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THE LIVES OF RACHEL
A literary miracle. Even more powerful and epic in scope than Books of Rachel, The Lives of Rachel told with passion, evocative detail and love.-Cynthia Freeman
Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
104 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
Joel Gross
22 books6 followersJoel's ten published novels include THE BOOKS OF RACHEL. His play, MARIE ANTOINETTE: THE COLOR OF FLESH, is published by Dramatists Play Service. His film script, MORTAL ARMOR: THE LEGEND OF GALAHAD, produced by Gale Anne Hurd, will be filmed in the UK next year. Joel has worked on films for Fox, Universal, Sony, and HBO. Joel has an M.A. in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University, and is a member of P.E.N., the Dramatists Guild, the Writers Guild, and the Authors Guild.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 24, 2018
Dissatisfied and dissapointed. The narrative follows five different Rachels throughout the ages. It had tremendous potential; I was looking forward to reading fictionalized Jewish history, but with all the violence, rape and torture of women, it was comprable to Game of Thrones- without the dragons. I understand and expected some level of violence, it, after all, is biblical, but most of it was unnecessary. When I had to skim through pages of horrific scenes, I was done.
August 31, 2012
Extremely disappointed as I loved the Books of Rachel. Highly violent sexually and was not necessary to be that detailed in teh story line. Other flaws as well. Felt like reading it was a waste of time and I rarely feel that way about books.
May 26, 2013
Such a unique perspective. I was thoroughly engrossed from the beginning. One thing that struck me throughout the book was the issue of slavery. As an American it is very easy to see slavery as a sad part of our history and unique to us. It makes you remember the role slavery has portrayed historically. The nations that passed back and forth through history and slave owners turning into slaves and losing everything they had is frightening. They say history is written by the winners and there is truth in that. It is very easy to feel absolute sympathy for conquered nations forgetting at one time they were the conquerors. It's easy to feel like today the lines are written in stone regarding who lives where and what country belongs to what people but I'm sure that people felt that throughout history. The "We are too big to fail" is a simplistic view of our global geography and if history is any indication not true at all. I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. It is a long story and very engrossing. I love that it was written from a woman's perspective and how the book flowed throughout various times in history. Not a light read. Well written. Worth it.
April 30, 2012
I thought this would be a nice story of the Jewish faith as told through the centuries. The history was interesting and it did seem that it could be enlightening to Jewish beliefs but I could not finish it because the sexual content was so graphic. One scene seemed to cover at least half a dozen pages, I kept flipping to try and get past it and it just continued on in the same vein. I understand the need to portray SOME of what happened but the length and attention to such a scene was unnecessary. If you want a nice, clean read skip it.
August 14, 2012
This book had the potential to be a very good book.....there is some really neat Jewish history in it, but you have to drag yourself through all the violence, rape and torture of women to get to it. I didn't even finish the book, because the last section I read I had to skim the majority of to not be horrified. Not into this scene.
December 7, 2010
Five Rachel's, from the same ancesters,down through history:
Judea, 168BC
Rome, 63BC
London, 488AD
Nicomedia(Turkey), 756 AD
Mainz,1096AD
Many gem scholars agree that the tradition of birthstones arose from the Breastplate of Aaron: a ceremonial religious garment set with twelve gemstones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel and also corresponded with the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve months of the year. "It was square -- a span [22 centimeters] long and a span wide -- and folded double. Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it.
Reuben.....Carnelian
Simeon......Peridot
Levi......Emerald
Judah.....Garnet.
Issachar.....Lapis lazuli.
Zebulun...Rock crystal...
Joseph......Zircon
Benjamin......Agate
Dan......Amethyst
Naphtali......Citrine
Gad......Onyx
Assher......Jasper
Tribe of Judah used rubies as their representive genstone in the Temple treasures. However, some believe rubies werenot known of at this time.A true ruby will turn grren at sufficient temps but cools to its natural color. Emeralds were revered for their medicinal properties.
