In her stunning debut novel, Lilian Nattel brilliantly brings to life the richness of shtetl culture through the story of an imagined village: Blas...
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reviews
Mar 06, 2008
Anastasia
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I really liked this book. Wonderful character pieces all set in the same village (or shtetl-- a new word I learned) in a common time period. It was neat to read about various quotidian events from the perspectives of a variety of characters. Loved Misha the midwife!
Dec 30, 2011
Sharon
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This was a great debut novel by Nattel. It takes place in the late 19th century in a small Jewish shtetl in Poland. The story was thought provoking, as most of my experience in that genre was during the World War II era. There is a lengthy glossary which helps with many of the Yiddish workds, although you can follow the story easily through the word's context.
This is a story of the friendship of 4 strong women and how they grew up and apart from each other (in some ways.) It is th More...
This is a story of the friendship of 4 strong women and how they grew up and apart from each other (in some ways.) It is th More...
Jun 25, 2011
Stephanie(zosime)
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I loved this book! It is beautiful and human and completely enchanting. Each chapter follows a different character's life over the same period of time. While this could result in a tedious re-telling of the same events over and over again, each person's life is so unique that the overlapping moments are subtle and often brilliant. Even a major event which affects the entire shtetl looks different each time depending on how it impacts an individual's life. Conversations between two characters can
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Sep 29, 2011
Linda Hali
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Such a beautiful book - History/folkore/realtionships of shtetl life with a retelling of events one after the other from male/female/angel perspective. Timelessness of this tiny village (turn of 20th C Poland) is running against sophisticated intellecutal and industrial change in big city Poland and the Labor Movement in NYC. Time for a reread. I always find it particularly moving to read over the High Holiday season. It has a wonderful spiritual wake up within the story.This was a first nov
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Aug 23, 2008
Ellen
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Before starting this review I read a few other reviews that shared my feelings. I was charmed by this book of Polish shtettle life in the nineteenth century. What I loved most about this tale was the way the story is woven together from the perspectives of the various characters. Sometimes events are retold, each time from the point of view of the different shtettle character. This gives the work greater depth and allows the reader to understand the events more fully than would have been oth
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Apr 19, 2009
Sonia
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I have read books about Jews in Europe during WWII, but I had never read about Jews as people with ordinary lives. This book is about a tiny Jewish village in Poland told in various voices of the women who live in this village. The customs, the rituals of birth and death, joys and sorrows their simple but rich lives.
It is not a page turner; there is no climax or something momentous happening but nonetheless it keeps you glued throughout.
It reminded me of The Fiddler of the Roof.
It is not a page turner; there is no climax or something momentous happening but nonetheless it keeps you glued throughout.
It reminded me of The Fiddler of the Roof.
Aug 01, 2011
Nattle writes about the events of the year 1894 in a Jewish town in Poland - each section from the perspective of a different character. Each story neatly interwoven with the others. This book along with Galore by Michael Crummey joins myth with reality which I really like. I also like that even this is a Canadian author the book was not depressing. What a pleasant surprise!
Sep 02, 2011
Mollie
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An interesting book covering the same year but each section is written from several different perspectives from people in a Polish Jewish village. Great commentary on assumption, coming of age, the struggles within friendships, marriage, and people living in close proximity.
A great book.
Some sex discussions and difficult situations.
A great book.
Some sex discussions and difficult situations.
Mar 29, 2009
Cathie
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This was a difficult book to read because of the jumping back and forth across time. There was a lot of repetition in order to help the reader determine where they were in time. I realized even as I read this that there was a point to writing this way, but it was still annoying and made for a slow read. However, the ending made it all worth it. Great ending, great writing, and a great point.
Jun 26, 2010
Bree
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I might call this a 4.25 or 4.5. It was really a delightful read. Set in a Jewish shtetl in Poland in the late 1800s, it follows a group of men and women and their transformations over a year. Mystical, yet realistic, this is a book I definitely recommend....especially to Lauren!
Mar 18, 2009
Allison
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Story of the families in a Jewish village in POland 1900s. Great story really drawing me in to begin with. However, the method of telling the story from different perspectives--although original and interesting in theory--became tedious and tiresome
Jan 16, 2009
Adriana
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I find this book fascinating in its detail -- she's wonderful with detail of day to day life in the shtetls of turn-of-the-century Poland. Less satisfying with character development. An interesting read, but very cerebral...not emotionally gripping.
