Oy Vey, It’s Always Something tells the story of a Jewish immigrant family whose lives stretch across pogroms, steerage crossings, cramped Denver kitchens, and decades of love and stubborn endurance. The book opens with scenes of terror in 1904 Kiev, then moves through the long journey to America and into the lively, noisy, tender world of West Colfax. What begins as a family’s escape from brutality becomes a bright collection of memories, jokes, sorrows, and lessons. The author lets each moment breathe and speak for itself. I found myself slipping easily into the rooms she describes, and feeling the ache of hope that carried every generation forward.

This is an emotionally stirring book. The writing is simple and warm. It works almost like someone sitting across from you at the kitchen table telling stories. When the author talks about her parents’ faith and their everyday struggles, I felt my heart squeeze a little. Something about the way she writes made the small moments matter. I could picture the kids running through the alley, their mother baking bread for the week, and the father fighting for breath while keeping humor alive in the house. The pain is there, yet the voice never sinks. Instead, it lifts what hurts and turns it into something human and soft.

I kept thinking about how the book balances tragedy and joy. Some chapters were very emotional. The author does not hide the brutality of the past or the grief that shaped her family’s choices. Other chapters made me laugh. That mix felt authentic. Life rarely arrives in one mood. Her humor carries a kind of wisdom that caught me off guard. It reminded me that people can be knocked down again and again and still rise with a joke ready. The writing has this natural rhythm that swings between lightness and sorrow. It feels like a real voice, not a polished performance, and that pulled me close.

In the end, I walked away, moved, and very grateful for the ride.Oy Vey, It’s Always Something: A 20th-Century Jewish Memoir would be wonderful for readers who love family stories, immigrant histories, Jewish humor, or memoirs that feel like sitting beside a relative who has lived more life than you can imagine. It is filled with heart, grit, warmth, and a deep sense of what it means to survive and still laugh. I would gladly recommend it to anyone who wants a moving story that stays with them long after the last page.

Pages: 253 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FY7VQBXJ