LESSONS IN FAMILY LIFE ABOUND IN KATE KATCHER'S ABSORBING DEBUT NOVEL "36"

In the first chapter of her new absorbing debut novel “36,” Kate Katcher introduces the reader to Shellie, her family, her neighborhood, and the problem that has reluctantly brought her home to Brooklyn. Her unusual relationship with her controlling mother Maxine, complicated and intense, pulsates with emotion and challenges. Shellie is afraid to hear her mother’s reaction to her news and rightly so.

It is from her Bubby, the grandmother of the Weiss family that we learn the origin of the book’s title: the 36 people, the Lamed Vav, the Jewish people who in times of crisis can be consulted for aid or simply for conversation. Bubby sincerely believes her husband Sheppie was one of the blessed 36. It was his job not to offer advice but to “justify the existence of mankind in the eyes of God.” These 36 suffer in silence for the rest of the world. Bubby also believes her daughter Maxine is continuing her husband’s responsibilities to be the heart of the world and absorb its misery.

Bubby’s husband as a boy fled his war torn homeland and was eventually smuggled to America and used his artistry as a baker to make a living. He died before Shellie’s younger sister Shira who was named for him was born. Shira is intellectually challenged but has an immense capacity for caring and empathy. This family struggles to handle the joys and troubles that come to their door, all the ups and downs that ultimately bring them closer together, all while questioning their resilience and faith.

Kate Katcher creates a family you will want to embrace and, perhaps, make your own. Jewish customs are woven into the intimate tapestry of the Weiss household as they determine who will be the next Lamed Vav to save the world. Let her welcome you into her intimate realm as if you are one of the many who call Maxine on the telephone to help them cope with a troubling question in their lives. Enjoy the sensitive and sassy, heartfelt and humorous journey with the interesting Weiss family created by the wonderfully colorful and imaginative mind of Kate Katcher.