Cohanim- priestly cast of the Jews. Descendents of Aaron. More honoured than levites. Only ones allowed in the sanctury and only ones allowed to make offerings for the people
168BC Antiochus was king of Judea
The Herakles (Hercules) knot is found in Greek jewellery from the Mycenaean period, but became particularly popular in the fourth century BC. Its symbolism is closely connected with marriage, and the knot that tied the bride's garment and was untied by the groom. In many cultures the tying or untying of knots marks moments of transition, whether from maiden to married woman or even from life to death. The untying of knots is also connected with the easing of childbirth.
Sukkot Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles) is a Biblical holiday, like Thanksgiving, celebrated (late September to late October). Jews and Believers make pilgrimages to pre-determined sites to worship and fellowship Lasts seven days, The Hebrew word sukkōt is the plural of sukkah, "booth or tabernacle", which is a walled structure covered with flora, such as tree branches or bamboo shoots. The sukkah is intended as a reminiscence of the type of fragile dwellings in which the ancient Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt.Throughout the holiday the sukkah becomes the primary living area of one's home. All meals are eaten inside the sukkah and many sleep there as well. Citron was a festival fruit representing the scholars, scribes, holy among the pilgrims.
Izmit is a sizeable city (population about 200,000) in northwestern Turkey that was once the ancient Nicomedia. It lies near the head of Izmit Gulf in the Sea of Marmara.
Originally a Megarian city founded in the 8th century BC and called Astacus (or Olbia), Izmit achieved its greatest fame as Nicomedia, built c. 264 BC by Nicomedes I of Bithynia to replace the destroyed old city.
Nicomedia served as the capital of the kingdom of Bithynia and later, under the Romans, was often the residence of emperors.
Nicomedia became the eastern capital of the Roman Empire under Diocletian (reigned 284–305). The future emperor Constantine the Great was raised in Diocletian's court at Nicomedia, and later lived there himself before establishing his capital at Constantinople (modern Istanbul). The city of Nicea was chosen as the site for the First Ecumenical Council (325 AD) largely because of its proximity to Constantine's residence in Nicomedia.
After a period of decline under the Byzantines, Nicomedia fell to the Ottomans in 1326. Izmit has grown in recent years due ot its rapid industrialization and its position on the main road and rail line between Istanbul and Ankara.
Antiochus Epiphanes IV was king in 168BC he was called Antiochus Epimanes, the madman.
Judah the Maccabee ousted pagan priests and re-dedicated the Temple of Jerusalem with a cruse of oil that supposedly lasted 8 days, which gave rise to Hanakkah, the Festival of Light. The Hasmonean dynasty lasted for from 164Bc to 63BC Sulla's dictatorship( 78BC) ended in Rome. He had conquered Athens in 86BC Pompey laid seige on Jerusalem (63BC). The requirements of a general to receive a "triumph" from the senate of Rome was 5000 dead enemies.
Sparticus's rebellion. (73-71BC) 6000 rebels were crusified.; Thracian Gladiator; Spartacus was born in Thrace, became a soldier, and was captured by the Romans. He was sold as a slave to be made a gladiator
laws of kashrut (kosher), why we observe these laws, the various foods and combinations that are forbidden, and the certification of kosher foods. ... Kashrut is the body of Jewish law dealing with what foods we can and cannot eat and how those foods must be prepared and eaten.
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
Brothel keepers bought blond hair from the women of gaul. Blond wigs were used exclusively by prostitutes
Jehoiakim was king of jdea when Nebucadnezzer conquered Jerusalem
Aesop, from Phrigia, understood the language fo animals. The fox and the grapes. Because the fox could not get the grapes he proclaimed them to be sour.
The classic case of necromancy is the witch of Endor, described in the Bible (1 Samuel 28), who summoned the spirit of Samuel in the presence of Saul. This biblical episode was widely accepted as irrefutable evidence for the existence of witchcraft.
Garlic was used on bee stings.
The Picts were a confederation of Celtic tribes living in what was later to become eastern and northern Scotland from before the Roman conquest of Britain until the 10th century, when they merged with the Gaels. They lived to the north of the Forth and Clyde rivers, and spoke the extinct Pictish language
A barbican, from medieval signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," "gate-house" and "towered gateway" is a fortified outpost or gateway, such as an outer defense to a city or castle, or any tower situated over a gate or bridge which was used for defensive purposes. Usually barbicans were situated outside the main line of defences and connected to the city walls with a walled road called the neck.
