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Patriarch
In turn-of-the-century Glasgow, Russian immigrant Nahum Rabinovitz aids other Jews to safety as pogroms sweep Russia, marries his childhood sweetheart, and establishes a family distinguished by its passionate commitments and intellectual pursuits
424 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 29, 2019
A colourful Jewish family saga spanning the period from the late 1800's to the late 1960's.
It is the story of Nahum Rabinowitz/Raeburn, who immigrates from Russia to Scotland , and builds up a fortune.
He marries his youth sweetheart Miri, after her first husband passes away , and the novel shifts it's focus to Miri's children by her first and second marriages.
A colourful array of men and women , and a fairly pleasant read. Tends to drag in parts but picks up in others.
It is the story of Nahum Rabinowitz/Raeburn, who immigrates from Russia to Scotland , and builds up a fortune.
He marries his youth sweetheart Miri, after her first husband passes away , and the novel shifts it's focus to Miri's children by her first and second marriages.
A colourful array of men and women , and a fairly pleasant read. Tends to drag in parts but picks up in others.
March 15, 2010
From the beginning to the end I was drawn into this family of Russian, Jewish immmigrants. Simply a history of one man's journey through life, his decendents, his triumps, his dissapointments.
September 3, 2018
Okay, I did not finish this book - which is why I gave it 3 stars.
The problem I had with the book is that it is supposed to take place in Glasgow, Scotland and nothing in the dialogue or the descriptions in the first chapter gave me any sense of being anywhere near Scotland. Having lived in Glasgow as a child, I can tell you that it's is cold and windy all the time. But more than that, Scottish people have a vernacular and cadence in their speech that is highly distinctive. I tried to hear the characters speaking in that singing accent and I could not.
The author lived in Glasgow while attending university, but he did not capture the culture and speech patterns. So I didn't continue reading.
That the author has ability in his writing is clear, and why I gave three stars instead of two, but he didn't capture me with this book.
The problem I had with the book is that it is supposed to take place in Glasgow, Scotland and nothing in the dialogue or the descriptions in the first chapter gave me any sense of being anywhere near Scotland. Having lived in Glasgow as a child, I can tell you that it's is cold and windy all the time. But more than that, Scottish people have a vernacular and cadence in their speech that is highly distinctive. I tried to hear the characters speaking in that singing accent and I could not.
The author lived in Glasgow while attending university, but he did not capture the culture and speech patterns. So I didn't continue reading.
That the author has ability in his writing is clear, and why I gave three stars instead of two, but he didn't capture me with this book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews