Margot becomes a tutor to a Jewish family, helping the four children and forming a close bond with the two middle children. She learns a lot about the spectrum of the Jewish life in Belgium and in other countries and remains in contact with the Schneiders even after the children leave home. An interesting insight.

3.5

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Mazel Tov is an engaging and warm memoir of the author's transformative friendship with a Jewish family. Originally published in Dutch in 2017, this English language translation is due out 23rd Feb 2021 from Pushkin Press. It's 320 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is precisely as described: a warm friendly real memoir of the power of friendship. It emphasizes how our differences, from culture and religion to food and simple gestures when looked at objectively and honestly can form bridges to friendship and understanding. I liked author's voice and her frankness and openness about her initial interactions with the Schneider family and her own conversations with her partner, Nima.

This will have a broad appeal for readers of biography and memoir and would also make a good selection for public or school library acquisition. It could conceivably be added to reading lists for sociology, culture studies, and allied subjects.

Four stars. An engaging and well written book.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.