The Next Great Read
ARTS&LIFE BOOKS
SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
F
rom fun-resulting secrets of magicians to serious strategies for those with autism, the 70th anniversary year of the Detroit Jewish Book Fair continues its mission of featuring a range of Jewish authors and subjects through new additions to the literary market. Because of the pandemic, the presentations are accessible virtually. “I always look forward to the many different authors and topics featured during Book Fair, and in some ways, Zoom makes it better for me,” said Suzanne Simon, co-chairperson. “The presentations are all on the web after the live appearances, so I can watch all of them. I don’t have to choose between sessions scheduled at
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FEBRUARY 17 • 2022
sions for stage and screen with a recent assignment for TV’s Game of Thrones, intends to enlarge his presentation with talk about mystery and deception encountered in life and looks forward to answering audience questions. This Book Fair presenter was chosen the 2020 Magician of the Year by the Society of American Magicians Parent Assembly.
one time as I did when the fair ran live for two weeks instead of virtually throughout the year.” A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN Magician Joshua Jay, who regularly appears on late-night talk shows, will discuss his latest book, How Magicians Think: Misdirection, Deception and Why Magic Matters, at 7 p.m. Monday, March 7. Jay believes this book is one of the only truly honest accounts about his craft written for the public. “Magicians are extremely secretive, and the few who write books about magic for the public romanticize or distort things for personal gain,” said Jay, whose talents have
been performed around the world, including throughout three visits to Israel. “This is my love letter to magic, and I think readers will have a good understanding of the creativity and hard work involved.” Jay, who has designed illu-
LEARN ABOUT LIVING WITH AUTISM It took decades for Tracey Cohen, 50, to be diagnosed with autism, but along the way, she graduated from Berkley High School as well as the University of Michigan and filled many hours writing three books about her experiences.
