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tgh124's review against another edition
4.0
In a history of unspeakable horrors, a wished for preservation. From the first page, you are into the story, all the fully fleshed characters, the Shtetl and it's own small diaspora. Beautiful story.
sjgrodsky's review against another edition
5.0
Still had 50 pages to read when I tuned into my book group last night. The others tried hard not to mention spoilers — one slipped up and did — but still a good read and a good discussion.
The book is based on a wonderfully imaginative idea — what if there was a shtetl that, like Shangri-La and Brigadoon, escaped world events (that is, World War II and the Holocaust) and continued on in its 19th century life?
That’s quite a challenge to make work, but the author mostly succeeds. He has beautifully reproduced both the attitude and cadences of the guy who used to visit Sholem Aleichem. Because, you remember, Sholem Aleichem’s stories always began with that framing device — it wasn’t an omniscient narrator who told the story, nor a character in the story. The narrator was a world-weary visitor who would greet his friend, Mr Sholem Aleichem, launch into the story, and then wish his friend goodbye.
I had a little problem with the balance of the book. I wanted more about the two really interesting characters, Pesha and Yankel, less about the intricacies of the currency conversion.
But the author gets so much pitch-perfect. Here are a few gems.
Page 169:
“It is always impressive how quickly gossip can take root and bloom; it has the wherewithal and adaptability that no crop can match.”
Page 202:
“Rabbi Sokolow wasn’t such a fool as to believe that there was something ennobling about pain and suffering. (That was a theory for the goyim.)”
The book is based on a wonderfully imaginative idea — what if there was a shtetl that, like Shangri-La and Brigadoon, escaped world events (that is, World War II and the Holocaust) and continued on in its 19th century life?
That’s quite a challenge to make work, but the author mostly succeeds. He has beautifully reproduced both the attitude and cadences of the guy who used to visit Sholem Aleichem. Because, you remember, Sholem Aleichem’s stories always began with that framing device — it wasn’t an omniscient narrator who told the story, nor a character in the story. The narrator was a world-weary visitor who would greet his friend, Mr Sholem Aleichem, launch into the story, and then wish his friend goodbye.
I had a little problem with the balance of the book. I wanted more about the two really interesting characters, Pesha and Yankel, less about the intricacies of the currency conversion.
But the author gets so much pitch-perfect. Here are a few gems.
Page 169:
“It is always impressive how quickly gossip can take root and bloom; it has the wherewithal and adaptability that no crop can match.”
Page 202:
“Rabbi Sokolow wasn’t such a fool as to believe that there was something ennobling about pain and suffering. (That was a theory for the goyim.)”
jkatz2125's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Very interesting and unique reflection on what life may have been like and how one might adapt.
aleffert's review against another edition
3.0
This had a great premise—shtetl that's been totally isolated for a hundred years reemerges in modern day Poland. It looks at two perspectives: what happens within the village and what happens to a few people who leave.
Unfortunately, the book itself is only fine and I think wastes its potential. In plays out the premise without grabbing most of the opportunities for satire and the story of those who leave is a little more interesting (since there's a clear protagonist), but is left for long stretches and making the female lead fall into prostitution causes a struggle with tone issues (and also the one main female character becomes a prostitute? really?)
The one place it really rises to the occasion is how it deals with the holocaust, where the residents of the shtetl don't believe it—not because of the idea that someone wanted to murder us, but just, really, there are basically no Jews left in Poland? At all?
Unfortunately, the book itself is only fine and I think wastes its potential. In plays out the premise without grabbing most of the opportunities for satire and the story of those who leave is a little more interesting (since there's a clear protagonist), but is left for long stretches and making the female lead fall into prostitution causes a struggle with tone issues (and also the one main female character becomes a prostitute? really?)
The one place it really rises to the occasion is how it deals with the holocaust, where the residents of the shtetl don't believe it—not because of the idea that someone wanted to murder us, but just, really, there are basically no Jews left in Poland? At all?
alexisdoingok's review against another edition
4.0
This was not easy to get into - the writing is pretty dry. However the plot itself is very interesting, if a little predictable at times, and very much a toned-down Jewish humor that kept me re-committed every couple of pages.
emjay2021's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book unlike any other I've read. It is about a shtetl (small Jewish village) in Poland that falls out of contact with the outside world for over a hundred years. Due to a rather improbable set of circumstances, the inhabitants are rediscovered by the modern world in the 21st century and a series of fish-out-of-water scenarios ensue.
It's a situation that allows for comedy, but this isn't just a comedic novel. It is also a serious book that touches on topics like the Holocaust, domestic abuse and human trafficking. I think the book operates as a fable over which the author can lay metaphors for Holocaust denial and modern-day antisemitism.
Gross is a good writer and I was quite engaged by the book. Every once in a while I did feel the story lagged slightly. I felt it was a bit too long and the story suffered a little from the jumping around in time and from place to place. However, overall it is an interesting and original premise, and I am glad I read it.
It's a situation that allows for comedy, but this isn't just a comedic novel. It is also a serious book that touches on topics like the Holocaust, domestic abuse and human trafficking. I think the book operates as a fable over which the author can lay metaphors for Holocaust denial and modern-day antisemitism.
Gross is a good writer and I was quite engaged by the book. Every once in a while I did feel the story lagged slightly. I felt it was a bit too long and the story suffered a little from the jumping around in time and from place to place. However, overall it is an interesting and original premise, and I am glad I read it.
annagoldberg's review against another edition
4.0
I couldn’t put this book down! It was a compelling story that was a delightful example of Jewish culture that kept me asking, what next? The book petered out a bit in the last quarter but I enjoyed it and I wish there were more like it.