"Sigmund Freud believed that every crush has a strand of disgust, that people are attracted to what repulses them. The enchantment of an infatuation always counterbalances the reality that our lovers - irksome, confusing, and unflaggingly human - depart from whatever ideal archetype we have stored in our heads."
"Koestenbaum treats the rabbi's visage like an outlandish painting that grows more beautiful and profound the longer you stare. He unpacks the process of sorting through a lover's flaws while marveling at the phenomenon of falling in love."
"This is a novel about Jewish bodies and how people respond to them, the toll of obsession, and the conflicting currents of desire and unease that shake and startle a deep romantic fixation."
Wayne Koestenbaum's novel, My Lover, the Rabbi, explores the complexities of romance through the lens of an affair between an unnamed narrator and a New Jersey rabbi. The rabbi, described as both unattractive and compelling, embodies the tension between desire and disgust. The protagonist's deep devotion contrasts with the rabbi's flaws, illustrating the intricate dynamics of love. The narrative delves into themes of obsession, the nature of attraction, and the human experience of infatuation, all while showcasing Koestenbaum's stylistic prowess in blending observation with philosophical insights.
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