The Book of Izzy: Book Launch and Discussion with Author Ben Gonshor

On May 14, we invite you to join us at the Museum of Jewish Montreal to celebrate the launch of Ben Gonshor's debut novel, The Book of Izzy.

Accompanying the author for a discussion will be literary translator Sebastian Schulman. Complimentary wine and refreshments will be provided. Copies of The Book of Izzy will be available for purchase, with thanks to Bibliophile Bookstore.

Please note that pre-registration is required for all who wish to attend.

About The Book of Izzy

Izzy’s a writer at wit’s end in life, with love and on the verge of a complete breakdown with his career in wedding planning. Following an encounter with a mysterious bird seemingly visible only to him, he soon finds himself agreeing to take on the leading role in an amateur production of the greatest play in all of the Yiddish theatre: The Dybbuk, a gothic tale of destiny, possession and the triumph of love over all.

But when the play’s director dies suddenly and the theatre is threatened with immediate closure, Izzy is thrust into a much greater role, one he’ll soon learn he was predestined to play. In the process, he embarks on a fanciful, romantic voyage that will not only force him to come to terms with his Jewish identity, but to also confront the mysterious bird that holds the key to preserving the past and ensuring the survival of his heritage.

About Ben Gonshor

Ben Gonshor is a writer, actor, musician and entrepreneur. He wrote the script for a musical on Harry Houdini and his play, “When Blood Ran Red,” about a key moment in the life of the great American actor/singer/activist Paul Robeson, won the David and Clare Rosen Memorial International Play Contest at the National Yiddish Theatre, in New York. Mr. Gonshor holds an M.F.A. in Motion Picture and Television Producing from the University of Southern California and when not writing or in the wings, he owns and operates FLUIDS iQ, Canada’s Wellness Laboratory. The Book of Izzy is his debut novel.

Advanced praise for The Book of Izzy

“An engrossing novel about a man resurrected by the power of community, love, and Yiddish theatre. In the tradition of Roth and Richler, Ben Gonshor’s vibrant debut is full of heart and humour.”

– Ariela Freedman, Award-winning novelist of Arabic For Beginners, A Joy to Be Hidden & Léa

“In his inventive debut, The Book of Izzy, Ben Gonshor draws on the richness of the Yiddish language to shed light on the world of Yiddish theater, and to enliven a generation of Jewish emigres who are being lost to history.”

– Judy Batalion, New York Times bestselling author of The Light of Days

"Ben Gonshor’s The Book of Izzy places Jewish cultural touchstones, key to earlier times, in an edgy contemporary frame."

– Norman Ravvin's recent publications are Who Gets In: An Immigration Story and the novel The Girl Who Stole Everything