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Who by Fire
Bits and Ash were children when the kidnapping of their younger sister, Alena—an incident for which Ash blames himself—caused an irreparable family rift. Thirteen years later, Ash is living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel, cutting himself off from his mother, Ellie, and his wild-child sister, Bits. But soon he may have to face them again; Alena's remains have finally been uncovered. Now Bits is traveling across the world in a bold and desperate attempt to bring her brother home and salvage what's left of their family.
Sharp and captivating, Who by Fire deftly explores what happens when people try to rescue one another.
Sharp and captivating, Who by Fire deftly explores what happens when people try to rescue one another.
362 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
21 people are currently reading
622 people want to read
About the author
Diana Spechler
8 books50 followersDiana Spechler is the author of the novels Who by Fire and Skinny.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
April 26, 2009
It is rare I read a book longing for more when I reach the end. It was that way with Who by Fire, however. I wanted the story to go on, to know what would happen to the characters next. I was not ready to close this chapter on their lives. Not just yet. I am not talking about those types of endings that leave you in the lurch or where you aren't satisfied. Rather, I am talking about a book that has you so invested in the characters’ lives that you aren't ready to let go.
Alena was only six years old when she was kidnapped from right outside her home. She was the youngest of three and the favorite of her parents. Her disappearance was the breaking point of the Kellerman family. Alena's father abandoned his family, leaving behind a broken wife and two children, all of whom would bear the scars for a lifetime.
Bits, the oldest of the Kellerman children, lives her life recklessly. She began turning to sex at an early age, hoping to fill a void deep within her. She feels empty and lost and seems to feed off of the chaos in her life. She does not let anyone get close to her and instead uses people without much regard for their feelings or thoughts.
Like Bits, Alena's brother Ash feels alone in the world. He blames himself for his sister's disappearance, holding close a secret which burns him from the inside. He is angry at himself, lashing out at others. Unlike his sister who runs away from all that might tie her down, he turns to religion, something controlled and focused to quell the pain inside of him. He thinks that by breaking away from his past and dedicating himself completely to religion, he will find the peace and happiness he seeks.
Ellie Kellerman, their mother, wants nothing more than to have her family back. She lost her youngest child and her husband and is desperately afraid she will lose her remaining children as well. In her mind, her children are both disappearing from her, in particular her son, who she believes has joined a cult. She is willing to go to any length to reel him in.
When Bits learns from her mother that her sister's remains have been discovered, she decides it is up to her to bring him home. She travels to Israel where her brother is now living and learning among the Orthodox Jews at a yeshiva. She blames herself for her brother's self-exile from the family, for his turning to what she thinks is extremism in his faith, and believes that it is up to her to save her family.
The story is told from the points of view of Bits, Ash and Ellie. Diana Spechler takes a chance writing each part in first person, but it proves quite effective. The reader gets a deeper understanding of the characters, their motivations and their pain. There are also other characters who stand out in the novel for their own reason, including Monica, a girl on a mission who at first seems confident in herself in her beliefs, but who really is a lost soul herself, and Todd, Ash's roommate at the yeshiva who is still searching for his niche in the world. He was perhaps my favorite of all the characters.
Yet it was Ash's story which most moved me. I could identify with his reasons for turning toward faith for direction, more than I could Bits' life choices. Like him, I find comfort in order and self-control rather in chaos and recklessness. Ash turned to religion for the wrong reasons, out of guilt and self-loathing. He hoped for a cure, to be rid of his past. He clung to it like a drug. The religion itself is not the problem, although to some, the practices and beliefs of Orthodox Judaism may seem extreme and overzealous.
Who by Fire is not just about Ash, however, despite his family’s focus on him. It is about all three of the main characters and their relationship with one another. They each are suffering in their own ways and have made choices, sometimes bad ones, in an effort to cope with a terrible tragedy from their past. This is a story about grief, loss, guilt and blame. It is also a story of hope. Despite the direction their lives have gone and in spite of the past, Ash, Ellie and Bits are all searching for something more, something better in life. My only real complaint about the novel is that I would like to have delved more deeply into Bits' life and thought processes, in particular near the end.
I loved this book on many levels. I am drawn to books that touch on religious themes as this one did. Not as a way of preaching or teaching about a religion, per say, but about a character's self-journey. Judaism and its many facets is one religion that I have always been interested in. Also, I appreciated how well Diana Spechler crafted her characters. They were terribly flawed and not always the most likeable and yet I really came to care for them. In addition, the setting seemed very appropriate. Set partly in Israel, the turmoil there seemed to mirror the turmoil of the family as well as highlighted some of the good, including Israel’s diversity. Overall Who by Fire was a compelling and moving novel that will stay with me for awhile to come.
Alena was only six years old when she was kidnapped from right outside her home. She was the youngest of three and the favorite of her parents. Her disappearance was the breaking point of the Kellerman family. Alena's father abandoned his family, leaving behind a broken wife and two children, all of whom would bear the scars for a lifetime.
