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cyclingarchivist's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe 3 1/2 stars. It was good, but I just found it darn predictable. And a bit too poetic for my liking. I realize the story is about a poet, but the "translator's notes" didn't need to be. Glad I read it, but I don't think it's destined to be a classic.
mcbtx2024's review against another edition
3.0
Story of a Jewish boy from Russia and his journey to America.
_inge_'s review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jonathanfreirich's review against another edition
3.0
A great yarn too quickly wrapped up with too many threads left hanging. Raises a ton of beautiful questions about preservation of language, history and memory, and more...
scunareader's review against another edition
4.0
First. I loved this book. It squeezed at my heart every few chapters or so. I want to give it 4.5 but because the story was masterfully told, i'm giving it five.
I've been very lucky in finding and reading books focused on the immigrant Jews of America straddling the old world, like my family. This one is full of sadness and happiness, misfortune and luck. Much like the expression we use in Russian: Ivrayskoya Shastya. I have no translation for it that would equal what it truly means.
In the vein of Dara Horn's, "The World to Come."
Lastly, I was impressed that this was written by a Goy. Manseau seems to have captured something of the Jewish spirit, no, Yiddish spirit that one can only understand by living amongst Yiddish-speakers. Very impressive.
I've been very lucky in finding and reading books focused on the immigrant Jews of America straddling the old world, like my family. This one is full of sadness and happiness, misfortune and luck. Much like the expression we use in Russian: Ivrayskoya Shastya. I have no translation for it that would equal what it truly means.
In the vein of Dara Horn's, "The World to Come."
Lastly, I was impressed that this was written by a Goy. Manseau seems to have captured something of the Jewish spirit, no, Yiddish spirit that one can only understand by living amongst Yiddish-speakers. Very impressive.
gjmaupin's review against another edition
3.0
Nice. Some contrivance and over-explanation here and there, but still good stuff. Russian Jews of Literature have been following me around.
gr8reader's review against another edition
4.0
When I started the book and saw "Translator's Note" at the start of the book, I was a little bored by the first few pages and almost put the book down.....as the progressed you see that it is a combination of the translator's notes - or story along with Itzik Malpeshs's story. It is always clear which of the story lines you will be reading in each chapter by the title. Itziks's chapters are also "numbered" by the Hebrew letters - aleph, bet, etc. The stories of course come together by the end. Well written, at times, each story line had me anxious to get to turn the page to find out what happened. Some surprises along the lines of "small world" here and there and one, not so suprising. Itzik's story is of life in the "old country," traveling to America - what happens as he disembarks and how he works to make a life for himself, discovering that the streets are not paved in gold. Worthwhile read.
lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
I hadn't intended to start this book (or finish it) during the High Holy Days, but much of this book is about bashert (fate) so let's just chalk it up to that, shall we?
Manseau's book Vows caught my attention at ALA years ago, and when I heard him at RUSA's Notable Tastes Breakfast this year I knew I needed to read it. The experience of Itsik/Isaac may very well have been the experience of my family: the escape from the tsar's army, the coming to America and living in an American shtetl, the changing from Jewish to American to who knows what.
To my knowledge, however, none of my family are the poet, failed or otherwise, that Itsik was. It is his journey, his willful choices to do/not do, see/not see that make this such an incredible read. At times I felt that he needed a Simon Cowell to say 'look, you'll never be a real poet', because clearly no one had ever said that. The lives he casually ruins and the obliviousness he has to those results is stunning and yet very familiar.
For those that are not Jewish, this is a great way to experience what it was like (albeit with a little fantasy - the self-delusional kind, not the dragons/castles kind - thrown in).
Manseau's book Vows caught my attention at ALA years ago, and when I heard him at RUSA's Notable Tastes Breakfast this year I knew I needed to read it. The experience of Itsik/Isaac may very well have been the experience of my family: the escape from the tsar's army, the coming to America and living in an American shtetl, the changing from Jewish to American to who knows what.
