Levi Koenig, A Contemporary King Lear explores the relations between three grown-up sisters, their attitude to their aged father, and the way each one strives to juggle home, family, work, and love-life while tending to their father’s needs. Their relations come under additional strain when it transpires that their father has been sending money to an unknown woman, turning what seemed initially to be a straightforward situation into a complicated morass. Whether the ending is happy or sad is for the reader to judge.
This family drama provides psychological insights into interpersonal relations. Three adult sisters, each with problems of her own, have to come together to cope with the problem of their ailing father. How they do this, together and separately, is the main theme of this book. When they discover that their widower father has been sending money to an unknown woman overseas their concern for him assumes a more mercenary character. Naturally, the relations between the three women have their ups and downs, and as each character is revealed to us we learn to know and appreciate their efforts to cope with the situation in which they find themselves.
Excerpt
“It was a disaster at the cemetery!” Corinna exclaimed as she walked into her house, her husband trailing behind her. “I’ll never let Gloria organize any kind of a ceremony ever again. She simply hasn’t got a clue! Standing there without batting an eyebrow when everything went wrong! It’s enough to drive a person insane!”
“I thought it all went off quite well,” her husband remonstrated in his customary mild tone. “Until the end, of course.”
“Well, of course. What did you think I was talking about?” his wife reprimanded him. “Everything was alright at first, when you were organizing the prayers.”
In her mind’s eye she could still see the whole family, adults and youngsters, her own children as well as her nephews and nieces, all standing around her mother’s grave, laughing hysterically as she and her sisters struggled to recite the Kaddish prayer. The giggles of the younger members of the family still echoed in her ears, taunting her. They apparently found it amusing that their mothers were reciting the prayer usually chanted by men. She consoled herself with the thought that at least the family had managed to gather in a civilized fashion at their father’s apartment for coffee and cake afterwards. And that their meeting with him had had a satisfactory practical outcome.
Professional Reviews
Wonderfully written
King Lear has always been a touching story, a family drama that spans ages – yet this modern remake places the drama firmly in the present, and slams a chord too many of us are facing, or will soon face. As the nation ages, our elderly population is undergoing a seismic shift – and that places the younger generations in precarious positions. What do we do about our parents? How do we help them? Can we?
“Levi Koenig: A Contemporary King Lear” by Dorethea Shefer-Vanson is startling, sad and wholly engrossing. This is Shakespeare for a new world, and it’s beautiful.
Thought-provoking
This is an interesting version of Shakespeare set in 21st century Israel. In this modern version of King Lear, I can see many female readers who can relate to the contemporary woman dealing with an aging parent, conflicts raising children, and trying to hold on to a relationship with a spouse that does resemble the man they dated and married. The sisters especially are trying to reach a standard modeled by their mother which is more traditional and more challenging to today's working woman. It motivated me to continue reading to see how it turns out for all of them. I also became connected to the family as a whole. This book would be good for a book discussion, especially when comparing it to the original story of King Lear. It is definitely thought-provoking and relevant to what sisters and girlfriends are talking about with each other. It is one you should read for yourself.
Thought provoking story
As someone who has enjoyed many Shakespeare plays over the years, I was curious regarding how the author would take the play and create a modern day story.
In this modern day version, the author tackles what is becoming an increasing situation - what does one do with an elderly parent and who should share the responsibilities.
As the primary caregiver of my elderly mother, I found the author had her finger on the pulse of the trials, tribulations, guilt and satisfaction that comes - often all in one day - when taking care of an elderly parent.
I felt the author put the reader in the shoes of each of the sisters and gave us their perspective in a very realistic manner. All in all, I found this to be a very good read and regardless of if you've read King Lear or never read a single page of Shakespeare, I think you'll enjoy this book.
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