Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk

5 reviews

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

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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

sdossantos's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Child death

reggiewoods's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense 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

3.25

Jacob Frank was an 18th century Polish Jew who claimed to be the messiah and started a religious movement that managed to piss off pretty much everyone that wasn’t a follower of his. I had never heard of Jacob Frank before this book, so I don’t know how accurate Tokarczuk’s account is, but it is indeed both epic and detailed. The only problem I had with this book happens to be a big one: I did not find Jacob Frank to be anything special. I don’t know if this is a failure of the author, the translator, or my own inherent skepticism, but nothing about Jacob ever helped me understand why people would see him as a prophet or messiah. Otherwise it is a solid book by a terrific author. I recommend it to fans of historical fiction, religious history, and epics.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual content, Violence, Infidelity, Death, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Rape, Pregnancy, Antisemitism, and Adult/minor relationship

moa's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Religious bigotry

alisonburnis's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This is Tokarczuk’s magnum opus, nearly 1000 pages in the English translation. It follows the life of the enigmatic Jacob Frank, a Jewish man living in the 18th century who claims to be the Messiah, attracting devoted followers and creating a sect known as Frankism. Told from the stories of those around him, this is a sprawling story, covering his rise, the trials of his followers, who were cast out by their fellow Jews and not accepted by Christians, and their journeys from place to place in Eastern Europe. 

This is a slow, ponderous novel. It is long and you feel every page of it. Philosophical and probing, The Books of Jacob is dense but rewarding. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Abortion