Making the Rounds and Breakfast Skillet

Are you ready to travel through the desert and set things right where everything is chaotic?  That is what Allan Weiss’ “Making the Rounds” is all about.  In this book you will meet Eliezer ben-Avraham, a wizard who must travel around the world preforming good deeds for breaking some big rules when it comes to magic.  Along with his loyal but sarcastic horse named Melech, they will right some wrongs and have the greatest of adventures, even if they are insane. 

Good book with a good breakfast.

The Story

Eliezer ben-Avraham is a wizard but not just that; he is also a kabbalist (which is a person who has knowledge of the Kabbalah) and kvetch (a constant complainer) who has a big job to do.  He has to traverse the land and preform good deeds after doing a bad thing.  What’s that bad thing you may ask?  Well, he went searching for some knowledge that is strictly forbidden in his religion and now he has to make it right again, no matter what his task is. 

Luckily for him (maybe) he is not alone.  His smart-mouthed steed Melech is there to assist him in his endeavors.  Whether it is to take him to his next destination or to give him sound if not snide advice.  Never-the-less Eliezer has a lot to do and patience is not a virtue in this book.

My Review

I loved this book!  It is hilarious.  The characters are fun and believable especially the horse Melech.  Every time the wizard started whining or feeling a little down on a situation, he would give him a good “pep” talk and tell him to stop being a baby (in his own special way).  It makes a person smile every time.  Not to say that it isn’t serious in some spots (which it is) but I love that there is a lightness in this book as opposed to a heavy nature that the fantasy genre can often have. 

Eliezer himself is an interesting character.  Yes, he is a wizard but he also has a hint of cowboy to him which is fabulous for those who tend to love a fantasy but may be curious about westerns as well.  The poor guy has arthritis which makes it hard for him to shape-shift into various animals but he manages.  Our hero in this story is not a perfect person which makes him more relatable and yet he has the will to get what needs to be done done.  Especially when his accommodations and food is provided.

You will notice that there is a lot of talk about the Jewish faith in this book.  It is really fascinating but you can get lost in it easily.  So, if you are familiar with Judaism then this is perfect for you but for those of you who are neophytes make sure you have dictionary.com close by.  It will be helpful. 

All and all this was a great book full of magic, mystery, and humour.  A great read with a good glass of kosher wine.  Speaking of which…

Glass of Kosher Wine

The Pairings

The dish to have with this book is the breakfast skillet.  This is just the kind of dish that our favourite wizard would have when he is about to start his day.  Sure, his days are often leading him to stop a city from crumbling to the ground or fighting an undead villain who is looking to terrorize the town.  It is also the kind of dish one should have when they are expecting to travel a great distance which our anti-hero does.  So he needs to have a big meal when he is off to save the world, whether he wants to or not.  Filled with eggs, potatoes, hollandaise, tomato sauce, lots of cheese and vegetables is sure to fill you up and tantalize your tastebuds with a little spice and a whole lot of creaminess.   Not only that but after you eat this, you will feel like you are given a big warm hug in a cold dark world.  Eliezer knows what I mean.

This is best with a glass of kosher wine.  But what wine is best for that?  Nothing says kosher and delicious then Mogen David Concord.  It is a sweet delectable wine where you will know every ingredient in it as it is a sip that has no secrets. It is the perfect balance for the breakfast skillet that one could easily have for dinner too.  Although Eliezer would disagree with me but you might not want to drink this wine in the morning.  However it is just the thing to hit the spot after getting one’s mitzvahs done. 

Final Thoughts/Rating   

7/10

A lively book full of humour and magic.  The kind of book one can snuggle up to next to a fire with a glass of (kosher) wine.  Although Eliezer grumbles about his circumstances, you can tell that he loves what he does.  Our kabbalah wizard has a purpose, and he travels to many places to help others.  Sure, he has physical restrictions due to age and other things, but he knows how to find a way around them.  And he’s not alone, his best friend and horse-in-crime is there to help him out. 

The only drawback is that as a person who is not of the Jewish faith, it can be hard to follow in some parts of the book.  You will have to take a few breaks and look it up online or call a friend who is well-versed in this religion.  Never-the-less this book is a entertaining read, it brought forth many laughs and gives a person a look into a completely different viewpoint.  Thanks for the book, Allan, you know how to make the world smile.