Funny Boys Preview

/in
  1. This novel deals with the lost world of the Catskills 70 years ago. Did you experience this world as a child or through the eyes of relatives?
  2. The description of life in Brownsville, Brooklyn in the 1930s was typical of Jewish lower middle class life and aspirations at the time. Can you recall any depictions of this era from your own experience?
  3. Do you believe in the authenticity of the language, accents, and the author’s descriptions of life at that time?
  4. Had you any idea of the influence of the Catskill resort culture on contemporary American humor, e.g. Jerry Seinfeld, Jackie Mason, Larry David?
  5. Were you aware of the Jewish hoodlums connected to the Mafia in that area and subsequently known as Murder Inc.? Are Jewish gangsters prevalent today?
  6. Did you have any trouble deciphering the Yiddish expressions in the novel? Would a glossary of these terms been helpful?
  7. Are any of the jokes in this book familiar?
  8. Do you believe the story told in this novel is too Jewish oriented to be appreciated and understood by non-Jews?
  9. The author contends that all of the characters in this book are authentic and not caricatures. Do you believe him?
  10. Mutzie Feder, the dominant female character, is inundated by movie culture of the time. Do you believe the entertainment culture of contemporary times is more or less influential than it was in 1937?
  11. Mickey Fine wants to be a comedian and has chosen the path of a “tumler” in the Catskills. How does a wannabe comedian of today proceed on a career path?
  12. Do the political maneuvers described in the novel resonate with contemporary political activities?