The Laws of Return

Cast loose from spiritual moorings, a third-generation American and secular Jew, Colin Stonegrows up in the suburbs of New York, attends Hebrew school, is bar-mitzvahed, but never touched by his religion. Written in the first person and present tense, just helps to pull you into the story. Extremely well written and captivating.

This book was a blast, funny from the first page on through. Yet, it is also a thoughtful and moving story that helps one reflect on questions of assimilation. The writing is very graceful and elegant. I can't praise it enough. D. London.

THE LAWS OF RETURN is a beautifully crafted first novel that captures the reader from the first paragraph. Colin Stone, the novel's protagonist, tells the story of his life from infancy to what appears to be his early thirties and the result is a story that is as emotionally powerful as anything I have read in recent years. The author's "minimalist" style and use of the first person and present tense expertly draws the reader into Colin's world; a world filled with uncertainties, anxieties and doubts. I particularly enjoyed the deadpan irony sprinkled throughout and found myself laughing frequently. At the same time, there is an underlying pathos in many of the pages that adds substance to the book and makes it much more than simply a series of humorous vignettes. This lyrical book is intelligently written and I strongly recommend it to everyone