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New novel set in 1968 Winnipeg Beach will certainly set off sparks…of amusement, perhaps annoyance
Reviewed by BERNIE BELLAN “The Renter” represents the fourth novel written by former Winnipegger Michael Tregebov, all of which have been set either in Winnipeg or, as is the case with this book – Winnipeg Beach.
I’ve reviewed all of Tregebov’s previous books, including “The Briss” (2009). “The Shiva” (2012), and “Shot Rock” (2019). To say that Tregebov enjoys skewering the Winnipeg Jewish community in which he grew up would be an understatement, but just as Mordecai Richler used his own boyhood growing up on St. Urbain Street in Montreal as rich fodder for what later turned out to be a devastating series of satirical novels about Montreal Jews, Tregebov has been mining his own boyhood for some time now.
“The Renter”, however, represents a clear departure in style for Tregebov – and one which is most welcome. Instead of filling the pages of this book with endless conversations among various characters, almost always to the confusion of the reader wondering who exactly was speaking, this time around the author takes the time to use descriptive prose to set the stage for what turns out to be a terrific story.
The hero of “The Renter” is named Bret Yeatman. Here is how he is described on Amazon: “a young man sporting a summer tan, Keds and crisp short-sleeved white shirts, and toting a transistor radio. Bret Yeatman is out to recoup the social position his father lost through financial ruin, and is determined to realize his fantasy by marrying up and into the well-to-do family of his first perfect love, Sandra Sugarman, and renouncing his easy, promiscuous life in the drug trade. But his fantasy collides with Sandra’s own — stars are crossed, and the fates will have their day.”
Sandra Sugarman, by the way, is a “south end” girl – and for anyone familiar with the long history of north end versus south end rivalry within Winnipeg’s Jewish community, Tregebov plays to the stereotype of the rich south end girl being the fantasy object of Jewish boys of a certain era.
Bret Yeatman himself is not worldly in the way that Sandra Sugarman is, although he is certainly street smart –and, as Sandra and other female characters remark throughout the book, he’s “gorgeous”.
Bret’s looks seem to offer him entrance into a higher social circle into which he would likely be admitted, given his dubious background as a major pot seller around town. That social circle, however, is within Winnipeg Beach’s young Jewish crowd where, as Tregebov notes, in 1968 the favourite pastime was to spend hours at one of the arcades in downtown Winnipeg Beach (where a young Jack London was also fostering his own talent for assessing the character of anyone who spent time at Mrs. London’s-owned Playland arcade).
The allure that Sandra holds for Bret though, and which was sparked by one very short encounter at the end of a beach pier when they were both 12, is something that preys upon him all through his teenage years.
One summer he decides to rent a cottage in Winnipeg Beach – not with the deliberate intention of drawing Sandra’s attention, yet it is clearly on his mind when he happens to wander into a party going on at her own family’s cottage.
For anyone familiar with Winnipeg Beach the precise descriptions that Tregebov offers of the geographic layout – which hasn’t really changed much from the time in which the novel is set, will certainly be totally recognizable. One wonders though, how compelling it will be for anyone not familiar with Winnipeg Beach to be reading vivid descriptions of Bret riding his bike down Prospect every evening?
More than the way Tregebov evokes memories of fishflies and mosquitoes – too constants that one always associates with Winnipeg Beach though, what might really draw readers to this book are the wonderfully described sex scenes. (Is it appropriate in an ostensibly Jewish newspaper to mention that hormones were apparently flying in late 1960s Winnipeg Beach?)
Bret Yeatman certainly has no problem attracting girls in their late teens and early twenties. (It seems that all those stories we north end boys heard about those wild south end girls find amplification in “The Renter”.)
But when Sandra Sugarman’s vile cousin Marty describes how much he likes taking his boat out to BB Camp to pick up 15-year-old BB Camp girls, Tregebov might be going too far in besmirching the reputations of not just south end girls, but BB Camp girls, too. (I invite readers to chime in with their own stories of naughty escapades – send them anonymously if you like. Hey, if Michael Tregebov had enough material drawn from his own youth spent at Winnipeg Beach to produce a rollicking – and highly salacious novel, there’s no reason that someone else couldn’t take a crack at mining similar material?)
I mentioned that “The Renter” differs in so many respects from Tregebov’s three previous novels, not just in terms of how dialogue is presented, but also in how compelling the story itself is.
