
making it big with Bugsy Siegel. Devoted
to her daddy, Esme is often his ‘date’ at the racetrack, where she
amiably fetches the hot dogs while keeping an eye to the ground
for any cast-off tickets that may be winners. In awe of her moth-
er, Dina Wells, Esme is more than happy to be the foil who gets
the beautiful Dina into meetings and screen tests with some of
Hollywood’s greats. When Ike gets an opportunity to move to
Vegas — and, in what could at last be his big break, to help the
man she knows as ‘Benny’ open the Flamingo Hotel — life takes
an unexpected turn for Esme. A stunner like her mother, the
young girl catches the attention of Nate Stein, one of the Strip’s
most powerful men.”
8. The Female Persuasion
by Meg Wolitzer
This one has been on my list since it came
out in April. The Interestings author takes a
look at love, desire, womanhood and ambi-
tion in this story People called “Equal parts
cotton candy and red meat, in the best way.”
“Greer Kadetsky is a shy college fresh-
man when she meets the woman she hopes
will change her life. Faith Frank, dazzlingly
persuasive and elegant at 63, has been a
central pillar of the women’s movement
for decades, a figure who inspires others
to influence the world. Upon hearing Faith speak for the first time,
Greer — madly in love with her boyfriend, Cory, but still full of
longing for an ambition that she can’t quite place — feels her inner
world light up. And then, astonishingly, Faith invites Greer to make
something out of that sense of purpose, leading Greer down the most
exciting path of her life as it winds toward and away from her meant-
to-be love story with Cory and the future she’d always imagined.” l
mstern@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0740
GIVE GIFTS OF ISRAEL BONDS
F O R AL L C EL EB R ATO RY O C C A SI O N S
Mazel Tov
BONDS STARTING AT
$100 eMitzvah*
BONDS STARTING AT
$36 INVEST IN ISRAEL BONDS
ISRAELBONDS.COM Development Corporation for Israel
Harold F. Marcus, Executive Director
Sharon Richman and Susan Schiffrin, Registered Representatives
1500 Walnut St., Suite 1302 • Philadelphia, PA 19102
philadelphia@israelbonds.com • 215.545.8380 • 800.752.5671
20 JUNE 7, 2018
*Available only online. This is not an offering, which can be made only by prospectus.

Read the prospectus carefully before investing to fully evaluate the risks associated with
investing in Israel bonds. Issues subject to availability. Member FINRA.

THIS SUMMER
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



Your Arts and Entertainment
Guide for Summer 2018
MARISSA STERN | JE STAFF
T heater, art exhibitions, concerts,
author discussions … there are
endless ways to satisfy your artistic
cravings in Philadelphia and beyond. Here
are just a few hot picks for the summer.

COMMUNITY PICKS
National Museum of
American Jewish History
101 S. Independence
Mall E., Philadelphia
215-923-3811 • nmajh.org
Independence Day at NMAJH | July 4
Visitors can explore the museum and
see an original letter written by George
Washington to the Jewish Community of
Newport, R.I., and enjoy interactive tours,
storytime, and Independence Day arts and
crafts projects.

Curator’s Tour | July 10
If you’re a NMAJH member and haven’t
gotten a chance to see its Leonard
Bernstein exhibit yet, you’re in luck.

Curator Ivy Weingram will host a
members-only tour of the exhibit.

KATZ JCC
1301 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, N.J.

856-424-4444 • katzjcc.org
Cherry Hill Volvo Cars Jewish Film
Festival | June 27
Celebrate the best in Jewish film from
around the world with national and
international film festival favorites. The
week will also include discussions with
directors, actors, producers and rabbis.

Evening with Daniel Silva | July 18
The JCC’s Bank of America Festival of
Arts, Books and Culture presents an
evening with author Daniel Silva, who
will discuss his latest novel featuring
Gabriel Allon, The Other Woman.

This event will be moderated by
Jamie Gangel, award-winning CNN
correspondent and Silva’s wife. Tickets,
which include a copy of the book, are
available online.

Milton and Betty Katz JCC
501 N. Jerome Ave., Margate, N.J.

609-822-1167 • jccatlantic.org
Among other events this summer,
the JCC hosts its 2018 Summer
Entertainment Series with a plethora of
performers. Tickets available online or
by calling 609-822-1167, ext. 0.

Blue Jupiter | July 12
A cappella performance of pop, jazz,
standards and Broadway tunes.

“Rock Baby Rock” featuring Lance
Lipinsky | July 19
The singer and star of Chicago’s Tony
Award-winning Million Dollar Quartet,
Lipinsky will present a show with the
sounds of big band, rhythm and blues,
Western swing, rockabilly, doo wop,
soul, and more that influenced rock
’n’ roll.

Bobcat Goldthwait | July 26
Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait (Police
Academy) has amazed legions of fans
with his brutally honest, outrageous
and offbeat comedy that has made
him one of the most recognizable
comedians in show business today.

Melissa Manchester | Aug. 2
The Grammy award-winning singer/
songwriter known for “You Should Hear
How She Talks About You” will perform
as part of the series.

ARTS Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin
Parkway, Philadelphia
215-763-8100 • philamuseum.org
SEE GUIDE | Page 22
Elegant country accommodations in the heart of the historic Brandywine Valley. Only an hour from
Philadelphia, but just minutes from world-class venues including Longwood Gardens, Winterthur, and
the Brandywine River (“Wyeth”) Museum, as well as fine dining and wineries. Full breakfast and afternoon
tea are, of course, included. Member of the Select Registry of Distinguished Inns and repeat recipient of
the Trip Advisor Award of Excellence.

Bring this ad to check-in for a complimentary bottle of wine or an upgrade to the best room available.

JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THIS SUMMER
jex15 JUNE 7, 2018
21