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mconant's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lit_laugh_luv's review
4.0
Very close to a 5-star for me, but has a few issues that are hard to ignore. Nonetheless, a stunning book and I’ll definitely be consolidating my thoughts into a detail review this week :)
hvancetx's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I will read this book again.
erinnh's review
4.0
City of Laughter covers a lot of ground, exploring mother-daughter relationships, romantic relationships, family secrets, what we inherit from our ancestors, queerness and identity, and more - all with a magical folkloric twist.
The story follows four generations of women from an Modern Orthodox family, with roots in a small town in Poland, but living in the United States. With little knowledge of the women that came before her, Shiva desperately wants to know more about her ancestors in order to better understand herself and the relationship she has with her mother, especially now that her father has passed and her mother is all she has left. But Hannah, her mother, is more than reluctant to share anything about her own mother and grandmother. Thus, Shiva embarks on a mission to discover the truths she is missing, which takes her to graduate school for Jewish folklore, and eventually back to Poland. As Shiva progresses through her journey, the other three narratives unfold alongside hers, slowly unraveling to reveal a larger interconnected picture of a family and what they have carried through generations.
This novel draws a lot from existing folklore, and the author even invents some of their own. I wasn’t super familiar with S. Ansky or some of the other lore, but I enjoyed the narrative nonetheless. The language and style is stunning, and I found myself highlighting huge chunks almost right off the bat.
I think those that struggle with slower pacing may not enjoy this book as much as I did, but I felt like there was a lot to savor here. The ideas and themes in this novel really appeal to me, and I think anyone who has had similar questions about identity and ancestry will get a lot out of this one. I will definitely check out more books from this author in the future!
*Thank you to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic/Grove Press, and Temim Fruchter for the opportunity to read a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!*
The story follows four generations of women from an Modern Orthodox family, with roots in a small town in Poland, but living in the United States. With little knowledge of the women that came before her, Shiva desperately wants to know more about her ancestors in order to better understand herself and the relationship she has with her mother, especially now that her father has passed and her mother is all she has left. But Hannah, her mother, is more than reluctant to share anything about her own mother and grandmother. Thus, Shiva embarks on a mission to discover the truths she is missing, which takes her to graduate school for Jewish folklore, and eventually back to Poland. As Shiva progresses through her journey, the other three narratives unfold alongside hers, slowly unraveling to reveal a larger interconnected picture of a family and what they have carried through generations.
This novel draws a lot from existing folklore, and the author even invents some of their own. I wasn’t super familiar with S. Ansky or some of the other lore, but I enjoyed the narrative nonetheless. The language and style is stunning, and I found myself highlighting huge chunks almost right off the bat.
I think those that struggle with slower pacing may not enjoy this book as much as I did, but I felt like there was a lot to savor here. The ideas and themes in this novel really appeal to me, and I think anyone who has had similar questions about identity and ancestry will get a lot out of this one. I will definitely check out more books from this author in the future!
*Thank you to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic/Grove Press, and Temim Fruchter for the opportunity to read a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!*
zacheadams's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
annreadsabook's review against another edition
I had to send it back to the library 😭 cruel world
deckleeditproof's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I’m sorry but I spent almost every moment of this book confused. Who’s talking and to whom or what? And why does nobody know that everyone else in the family is also at least a little gay?
em23jjh's review
4.0
This book is a beautifully woven story about finding yourself and your history. It follows multiple women across multiple generations of one family as they explore who they are and where they came from. The author did an amazing job of giving each character depth and development while at the same time showing the interconnectedness of family.
I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
maria_legge's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5