Bits, the oldest of the Kellerman children, lives her life recklessly. She began turning to sex at an early age, hoping to fill a void deep within her. She feels empty and lost and seems to feed off of the chaos in her life. She does not let anyone get close to her and instead uses people without much regard for their feelings or thoughts.
Like Bits, Alena's brother Ash feels alone in the world. He blames himself for his sister's disappearance, holding close a secret which burns him from the inside. He is angry at himself, lashing out at others. Unlike his sister who runs away from all that might tie her down, he turns to religion, something controlled and focused to quell the pain inside of him. He thinks that by breaking away from his past and dedicating himself completely to religion, he will find the peace and happiness he seeks.
Ellie Kellerman, their mother, wants nothing more than to have her family back. She lost her youngest child and her husband and is desperately afraid she will lose her remaining children as well. In her mind, her children are both disappearing from her, in particular her son, who she believes has joined a cult. She is willing to go to any length to reel him in.
When Bits learns from her mother that her sister's remains have been discovered, she decides it is up to her to bring him home. She travels to Israel where her brother is now living and learning among the Orthodox Jews at a yeshiva. She blames herself for her brother's self-exile from the family, for his turning to what she thinks is extremism in his faith, and believes that it is up to her to save her family.
The story is told from the points of view of Bits, Ash and Ellie. Diana Spechler takes a chance writing each part in first person, but it proves quite effective. The reader gets a deeper understanding of the characters, their motivations and their pain. There are also other characters who stand out in the novel for their own reason, including Monica, a girl on a mission who at first seems confident in herself in her beliefs, but who really is a lost soul herself, and Todd, Ash's roommate at the yeshiva who is still searching for his niche in the world. He was perhaps my favorite of all the characters.
Yet it was Ash's story which most moved me. I could identify with his reasons for turning toward faith for direction, more than I could Bits' life choices. Like him, I find comfort in order and self-control rather in chaos and recklessness. Ash turned to religion for the wrong reasons, out of guilt and self-loathing. He hoped for a cure, to be rid of his past. He clung to it like a drug. The religion itself is not the problem, although to some, the practices and beliefs of Orthodox Judaism may seem extreme and overzealous.
Who by Fire is not just about Ash, however, despite his family’s focus on him. It is about all three of the main characters and their relationship with one another. They each are suffering in their own ways and have made choices, sometimes bad ones, in an effort to cope with a terrible tragedy from their past. This is a story about grief, loss, guilt and blame. It is also a story of hope. Despite the direction their lives have gone and in spite of the past, Ash, Ellie and Bits are all searching for something more, something better in life. My only real complaint about the novel is that I would like to have delved more deeply into Bits' life and thought processes, in particular near the end.
I loved this book on many levels. I am drawn to books that touch on religious themes as this one did. Not as a way of preaching or teaching about a religion, per say, but about a character's self-journey. Judaism and its many facets is one religion that I have always been interested in. Also, I appreciated how well Diana Spechler crafted her characters. They were terribly flawed and not always the most likeable and yet I really came to care for them. In addition, the setting seemed very appropriate. Set partly in Israel, the turmoil there seemed to mirror the turmoil of the family as well as highlighted some of the good, including Israel’s diversity. Overall Who by Fire was a compelling and moving novel that will stay with me for awhile to come.
November 14, 2008
The title grabbed me because it takes me to one of my favorite High Holidays passages...the long list of all the possible ways to die in the coming year. Why this fills me with happy childhood memories I cannot say!
March 15, 2023
Välillä kannattaa selkeesti ostaa random kirja Ekotorilta 1,5 eurolla!! Mielenkiintoinen, kaunis ja surullinen samaan aikaan.
December 28, 2008
I really enjoyed this book. It got me thinking about a lot families, about the role I play in my family and how it's changed over the years. My family was all together for the first time in a couple of years over Christmas, and sometimes I just wanted to quit playing that role. (I tried not making nice conversation for about 30 seconds at Christmas dinner - and it was an epic FAIL.) It was interesting to think about that stuff within the context of this book and the holidays.
The story in Who By Fire is told from three different perspectives, which I enjoyed - I liked getting inside the head of a twenty-year-old yeshiva boy (Ash), a frantic mother (Ellie), and a promiscuous, messed up first grade teacher (Bits). Personally, I liked how the point of view changed every three pages or so, though I can see how other readers might have found it annoying. My only problem with the perspective - and I'm not entirely sure it's a "problem" - is that I sort of struggle with unreliable narrators. You see, I am the most naive person on the planet. I'm a publicist's wet dream in that I take things at face value. So it takes a lot of energy for me to be constantly critical of what the narrator is saying and how much crack they are actually smoking. That's not saying it's bad - just that it was a bit harder for me.
Another thing I liked was learning more about Orthodox Judaism and the history of Israel. I grew up Catholic but am married to a half-Jewish man (though as I learned reading the book, he's not really Jewish because his mother was not Jewish), and it was cool to learn about his heritage - especially because he doesn't know much about it. (Though I did constantly harrass him to tell me how to pronounce words.)
Finally, I liked how so many characters in the novel just - start over. They aren't liking their life, they pack up and try something different. Now, I wouldn't say that this really works out well for any of them, but it made me think about the path my life has taken and what (minor) changes I would like to make.
