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candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
5.0
I've been on a Russian kick, with this novel, Janet Fitch's "Chimes of a Lost Cathedral, and re-reading Ludmila Ulitskaya's "Big Green Tent." What stands out in all these books is the Russian reverence for art and literature, no matter what the situation. The characters in Ulitskaya's novels feel this while living in an authoritarian society, which they take for granted. (Fitch's characters are fighting to create what will unwittingly become that society.)
Nora is at the center of "Jacob's Ladder." A theater designer, born to parents evacuated to the back of beyond during WW2, as were millions of Russians. From Nora, a web of family, friends and acquaintances spin out in all directions, past, present, and future.
Russia is a huge canvas and the cramped conditions in which people live are eye opening--privacy is unknown when you share a kitchen and bathroom with your neighbors. This, of course, leads to lots of stories, and people's openness to letting relatives camp in the living room (if they have one) for years adds to that.
Once a respected dancer and writer, Nora's grandmother lives in particularly Soviet squalor. When she dies, Nora takes some of the books she treasured in childhood and a chest that reminds her of the person she remembers. Unknown to her, letters wrapped in disintegrating oil cloth tell the story of her grandfather, Jacob, whose love of music, art, and poetry menage to survive a life we do not expect when first introduced to him.
O wonderful, wonderful, and most wonderful wonderful! A story filled with joy, beauty, sorrow, and love. Highly recommended.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
Nora is at the center of "Jacob's Ladder." A theater designer, born to parents evacuated to the back of beyond during WW2, as were millions of Russians. From Nora, a web of family, friends and acquaintances spin out in all directions, past, present, and future.
Russia is a huge canvas and the cramped conditions in which people live are eye opening--privacy is unknown when you share a kitchen and bathroom with your neighbors. This, of course, leads to lots of stories, and people's openness to letting relatives camp in the living room (if they have one) for years adds to that.
Once a respected dancer and writer, Nora's grandmother lives in particularly Soviet squalor. When she dies, Nora takes some of the books she treasured in childhood and a chest that reminds her of the person she remembers. Unknown to her, letters wrapped in disintegrating oil cloth tell the story of her grandfather, Jacob, whose love of music, art, and poetry menage to survive a life we do not expect when first introduced to him.
O wonderful, wonderful, and most wonderful wonderful! A story filled with joy, beauty, sorrow, and love. Highly recommended.
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
xanderman001's review against another edition
2.0
A fascinating novel about the traits, interests, and intellectuallism that carries throughout our trees to benefit the species and the genetic code that defines us all. Unfortunately it's ambitions are expressed in frequently dull characters that spill expository dialogue to shove the theme in your face. This, alongside, an unnecessarily meandering pace destroys any meaningful depth that the novel could've had in exchange for what essentially boils down to an intellectual pleasure party.
On a 10 point scale: 4/10
On a 10 point scale: 4/10
lajolie's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
angeladobre's review against another edition
5.0
https://booknation.ro/recenzie-scara-lui-iakov-de-ludmila-ulitkaia/
laseulemarinade's review against another edition
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
3.0
filaret526's review against another edition
3.0
Really 3 1/2 stars. Good book. Characters were a little flat except Jacob.
wulfus's review against another edition
4.0
This was a slow burn. Parallel stories following grandmother Marusya and grand-daughter Nora starting in the 1910s and 1970s respectively. Exploring the themes of biological destiny, love, and assimilation (particularly Jewish, Ukrainian, Russian). Focused in the nitty-gritty of Russian culture in a way that flew over my head to be honest, but the segments following Nora's theater productions were fascinating to me. Ulitskaya interpolates the two stories with actual letters she unearthed from her own grandfather (Jacob Ukitskaya) and documents from the KGB file on him as well. So much to digest here that was so dense with history, the presumably very personal family story as it weaves through some of the most traumatic events in Russian Jewish history. Captures the essence of a people who were drawn to their arts and love in order to survive. Incredible work.
mwmakar's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Enjoyed the theater & stage incorporation. Every character has a relationship with art as a source of joy, as an obligation, and as an obsession. Jacob’s exile/imprisonment is interestingly told mostly from his letters, which maybe resembles how we only hear the parts of imprisoned life that escape, but I would also have appreciated seeing more of his story head-on.
braxwall's review against another edition
4.0
Rysk familjekrönika och en minst sagt brokig historia. Ulitskaya är en skicklig berättar och även om denna inte når samma höjder som Det gröna tältet är det ytterst läsvärt. Och, glöm inte att efter ett lyckligt slut följer med 100% säkerhet alltid döden.