In Sickness and In Health / Yom Kippur in a Gym

(Essential Prose)

9781771838658

230 pages | March 1, 2024

What is so wonderful and compelling about both these novellas is the deep compassion and understanding that Gold has for her characters. With insight and a keen sense of the conflicted, complex, vulnerable, hopeful and yes, beautiful condition of being fully human, both works do the necessary and inspiring work of making vivid what it is to be immersed in self, in consciousness, in relationships, in life itself.

In this excellent book, the writing always thrusts, compelling readers to see themselves in the characters’ frailties of body and soul and to ask themselves the questions of conscience and mortality that these novellas pose with eloquence.

With an astute eye, Nora Gold writes with depth and emotion. Her novellas, Yom Kippur in a Gymand In Sickness and In Health, delve the inner workings of the human heart. Her writing reminds us that we're all fallible beings, and her characters are living, breathing entities that reach out and touch our souls.

Faye Kellerman is the author of the best-selling Decker/Lazarus mystery series; her latest book is The Hunt

[Gold's] storytelling prowess and keen understanding of the human condition make these novellas emotionally resonant and thought-provoking, offering readers a glimpse into the intricate tapestry of life's challenges and the potential for transformative connections ... I would recommend In Sickness and In Health/Yom Kippur in a Gym for fans of accomplished literary novellas everywhere.

Readers' Favourite

With an astute eye, Nora Gold writes with depth and emotion. Her novellas, Yom Kippur in a Gym and In Sickness and In Health, delve the inner workings of the human heart. Her writing reminds us that we're all fallible beings, and her characters are living, breathing entities that reach out and touch our souls.

Faye Kellerman is the author of the best-selling Decker/Lazarus mystery series; her latest book is The Hunt.

In this excellent book, the writing always thrusts, compelling readers to see themselves in the characters’ frailties of body and soul and to ask themselves the questions of conscience and mortality that these novellas pose with great eloquence.

Nomi Eve, author of The Family Orchard and Henna House and Director of the Drexel MFA in Creative Writing.

Nora Gold’s two novellas are full of wry humour and unusual perspectives, all wonderfully conveyed.

Norman Ravvin, professor at Concordia University, author of Who Gets In: An Immigration Story.

Nora Gold’s In Sickness and in Health /Yom Kippur in a Gym is exhilarating, hopeful, and deeply humane. I loved Yom Kippur in a Gym – its ingenious structure held my attention, and my affection grew for each one of its flawed but well-intentioned characters as they met a spiritual test that will leave them forever changed. I found In Sickness and in Health consoling (and dare I say spiritual), but without a trace of sentimentality. The ending surprised me, yet seemed exactly right. Nora Gold takes all her thorny characters to their emotional and spiritual edge, where the discoveries they make shine the light of possibility on the unexplored corners of every life.

Rona Maynard, former Editor of Chatelaine and author of Starter Dog: My Path to Joy, Belonging and Loving This World

[Gold's] storytelling prowess and keen understanding of the human condition make these novellas emotionally resonant and thought-provoking, offering readers a glimpse into the intricate tapestry of life's challenges and the potential for transformative connections ... I would recommend In Sickness and In Health/Yom Kippur in a Gym for fans of accomplished literary novellas everywhere.

K.C. Finn, Readers' Favorite

I felt profoundly moved by the author's beautiful writing. Every word is considered and perfectly placed. She writes with intelligence, compassion and sensitivity ... Both of these novellas deserve the rare five stars that I have given them. Both are truly worthy of them.

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