I liked this book a lot and would really recommend it.
The story in Who By Fire is told from three different perspectives, which I enjoyed - I liked getting inside the head of a twenty-year-old yeshiva boy (Ash), a frantic mother (Ellie), and a promiscuous, messed up first grade teacher (Bits). Personally, I liked how the point of view changed every three pages or so, though I can see how other readers might have found it annoying. My only problem with the perspective - and I'm not entirely sure it's a "problem" - is that I sort of struggle with unreliable narrators. You see, I am the most naive person on the planet. I'm a publicist's wet dream in that I take things at face value. So it takes a lot of energy for me to be constantly critical of what the narrator is saying and how much crack they are actually smoking. That's not saying it's bad - just that it was a bit harder for me.
Another thing I liked was learning more about Orthodox Judaism and the history of Israel. I grew up Catholic but am married to a half-Jewish man (though as I learned reading the book, he's not really Jewish because his mother was not Jewish), and it was cool to learn about his heritage - especially because he doesn't know much about it. (Though I did constantly harrass him to tell me how to pronounce words.)
Finally, I liked how so many characters in the novel just - start over. They aren't liking their life, they pack up and try something different. Now, I wouldn't say that this really works out well for any of them, but it made me think about the path my life has taken and what (minor) changes I would like to make.
I liked this book a lot and would really recommend it.
July 13, 2009
I would rate this 3.5 stars if I could. This was a quick read. An interesting portrait of a dysfunctional family 10 years after the disappearance of the youngest child. Essentially, the novel explores ideas of guilt, blame and redemption. The story was told in the first person from three alternating perspectives: Bits, the 23 year old eldest daughter (a messed up, sexually provocative school teacher), Ash, the 20 year old middle child and a ba'al tsushva who has escaped his "old" life to study in a Yeshiva in Jerusalem and the mother. The chapters were very short and choppy. I found the mother the hardest to relate to and quite unsymapathetic. I think the author wanted readers to feel sorry for her, but her actions were manipulative and naive at best. Bits was also rather unlikeable. The author tried to justify her sex addiction and tie it to her sister's disappearance, but it wasn't explored thoroughly and came off as being rather flat and I wondered if it was chosen for shock value. I connected with Ash the most and found him the most interesting. At times I was frustrated with him, especially in the middle of the novel, when he was so committed to wearing "blinders," however, at the end of the novel, I felt that he had come the farthest. Overall, a worthwhile read, although, I wonder if people without any knowledge of Orthodox Judaism would be completely lost. Would the novel make any sense? Also, I would have liked the Monica's story to have been resolved in some manner. Instead, we are left wondering what will happpen to her (are we to assume she will continue on her mission forever?).
June 23, 2008
Told in three first-person voices, which is wonderful and problematic--wonderful because we get into the heads of a young yeshiva boy, a slutty 20-something girl, and their worrywart mother--and problematic because 1. the boy's perspective strains credulity 2. the leaps between voices occur every three pages or so, which jostles, and 3. the mother is given short shrift.
Jess, I'm torn about this one, and it's stressing me out. The dialogue is some of the best I've read in a few months. It snaps off the page, it's funny, and it's surprising. The scenes are memorable, and some of the language is OhMyGod good, without being show-offy. And Spechler wrestles with serious religious questions in an entertaining way. But the last eighth of the novel let me down severely. In what feels like the final chapters of a pulpy detective paperback, single characters pair off, guys we've known were baddies since page 10 turn out, indeed, to be baddies, and every loose end is tied up.
Jess, I'm torn about this one, and it's stressing me out. The dialogue is some of the best I've read in a few months. It snaps off the page, it's funny, and it's surprising. The scenes are memorable, and some of the language is OhMyGod good, without being show-offy. And Spechler wrestles with serious religious questions in an entertaining way. But the last eighth of the novel let me down severely. In what feels like the final chapters of a pulpy detective paperback, single characters pair off, guys we've known were baddies since page 10 turn out, indeed, to be baddies, and every loose end is tied up.
May 15, 2013
I grabbed this book randomly at the library and quite enjoyed it. I am of Christian faith and quite enjoy learning about other religions and I found Ash experience living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel a well written experience. This book had extream emotional depth concerning dealing with trauma, the ways in which people seek out other relationships and what people employ for simple survival. I read the book in a very short time and although it was deep, it was easy to continue through b/c there were appropriate transitions. In addition I found the additional question and answer interview with the author to be interesting as well. She references "The Cathcher in the Rye" quite a few times as an influential book. That book has also been quite influential to me as well. Perhaps the authors style of expression is similar to mine, which may be why I found so much connection, despite circumstances vastly different from any I have experienced. Well done!
April 17, 2009
I'm kind of torn between 2 and 3 stars. Some parts of the book were interesting, but I had a hard time relating or empathizing with the characters most of time. Also, there were a number of implausible events at the very end of the book - like the author was trying to quickly tie up any loose ends. Bits is pregnant and gets into a serious and relationship with Todd, the mom lied to them about finding Alena's dead body just to get Ash back from Israel, and the kids are basically ok with this?? I mean, come on!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2009
I really wanted to like this book.