Lud. God of britain before Romans came .Ludgate was the westernmost gate in London Wall. The name survives in Ludgate Hill, an eastward continuation of Fleet Street.
Ambrosius Aurelianus, Welsh: was a war leader of the Romano-British who won an important battle against the Anglo-Saxons in the 5th century.
Verulamium was an ancient town in Roman Britain. It was sited in the southwest of the modern city of St Albans in Hertfordshire, Great Britain. A large portion of the Roman city remains unexcavated,
Warming is a property unique to diamonds and a way of identifying them.
Rome was captured 5 times in the 6th century
Greek Fire was the secret weapon of the Eastern Roman Emperors. It is said to have been invented by a Syrian Engineer, one Callinicus, a refugee from Maalbek, in the seventh century (673 AD). The "liquid fire" was hurled on to the ships of their enemies from siphons and burst into flames on contact. As it was reputed to be inextinguishable and burned even on water, it caused panic and dread. Its introducation into warfare of its time was comparable in its demoralizing influence to the introducation of nuclear weapons in our time. Both Arab and Greek sources agree that it surpassed all incendiary weapons in destruction. The secret behind the Greek fire was handed down from one emperor to the next for centuries. Rumors about its composition include such chemicals as liquid petroleum, naphtha, burning pitch, sulphur, resin, quicklimeand bitumen, along with some other "secret ingredient". The exact composition, however, remains unknown.
Bubo-name given to boils of the plague and gave Bubonic plague its name
"Smelling Apple" used during the plague. Black pepper, red and white sandal, roses and camphor, molded with arabic gum into the shape of an apple and held over nose and mouth
1099 Godfrey of Bouillon captured jerusalen from the Sarecens
Judea, 168BC
Rome, 63BC
London, 488AD
Nicomedia(Turkey), 756 AD
Mainz,1096AD
Many gem scholars agree that the tradition of birthstones arose from the Breastplate of Aaron: a ceremonial religious garment set with twelve gemstones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel and also corresponded with the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve months of the year. "It was square -- a span [22 centimeters] long and a span wide -- and folded double. Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it.
Reuben.....Carnelian
Simeon......Peridot
Levi......Emerald
Judah.....Garnet.
Issachar.....Lapis lazuli.
Zebulun...Rock crystal...
Joseph......Zircon
Benjamin......Agate
Dan......Amethyst
Naphtali......Citrine
Gad......Onyx
Assher......Jasper
Tribe of Judah used rubies as their representive genstone in the Temple treasures. However, some believe rubies werenot known of at this time.A true ruby will turn grren at sufficient temps but cools to its natural color. Emeralds were revered for their medicinal properties.
Cohanim- priestly cast of the Jews. Descendents of Aaron. More honoured than levites. Only ones allowed in the sanctury and only ones allowed to make offerings for the people
168BC Antiochus was king of Judea
The Herakles (Hercules) knot is found in Greek jewellery from the Mycenaean period, but became particularly popular in the fourth century BC. Its symbolism is closely connected with marriage, and the knot that tied the bride's garment and was untied by the groom. In many cultures the tying or untying of knots marks moments of transition, whether from maiden to married woman or even from life to death. The untying of knots is also connected with the easing of childbirth.
Sukkot Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles) is a Biblical holiday, like Thanksgiving, celebrated (late September to late October). Jews and Believers make pilgrimages to pre-determined sites to worship and fellowship Lasts seven days, The Hebrew word sukkōt is the plural of sukkah, "booth or tabernacle", which is a walled structure covered with flora, such as tree branches or bamboo shoots. The sukkah is intended as a reminiscence of the type of fragile dwellings in which the ancient Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt.Throughout the holiday the sukkah becomes the primary living area of one's home. All meals are eaten inside the sukkah and many sleep there as well. Citron was a festival fruit representing the scholars, scribes, holy among the pilgrims.
Izmit is a sizeable city (population about 200,000) in northwestern Turkey that was once the ancient Nicomedia. It lies near the head of Izmit Gulf in the Sea of Marmara.
