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bozonbozonski's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
stinkycheeseboy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jessilcruz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
troymcclure's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.75
edwards1981's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Way too long, could have taken a solid 150 pages easy off the story. Character name changes while I understand, were a bit to deal with.
qpmnguyen's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
avidreadr's review against another edition
5.0
An incredible achievement of novel. Deeply researched, immersive, unique. Truly like no other novel I've read. As a reader I tend to prefer deep character studies, so the overarching historical aspect wasn't my favorite but does kind of define the novel (Structurally anyways) IMO and that's not a bad thing. Again, super unique.
aristarcodisamo's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Antisemitism, Hate crime, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Pregnancy, War, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual content, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Violence
grayjay's review against another edition
3.0
The Books of Jacob is a historical epic that takes place during the mid-18th century following the adventures of a Jewish heretical prophet and the followers who travel with him all over Europe throughout the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Ottoman Empire, and Moravia.
Jacob Frank's teachings are apocalyptic. He claims that the end times have arrived and the way to usher in the new order is to turn all the old laws upside down. His followers defile the Torah, reject property and marriage, embrace promiscuity, eat pork, and convert first to Islam, and then to Catholicism.
It is about belief, community, and tradition, and the testing of these spheres against new ideas and challenges.
It is very long, and there are many point of view characters, many of whom changed their names a couple times throughout the story adding to the confusion for the reader. I found it difficult to become attached to more than three or four. Not only that, but most of them are pretty unlikable people, with very few redeeming qualities.
I still enjoyed the book. It was just an interesting part of history that I didn't know anything about. The author does an excellent job of bringing these strangr historical characters to life, using her trademark vivid and poetic prose.
Jacob Frank's teachings are apocalyptic. He claims that the end times have arrived and the way to usher in the new order is to turn all the old laws upside down. His followers defile the Torah, reject property and marriage, embrace promiscuity, eat pork, and convert first to Islam, and then to Catholicism.
It is about belief, community, and tradition, and the testing of these spheres against new ideas and challenges.
It is very long, and there are many point of view characters, many of whom changed their names a couple times throughout the story adding to the confusion for the reader. I found it difficult to become attached to more than three or four. Not only that, but most of them are pretty unlikable people, with very few redeeming qualities.
I still enjoyed the book. It was just an interesting part of history that I didn't know anything about. The author does an excellent job of bringing these strangr historical characters to life, using her trademark vivid and poetic prose.
questionableburrito's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
4.0