Really truly.
I couldn't get into it, and the characters didn't seem true.
Really truly.
I couldn't get into it, and the characters didn't seem true.
June 21, 2010
DUMB!
December 18, 2022
Originally, I thought this was yet another autobiography of a formerly Orthodox woman. Maybe it was the title or cover art that gave that impression?
Turns out that this is a novel, with stories of the three main characters alternating in the chapters. Together, they are part of a dysfunctional family. This level may have been primarily brought about when the brightest star in this household, the youngest child, Alena, is kidnapped and never seen again. This occurred while she was playing with her older brother, Ash. Then there is the oldest child, a girl known as Bits. The father has abandoned them, leaving behind a distraught and crazed wife.
My one star is because there were so many things that bothered me, particularly about the life of Ash, who is also the most developed character. Bits can be dismissed as a slut, she'll sleep with any man she can get her hands on, with no sense of discretion. Ash goes to college in Boulder and falls in with Yosi, a rabbi connected to a Rabbi Zeff, who the author is using as her version of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach zt"l, and Ash's discovery of Judaism starts out here, and then takes him to a yeshiva in Jerusalem which is the author's version of Aish HaTorah, a famous yeshiva for young men who were not born into Orthodox homes, but have become religious later on.
Ash, who know goes by Asher is doing well until a mysterious girl named Monica starts stalking him. I probably should have skipped all aspects of the story dealing with her because her presence was very preposterous. I also made notes about incorrect depictions of Orthodoxy that the author had.
The writing is not bad per se, but it's used to create a ridiculous story that could have been so much better.
Turns out that this is a novel, with stories of the three main characters alternating in the chapters. Together, they are part of a dysfunctional family. This level may have been primarily brought about when the brightest star in this household, the youngest child, Alena, is kidnapped and never seen again. This occurred while she was playing with her older brother, Ash. Then there is the oldest child, a girl known as Bits. The father has abandoned them, leaving behind a distraught and crazed wife.
My one star is because there were so many things that bothered me, particularly about the life of Ash, who is also the most developed character. Bits can be dismissed as a slut, she'll sleep with any man she can get her hands on, with no sense of discretion. Ash goes to college in Boulder and falls in with Yosi, a rabbi connected to a Rabbi Zeff, who the author is using as her version of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach zt"l, and Ash's discovery of Judaism starts out here, and then takes him to a yeshiva in Jerusalem which is the author's version of Aish HaTorah, a famous yeshiva for young men who were not born into Orthodox homes, but have become religious later on.
Ash, who know goes by Asher is doing well until a mysterious girl named Monica starts stalking him. I probably should have skipped all aspects of the story dealing with her because her presence was very preposterous. I also made notes about incorrect depictions of Orthodoxy that the author had.
The writing is not bad per se, but it's used to create a ridiculous story that could have been so much better.
June 14, 2018
Who by Fire tells the story of Ash and Bits, a brother and sister whose younger sister Alena had been kidnapped more than a decade ago. When their mother informs them that her remains have finally been discovered, it's up to wild child Bits to go to Israel and convince her now Orthodox Jew brother to come home for a memorial service--no easy feat as he's been out of touch with the family since entering the yeshiva.
The book is told from shifting perspectives, really getting into the minds of the various characters. t I do know that I couldn't put this book down.
None of the characters are particularly lovable, at least not for me, but that didn't stop me from devouring this book--I believe it's called the train wreck syndrome. What I mean is that each character is a bit (or a lot) of a mess--the book itself is far from a train wreck. Indeed, it's fabulous.
The plotting, pacing, and writing all shine; I particularly love Spechler's conversational, down-to-earth writing style, which you might not expect in a book with such deep subject matter. Spechler shows that humor has a place everywhere, even when dealing with heavy topics, and this is something that I firmly believe as well.
I give I simply couldn't stop reading
The book is told from shifting perspectives, really getting into the minds of the various characters. t I do know that I couldn't put this book down.
None of the characters are particularly lovable, at least not for me, but that didn't stop me from devouring this book--I believe it's called the train wreck syndrome. What I mean is that each character is a bit (or a lot) of a mess--the book itself is far from a train wreck. Indeed, it's fabulous.
The plotting, pacing, and writing all shine; I particularly love Spechler's conversational, down-to-earth writing style, which you might not expect in a book with such deep subject matter. Spechler shows that humor has a place everywhere, even when dealing with heavy topics, and this is something that I firmly believe as well.
I give I simply couldn't stop reading
June 15, 2018
"It's every single thing that happens to a family, the composite of experiences, that dictates how everyone treats one another."
This was one of those books I couldn't put down - the storytelling was beautiful. We follow three different family members affected by the abduction of the youngest child nearly two decades ago. The mother, sister and brother each take a different path in dealing with this loss.
The mother, a good Jewish mother in NJ, feels the loss fresh every day. She tries so earnestly to keep the rest of the family together, she can't tolerate any one else disappearing from her life.
