book data
497 ratings, 3.51 average rating, 65 reviews
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published
August 1st 2003
by Persea Books
binding
Paperback, 336 pages
isbn
0892552905
(isbn13: 9780892552900)
description
The classic novel of Jewish immigrants in new trade paperback format and design, with sixteen period photographs.
This masterwork of American immi...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 637)
Read in November, 2002
recommended to Valerie by:
History Teacherrecommends it for: Young Women, College Students
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
ALL
I read this over the summer for my assignment. I felt I made a great choice. This book made me smile when I completed it. It is about a girl named Sara. She has sisters older than her who experience life before she gets to any point she witnessed her sisters have a mediocre life, or a controlled life. (Her sisters) They got married and have children. Alternatively, they stay at home. They could not make something out of themselves. Sara took them as examples and chose to make something out of he...more
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Read in January, 2004
Another Jewish immigrant story... this young girl was the daughter of an orthodox rabbi but she wanted to get an education and change her life from what was expected of her. The story is set in the early 1920's and relates the serious odds this young girl was up against. Something about immigrant stories fascinates me... I always marvel at their strength, determination, and HARD WORK and wonder if I would have been able to muster that level of fortitude.
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Read in January, 2008
Bread givers is the story of a poor Jewish girl named Sara Smolinsky struggling to make it on the lower east side of Manhattan in the early 20's. She has an overbearing, hyper-religious, and thoroughly sexist father who marries off her 3 other sisters to a fishmonger, a gambler, and a petty salesman. After seeing her sisters' fates, she decides to go it on her own, slave and study, go to college, and become a teacher.
The book is spirited, but also kind of crudely drawn and melodramatic. T...more
The book is spirited, but also kind of crudely drawn and melodramatic. T...more
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Read in February, 1991
recommends it for:
everyone
I read this in my Ethnic American Literature course in college. A quote from the back of the book sums it up quite nicely.
" The work of Anzia Yezierska constitutes one of the authentic and touching testaments of the struggle of Jewish immigrants, especially Jewish women, to find their way in the new world....The book should be of interest to all those for whom the immigrant memory still vibrates." Irving Howe
I particularly liked this book because I was/am a first generation Am...more
" The work of Anzia Yezierska constitutes one of the authentic and touching testaments of the struggle of Jewish immigrants, especially Jewish women, to find their way in the new world....The book should be of interest to all those for whom the immigrant memory still vibrates." Irving Howe
I particularly liked this book because I was/am a first generation Am...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
possibly, my future students
I am working my way through 4 novels and memoirs, all recommended by one of my examiners, all dealing with immigrant Jewish girlhood. This one is about a family of women, under the tyranny of a father who studies Torah rather than working and gives away whatever money comes the family's way, either to charity or in poorly thought out business deals. The narrator is the youngest daughter, the only one who is truly determined to break free. As a result, you only see the father from her perspect...more
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Read in September, 2007
easy-to-read book about old world religion in a new world as a family of poor Russian Jewish immigrants survive in the tenements of New York City in early 1900s.
the book is easily accessible because the prose is written simply, but nonetheless, eloquently. The story is quite cliche: an overbearing jewish father tyrannizes his family while they suffer through poverty in NYC. the youngest daughter has the heart of a lion and defies their father and his out-dated traditions, succeeding, yet ...more
the book is easily accessible because the prose is written simply, but nonetheless, eloquently. The story is quite cliche: an overbearing jewish father tyrannizes his family while they suffer through poverty in NYC. the youngest daughter has the heart of a lion and defies their father and his out-dated traditions, succeeding, yet ...more
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Read in May, 2008
I don't know why, but I have always had a soft place in my heart for books about tenement life. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, All of a Kind Family . . . if they were poor and living in squalid conditions, I couldn't get enough of it. Bread Givers plays to that soft spot, but is also an interesting, quick read published in 1925 about a head-strong girl's struggle with her equally head-strong and religious father. While this is a novel, there is something about the tone that feels as if the author fa...more
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Read in February, 2003
I thought this book might start out as a "typical immigration story" it surprised me with its humor. Some of the plot was extremely predictable (Daughter 1 marries for security, Daughter 2 marries for money, so of course the youngest is going to run off and pursue something else and not get sucked into the traditional "My parents say I should do this so I will" mentality) but the whole package was pretty good. The father in the novel is the lovable man who drives everyone c...more
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Read in November, 2007
I learn a lot of things from this book, especially the life of the migrants all over the world,particularly in Asia. I like the determination of Sara who wants nothing else but to pursue her future until she achieve it, though se has to go through a lot of challenges, difficulties and pains. I hate her father who is very domineering, selfish, conservative, and Lazy.
