Friday, August 21, 2009

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

As rare and remarkable a find as the book it explores.....

I LOVE this novel and can't recommend it highly enough, especially for lovers of historical fiction, like myself. Exploring the history of the mythical Sarajevo Haggadah and working backwards throughout history to the lives of those who came in contact with the book, the novel combines all of the best elements of storytelling with twists and turns galore combined with genuine intrigue and excitement; it literally takes the readers on the ride of a lifetime, across generations and continents. I found each section as captivating as the one before and the uniqueness of each section kept my interest piqued until the very last pages. The themes of antisemitism, survival and the historical struggle of women are expertly addressed throughout the various time periods and places in which the book is found. However, what I loved most about this book is the way in which the three major monotheistic religions really came together in the Hagaddah itself and transcended their differences.