The sister lives a risky life, making poor choices at every turn. She can't be the relief her mother wants, and can't understand why her brother isn't trying harder.
As a child who grew up knowing guilt for things I could or couldn't understand, I most closely related to Ash, the orthodox brother. I too went to a strict religious school and I too was not able to stay the course. Tho I never did the terrible thing that weighed on his conscience, I have my own litany of regrets.
The brother has embraced the orthodox life and moved to Israel to live in a yeshiva. He puts all worldy concerns out of his mind and can't understand why his family won't support his decision.
This was one of those books I couldn't put down - the storytelling was beautiful. We follow three different family members affected by the abduction of the youngest child nearly two decades ago. The mother, sister and brother each take a different path in dealing with this loss.
The mother, a good Jewish mother in NJ, feels the loss fresh every day. She tries so earnestly to keep the rest of the family together, she can't tolerate any one else disappearing from her life.
The sister lives a risky life, making poor choices at every turn. She can't be the relief her mother wants, and can't understand why her brother isn't trying harder.
As a child who grew up knowing guilt for things I could or couldn't understand, I most closely related to Ash, the orthodox brother. I too went to a strict religious school and I too was not able to stay the course. Tho I never did the terrible thing that weighed on his conscience, I have my own litany of regrets.
The brother has embraced the orthodox life and moved to Israel to live in a yeshiva. He puts all worldy concerns out of his mind and can't understand why his family won't support his decision.
November 26, 2016
Story of a Jewish brother and sister, and their mother, who've been living devastatedly, more or less, since the abduction of the family's youngest daughter some ~15 years earlier. Asher, the brother, lives as an Orthodox lifestyle in Israel while his sister, Bits, just generally kind of sleeps around Boston to deal with her pain. Their mother struggles to keep them close, especially wanting to bring home Asher, who she considers to have joined a cult. I found Asher's story most compelling and best realized as he threw himself into fundamentalist Judaism. Bits had a lot of room to grow but seemed only to make the stupidest, most unfathomable decision in every single situation she faced. It was difficult to care about her or take her seriously. Their mother's storyline was so brief it was practically nonexistent--ultimately only a (slightly confusing and maybe even unnecessary) plot device for the children. Ending was a little sappy and convoluted but satisfying. Easy, enjoyable reading altogether, if not perfectly put together.
October 16, 2017
A good premise, some humor, some thought provoking elements. The big flaw is that each of the main characters presents their own story and the author strains to have them reveal their issues and flaws as if they themselves are not aware of them. It makes some of the internal dialog stilted and unnatural. The ending is also a bit ridiculous. Actually, what bothered me most was writing a book called "Who By Fire" and naming a key character "Ash". Really?
The discussions about Judaism are educational.
The discussions about Judaism are educational.
June 21, 2019
Amazing book. A little like the Poisonwood Bible was written in the distinct different voices of a missionary family in Africa. But, about the bonds that hold a family together. The members of the family are all flawed but somehow manage to forgive and go on. I couldn’t put it down. The author remarks in her interviews how Cather in the Rye is one of her favorite books and Holden Caufield is her hero. That is my favorite book and I read it yearly for comic relief and for introspection. The ending surprised me and will you, as well.
February 26, 2017
It was such a beautiful read and wasn't your average run of the mill story about a dysfunctional family. Each character has their own set of flaws, but what I loved most was in the end they all came together. Either by the will of god or new found courage. And for the first time ever, the ending just made me want to cry tears of joy.
October 11, 2017
I could not like any of the main characters, nor most of the minor ones, in this book. I gave it 2 stars because I did at least read to the end. I thought I might learn something about Orthodox Judaism, but mostly it was about dysfunctional people acting irrationally.
March 16, 2020
Even though the main characters are seriously flawed, you find yourself drawn to them. Upon ending the book I wanted an epilogue to see into their future. I found the frequent use of Hebrew words annoying.
March 12, 2020
story of very dysfunctional family - interesting quick read. reinforces how crucial is early childhood.
January 20, 2021
Fantastic. Completely relatable for me. Character development was beautiful.
June 29, 2021
pretty good, plot was interesting, the people were kinda weird
August 30, 2023
Mediocre at best.
April 1, 2012
I don't personally subscribe to any form of religious fundamentalism, but reading Karen Armstrong's The Battle for God several years ago did give me a little more insight into its appeal for some people. After years of self-inflicted guilt over the disappearance of his little sister Alena, Ash (Asher) Kellerman finds that the disciplined study and strictly-defined lifestyle rules of Orthodox Judaism just might give him some answers, and makes the choice to immerse himself in a Jerusalem yeshiva. This decision doesn't go over well with the mother and older sister he left behind, and they're both open to some pretty extreme measures to try to bring him home, although for different reasons; his sister Bits (Beatrice) fights Ash's withdrawal from modern life, while his mother Ellie believes he's been brainwashed into joining a cult.
Ash isn't the only member of his family scarred by Alena's kidnapping and presumed death, of course. His father left the family, married again, and moved to Colorado, while his mother has essentially refused to move on with her life at all. Bits has been acting out since her pre-teen years, making very few personal connections other than sexual ones. The Kellerman family has been damaged for years. The events in Who by Fire represent the long-building climax, and potentially a resolution, of a family tragedy.
