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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The naysayers will say this is long and dry and a slow start. It is long, and it does have a slow start, as the story feels as if it is giving up its secrets almost in real time.
Do not mistake that for being dry. Unless you want to read something that is action/adventure. Kadish's prose is lovely, and it builds the characters of Ester and Aaron and Helen very slowly, as you might grow to know them as humans.
Kadish's research and historical storyline is rich and fascinating - exploring a people and time that isn't often explored in literature.
Highly recommend.
Do not mistake that for being dry. Unless you want to read something that is action/adventure. Kadish's prose is lovely, and it builds the characters of Ester and Aaron and Helen very slowly, as you might grow to know them as humans.
Kadish's research and historical storyline is rich and fascinating - exploring a people and time that isn't often explored in literature.
Highly recommend.
Pretty good, but I found myself significantly uninterested in the story of Helen and Aaron, and much more interested in the story of Ester. A novel of similar length, but just Ester's story would have knocked it out of the park for me.
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fascinating book, with parallel storylines happening in the years 2000 and 1665, both in London, England. Explores the history of the Jewish community in London, and what it means to be a Jewish woman in 1600s London. The modern storyline follows a Jewish history scholar as she pieces together the story of a female woman scribe in 1600s London. Engagingly written and compellingly told.
I loved this book sort of intensely - the writing was lovely. That said, this is a book where being so long is not necessarily a good thing. It probably could have been 60 or 100 pages shorter and more breathtaking for it.
I can't believe I almost gave up on this book.
Coming highly recommended by close friends, I was surprised to find the book heavy and slow.
Thankfully, I pushed through, and a third of the way in I caught my breath and held it till the very last page. Excellent work.
Coming highly recommended by close friends, I was surprised to find the book heavy and slow.
Thankfully, I pushed through, and a third of the way in I caught my breath and held it till the very last page. Excellent work.
An absolutely stunning book. I was swept up with the discoveries of the historians, and felt like I was the confidante of each character. A deeply satisfying read. I also loved the anecdotes shared in the author Q&A at the end of the book.
dark
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’m used to reading long books, but this one was just… bloated.