Turbulent Souls is a luminous memoir, crafted with the eye of a journalist and the art of a novelist by New York Times Magazine writer and editor Stephen J. Dubner. By turns comic and heartbreaking, it tells the story of a family torn apart by religion, sustained by faith, and reunited by truth.
|
There is a newer edition of this item:
|
Book Description
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
From Amazon
"Choosing My Religion," Stephen Dubner's 1996 cover story for The New York Times Magazine, described his conversion from Catholicism to Judaism. The drama and complexity of Dubner's conversion were intensified by the author's unusual religious history: before Dubner was born, his parents had made an equal and opposite conversion from Judaism to Catholicism. Dubner's memoir, Turbulent Souls, expands the story he first told in the Times essay. In the book's prelude, Dubner explains that he began his wandering toward conversion in the 1980s when he moved to New York City, "the most Jewish city outside of Israel."
There a certain disquietude began to take root inside me. I could not name this force, but neither could I make it leave me. And so I followed the noise inside my soul, and before long it led me back to my parents. I became consumed with a desire to know how a pair of young Jews named Florence Greenglass and Sol Dubner had become my Catholic parents.Turbulent Souls is full of loving, witty anecdotes about his childhood in rural New York state (he refers to Mrs. Ferry, a catechism teacher who gave him Doublemint gum, as "Blessed Angel of the Sugar Deprived") and his efforts in adulthood to reconstruct both his and his parents' pasts. The best reason to read this book is Dubner's well-balanced thirst for explanation and reverence for mystery; it's a model of the equilibrium every one of us has to attain if we want to make peace with our families, our home towns, and our selves. --Michael Joseph Gross --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
Dubner takes a searing and poignant look at his upbringing in a large, boisterous and fiercely devout Catholic family and his subsequent conversion to Judaism?the faith his parents discarded in their youth in favor of Catholicism. His parents' conversion was a torturous affair for their families, but Dubner, the youngest of eight children, grew up oblivious to his religious roots. "For all I knew about Jews," he says, "my parents might just as well have been Baptists, or Elks, or carnival workers." His naivete ended when as an adult he began a spiritual quest, seeking out his relatives, especially his mother, for answers about religion. Dubner eventually embraced Judaism as his own. Heartbroken, his mother, who had devoted her life to Christ, couldn't understand why "for whatever reason, the idea of Jesus the Messiah had never lodged itself inside [Dubner's heart]." Dubner's skillful storytelling creates a captivating narrative. He writes of his childhood, "Ours was an existence circumscribed by Mass and catechism, rustling hay rakes and muddy fishing ponds, the kids you could play with (the churchgoing Catholics) and those you couldn't." Sentences like this bring alive all the joy, confusion, heartache and reparation of this family.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
"MY mother tells me that, even as a little girl in Brooklyn, she had a stubborn streak." Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
"MY mother tells me that, even as a little girl in Brooklyn, she had a stubborn streak." Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Whenever I hear about someone changing their religious affiliation I am often curious as to what factors brought about the change. Especially if that person has gone from Judaism to Catholicism or vice versa. Well this book presents a thorough examination into both those types of conversions. First Mr. Dubner explains the history behind his Jewish parents' decision to embrace Roman Catholicism so fervently in their youth, even to the point of giving themselves Christian names. They became the most devout of Catholics and raised their eight children accordingly. As the book progresses we then learn of all the factors that combine to make the author decide to seek out his Jewish roots and ultimately return to them.
As a Catholic, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book was not any sort of rant against the Church and its teachings. Rather, it treats both Catholicism and Judaism with the utmost respect. There is one point when Mr. Dubner is seeking to find answers from his mother about why she turned away from Judaism where he does try to convince her of what he feels are some serious shortcomings of the Catholic Church. But then he readily admits and humorously so that he is just acting like a petulant child. I have great admiration for his mother, who never once wavered from her faith in Catholicism and also for the author, who finally reached the place where he knew he had to follow the way that was best for him, which was Judaism.
This is an excellent and very well-written memoir!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By G. J Wiener
Format:Paperback
Turbulent Souls gives a fine account of the many journeys that took place within the Dubner Family Tree. Stephen Dubner traces his family roots which amazingly were rooted in Judaism. Its quite interesting how both of Stephen's parents became Catholics. In the case of Stephen's father, Sol(later Paul)it seemed as if he was rebelling against his overbearing father. Paul's story shows you that you cannot force feed religion into a young soul trying to emerge.
