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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
A stunning work of storytelling, beautiful prose, historical and philosophical enlightenment (so to speak!) and enthralling turns of events. Starts out somewhat slowly (like a roller coaster heading up the incline) and then you will want to keep reading it even after you reach the end of all 560 pages. A truly splendid book.
3.5 stars. It was work getting through the dual timelines.
I'm still thinking about this story, and the many aspects that fascinated me. Meanwhile...this discovery was just announced which has some fun parallels to this book. http://news.ku.edu/2019/06/20/major-medieval-poet-pegged-books-scribe-shaking-field
challenging
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this story, but it could've been a couple hundred pages shorter. I was more interested in the past storyline; Aaron in the present annoyed me continuously and I kept skimming over his parts. Helen was an interesting character but I felt like we really didn't explore her storyline except for one part of her life (her love affair with Dror). We spent the most time with Ester and I did find her story fascinating.
500 dense pages made it kind of a slow read, but I enjoyed the story. Divided between modern-day and 1600s London.
As always, the 1600s portions were more interesting to me, although the modern-day elements--two researchers translating papers found hidden in the wall of an old house--provided a bit of mystery. At first we had to wait for them to learn what we already knew from the historical part of the story, but then they caught up and we got teasers about what might be coming for our 1600s characters, although we the readers couldn't understand yet how those things could possibly happen.
This was recommended for people who liked People of the Book (which I loved), and it's definitely a book in the same vein, but I liked PotB better.
As always, the 1600s portions were more interesting to me, although the modern-day elements--two researchers translating papers found hidden in the wall of an old house--provided a bit of mystery. At first we had to wait for them to learn what we already knew from the historical part of the story, but then they caught up and we got teasers about what might be coming for our 1600s characters, although we the readers couldn't understand yet how those things could possibly happen.
This was recommended for people who liked People of the Book (which I loved), and it's definitely a book in the same vein, but I liked PotB better.
Tough read and not entertaining in the least. Kept waiting for it to grab me but it just didn't.
This book greatly affected me. The first few hundred pages are slow, and I probably wouldn't have finished this book if I wasn't reading it for a book club. But I am glad I read it. I am not ashamed to say that I cried many tears while reading this book. This story of a woman circumscribed by her time resonated with me. I grew up in a conservative Protestant community, homeschooled, taught that my sole purpose in life was to become a wife and mother one day. It saddens me, that the book says of women living in 1660's London: "Men, perhaps, might nourish both heart and mind; but for a woman there could be no such luxury." Why would the people who raised me willingly attempt to turn back the clock of history to send me back to a time when women were permitted to do so little? For so long, I was content--as content as I could be--within those strictures, because questioning anything I was taught was anathema. So this quotation from the book stood out to me: "For every loyalty, whether to self or community, does impose a blindness, and each love does threaten to blur vision, as few can bear to see truth if it harm that which is dear to us." I am tired of quieting my voice in an attempt to avoid offending those I love. My silence is not worth the psychic cost. And this book has reminded me of that.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I keep thinking about this book. It was longer than it had to be, and the writing more "flowy" than I like. But I really enjoyed the complicated story telling and both the historical Jewish element woven in with more current thoughts on Judaism.
This book is described as "intellectual and emotional". The intellectual overpowered the emotional for me and my interest started to wane for the last half... Started out strong, though!