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elanarebitzer's review against another edition
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
r_lynn13's review against another edition
3.0
This book started out interesting, but then I started to not care about the characters. The last part didn’t even end where it should have with the assassination of Lincoln. I ended up skipping a lot of the long descriptive sections because I am a student of the Civil War and I didn’t need things rehashed. I may have missed a few things, but I’m fine with that.
carlyoc's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Not as well-written as Horn's other work that I am reading right now, People Love Dead Jews, although I am not sure if that is because All Other Nights was earlier in her career or if non-fiction is more her forte. Nevertheless, it is an interesting story with some very thought-provoking moments, such as when Jacob attends a Passover seder in the home of Jewish family members on the Confederate side of the Civil war. Their hypocrisy hangs thick in the air as they ritually retell the Biblical account of the Hebrews being freed by God from slavery in Egypt, while enslaved Africans bring them each dish of the meal. Jacob also experiences antisemitism on both sides of the war, forced to prove himself to the Union officers by agreeing to become their spy and assassin, to exploit the network Jews like him have created for their own safety throughout the country to work his way into the confidences of those on the other side of the war.
I did learn some interesting although disappointing historical tidbits such as the fact that the attorney general of the Confederacy was a Jewish man named Judah Benjamin.
Overall, I would call this a interesting read for historical fiction fans and Jewish readers who want to see historical events explored through a Jewish perspective, but not a must-read.
I did learn some interesting although disappointing historical tidbits such as the fact that the attorney general of the Confederacy was a Jewish man named Judah Benjamin.
Overall, I would call this a interesting read for historical fiction fans and Jewish readers who want to see historical events explored through a Jewish perspective, but not a must-read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Gore, Slavery, Antisemitism, and War
Contains the N-word in dialogue directed at or about enslaved characters.kayladaila's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Confinement, Gun violence, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
fabmom52's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fast-paced page turner. The main character is seeking forgiveness througout the book for actions he took as he was forced to be a spy for the Union Army during the Civl War. Does go a lot into the Hebrew culture which could be confusing at times and think I missed some of the symbolism; but action packed with good, conflicted characters you try to figure out right until the last page of the book!
mmz's review against another edition
4.0
Horn is not subtle about making a point about the irony of Jews in the Confederacy during the Civil War. One of the opening scenes is of a Passover seder celebrating the liberation of Jews from bondage in Egypt being served by black slaves. And although I certainly know more now than I did before about Jews in the Civil War, what I really took from this book was just a good, well-told story.
serenaj's review against another edition
4.0
I am not ashamed to admit that I read this book in one day. One of my favorite ways to spend a summer afternoon is feverishly reading a captivating book, pausing occasionally to swim in Lake George. This is how I spent my Independence Day this year. All Other Nights is a pretty good story. I mean, an assassination at a Passover Seder?? That's definitely an original plot point. I found the central romance pretty typical, Jacob was an endearing, slightly blah character, but the Levy sisters were all so unique and fun to read about.
By far my favorite thing about this book was the subject: Jews in the Civil War. Specifically, a Jewish Union Spy assigned, among other things, to surveil the most notorious Jewish Confederate: Judah Benjamin. I can't believe I had never heard of him before. I had never thought about the Jewish Americans of the 1860s, and I'm so glad this book brought their perspective into my conscious. The anti-semitism some of the characters grapple with is juxtaposed with the fight against slavery in the most fascinating way, and it is just so interesting, as a modern American Jew, to consider how we were once slaves in the land of Egypt, and the factors that could drive one of us to commit the same evil done unto us all those centuries ago. This era affords us many privileges as Jews that are easy to forget, especially coming from a place like Newton. I am lucky in that anti-semitism is not something I worry about regularly. But in a different time, and as Horn writes it, someone like Judah Benjamin could feel so limited by American society that he would become Secretary of State of the CSA. Horn's book provides a window into a forgotten history that every American Jew should grapple with.
