Good for the Jews (Michigan Literary Fiction Awards) - Tapa dura

Good for the Jews is a smart, funny, sexy novel set in Madison, Wisconsin, during the Bush administration. It's a little bit mystery, a little bit stranger-comes-to-town story, and a little bit loose retelling of the ""Book of Esther"". As does that chapter in the Bible, ""Good for the Jews"" deals with anti-Semitism and the way that powerful men and the women who love them negotiate bureaucracies. At the core of the story is Ellen Hirschorn, an attractive young woman. Her older cousin Mose is a high school teacher who thinks he knows, in fact, what is good for the Jews - and for Ellen, too. Their stories intertwine with the city's superintendent, his ex-wife, and a new school principal - and the families of each play central roles. Workplace treachery, the bonds of family, coming of age, and romantic relationships all take center stage in this sprightly, yet meaningful, tale. Spark's writing style is evocative, and the setting is unusual; Jews in the Midwest don't often appear in fiction, let alone take center stage. The complex characters in the book come from different backgrounds, and the author's treatment of teachers is especially sharp and understanding, as her characters take on realistic lives and concerns. What is good for the Jews? That's a topic debated around dinner tables every day in America. It's also a great new read.

Debra Spark is the author of two previous novels, as well as Curious Attractions: Essays on Fiction Writing. She is the editor of the anthology Twenty under Thirty, which first introduced readers to authors including Ann Patchett, Bret Lott, and Lorrie Moore. She's been a fellow at Radcliffe College's Bunting Institute and a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts award. Her short stories, essays, and reviews have appeared in publications including Food and Wine, Esquire, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Yankee. She teaches fiction writing at Colby College in Maine and at Warren Wilson College Master of Fine Arts Program for Writers in North Carolina.