Fiction Review

Nice Jewish Felon
by Michael Eliot Mehler
ISBN-10: 0595844510
Review by Heather Froeschl

What makes us the people that we are? Is it our childhoods? Our birth order? Our free will? Maybe it is a combination of all things, but trying to understand ourselves could possibly lead to the avoidance of major trouble. In Michael Eliot Mehler's memoir, "Nice Jewish Felon," readers are captured by a compelling tale but are also led to delve into their own why's and wherefore's of their own existence.

Michael did a bad thing. FBI level bad. Though it didn't seem like such a bad thing at the time, and probably the "victim" deserved the loss of the Paul Klee painting, and in looking back there were reasons for Michael's behavior, the book examines the who, what, why, when and where of a period of time in Michael's life, right up to his epiphany of growth related thinking. Through it all, from the moment of the theft to the dealings with Sotheby's, from the flashbacks of Michael's attention and unconditional love deprived childhood to his divorce, superficial relationships and pure love adoration of his dog, the reader sees a man in all of his possible weaknesses and strengths. We witness a man faced with federal prison, the loss of his career and lifestyle, and see a person come to know himself, or at least, begin to.

The book is an interesting read. For a memoir it takes on a feel of fiction for Michael does his best to convey the sights, sounds and feelings of his experience. Not your typical life story, "Nice Jewish Felon" is a tale about a guy who is caught up in himself, and then realizes that there is a whole life out there to embrace. This well written piece of sharing makes for a good read, and might just inspire a trip inside yourself along the way.