To my knowledge, however, none of my family are the poet, failed or otherwise, that Itsik was. It is his journey, his willful choices to do/not do, see/not see that make this such an incredible read. At times I felt that he needed a Simon Cowell to say 'look, you'll never be a real poet', because clearly no one had ever said that. The lives he casually ruins and the obliviousness he has to those results is stunning and yet very familiar.
For those that are not Jewish, this is a great way to experience what it was like (albeit with a little fantasy - the self-delusional kind, not the dragons/castles kind - thrown in).
madamstassica's review against another edition
4.0
Between the historical research that went into this book, and the complexity of the characters, I very much enjoyed this novel. There are so many levels of appreciation, I'm not even sure I can recall them all.
First and foremost I loved how the journey of the characters represented the journey that ancestors of American Jewry experienced. From the pogroms in Russia, to pioneers in Israel (then Palestine), to Ellis Island, to New York City sweatshops...I loved the Jewish history that this book represents.
What I strongly appreciated about the historical aspects was the core issue of language. The author managed to capture the struggle within the Jewish population of how to proceed with their culture during this time period. It was a very intense argument that took place within Judaism. Some felt that Hebrew was the language that kept the Jewish people unique, and that if they were ever to reclaim their right over Israel, Hebrew would need to be the official language. Others felt that Yiddish best represented the Jews, while others (especially in America) felt that the Jewish people needed to forfeit their uniqueness and assimilate with the language (and therefor culture) they were surrounded by. Songs For The Butchers daughter beautifully illustrated this struggle and depicted representatives from all sides of the historical debate. More specifically it captures the way Yiddish began to die out among the Jewish population in the 1900's, which is an important part of history yet is severely under represented.
I am excited to refer this book to anyone who is interested in Jewish history. It is both an interesting story with well written characters, as well as a good resource for anyone looking to catch a glimpse of this time period and culture.
First and foremost I loved how the journey of the characters represented the journey that ancestors of American Jewry experienced. From the pogroms in Russia, to pioneers in Israel (then Palestine), to Ellis Island, to New York City sweatshops...I loved the Jewish history that this book represents.
What I strongly appreciated about the historical aspects was the core issue of language. The author managed to capture the struggle within the Jewish population of how to proceed with their culture during this time period. It was a very intense argument that took place within Judaism. Some felt that Hebrew was the language that kept the Jewish people unique, and that if they were ever to reclaim their right over Israel, Hebrew would need to be the official language. Others felt that Yiddish best represented the Jews, while others (especially in America) felt that the Jewish people needed to forfeit their uniqueness and assimilate with the language (and therefor culture) they were surrounded by. Songs For The Butchers daughter beautifully illustrated this struggle and depicted representatives from all sides of the historical debate. More specifically it captures the way Yiddish began to die out among the Jewish population in the 1900's, which is an important part of history yet is severely under represented.
I am excited to refer this book to anyone who is interested in Jewish history. It is both an interesting story with well written characters, as well as a good resource for anyone looking to catch a glimpse of this time period and culture.
saycheeze37's review against another edition
2.0
I'm rating this 2-stars for me, while it might in fact be 4-stars for someone else. This is a beautifully written novel. The ideas, the poetry, the cultural discovery, all come together to create something wonderful. Unfortunately, the aforementioned attributes made the book difficult for me to sink into and get through, thus impeding my enjoyment of the story.
The idea of this book was fascinating and Malpesh's story was an intriguing one full of twists and turns. I enjoyed learning about Yiddish, the Jewish culture and the Christian controversy. I have always been a fan of multiple voices telling a story and enjoyed how the story bounced between Malpesh and the translator.
And while this novel didn't check all my boxes, I would recommend it to those that enjoy a well written, political, poetic journey.
The idea of this book was fascinating and Malpesh's story was an intriguing one full of twists and turns. I enjoyed learning about Yiddish, the Jewish culture and the Christian controversy. I have always been a fan of multiple voices telling a story and enjoyed how the story bounced between Malpesh and the translator.
And while this novel didn't check all my boxes, I would recommend it to those that enjoy a well written, political, poetic journey.