By far my favorite thing about this book was the subject: Jews in the Civil War. Specifically, a Jewish Union Spy assigned, among other things, to surveil the most notorious Jewish Confederate: Judah Benjamin. I can't believe I had never heard of him before. I had never thought about the Jewish Americans of the 1860s, and I'm so glad this book brought their perspective into my conscious. The anti-semitism some of the characters grapple with is juxtaposed with the fight against slavery in the most fascinating way, and it is just so interesting, as a modern American Jew, to consider how we were once slaves in the land of Egypt, and the factors that could drive one of us to commit the same evil done unto us all those centuries ago. This era affords us many privileges as Jews that are easy to forget, especially coming from a place like Newton. I am lucky in that anti-semitism is not something I worry about regularly. But in a different time, and as Horn writes it, someone like Judah Benjamin could feel so limited by American society that he would become Secretary of State of the CSA. Horn's book provides a window into a forgotten history that every American Jew should grapple with.
thehlb's review against another edition
2.0
Meh.
I feel I could only recommend this book to someone if I didn't really care what they thought about me.
I feel I could only recommend this book to someone if I didn't really care what they thought about me.
hsg's review against another edition
2.0
I was determined to finish this book despite a slow start so I forged ahead and completed it. I don't often do that-- if I don't 'feel' the book immediately I usually stop. This time, however, I was really afraid I was the problem and to some extent I think that remains true. I just wasn't as into the subject (Civil War espionage from the perspective of a Jewish soldier from NYC) as I could have been. I resisted Horn's narrative in ways and didn't allow myself to go with the flow of the book.
This is disappointing because I think All Other Nights is a genuinely good and compelling read, but perhaps just not for me. I'll be analyzing why that is for a long time. It's got the elements that should, and probably will, grab anyone else who picks this up-- it's an historical novel of the civil war but the protagonist is a Jewish Union soldier who must go undercover in the deep South to marry a Confederate female spy. Surprisingly it was the female characters that I didn't really 'get' in the book. They were a strange combination of vapid Southern Belles and Jewish Scarlett O'Haras. Very odd. I don't know enough about American Judaism in this period and region to know if they are really plausible.
What I did connect with, however, was the anti-Judiasm that was so prevelant in the South at that time as well as the ways in which prejudice reared its head within the military. I had no ideas Jews were expelled from American towns during the Civil War. That alone should have make this compelling reading for everyone. At this point in our country's history I think many readers know about and respect the service of african american civil war combatants, but I know I had never considered the role Jews might have played in the Civil War.
Anti-Judiasm gets overlooked or trivialized today in ways that are inexcusable. This book would definitely be a fascinating starting point to discuss religion, ethnicity, and war. In the United States we pride ourselves on our heritage as a "melting pot" -- but this book forces the reader to wrestle with questions of identity and allegience. Which is more compelling-- Religious identity? Family connection? Love? Ethnicity? Regional heritage? Politics? I definitnely appreciate Horn's book for allowing me to consider these questions.
This is disappointing because I think All Other Nights is a genuinely good and compelling read, but perhaps just not for me. I'll be analyzing why that is for a long time. It's got the elements that should, and probably will, grab anyone else who picks this up-- it's an historical novel of the civil war but the protagonist is a Jewish Union soldier who must go undercover in the deep South to marry a Confederate female spy. Surprisingly it was the female characters that I didn't really 'get' in the book. They were a strange combination of vapid Southern Belles and Jewish Scarlett O'Haras. Very odd. I don't know enough about American Judaism in this period and region to know if they are really plausible.
What I did connect with, however, was the anti-Judiasm that was so prevelant in the South at that time as well as the ways in which prejudice reared its head within the military. I had no ideas Jews were expelled from American towns during the Civil War. That alone should have make this compelling reading for everyone. At this point in our country's history I think many readers know about and respect the service of african american civil war combatants, but I know I had never considered the role Jews might have played in the Civil War.
Anti-Judiasm gets overlooked or trivialized today in ways that are inexcusable. This book would definitely be a fascinating starting point to discuss religion, ethnicity, and war. In the United States we pride ourselves on our heritage as a "melting pot" -- but this book forces the reader to wrestle with questions of identity and allegience. Which is more compelling-- Religious identity? Family connection? Love? Ethnicity? Regional heritage? Politics? I definitnely appreciate Horn's book for allowing me to consider these questions.
beka_ray's review against another edition
4.0
I thought it was great. What a great time period to hear from!
Full review at Tales From a Book Addict
http://bit.ly/1ztMTGt
Full review at Tales From a Book Addict
http://bit.ly/1ztMTGt