A Romance in a World Without Cell Phones: Providence Author Binder on Latest Book LIVE

A Romance in a World Without Cell Phones: Providence Author Binder on Latest Book LIVE

Author, storyteller, and Providence resident Mark Binder appeared on GoLocal LIVE where he spoke to the release this month of his latest book, “The Misadventures of Rabbi Kibbitz and Mrs. Chaipul” — and told GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle how the book came to be. 

“I’ve been writing for more than 30 years,” said Binder. “I was the editor of the Rhode Island Jewish Herald back when there were two newspapers in the state of Rhode Island — one of which was for-profit and weekly and I was the editor.”

“One day, an article didn’t come in, so I had to write a story and I wrote my first ‘chelm’ story,” said Binder, of evoking literary fame of the well-known “village of fools” in Jewish folklore. 

“Mine quickly turned into characters, and Rabbi Kibbitz didn’t appear in the first story — but he was in the second — and Mrs. Chaipul showed up shortly thereafter," he added. 

Geared Towards Adults — With Opportunity for All-Family Appeal 

“I wrote these stories for years and realized they need to be collected in a book,” said Binder. “Each one of the stories could be read on its own, but if you start from the front and work your way to the back it’s got a nice arc — and resolution.”

“It’s an adult book that you can read some chapters to kids,” said Binder. “I was thinking, any kid that really wants to read a book about senior citizens having a romance in a world without cell phones, kids aren’t really going to be drawn to it — but they will enjoy the stories.”

The book is available at Books on the Square in Providence, Stillwater Books in Pawtucket -- and online here.