The Lip Reader is Recognized for Excellence
Tabby Refael is a weekly editorial columnist for The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, as well as a contributor to Newsweek, Los Angeles Magazine, the Los Angeles Review of Books and other publications.
After Paper Angel Press published The Lip Reader in 2021, I contacted Refael to review the novel. She focuses her work on the plight of the Iranian Jew, especially those living in Los Angeles. The Lip Reader is about a deaf Jewish woman who grew up in Iran and immigrated to Los Angeles as an adult. Rafael was the perfect person to review it.
Finding a reviewer with Rafael’s credentials is no easy task, but over a long period of time and a lot of patience she responded to my emails and agreed to read and review the book. Eighteen months later I received emails from her asking a slew of questions about Zhila (the main protagonist) and my relationship to her. Finally, on April 5, 2023 Rafael’s article, “For a Deaf Woman from Iran, Freedom Never Sounded so Good” was published in the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles.
In her award winning article, Refael writes, “In his inspirational novel, The Lip Reader, Michael Thal enables us to experience the nexus of deep compassion and wide-eyed gratitude through the journey of a woman who ultimately frees herself from the emotional burdens of her physical limitations.”
On June 3, 2024 the American Jewish Press Association in conjunction with the yearly Simon Rockower Awards Banquet announced this year’s award winners that included Mark Schiff, David Suissa, and Tabby Refael. Refael’s article about me, my novel, The Lip Reader, and my beloved Jila won honorable mention during the 43rd annual awards ceremony. The first place winner in the category of “Award for Excellence in Arts-Review/Criticism” went to Thane Rosenbaum for his article, “Oppenheimer and the Lesson of Brainy Jews.” The next award in that category went to Refael’s article, “For a Deaf Woman From Iran, Freedom Never Sounded so Good.” The judges had this comment to say about Refael’s article: [The Lip Reader] Sounds like a great novel and it centers on a story of Jewish culture that is not told.
Thank you Tabby Refael for reading The Lip Reader and inspired to write such a beautiful and thought provoking article.
