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syebba's review against another edition
3.0
Good--not gripping. It is not difficult to develop a sincere affection for Jack, but I never got past my skepticism of Natalie, who seemed flaky and self-indulgent. If reading were still a leisure sport for me, I'd most likely finish this book, but alas...
kristinrob's review against another edition
4.0
A unique enameled peacock pendant makes its way from treasured gift to spoil of war to stolen artifact to valued keepsake over the course of nearly 100 years. Told from the perspective of the original owner in pre-WWII, and from the view of the American soldier cataloging the treasures on the Hungarian Gold Train, and from that soldier's granddaughter after he passes, this book shows us the injustices suffered by Jews in Europe for generations.
womanroars's review against another edition
1.0
The writing is insipid and lame, almost insulting to the story it tells and the history it attempts to bring to life. Very sad. Realized at the end that she is the wife of Michael Chabon.
sarahjsnider's review against another edition
1.0
I only picked this up because of Ayelet Waldman's snit fit at not being included in the NY times Notable books of the year. I don't know why I do this because it never works out for me (see also: James Wood's pout about The Emperor's Children). This is probably OK if you need something easy but still want to feel intelligent. I mean, look: the main character's name is Jack Wiseman. And he is a Wise Man. That's how literature works, right? (No.) It's fine if that's what you're into, but it damn sure isn't notable.
karaloyd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
gglazer's review against another edition
2.0
A story about a train, filled with Jewish belongings, in Hungary at the end of WWII and a Jewish American soldier's responsibility for it. The part with the actual action (the train itself) was a good enough story, but the other two parts were totally meh.
I take some of the blame, here, because I seem to be reading too many stories about recovering precious art objects during major world wars too close together, but this was painfully similar to -- and not nearly as good as -- The Girl You Left Behind.
Also, Ayelet Waldman and I just don't get along; I find her writing stilted and her word choice grates on my nerves. We're through.
I take some of the blame, here, because I seem to be reading too many stories about recovering precious art objects during major world wars too close together, but this was painfully similar to -- and not nearly as good as -- The Girl You Left Behind.
Also, Ayelet Waldman and I just don't get along; I find her writing stilted and her word choice grates on my nerves. We're through.
rebeccamm's review against another edition
2.0
This was my first time reading Ayelet Waldman and I really wanted to like Love and Treasure. My mom's parents are Hungarian Jewish Holocaust survivors, so my affinity for this particular Waldman book was strong. But...not strong enough to get me over what bugged me incessantly throughout all three narrative threads of this book.
Whether it's Jack's wartime feelings for Ilona, Amitai's modern-day treasure hunt with Natalie or Dr. Zobel's analysis of Nina, it's the men who take center stage in this book. Don't be lured by the idea of a strong-willed female writer having well-developed female characters. Instead, we get such tropes as hot-tempered redheads and confused Americans. At no point do any of the women actually get to tell their stories. Waldman leaves it to the men to drive the action, to reveal their feelings and motivations and make decisions about whom they love.
Perhaps my expectations were off, but I finished this book rather annoyed and not at all interested in reading any other of the author's works. A truly missed opportunity. I can only imagine how much richer, what a literary void this book could have filled if Waldman had given Natalie, Ilona, Nina and even Gizella the chance to speak!
Whether it's Jack's wartime feelings for Ilona, Amitai's modern-day treasure hunt with Natalie or Dr. Zobel's analysis of Nina, it's the men who take center stage in this book. Don't be lured by the idea of a strong-willed female writer having well-developed female characters. Instead, we get such tropes as hot-tempered redheads and confused Americans. At no point do any of the women actually get to tell their stories. Waldman leaves it to the men to drive the action, to reveal their feelings and motivations and make decisions about whom they love.
Perhaps my expectations were off, but I finished this book rather annoyed and not at all interested in reading any other of the author's works. A truly missed opportunity. I can only imagine how much richer, what a literary void this book could have filled if Waldman had given Natalie, Ilona, Nina and even Gizella the chance to speak!
abookishaffair's review against another edition
4.0
"Love and Treasure" is really a story about how we as humans cope when things seem incredibly hopeless. It is also the story of priorities and whether or not those things that we treasure are really all that meaningful in the face of danger. I had been wanting to try some of Waldman's books for awhile and so I was happy to be a part of this tour. This was a great and powerful book to start with.
The book opens on Jack, an old man, and his beloved granddaughter. Jack is convinced that she worries much too much about him as he is dying from cancer. He has one request for her, which is to find the owner of a necklace with mysterious beginnings. Natalie, the granddaughter, takes her job very seriously and is determined to put together the pieces of her grandfather's mystery; she only hopes that she can do it in time! The story is told from both the past and the present perspectives and when they meet, it makes for a fantastic collision that I really enjoyed reading.
I really enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction about World War II and I love when I find books that shed new perspectives on events during that war. I hadn't read much about the Hungarian Gold Train and found the historical details that Waldman wove into this book about that to be absolutely fascinating. You can see what so many people during that time were going through with getting all of their worldly possessions taken away. It is hard to imagine how they must have felt during that time period.
This book had a lot of drama and nice pacing that kept me wanting to read more about Jack's time over in Europe during World War II. There is mystery and romance alongside a healthy dose of drama and intrigue throughout the book. This book only made me more anxious to read more by Waldman in the future!
The book opens on Jack, an old man, and his beloved granddaughter. Jack is convinced that she worries much too much about him as he is dying from cancer. He has one request for her, which is to find the owner of a necklace with mysterious beginnings. Natalie, the granddaughter, takes her job very seriously and is determined to put together the pieces of her grandfather's mystery; she only hopes that she can do it in time! The story is told from both the past and the present perspectives and when they meet, it makes for a fantastic collision that I really enjoyed reading.
I really enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction about World War II and I love when I find books that shed new perspectives on events during that war. I hadn't read much about the Hungarian Gold Train and found the historical details that Waldman wove into this book about that to be absolutely fascinating. You can see what so many people during that time were going through with getting all of their worldly possessions taken away. It is hard to imagine how they must have felt during that time period.
This book had a lot of drama and nice pacing that kept me wanting to read more about Jack's time over in Europe during World War II. There is mystery and romance alongside a healthy dose of drama and intrigue throughout the book. This book only made me more anxious to read more by Waldman in the future!
bookwormmichelle's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this one, could hardly put it down. Of course I'm a sucker for a Holocaust novel, especially such an intricately entwined group of stories, also involving art. Too much for me to resist, and well enough written that I simply raced through it. I have only one criticism--I wanted some sort of finish to the "Ilona" storyline. What happened to her? Did she make it to Palestine? I wanted some further connection there, I think, but otherwise was perfectly satisfied with this one.
beckyjenson's review against another edition
1.0
I really wanted to love this new novel by an author whose work I've enjoyed. I just didn't. Not my style. I finished, but it only barely made the cut.