There’s nothing inherently original about poor Jewish boy chasing after rich Jewish girl – or, as is more often the case, Jewish boy chasing after fantasy non-Jewish girl (and I won’t use the “sk….eh” term because that is so politically incorrect), but since Bret Yeatman is such a likeable hero in “The Renter”, it’s hard not to be pulling for him to win over Sandra Sugarman.
I won’t spoil the ending by telling you what happens. Suffice to say that it’s a great ending.
Let’s see now: Michael Tregebov has written satirical novels about Brisses, Shivas, Jewish curlers, and now Winnipeg Beach. What’s next? How about taking a run at high school students who dallied with Trotskyism, Michael, or would it be too difficult to poke fun at yourself? You’re a terrific writer, but I’d like to see you make fun of yourself for a change – just because you’re so adept at satirizing others from a period in Winnipeg’s Jewish history with which many of us are familiar.
“The Renter”
By Michael Tregebov
Published by New Star Books, 2021
163 pages
Available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format
Features
BOOK REVIEW: “Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege”
Reviewed by MURRAY BENDER “Thinking on your feet”—quickly defending a position in a coherent, persuasive manner—is a situation that many people find challenging and stressful. “If only I had said this.” or “Why didn’t I say that?” Hindsight is always 20-20.
Following the Hamas atrocities of October 7, 2023, it has become increasingly necessary for diaspora Jews to “think on their feet” as they unwittingly face a barrage of tough, sometimes hateful, questions about Jews and their Israeli homeland.
Why is Israel committing genocide in Gaza? Why doesn’t Israel return the land it has stolen from Palestinians? Why are Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian farmers? How is Israel different from apartheid South Africa? Why can’t I criticize Israel without being called antisemitic? Is it true that Jews control the world? The list of potential questions is nearly endless.
Engage or hide? This is the difficult choice that confronts Jews as they look to deal with anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli behaviour. Fortunately, author and journalist Melanie Phillips comes to the rescue with her practical and insightful book, Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege.
According to Phillips, the dilemma has no single answer. “People need to decide how to behave in accordance not just with the specific circumstances but also with their own attributes and limitations.”
Some regard engagement with their opponents as a sacred duty. “They believe it is a betrayal of the Jewish people not to uphold Israel’s case.” Ohers may be uncomfortable with such a direct approach, but “those who decide to keep their heads down and avoid any altercation may well find that this leaves them with a permanent sense of regret and even failure,” she says.
As a result, it’s probably a good idea to adopt some sort of balance. And that’s where Phillips’ 150-page handbook comes in.
She starts by providing context around the “crisis of legitimacy and acceptance” from which Jews are reeling post-October 7. On the basis of extensive conversations with Jews from across the U.S., Britain and Australia, the author found that many “were near stupefied by the terrifying hatred and irrationality that was unfolding around them.” Again and again, they asked: “What should we do? What can we do?”
In response, Phillips offers a pragmatic approach to help prepare for the inevitable conversations, including a number of key principles:
- Get smart rather than emotional
- Stop playing defence
- Find common ground
- Be positive and confident
- Keep physically safe
Based on these overarching criteria, she provides an extensive list of quick and clever retorts to a range of different situations, emphasizing that “it’s our duty to our children and grandchildren to fight for truth and justice.”
So, the next time it is necessary to “think on their feet,” diaspora Jews will be able to respond quickly and confidently to those difficult questions about themselves and Israel. And they can thank Melanie Phillips for coming to the rescue.
Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege by Melanie Phillips is available online from Amazon and Indigo.
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ESports Meets Casinos: Overview of Bet Sport Gaming
ESports has become part of the interactive entertainment of online casinos. In fact, many fans already have the opportunity to use Dragonia Casino Bet Sport options while watching the matches of their favorite teams. The hybrid entertainment model opens up many possibilities and increases audience engagement. When video games intersect with betting, it creates a unique collaboration where participants have the opportunity to get a completely new experience right in their own home. At the same time, you can continue to enjoy the usual viewing of familiar tournaments and competitions.
How ESports and Casinos Interconnect
ESports has become a multi-billion-dollar industry that attracts spectators. Traditional casinos are focused on luck. But now they are introducing additional methods of encouraging their customers. Among such options, eSports events deserve special attention. Such bet sport offers combine the usual excitement with an element of competition. The structure of the casino entertainment provides participants with the opportunity to test their skills and reveal their own hidden talents. There are several forms of integration of eSports mechanics into the structure of a classic online casino:
- Competitive betting. Online casinos provide the opportunity to bet on eSports tournaments, which is similar to the usual sports betting. In addition, the possibilities are significantly expanded compared to simple viewing platforms.