The central themes here are rescue and connection, and Diana Spechler explores them through the parallel narration of Bits, Ash, and Ellie over the period of a few months in 2002. As the women in his family see it, Ash has turned to religion to rescue himself; it's a choice they can't understand, and although they respond in different ways, both Bits and Ellie think he needs to be rescued from religion. Everyone in this family has been needing saving from something for thirteen years, and their difficulties in communicating and connecting with one another show that it's not just the individuals who need a rescue, it's the family itself.
Spechler tells a compelling and unsettling story, and brings the narrative threads together in a way that I felt rang true in the end. At times I found every one of these characters frustrating, but I tend to see that as a positive thing - it usually indicates that I'm caught up in the story and wish they'd just get their acts together and figure it out. I would have liked to see more dimension and development in each of them, but then again, they might have been different characters in that case and their story would have been different as well.
Ash isn't the only member of his family scarred by Alena's kidnapping and presumed death, of course. His father left the family, married again, and moved to Colorado, while his mother has essentially refused to move on with her life at all. Bits has been acting out since her pre-teen years, making very few personal connections other than sexual ones. The Kellerman family has been damaged for years. The events in Who by Fire represent the long-building climax, and potentially a resolution, of a family tragedy.
The central themes here are rescue and connection, and Diana Spechler explores them through the parallel narration of Bits, Ash, and Ellie over the period of a few months in 2002. As the women in his family see it, Ash has turned to religion to rescue himself; it's a choice they can't understand, and although they respond in different ways, both Bits and Ellie think he needs to be rescued from religion. Everyone in this family has been needing saving from something for thirteen years, and their difficulties in communicating and connecting with one another show that it's not just the individuals who need a rescue, it's the family itself.
Spechler tells a compelling and unsettling story, and brings the narrative threads together in a way that I felt rang true in the end. At times I found every one of these characters frustrating, but I tend to see that as a positive thing - it usually indicates that I'm caught up in the story and wish they'd just get their acts together and figure it out. I would have liked to see more dimension and development in each of them, but then again, they might have been different characters in that case and their story would have been different as well.
July 18, 2012
This one really quickly wormed it's way into my heart. Though at times the characters, the protagonists in particular, came off as a bit extreme in their flaws. Was it necessary for Bits to attach herself to every strange man who crossed her path since Alena's disappearance? Ellie and Ash were similarly one-dimensional when it came to pursuing their narrow visions of the truth. All of these characters ultimately moved past this, however, especially Bits and Ash. On the whole I had less sympathy for Ellie, the mother. Even before she so self-righteously accepted Jonathan into her life to "deprogram" her son, she was always a bit self-absorbed and even emotionally abusive to her surviving children. I had to remind myself that this was a woman who had to deal with the disappearance of her young daughter and her husband abandoning the family. Like Bits and Ash, I tried to forgive her.
I appreciated how Spechler introduced a variety of characters from basically two Jewish backgrounds "secular" and "Orthodox." (A rather generic term, however, for the strictly ultra-Orthodox sects that Spechler was dealing with.) Some of the characters from the Orthodox camp were either hypocrites or otherwise didn't belong in that world. Others (like Ash) ultimately did. Same for the seculars--some were well-adjusted, or getting there, and others were crackpots. :P This novel painted an incredibly multi-dimensional picture about how there is no right way to live, and consequently no right way to read the past. Bits and Ash were consumed by the memory of Alena, and what they might have done to save her. But ultimately the answer comes from the title of the book--Gd decides who dies, "who by fire" and who by whatever else, as Jews recite on Yom Kippur. The best we can do is learn how (and to what extent) to forgive.
Setting the majority of the novel during the Counting of the Omer--a mourning period in religious Judaism, turned into a beautiful metaphor, a microcosm for what the Kellermans went through as they channeled through their grief as adults. By the end of the book what depressed me the most was the lack of a resolution for Monica. Not that it fit the story for her to have one, but she was so lost (one of the characters who, at first, I thought was a little *too* crazy, but I came to understand her as the novel progressed.) Perhaps Spechler might one day consider writing her story. :P
I appreciated how Spechler introduced a variety of characters from basically two Jewish backgrounds "secular" and "Orthodox." (A rather generic term, however, for the strictly ultra-Orthodox sects that Spechler was dealing with.) Some of the characters from the Orthodox camp were either hypocrites or otherwise didn't belong in that world. Others (like Ash) ultimately did. Same for the seculars--some were well-adjusted, or getting there, and others were crackpots. :P This novel painted an incredibly multi-dimensional picture about how there is no right way to live, and consequently no right way to read the past. Bits and Ash were consumed by the memory of Alena, and what they might have done to save her. But ultimately the answer comes from the title of the book--Gd decides who dies, "who by fire" and who by whatever else, as Jews recite on Yom Kippur. The best we can do is learn how (and to what extent) to forgive.
