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luckyonesoph's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
“The lion must know what my history books forgot, but time
has swallowed his voice.”
Lyrical and haunting and beautiful. I loved this so much more than I expected to love a novel told in verse, and the foundation of Jewish culture and history was so exceptionally executed. The magical realism definitely requires you to suspend belief for a while, but the author’s gorgeous prose and metaphor make it so easy. Like, if you like house metaphors, where rooms and buildings come alive, you’ll love this. This book feels like a spooky hug, and I’ll definitely return to it as a comfort read.
One of my favourite quotes:
I play to bring the walls of the black house down.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Antisemitism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
branwhat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As though I had been gifted Wassermann's violin myself, I devoured this book in under 6 hours.
It was a very unique read for me, as it is the first book I have dove into that's written entirely in prose which I hadn't realised so was initially put off by but within a few chapters I had acclimatised and was thoroughly enjoying it as a creative tool to elevate the story. By the end I couldn't begin to imagine how the story would have flowed so beautifully in a traditional novel format.
This story is one where it needed the personal and emotional stakes the author has in the history and the narrative and R.M Romero weaves a saddening but beautiful tale out of it, putting a magnifying glass on Jewish and European histories alike and how they interwine within the characters.
Truly cannot give this book enough praise, if you're looking for a magical realism novel bubbling with Jewish history (and ghosts), folklore, a dash of romance, and smiling as the prose heightens the laments of a sixteen year old's girlhood, this is one I'd recommend
It was a very unique read for me, as it is the first book I have dove into that's written entirely in prose which I hadn't realised so was initially put off by but within a few chapters I had acclimatised and was thoroughly enjoying it as a creative tool to elevate the story. By the end I couldn't begin to imagine how the story would have flowed so beautifully in a traditional novel format.
This story is one where it needed the personal and emotional stakes the author has in the history and the narrative and R.M Romero weaves a saddening but beautiful tale out of it, putting a magnifying glass on Jewish and European histories alike and how they interwine within the characters.
Truly cannot give this book enough praise, if you're looking for a magical realism novel bubbling with Jewish history (and ghosts), folklore, a dash of romance, and smiling as the prose heightens the laments of a sixteen year old's girlhood, this is one I'd recommend
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
There is a dynamic between the protagonist and the antagonist wherein the antagonist - who is older - is obsessed with the protag in a practical sense of her being able to help him and in the end of the book he kisses her. This is not romantic nor is it portrayed as such but it happens and the language around doesn't shy from the parallel to being assaulted
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