Born to Kvetch

Most people's view of Yiddish is likely one of innocuous humor, whining and over-the-top curses. This extremely engaging portrait of a language reveals the droller, sharper and even more hilarious side of Yiddishkite. Like any truly excellent biographer, Wex delves deeply into aspects of Yiddish hidden in plain sight, exposing a richness and history all but lost today. Insults and kvetches (complaints) are the only way an oppressed exile can cope: an art form of cutting down the very essence of the thing that is being insulted all the while hiding the true level of insult from anyone not steeped in the culture. The audio format adds life as intonation and pronunciation are clear but the loss of a glossary is a small misfortune. (Although the addition of track listings on the CDs is a plus.) The Canadian author's bizarre, somewhat hypnotic reading style—with its randomly elongated vowels—is a cross between Dustin Hoffman's Rain Man character and a classic Yiddish whine. It will either continually amuse or drive listeners up the wall. Far more engrossing than linguistics should be, this audio will educate, entertain and enrich the perceptions of its listeners. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin's hardcover (Reviews, July 11, 2005). (Mar.)