Book Report

By Porter Carson

  • The Softball Game

    • Event: Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders meet during a fiercely competitive softball game between their respective yeshivas (Jewish schools).
      • Significance: This event sets the stage for the central relationship of the novel. Their initial rivalry and subsequent injury to Reuven lead to a transformative friendship.

  • Reuven's Hospitalization

    • Event: Reuven is hospitalized due to an injury from the softball game. Danny visits him in the hospital, and they begin to bond.
      • Significance: This marks the beginning of their deep friendship, which is central to the novel's exploration of identity, faith, and intellectual growth.

  • Danny and Reuven's Friendship Deepens

    • Event: Reuven and Danny spend time together, discussing various topics, including psychology, religion, and their personal struggles.
      • Significance: Their discussions highlight the contrast between their backgrounds and perspectives, enriching their understanding of each other and themselves.
  • Period: to

    The Chosen Timeline

  • End of World War II

    • Event: The end of World War II brings relief and new challenges to the Jewish community.
      • Significance: The historical context of the war and its aftermath influences the characters' lives and decisions, particularly regarding their faith and future.

  • College Years

    • Event: Reuven and Danny attend college, where they face academic and personal challenges. Danny struggles with his father's expectations, while Reuven deals with his own religious and intellectual growth.
      • Significance: These years are crucial for their development, as they navigate the complexities of balancing tradition with modernity.

  • The Establishment of Israel

    • Event: The creation of the State of Israel is a pivotal moment for the Jewish community.
      • Significance: This event impacts the characters' lives and beliefs, particularly Reuven's father, who is a Zionist, and influences Reuven's own views on Jewish identity and responsibility.

  • Danny's Decision

    • Event: Danny decides to pursue a career in psychology, breaking away from his father's expectation that he will become a rabbi.
      • Significance: This decision represents Danny's assertion of his own identity and path, a central theme of the novel. It also reflects the broader tensions between tradition and individuality.