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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
This was an unusual book in that it felt like an enormous slog for the first 270 or so pages (out of 560)....if it hadn't been a book club pick, I probably would have abandoned it. While I found the plot(s) interesting most of the time, the writing seemed to get carried away with small detail. In the second half, as the plague hits 17th century London and the modern day historians tracking a mysterious Jewish scribe of that era get closer to their discoveries, the book seemed to move at a quicker pace. By the end, I found that the book had presented a lot to chew on that lingered with me. Out of curiosity, I returned to the first chapter, and found it much more interesting when I could see more clearly the seeds being planted.....I'd recommend this if you have a lot of time and mental energy to spare.
mysterious
slow-paced
1) It's conservator, not conservationist
2) Learn anything about how conservation works
3) Conservators and librarians are not the enemy of research, and viewpoints like this make me absolutely insane
4) Geraldine Brooks already did this book a thousand times better.
2) Learn anything about how conservation works
3) Conservators and librarians are not the enemy of research, and viewpoints like this make me absolutely insane
4) Geraldine Brooks already did this book a thousand times better.
The 17th century story line was gorgeous; I could’ve done without the 20th and 21st century tales, but I also see how they enriched the book with Jewish history.
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
Quite good, but too long. Needed an editor to cut back by 1/3
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
slow-paced
Not the most gripping book in the world, but it was incredibly well written and I really enjoyed it.