Setting the majority of the novel during the Counting of the Omer--a mourning period in religious Judaism, turned into a beautiful metaphor, a microcosm for what the Kellermans went through as they channeled through their grief as adults. By the end of the book what depressed me the most was the lack of a resolution for Monica. Not that it fit the story for her to have one, but she was so lost (one of the characters who, at first, I thought was a little *too* crazy, but I came to understand her as the novel progressed.) Perhaps Spechler might one day consider writing her story. :P
April 26, 2009
I actually finished this book over a month ago while I was in India doing shopping to prepare for my wedding. Since returning to the States, I have not had much time to compose a brilliant review. In the interest of wanting to cross an item of my to-do list, I am going to crank out a review RIGHT NOW! Oh the pressure of spontaneous brilliance.
Here is a summary of the plot from the author's website:
Bits and Ash were children when the kidnapping of their younger sister Alena, an incident for which Ash blames himself, caused an irreparable family rift. Thirteen years later, Ash is living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel, cutting himself off from his mother, Ellie, and his wild child sister, Bits. But soon he may have to face them again: Alena’s remains have finally been uncovered. Now Bits is traveling across the world in a bold and desperate attempt to bring her brother home and salvage what’s left of their family. Told from the alternating points of view of the three family members, Who By Fire is a searing commentary on guilt, grief, and the inescapable bonds of family from a fresh and extremely talented new voice in American fiction.
Even after all this time, I recall that I really enjoyed Who by Fire by Diana Spechler. It was wonderful company for the long plane ride from London to Delhi. Even though I had trouble with some of Bits choices, I loved how much she was driven by desire to connect with her brother Ash. I also appreciated the complexity of their sibling relationship. As an added bonus, I learned some additional information about the Jewish faith. For example I had attended a Purim party prior to leaving for India, but I did not fully understand the significance of the holiday. From reading about the holiday from the perspective of Bits, I understand more about the importance.
Another thing, I related to in the book was the differences in the way the Mother related to her two children. Since I was immersed in intense family time, I was thinking a lot about how a past event impacts the way we interact with and treat each other. The book has many scenes that illustrate the complexity of trying to remain close to our family members while still having guilt over past events.
Here is a summary of the plot from the author's website:
Bits and Ash were children when the kidnapping of their younger sister Alena, an incident for which Ash blames himself, caused an irreparable family rift. Thirteen years later, Ash is living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel, cutting himself off from his mother, Ellie, and his wild child sister, Bits. But soon he may have to face them again: Alena’s remains have finally been uncovered. Now Bits is traveling across the world in a bold and desperate attempt to bring her brother home and salvage what’s left of their family. Told from the alternating points of view of the three family members, Who By Fire is a searing commentary on guilt, grief, and the inescapable bonds of family from a fresh and extremely talented new voice in American fiction.
Even after all this time, I recall that I really enjoyed Who by Fire by Diana Spechler. It was wonderful company for the long plane ride from London to Delhi. Even though I had trouble with some of Bits choices, I loved how much she was driven by desire to connect with her brother Ash. I also appreciated the complexity of their sibling relationship. As an added bonus, I learned some additional information about the Jewish faith. For example I had attended a Purim party prior to leaving for India, but I did not fully understand the significance of the holiday. From reading about the holiday from the perspective of Bits, I understand more about the importance.
Another thing, I related to in the book was the differences in the way the Mother related to her two children. Since I was immersed in intense family time, I was thinking a lot about how a past event impacts the way we interact with and treat each other. The book has many scenes that illustrate the complexity of trying to remain close to our family members while still having guilt over past events.
September 10, 2011
There are MAJOR SPOILERS at the end of the review. So don't click "read more" if you don't want to ruin the surprise. And trust me if you plan on reading this you DONT want to ruin the surprise!
WRITING STYLE: 5
PLOT: 5
PROTAGONIST: 4
CAPTURED MY INTEREST: 5
OVERALL: 5
LOVED this book. I love Spechler's writing style it's natural and smooth. I normally criticize books written from multiple points of view but Spechler not only pulled it off she made it flow beautifully. At first I didn't realize that it was multiple character's talking. I would start reading a chapter from Bits' point of view only to realize it was Ellie talking. After a few chapters I didn't make that mistake any more. But I think that initial confuse allowed for the ending to be all the more spectacular because I got confused on the order and view point of how certain things were presented at the beginning.
I was fascinated by the insights I received into Judaism, particularly Orthodox Judaism. I studied the Old Testament in college but how I read and understood it is wildly different from how it was presented here. I love books that make me want to learn and study and read more - which is exactly what this book did to me.
As for the Protagonists - there's wasn't one. And I disliked all the main characters as "people" but Spechler did such an amazing job making them real and understandable and developing them that I had to give her 4 stars.
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I wish I had read this book in one sitting or at least not sporadically over 5 days because that would have made it all the better. The ending was like a series of bombs. I wonder if I had not been so distracted reading the beginning and had there not been so many stops and starts would I have expected the craziness of the end? I mean Ellie LIED ABOUT FINDING ALENA'S BODY!! WOW! Jonathan was SLEEPING with and directing Monica. WOW! And as cheesy as it might have been I loved that she brought Bits and Ash's roommate together at the end. It was closure for me. I love books that end well and provide me with closure.
