Try to Remember Stories from a Life
“Try to Remember Stories from a Life” by Jack Orbach is a poignant exploration of family and identity, published by iUniverse in 2000. This edition spans 314 pages and is presented in English. The book unfolds through 17 short stories that intertwine elements of tragedy and humor, centering on Jacob, the son of a Polish-Jewish immigrant to Canada. The narrative traces Jacob’s life from the loss of his mother at a young age to his father’s tumultuous journey from Poland to Montreal, where Jacob ultimately grows up.
Readers will encounter a rich tapestry of experiences as Jacob navigates his formative years, including his academic pursuits at McGill and Princeton, and his professional life influenced by notable neuropsychologists. The stories delve into his personal relationships, including a ‘sexual apprenticeship’ and the profound impact of family tragedies, such as the deaths of his wife Raquel and eldest daughter. This memoir not only reflects on Jacob’s life but also touches on themes relevant to biography, personal memoirs, and the intersections of science and technology within the context of social scientists and psychologists.
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This riveting family saga about the son of a Polish-Jewish immigant to Canada is told in 17 short stories that blend tragedy and humor. The overarching figure is Jacob, who loses his mother at three and is raised by his stepmother. His father, from an orthodox Jewish home in Lodz, escapes from the Polish army under bizarre circumstances and searches for a place to settle. After a stint in Germany and Palestine as a chalutz (pioneer), he tries to settle in the US but is hounded as an illegal immigrant and finally finds a home in Montreal, where Jacob is born and bred. After high school, Jacob tries working in his father’s printing shop but finds business not appealing. His parents give him violin lessons, and as a teenager he studies music seriously. Near the end of World War II, Jacob begins his academic career, receiving his BA at McGill and his PhD at Princeton. His mentors are two prominent neuropsychologists and his professional career is rich with anecdotes. After a ‘sexual apprenticeship,’ he marries Raquel and has four children. The tragic deaths of Raquel, first and then of his eldest daughter shatter the family. Jacob divorces twice before finding happiness with his present wife.
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