Aaron Zevy, an Egyptian Jew, has proven that the ancient Chinese were dead right. But don't let Zevy's humour foo you; there are serious bells ringing in these stories. Advice to reader: enjoy the book, but think twice about being seated next to Zevy on a long flight.
But this book, consisting of 34 tales, isn't exclusively autobiographical. A man named Harold Goldfarb headlines a series of hysterical stories...
Zevy writes in an easy-going style which is both polished and seemingly improvised...
Complementing the author's humor is earnestness, particularly when writing about his charming parents...
Heartfelt and droll tales which blend autobiography and fiction.
Almost the Truth: Stories and Lies is uniformly one of the more creative, satisfyingly reads of 2020. Readers who enjoy wry humor and life observations that depart from any anticipated pathway will delight in Aaron Zevy's collection, which is often politically or culturally incorrect in delightful ways.
To read Zevy is not only to get lost in his often hilarious and unexpected tales, but to be given a front row seat on the nature and art of storytelling itself.
His imitable voice is hilariously self-deprecating, vivid, and splashed with surprising moments of intimacy."
"With the ease of a practiced storyteller and an outrageously droll sense of humor, Aaron Zevy (“Ronnie” to his friends and family), presents an anthology of rollicking personal essays and fictional short stories in his latest offering..."
"Zevy’s self-deprecating humor makes him an irresistible character. His easy-going prose and fast-paced, sitcom-style conversations create laugh-out-loud and sometimes poignant mo-ments. While those un-familiar with contemp-orary Jewish customs and religious traditions may miss the subtler culturally related humor, Zevy’s facile comic ability will appeal to anyone willing to find humor in the human condition."
"Each story contains an underlying lesson about life. Most of all, they teach a form of humor and observation which keeps readers engaged, laughing, and considering the slings and arrows of life and one's reaction to it."
"'Bubbe Meise' is defined as a 'An Old Wives Tale'. An untrue story. It's also the heart and soup of Zevy's fun tales, which are highly recommended for readers looking for humor and something eloquently different."
While most of the tales are true, I have taken great care to make sure the truth does not get in the way of a perfectly good story.
With a cast of characters, both real and imagined; including the return of comic duo Lewberg and Goldfarb, and a narrator who continues to find new ways to screw up, Zevy blends fiction, memoir, and surreal meta in order to entertain and amuse.
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Bubbe Meise: A grandmother’s fable. An "old wives tale". An untrue story. Sometimes related to superstition. Often, an Aaron Zevy short story.
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Almost the Truth is a collection of stories, recollections and memoirs which crackle with wit, brazen sentimentality and unfiltered self awareness.
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