Synopses & Reviews
Fiction. BUBBEH (Yiddish for grandmother) is the charming story of a young granddaughter paying homage to the family member who showed her the subtlety and sanctity of life. As she explores the memories of her youth, a soulful and delicately woven tapestry of three generations of women unfurls, depicting how the generational pendulum swings out between mother and daughter, and then back again between grandmother and granddaughter. Reflecting on her spiritual education, the girl's memories provide an informative glimpse into the Jewish community of Mexico City in the 1960s.
Synopsis
A young girl pays homage to the grandmother who has shown her the beauty and subtlety of life in this semi-autobiographical novel, while the depth of a complicated life as a displaced Jew in a the mostly Catholic country of Mexico is gradually revealed. Providing a fascinating glimpse into the little-known world of a Mexican Jewry and touching upon the inescapable influences of place and personhood, the book is enriched with the author's own experiences and includes translations and explanations of several Yiddish words.
About the Author
Sabina Berman is a novelist and a playwright and director of Mexican theater. She was awarded Mexico's National Theater prize for several of her plays, and two were adapted to film in Mexico. She has served as artist-in-residence at several American universities, including Cornell University, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Maryland. She lives in Mexico City. Andrea G. Labinger is an emerita professor of Spanish at the University of La Verne, where she is a former founding director of the university's honors program. She lives in the Los Angeles area.
Exclusive Essay
Read an exclusive essay by Sabina Berman