Confessions of a Jewish Santa: ...and other stories & poems, Real & Imagined

ISBN-13: 9781482059434 / Angielski / Miękka / 2013 / 376 str.

Alan B. Berkowitz

Opis

The title of this semi-memoir is also the heading for Chapter 1 of this compilation of short stories, satirical articles and poems created by the author. Berkowitz is a skilled tall-tale-teller, who recreates his life in the many adventures which life has taken him. His story-telling is similar to that of O. Henry's writings with a little Mark Twain in his narratives. As an adjunct to a serious career of engineering and consulting, Alan B. Berkowitz claims to have found his key to happiness in being other people: Santa Claus for over 40 years to children in three states, characters (he says "leads") in numerous community playhouses and movies, the entertainer as background pianist at clubs, parties, and restaurants, and the author of several genres of books, including his co-authored historical novel, The Jazz Girls and the Flyboy, his biography of Sam Proler: "CAUTION: You're About to be PROLERIZED" and Skyjack 911 (A timely survival guide) published within one month of the tragedy. There are over 40 chapters in his latest book. Stories include the humorous side of winning a car raffle, having a New York haircut, his encounters with a gang bosses letter, and a nutty employee encounter. Also, Berkowitz recreates parts of his childhood, and his first Porn Movie at age 12. On the serious side he tells of his near kidnapping experience in the Caribbean, a near death encounter, a job interview from Hell, and others. His poetry runs the gamut of sweet to comical as Berkowitz finds a new genre for poems made from One-liner jokes, and various dilemmas. In addition to his personal characterization as Santa, the author also introduces another alter-ego, a wise, advice giver in the form of the great rabbinical sage, Reb Schmeuli Rabinowitz, his personal Hanukah Harry. Read it all at once, or read a story and put the book down until the next time. Either way, you will be enlightened and entertained.