As for Stephen's mother, Florence(later Veronica) the religious influence was fairly weak at home. Not to mention any sort of guidance as Veronica recalls rarely spending time at home during her teen years. Therefore, Veronica became a willing convert.
Very compelling is the effects this dual conversion had upon this future couples family. In Judaism very often a period of mourning takes place and surely Paul became lost to his original family. Amazingly Paul and Veronica seemd to become perfect Catholics to the point of almost totally denying any past affiliation with their Jewish roots.
Stephen's life goes through many turbulent periods. His exposure to the Catholic religion is a lot at first. Whereas he does not reject these teachings, over time Stephen develops other interests most notably the desire to become a musician. Like his parents, he encounters people who encourage him to explore his roots. When he finally does, Stephen becomes enamored with his family history and researches his roots to the point of exploring towns which were touched by the Holocaust.
In spite of the difference of opinion with his mother's own spiritual path, Stephen is able to keep this relationship positive. Furthermore, he creates strong bonds with other family members both Catholic and Jewish. Whereas Stephen's articles meet with feedback both good and bad, at least our hero can say he was able to evolve spiritually while touching others along the way.
I highly recommend this biography which interweaves the spiritual journey of a family over the course of this past century.
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I was raised Catholic and really not happy with the Church so I was a little wary of the book when it came time to read it for my book club. I could not have been more wrong about how this book would affect me! It was absolutely wonderful. The author was able to write with detail without being long-winded. The feelings that he had about his religions/cultures, both Catholic and Jewish I could relate to by the way he wrote. With each step in his spiritual journey I felt like I was cheering him on to find out what his truth was and where he felt he belonged in his religious life. It gave me many things to ponder both from what he wrote and what he quoted from others, Jewish and Catholic. I highly reccomend this book to anyone who is unsure of their faith. It will not answer your questions, but it will help you answer them on your own. It is also a wonderful book for anyone with a strong faith of their own.
Want to see more reviews on this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 75 reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Growing up Catholic
I have to say the main reason I bought this book was because I too am from the little town The Dubner's lived in and I remember Stephen since he was my youngest brother's age and... Read more
Published on Feb 24 2003 by diana lockwood
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting story, excellent writing
Boy I enjoyed this book. The author paints the picture of his parents who converted from Judaism to Catholicism, and he goes on an investigation to find out why. Read more
Published on Oct 23 2002 by Liora Hess
5.0 out of 5 stars
An absolutely compelling read that hit home.
I was raised by a secular Jewish mother and a devout Christian. I grew up in a Jewish neighborhood, and in an attempt to fit in, I desperately tried to "be Jewish," by going to... Read more
Published on Oct 6 2002
1.0 out of 5 stars
A tragic tale
Of course in our liberal, truth-free society, this will probably be lauded as a heartwarming tale. Of course, in a better time it would have been recognized as gloating over... Read more
Published on July 17 2002 by T Rivera
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Deeply Moving, Heartfelt Memoir of Spiritual Struggle
Stephen Dubner, a former New York Times writer and editor, has written a deeply moving, heartfelt memoir of the struggles of two generations to find a religious home. Read more
Published on April 13 2002 by "botatoe"
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Book Proving Individuals' Needs to Choose Own Faith
I was raised Jewish, and am very satisfied with my own religion. Even so, I feel that there are many people who feel strongly compelled to choose a religion they were not born... Read more
Published on April 10 2002 by Helene Hoffman
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Touching Tale of Passionately Conflicted People
Many reviewers have been offended by this book, possibly because it disturbs them that a person raised Catholic would want to convert out. Read more
Published on Mar 29 2002 by amybobamy
4.0 out of 5 stars
COMING FULL CIRCLE
Paul and Veronica Dubner were the perfect Catholic couple. Paul was handsome and Veronica beautiful. Both were devoted to their faith and were blessed with eight children. Read more
Published on Feb 22 2002 by Bonita L. Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can I Give It Ten Stars?
A wonderful, extremely well-written book about a fascinating family.
Published on Jan 21 2002 by Grace Carlson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Jewish Journey
This is one of my favorite books and I've recommended it to many people. I had the pleasure of hearing Stephen Dubner speak soon after I read the book and his personal words... Read more
Published on Nov 26 2001 by groupworker
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