- Skill-based casino games. Games inspired by eSports encourage players to actively participate in what is happening on the screen. The games reward the player’s results with certain prizes.
- Interactive arenas. Some casinos broadcast eSports events in real time. This allows players to follow the games directly online, which creates a feeling of real participation in familiar entertainment.
- Cross-platform interaction. Online casinos are introducing eSports-style leaderboards and achievements to attract more participants.
Such innovations appeal to new participants. Cultural changes are part of the development of the infrastructure of the classic casino, and eSports fans find a new environment for entertainment and communication.
Growth of ESports Betting
Global eSports revenue in 2025 exceeded $1.5 billion. Each bet sport option has made a significant contribution to the development. Surveys show that over 60% of players will express interest in betting on eSports, which reflects the demand and the need to develop an updated infrastructure for participation.
ESports events attract 15-20% more new participants compared to conventional casinos. The eSports betting market will exceed $20 billion by 2027, according to analysts’ forecasts, which encourages new participants to more actively watch tournaments and participate in various types of activity.
Why Fans Choose ESports
Bet sport gambling is gaining popularity. This is due to several reasons. For example, large casinos in Las Vegas and Macau now host full-fledged eSports tournaments alongside traditional entertainment. Venues are also experimenting with separate fan zones where sports betting and classic gambling are available.
Some of the most popular eSports disciplines are League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Some online casinos even introduce eSports mechanics into slots so that players can try something new.
In short, the intersection of eSports and casinos is a natural development of the industry. Competitive play and an optimized betting system create a comfortable environment for true fans who want to diversify their leisure time.
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Card Game Traditions: Complete Review from Casino Online Lolajack Experts
Card games have been around for centuries. They are constantly evolving and improving. For example, there are now many different formats of online games available. On sites like casino online Lolajack https://Lolajack.com/ca/, you can choose a title according to your preferences and skills. The traditions of card games date back to ancient times. To better show yourself, it is worth familiarizing yourself with these features. This way, you will gain experience, have a good time, and get acquainted with something completely new.
Roots of Card Games
Card games directly reflect cultural identity. They have a unique mathematical structure and thoughtful moves that make even professionals think. Depending on the tradition, the rules differ, but the basic principles always remain similar. Each game has a unique origin:
- Poker. It originated in the USA back in the 19th century. During its existence, many variations of gameplay have appeared. It combines risk, strategy, and psychology; therefore, it requires high skill from each player.
- Baccarat. This game has ancient origins. It appeared in the 15th century in Italy, after which it spread throughout Europe. Now it is the basis of any operator like casino online Lolajack.
- Rimmy and bridge. Card games require the cooperation of participants, so coordinated communication is important here.
- Blackjack. This is the perfect combination of skill and chance. The player needs to learn to make decisions quickly and monitor the circumstances.
Card games have their own origins and characteristics. Currently, they are an integral part of any online casino, offering a wide range of opportunities for participants.
Why Card Games Are So Popular
Experts from casino online Lolajack emphasize the importance of card games in many cultures. For example, poker remains the leader for a reason. There are more than 100 million active players worldwide who compete and work on their skills. Blackjack also does not lag behind the trends. The level of participation exceeds 40% of regular online casino users.
Every year, the level of online card games grows by 10%. This is possible due to digitalization and increased player awareness. In addition, seasonal events also increase the involvement of participants during peak periods.
Traditions of Card Games
Unique events attract the attention of fans. For example, the World Series of Poker attracts not only participants but also millions of viewers around the world. Sites such as casino online Lolajack also give participants the opportunity to try their hand and compete with professionals.
Baccarat is associated with high stakes. This is especially noticeable among the Asian audience, who like to put probability theory into practice. Blackjack also has an appeal among math lovers. The probabilities of the model and observations directly affect the decisions of players. Online casinos strive to ensure that participants have the opportunity to communicate and find an activity option according to their own preferences.
As a result, card games remain the true leaders of the gambling market. They not only entertain, but also develop attention, perseverance, and social skills. A large selection of various variations of classic games allows you to choose the version that suits your preferences. Developers do not lag behind trends and do everything possible to surprise fans.