I recomend that it is worth reading this novel and it will leave you with some kind of reflection on our lives.
Calixtos
I recomend that it is worth reading this novel and it will leave you with some kind of reflection on our lives.
Calixtos
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I read this for the first time in a history class, and then again in a modern lit class. While its an engaging story, I don't feel like it can stand alone as English class literature, if that even makes sense. This is a historical document (the story is more or less autobiographical), and in the end, doesn't have much to analyze or critique. If the immigrant experience is your thing, or the early 20th century, or New York slums, or Judaism, definitely take a look at this.
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This 2003 book is about the life of one immigrant Jewish family on the lower East side in the 1920's. Slow getting started, and the dominating/cruel behavior of the Orthodox-rabbi father almost turned me off. Glad I persevered. Once you get past the arranged marriages of the three older daughters, you can celebrate the emancipation of the youngest
from her home. She strikes out, gets a job, rents a room, goes to college and becomes a teacher (her dream). Enjot it
from her home. She strikes out, gets a job, rents a room, goes to college and becomes a teacher (her dream). Enjot it
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Read in July, 2008
This book, about a Jewish girl raised in the tenements on the lower east side of Manhattan in the 20's, was written by a woman who had herself been raised in the tenements and was published in 1925. I loved the feeling that this was not a well-researched book, it was written as the author had lived it. And while it may suffer from the embellishment and sentimentality of literature from it's time, I think that only adds to it's authenticity. I really loved it.
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If you read the back of the book, you've effectively read the book itself (with the notable error that her father is a Talmudic scholar, and not a Rabbi as it claims). Yezierska presents a series of situations and flat characters all designed to show how hard it is to be a poor, young immigrant in 1920's New York. While it's easy to pity Sara and her sisters throughout, it's nearly impossible to truly empathize with them.
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Read in November, 2004
recommends it for:
Yes
This is a really wonderful book about a young girl growing up and wanting to break free of the expectations her parents have for her. As my professor told me this book was written, and then forgotten about and found much later by someone doing some research and managed to get the book republished. Such a classic, something everyone should read! Highly recommended.
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Read in March, 2008
Easy read of a Jewish polish women immigrant experience in early 20th century New York city, attempting to overcome the social obstacles of being viewed as being inferior due to being a women, escaping poverty, and escaping a domineering father. Full thoughts here.
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I first read this book in 6th grade and then again in college, and recently re-read it for fun. I think it is an excellent snapshot of a particular culture and a particular time in our history. It is not often I can say that about formerly required reading, but I thoroughly enjoyed this glimpse into an Orthodox family's struggle.
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recommends it for:
abused Jewish women immigrants from the 1920's
This was one of the top 5 worst books I have ever read. The sentence structure reminded me of a 6th grader, and all of the characters were caricatures. I am sorry for everyone that this book exists. A part of me died with each new page and will never be recovered. I almost had to swallow poison after reading it.
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Read in March, 2008
A very interesting story about immigrant Jews at the beginning of the twentieth century. This book is simply written, yet offers amazing insight into Jewish culture and family structure. A quick and easy read, and very enjoyable. The main character's father is infuriating - read it and see if you agree!
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