Originally a Megarian city founded in the 8th century BC and called Astacus (or Olbia), Izmit achieved its greatest fame as Nicomedia, built c. 264 BC by Nicomedes I of Bithynia to replace the destroyed old city.
Nicomedia served as the capital of the kingdom of Bithynia and later, under the Romans, was often the residence of emperors.
Nicomedia became the eastern capital of the Roman Empire under Diocletian (reigned 284–305). The future emperor Constantine the Great was raised in Diocletian's court at Nicomedia, and later lived there himself before establishing his capital at Constantinople (modern Istanbul). The city of Nicea was chosen as the site for the First Ecumenical Council (325 AD) largely because of its proximity to Constantine's residence in Nicomedia.
After a period of decline under the Byzantines, Nicomedia fell to the Ottomans in 1326. Izmit has grown in recent years due ot its rapid industrialization and its position on the main road and rail line between Istanbul and Ankara.
Antiochus Epiphanes IV was king in 168BC he was called Antiochus Epimanes, the madman.
Judah the Maccabee ousted pagan priests and re-dedicated the Temple of Jerusalem with a cruse of oil that supposedly lasted 8 days, which gave rise to Hanakkah, the Festival of Light. The Hasmonean dynasty lasted for from 164Bc to 63BC Sulla's dictatorship( 78BC) ended in Rome. He had conquered Athens in 86BC Pompey laid seige on Jerusalem (63BC). The requirements of a general to receive a "triumph" from the senate of Rome was 5000 dead enemies.
Sparticus's rebellion. (73-71BC) 6000 rebels were crusified.; Thracian Gladiator; Spartacus was born in Thrace, became a soldier, and was captured by the Romans. He was sold as a slave to be made a gladiator
laws of kashrut (kosher), why we observe these laws, the various foods and combinations that are forbidden, and the certification of kosher foods. ... Kashrut is the body of Jewish law dealing with what foods we can and cannot eat and how those foods must be prepared and eaten.
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
Brothel keepers bought blond hair from the women of gaul. Blond wigs were used exclusively by prostitutes
Jehoiakim was king of jdea when Nebucadnezzer conquered Jerusalem
Aesop, from Phrigia, understood the language fo animals. The fox and the grapes. Because the fox could not get the grapes he proclaimed them to be sour.
The classic case of necromancy is the witch of Endor, described in the Bible (1 Samuel 28), who summoned the spirit of Samuel in the presence of Saul. This biblical episode was widely accepted as irrefutable evidence for the existence of witchcraft.
Garlic was used on bee stings.
The Picts were a confederation of Celtic tribes living in what was later to become eastern and northern Scotland from before the Roman conquest of Britain until the 10th century, when they merged with the Gaels. They lived to the north of the Forth and Clyde rivers, and spoke the extinct Pictish language
A barbican, from medieval signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," "gate-house" and "towered gateway" is a fortified outpost or gateway, such as an outer defense to a city or castle, or any tower situated over a gate or bridge which was used for defensive purposes. Usually barbicans were situated outside the main line of defences and connected to the city walls with a walled road called the neck.
Lud. God of britain before Romans came .Ludgate was the westernmost gate in London Wall. The name survives in Ludgate Hill, an eastward continuation of Fleet Street.
Ambrosius Aurelianus, Welsh: was a war leader of the Romano-British who won an important battle against the Anglo-Saxons in the 5th century.
Verulamium was an ancient town in Roman Britain. It was sited in the southwest of the modern city of St Albans in Hertfordshire, Great Britain. A large portion of the Roman city remains unexcavated,
Warming is a property unique to diamonds and a way of identifying them.
