Page 7 - Jewish News | November 2021

FEDERATION NEWS November 2021 7A

People of the Book author/lecture series continues People of the Book...continued from previous page HotWorks.org
Journey from Doctor to Patient.
simultaneous distance and closeness
with two Zoom events in November his first work of fiction. It traces the between oneself and the characters in Sarasota Open Air Fine Art Show ™
This Magnificent Dappled Sea is
a book enable us to walk around in
lives of two strangers – generations other peoples’ shoes and experience November 20 & 21, 2021
and oceans apart – what they feel. In this way, we get to
who have a chance know more about ourselves, perhaps At Phillippi Estate Park, Sarasota
to save each other even more than when we try to see
in this moving and ourselves directly. In experiencing and
suspenseful novel living for a while with Luca’s vulnera-
about family se- bility, Giovanni’s guilt, Nina’s courage
crets and the inef- and the rabbi’s conflicted soul, one is
fable connections forced to think about how we might
that bind us togeth- react in similar situations. It’s what
er. In a small Northern Italian village, makes reading and writing so much fun
nine-year-old Luca Taviano catches a and so very enlightening.
stubborn cold and is subsequently di- What message do you hope peo-
agnosed with leukemia. His only hope ple take away from reading this
for survival is a bone marrow trans- book?
plant. After an exhaustive search, a I would say the message is that the
match turns up 3,000 miles away in the borders between oneself and others
form of a most unlikely donor: Joseph are more porous than we would like to
Neiman, a rabbi in Brooklyn, New think, and our identities aren’t fixed,
York, who is suffering from a debil- but change over time. Of course, bi-
itating crisis of faith. Can inheritance ology plays a big part. I look like my
be transcended by accidents of love? parents and have some of their traits.
That is the question at the heart of This And yet as I go through life, I take on
Magnificent Dappled Sea, a novel that bits and pieces of my friends in high
challenges the idea of identity and cel- school, teachers in college, places I’ve
ebrates the ties that bind us all together. lived and traveled to, etc. And these ad-
This book obviously traces your ditions to who I am are incredibly im- www.hotworks.org Facebook.com/HotWorksArtShows Instagram @HotWorksArtShows David Muniz, Sculpture
own experience. What did you learn portant. Nina’s family is not limited to COVID safety guidelines in place: Social distancing, all booths spread apart, face coverings recommended and more
David Biro about yourself while writing this the parents she grew up with and left. Professionally Juried Fine Art & Fine Craft Show
book? Her family is Luca and Matteo, and she At Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
My first book, non-fiction and a identifies with Northern Italian culture All Art is Original, Personally Handmade & for Sale by the Artist Present at the Show
memoir, was very directly about my- more than Southern. When Luca finds Saturday, November 20 & Sunday, November 21 ~ 10am-5pm Daily
Free Admission; Parking $5 supports
self and my experience of being ill and out that he is not necessarily who he Plus! Call for Entries: Youth Art Competition for grades K-8 or ages 5-13. More info www.ArtsAndEducationInc.org
undergoing a bone marrow transplant. thinks he is, he tries to learn more about See Art, Love Art, Buy Art!
™
The writing was a sort of therapy be- his roots. He goes to Prague and finds
cause it helped me make a very messy, that he has nothing in common with his
chaotic chapter in my life into some- only living relative. His family is Nina
continued on next page thing that had shape and made sense. and Matteo and the rabbi who are now
It also enabled me to be able to see a part of him, or as Luca would say, are
myself and how I reacted in crisis, as literally inside of him.
GIVES
well as to be able to better see my par- Tickets
Federation Staff
ents, siblings, wife and friends as they Tickets to the two November events,
reacted. which are available via Zoom, are $10
How was writing fiction different each per household. For reservations to Federation Staff
from your previous two books? these and all remaining People of the
Book events, please visit jfedsrq.org/
In fiction, one is ostensibly mak- website, or want to be a Sponsor? Con- GIVES
BACK!
Jessi!
ing up characters, yet it is a reflexive books. There, you will also find infor- Jessi!
activity. In This Magnificent Dappled mation on Sponsor benefits, the Page
Sea, Luca is and isn’t me, just like the Turner Pass and becoming a VIP Page
rest of the characters. I set out to make Turner.
them very different from me. Luca is Need information not found on the
a boy who lives in small town in Ita- BACK!
ly and loves horses. In the course of tact Jeremy Lisitza at jlisitza@jfedsrq.
the story, Luca has a transplant. This org or at 941.343.2113.

For a complete schedule of

events, ticket information,
We were honored to par-
author bios, book synopses ticipate in this year’s Lakewood
PEOPLE OF THE BOOK

and a 16-page brochure, Ranch Business Alliance Volunteer Days in
October. Jessi Sheslow, Teen and Family Pro-
visit jfedsrq.org/books. grams Manager and Trudi Krames, Sr. Director

of Programming, volunteered at JFCS of the Sun-
Follow us on coast to create sensory bottles and design buckets
of fun activities for at-risk youth along with six
other members of the Alliance.
Trudi!
Trudi! Just as we are appreciative of the many volun-
teers who support our Federation programs
and events, it was our privilege to be able
@jfedsrq to give back to our Sarasota-Manatee
community!

Stay connected.