America Gonnif

About the Book

Here, there are some 300 stories rolled into one:
It is a biography in parts and a history lesson of sorts, of the years between and through the two World Wars. The tales tell of toil, tragedy and triumph;  their message is of hope, faith and service to America.    For older readers, it is a nostalgic look back to the early twentieth century as perceived by an immigrant boy growing up in New York City. For younger readers, it should prove an inspiring and educational experience.

The author says, "to those who know what gonnif means, I know you’ll enjoy this book. To those who don’t know what it means, it is partly for you that I wrote it -- and you’ll probably enjoy it all the more.
It amazes me that so little is known of the times and events I write about and, especially, how little is known of the Jewish people outside of New York or Hollywood. I hope this book will help."

 This history of sort is not intended as a doctoral or academic literary treatise, but told in easy to read, everyday language (with a Bronx accent) as the lives of the characters are woven into the history of the times:  It portrays members of a certain family, caught up in the maelstrom of the great depression, and how they fought and survived.  Its recipe is a mix of "Ragtime", "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" and perhaps "Angela’s Ashes" -- spiced with a tender love story . . . and though it has a Jewish flavor, its appeal is universal.
 An early reviewer has critiqued it as  ". . . charming and touching -- romantic and flowery . . . shows a good deal of warmth, understanding and the human touch . . . there is strong character development and quirky charm shown here."  

In addition to the excerpts that appear here, the first 7 pages or 1 1/2 chapters appears on the author´s web page at emnolbay (and contains photographs from the book). . . .

Testimonials/endorsements:

"AMERICA GONNIF is an insightful and penetrating look at one Jewish family’s immigration to America.  You’ll feel, through real life stories, how members of this family grew, with enthusiasm, to become the best americans they could be -- while still keeping their allegiance to their bloodline and heritage." -- Morris (Mason) Heldt , screen writer. Author of HOLLYWOOD SYRUP (1997) and DEADLY AMBITION (1999)

"I truly enjoyed reading the first draft of America Gonnif. . . A great story -- and an astonishing first effort from this amazing renaissance man. I’m looking forward to the sequel."
John Anthony Miller, artist, book illustrator owner of PHANTOM BOOKS, Ventura, CA

"Your wonderful book has arrived . . . we are honored to make it available to our members. . . . My parents were raised in New York during the Depression and I love to hear their true stories. I only wish they found time to make them last forever, as you have."
Liz Weintraub, Program Director
The Dora Teitelboim Center for Yiddish Culture.

NOTICE: A new edited and improved first- edition is now available at Xlibris -- or contact the author for an autographed copy by going to his web page (above) and scroll down to his e-mail link at the bottom of the page. You might find his website worth your while.

About the Author

At the age of fifty-one, he passed the California State Bar exam without ever having a formal college education, and practiced law for ten years before retiring to the beach community of Mandalay Shores. He is presently the editor and publisher of his Community Association newsletter (circulation 1400) and does Pro-Bono cases as an Emeritus Attorney for the Ventura County Bar Assn. Although he maintains that writing this book is his last hurrah, at the ripe young age of eighty -- who knows? He insists his greatest accomplishment was finding the right girl, to whom he has been married for fifty-six years, and still going strong.