Rome was captured 5 times in the 6th century
Greek Fire was the secret weapon of the Eastern Roman Emperors. It is said to have been invented by a Syrian Engineer, one Callinicus, a refugee from Maalbek, in the seventh century (673 AD). The "liquid fire" was hurled on to the ships of their enemies from siphons and burst into flames on contact. As it was reputed to be inextinguishable and burned even on water, it caused panic and dread. Its introducation into warfare of its time was comparable in its demoralizing influence to the introducation of nuclear weapons in our time. Both Arab and Greek sources agree that it surpassed all incendiary weapons in destruction. The secret behind the Greek fire was handed down from one emperor to the next for centuries. Rumors about its composition include such chemicals as liquid petroleum, naphtha, burning pitch, sulphur, resin, quicklimeand bitumen, along with some other "secret ingredient". The exact composition, however, remains unknown.
Bubo-name given to boils of the plague and gave Bubonic plague its name
"Smelling Apple" used during the plague. Black pepper, red and white sandal, roses and camphor, molded with arabic gum into the shape of an apple and held over nose and mouth
1099 Godfrey of Bouillon captured jerusalen from the Sarecens
April 9, 2021
Historical Fiction
An entrancing story of family following the lives of the women in a Jewish family across the ages. Full of ancestry, love, hate, devotion...a page turning, emotional tale full of the biggest mystery of all, faith.
An entrancing story of family following the lives of the women in a Jewish family across the ages. Full of ancestry, love, hate, devotion...a page turning, emotional tale full of the biggest mystery of all, faith.
July 29, 2019
This starts in 188 BCE with the first Rachel of the family and goes to 1484.
December 31, 2022
Very long story but wrapped up nicely
Read
April 18, 2023"brave & courageous"
May 12, 2012
3 days and nights of complete waste!!!!!
How I read through the whole book I don't know. I was expecting something to come out but it never did.
Started last night (May 7th), very hard to follow the story. Don't really know if it's the way it is writen or all the biblical thing about Jews, Greeks, Catholic and Muslims. The more I think about it I guess it's both.
Will read a bit more maybe it will get easier.
It did not get better this was the author's way of telling a Jewish religious story.Very poorly done.
The one thing he was good at was taking us from one subject to the other and jumoing from one thing to the other.
How I read through the whole book I don't know. I was expecting something to come out but it never did.
Started last night (May 7th), very hard to follow the story. Don't really know if it's the way it is writen or all the biblical thing about Jews, Greeks, Catholic and Muslims. The more I think about it I guess it's both.
Will read a bit more maybe it will get easier.
It did not get better this was the author's way of telling a Jewish religious story.Very poorly done.
The one thing he was good at was taking us from one subject to the other and jumoing from one thing to the other.
August 12, 2013
I loved this book when I first read a "Readers' Copy" that I picked up at an American Booksellers Association many years ago. I love it again and maybe appreciate it more now that I have a degree in Jewish Studies. The history is fascinating and Gross makes it come alive as he traces one family from the Spanish Inquisition to modern times. In every generation there is a Rachel who is strong and courageous. However, in this reading, it seems that Gross ran out of steam towards the end. The last two Rachels are not nearly as developed as the first one. Nonetheless it is an outstanding book.
January 29, 2014
Read this as a loaner on Amazon Prime - loved it. I had read the Books of Rachel many, many years ago and always knew there was at least one other. Excellent storyline, continuity - may be fiction but shares a glimpse of how God's people have continued through the years through faith. Worth reading. I own the hardback copy of the Books of Rachel so will probably reread it as it has been a good 20 years. Yeah I keep books!
July 20, 2013
This book was a prequel to 'The Books of Rachel.' It was very slow moving and not as exciting as the first. In fact, it took me forever to finish this book. However, it was not a bad book - just not as good as the first one.
March 26, 2011
The stories - tales of five Rachels in the same family, beginning in 168 BCE and ending with the Spanish Inquisition approaching, have interesting content. The prose is wooden and pedantic.
August 26, 2012
I didn't like it and in fact, quit reading it after I got about 1/4 of it read. I was really disappointed after reading The Books of Rachel which I loved.
January 2, 2013
A chain of stories some intreging, most bad. It took me a long time to finish.
December 2, 2012
fascinating history of the Jewish people. A compelling read.
July 3, 2013
I thought I would like this, but way to slow I could not follow the plot
July 17, 2016
A lot of history interesting lots of details of living life bc and ad
September 21, 2012
I didn't finish it. Lost my interest.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews