You Gotta Have Balls: A Novel Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a wonderful book and follows on to the book Too Many Men by Lily Brett. In this first book, Ruth's mother and father served time in a Nazi prison camp and her mother did not survive. Her first novel takes us back to Poland to explore her roots with her very old father. It was a very poignant story. I could relate very well as my mother is from Eastern Europe as well but got out before it turned ugly.
This follow-on book is what happens when her father comes to New York to live and help his daughter in her business. All she can do is complain that he's in the way! It's not about a women's group. It's a hilarious story about the will to live life to the fullest regardless of the circumstances one has been through and its about forgiveness, because the Polish women they met while visiting Poland (though not Jewish) follow Edek to New York must to Ruth's chagrin. Ruth cannot seem to get over what happened to her parents in the concentration camp and Edek teaches her, at age 82 or so, that life goes on, one must not blame everyone for what happened to the Jews, and that forgiveness brings release and a new lease on life.
My father is 83, served in World War II, and lost my Mother 3 years ago. I wish he had half the drive and will to create, as does Edek with his funny accent and eccentric ways. This is a rollicking read, I found myself laughing out loud so many times, my husband and father thought I had lost my mind! And, I did, I lost my mind and my heart to this heart warming, forgiving, and life-affirming novel.
Don't let the other review frighten you. This is a book I will go back to many times and now have it loaned out to my sister-in-law. If she doesn't think it's hysterical, I will be surprised. Regardless of what you thought the book might be about, it was funny. I don't remember any hype about a professional women's group when I bought the book. Should this have happened to my father, I would only dream that he could be so resilient.
The women's group is something Ruth finds so important, but learns throughout the story where the real drama in life can be found. Even though her children readily accept the new woman in Edek's life, it is with some trepidation that Ruth can finally embrace her father's happiness. And, that's what the book is about.

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