Jul 30, 2011
Sarah
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Absolutely beautiful prose...a lovely description of shtetl life in Poland at the turn of the 20th century. Weaves seamlessly from one character's perspective to another's, turning out a wonderfully rich narration of life in one tiny Jewish village.
Feb 20, 2009
Courtney
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Loved it, magical. Very in depth on village jewish life back in the day, shows how incredibly interconnected these people were and how thier stories all affected one another. Katy was right:)
Feb 15, 2009
Brenda
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This is a book I found a bit slow to start, could very well have been my state of mind. However, when I finished the book I actually missed the characters. If you find it slow, don't give up!!!
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Sep 12, 2011
Ruth
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I read this book some time ago and thouroughly enjoyed it. The author's retelling of the same events from different character's perspectives held my interest. I think I am going to read it again!
Sep 02, 2010
Rebecca
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Events in a Polish village in the early 20th century. A very good, very moving book.
For the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_18194271...
For the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_18194271...
Nov 02, 2011
Doti
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A beautifully woven tapestry created from the cross-threads of village lives. A good read, one that requires thought and rewards with well-drawn characters, rich stories and insight into a history that was unknown to me. Recommend this one highly.
Jan 08, 2011
Jerry
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An interesting tale about life in a steltl at the turn of the century told separately be each of it's member's. A bit repetitive but a nice story.
Nov 30, 2010
Lauren
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I read this a few months ago but forgot to put it on goodreads. Obviously I enjoyed it. I do love a book with a mystical element.
Feb 19, 2009
Katy
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I loved this book! It is a juicy read and a great shapshot of Jewish rural life in Eastern Europe in the late 19th century.
Aug 17, 2009
Shari
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One of my favorite books about life in the shtetls of Europe. I felt like I was reading about my long lost ancestors.
Jan 15, 2009
Hard to follow at first, but good intellectual book. Interesting Jewish and Polish traditions from the 1800s.
Apr 13, 2008
Elizabeth
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This was a beautiful book. I really enjoy "Jewish literature", if you will. I just feel tied to it at such a core level. I'm sure this has to do with ancestry on my paternal side. This story was fascinating. It covered the same few months but from many different people's perspective and with each new perspective we also gained insight into their past and future. The story felt almost tangible to me, like I was holding different pieces in my hand...weaving it into something beauti
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Apr 02, 2009
Beth
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A wonderful story, if you can stick with the writing style. I learned a lot from this book.
Mar 31, 2011
Morgan
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As intelligent as it is funny. Not very in either case but enough for a smile while reading. At it's most enjoable with a cup of strong lemon tea.
Apr 10, 2009
Eileen
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From the perspective of descending from women like this, in small towns and villages of Poland, this was a fascinating story to read. The plot was interesting - lots of interwoven personal stories in a vignette of village life, with good character development. It wasn't an edge of your seat thriller by any means and though it took me a seriously long time to read, when I did read it, I plowed through pages wondering what could possibly come ahead, simultaneously wondering why it had me intrigued
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May 08, 2010
Esther
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I loved this book. It took a while to get in to it and some parts I read more slowly than others but it was truly enjoyable.
There was a little suspense that urged towards the end but mostly I enjoyed the gentle Jewish rhythm, getting to know all the characters in the village according to the festivals of the year. My favourite characters were Haim and Alta-Fruma but I would be happy to meet all the people of Blaszka, especially the women.
The best way I can describe this book is to sa More...
There was a little suspense that urged towards the end but mostly I enjoyed the gentle Jewish rhythm, getting to know all the characters in the village according to the festivals of the year. My favourite characters were Haim and Alta-Fruma but I would be happy to meet all the people of Blaszka, especially the women.
The best way I can describe this book is to sa More...
Dec 16, 2009
Nicole
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I read this for a gender relations class, and I just reread it recently (2007). I love the way it tells the same story from the perspective of all characters, and how it separates them into a woman's and man's section. It's gender binary just like the society they live in. This binary is explored throughout the book, in 1800s (I think) Poland. There's one really strong female character who defies conventions and is wonderful.
