James Howe's "James Goldblatt is So Not Moses" is a short story about the highly enmeshed bar mitzvah of Jeremy Goldblatt. Unlike many others, Jeremy cares more about the experience and meaning, not what other people think or the presents he will receive. Even the rabbi said Jeremy's views were different than previous pupils and that he was a sweet kid who cares about what really matters. In an effort to be inclusive, Jeremey invites Candy Andy, a homeless vagrant who is considered "crazy" by everyone, to his bar mitzvah. At the bar mitzvah, Jeremy hands the Torah to Candy Andy in a quite risky move and Candy Andy dances around the synagogue and sings Looney Tunes. While at first, everyone thought it was outlandish that this man was
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Chelsea thought Jeremy was weird and isolated when the story starts out, saying "I reach them when I talk--unlike Jeremy Goldblatt, who may as well be an undiscovered planet he is so far out in space." (Pg 94) Her opinions change however, when after the whole bar mitzvah ordeal she says " There's something different about him (Jeremy) since his bar mitzvah. Good different. He seems, I don't know, more grown up or something. Not so out in space. And it's not like I like him all of a sudden. But I guess maybe I respect him." (Pg 110) Chelsea is still shallow because she acts embarrassed to talk about Jeremy, but her views towards him have evolved. Since so many of Howe's characters follow such strict stereotypes, the plot was weak and predictable. Denise being so worried, Jeremy's grandma being super relaxed, Jeremy having to live up to Neil, and Chelsea suddenly changing her mind about Jeremy gives us a surefire clue that something preposterous occurs at the bar mitzvah. Sometimes stereotypes are a genius use to create symbols and connecting the reader to the book, but James Howe's haphazard use of basic stereotypes gives the whole story away, making it boring for a reader to want to
Chelsea thought Jeremy was weird and isolated when the story starts out, saying "I reach them when I talk--unlike Jeremy Goldblatt, who may as well be an undiscovered planet he is so far out in space." (Pg 94) Her opinions change however, when after the whole bar mitzvah ordeal she says " There's something different about him (Jeremy) since his bar mitzvah. Good different. He seems, I don't know, more grown up or something. Not so out in space. And it's not like I like him all of a sudden. But I guess maybe I respect him." (Pg 110) Chelsea is still shallow because she acts embarrassed to talk about Jeremy, but her views towards him have evolved. Since so many of Howe's characters follow such strict stereotypes, the plot was weak and predictable. Denise being so worried, Jeremy's grandma being super relaxed, Jeremy having to live up to Neil, and Chelsea suddenly changing her mind about Jeremy gives us a surefire clue that something preposterous occurs at the bar mitzvah. Sometimes stereotypes are a genius use to create symbols and connecting the reader to the book, but James Howe's haphazard use of basic stereotypes gives the whole story away, making it boring for a reader to want to