WRITING STYLE: 5
PLOT: 5
PROTAGONIST: 4
CAPTURED MY INTEREST: 5
OVERALL: 5
LOVED this book. I love Spechler's writing style it's natural and smooth. I normally criticize books written from multiple points of view but Spechler not only pulled it off she made it flow beautifully. At first I didn't realize that it was multiple character's talking. I would start reading a chapter from Bits' point of view only to realize it was Ellie talking. After a few chapters I didn't make that mistake any more. But I think that initial confuse allowed for the ending to be all the more spectacular because I got confused on the order and view point of how certain things were presented at the beginning.
I was fascinated by the insights I received into Judaism, particularly Orthodox Judaism. I studied the Old Testament in college but how I read and understood it is wildly different from how it was presented here. I love books that make me want to learn and study and read more - which is exactly what this book did to me.
As for the Protagonists - there's wasn't one. And I disliked all the main characters as "people" but Spechler did such an amazing job making them real and understandable and developing them that I had to give her 4 stars.
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I wish I had read this book in one sitting or at least not sporadically over 5 days because that would have made it all the better. The ending was like a series of bombs. I wonder if I had not been so distracted reading the beginning and had there not been so many stops and starts would I have expected the craziness of the end? I mean Ellie LIED ABOUT FINDING ALENA'S BODY!! WOW! Jonathan was SLEEPING with and directing Monica. WOW! And as cheesy as it might have been I loved that she brought Bits and Ash's roommate together at the end. It was closure for me. I love books that end well and provide me with closure.
January 21, 2009
Here’s a basic recap of the book. It’s not thirteen years since Bits and Ash’s younger sister, Alena, has disappeared. Bits buries her grief in multiple meaningless sexual encounters and Ash has escaped to religion. The family is Jewish, but Ash has taken it to a whole other level and has moved to Israel and is living as an Orthodox Jew - following all the rules and studying in Yeshiva Hillel. Their mother, Ellie, has decided that Ash’s form of Judaism is akin to a cult and joins a support group for parents of children in cults. Now Alena’s remains have been discovered and nobody can get ahold of Ash to bring him home for the funeral. Bits brings it on herself to bring her brother home and so begins the story.
I really enjoyed the book and there was a nice twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. The characters were fantastic - my only regret being that I wanted to know more about them. I felt like their flaws - their sexual deviancy, obsession with absolving guilt through religion, and trying to save your remaining children - were a little too heightened and wiped away some other aspects of these characters’ personalities. I wanted more.
I read the book quickly because it was a great and easy read. I found myself reading slower in the beginning - learning each character’s voice and figuring out who was narrating each chapter - and then just plowing through the end to find out what was going to happen.
One other aspect of the book that I loved was learning about what it means to be an Orthodox Jew. My father-in-law’s family is Jewish and it was fascinating to learn more about the religion and the difference between what i see and what the other end of the spectrum is. I had no idea about a lot of the formalities and I loved learning about it through a good story.
Overall, I’d rate this book a 4 out of 5 and I would gladly pick up another book by the author.
I really enjoyed the book and there was a nice twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. The characters were fantastic - my only regret being that I wanted to know more about them. I felt like their flaws - their sexual deviancy, obsession with absolving guilt through religion, and trying to save your remaining children - were a little too heightened and wiped away some other aspects of these characters’ personalities. I wanted more.
I read the book quickly because it was a great and easy read. I found myself reading slower in the beginning - learning each character’s voice and figuring out who was narrating each chapter - and then just plowing through the end to find out what was going to happen.
One other aspect of the book that I loved was learning about what it means to be an Orthodox Jew. My father-in-law’s family is Jewish and it was fascinating to learn more about the religion and the difference between what i see and what the other end of the spectrum is. I had no idea about a lot of the formalities and I loved learning about it through a good story.
Overall, I’d rate this book a 4 out of 5 and I would gladly pick up another book by the author.
November 20, 2008
I recently gave two books five stars. Then, when I started thinking about writing these reviews, I thought about offering the books to anyone who wanted them…but then realized that I simply cannot part with Who By Fire. So, even though I loved them both, I loved Who By Fire a little bit more.
Who By Fire is a story about a lot of things. The book is set thirteen years after the youngest child in a family has been kidnapped. The remaining children, a son and daughter, are in their early twenties. The son - who blames himself for his sister’s disappearance - has dropped out of school, cut all ties with his family, and is living in Israel as an Orthodox Jew. The father has divorced the mother and is living in Colorado with a new family. The mother is convinced that her son has joined a cult. The oldest daughter is a bit of a mess in her own way, and decides to drop everything and flies to Israel to find her brother and bring him home.
When I started reading, I did so with a bit of a suspicion that I wouldn’t be able to really enjoy the book because I’m not Jewish - that I wouldn’t be able to relate. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I’m not sure what made me think that I’d be less able to relate to a Jewish book than I can to the gazillion books I’ve read involving people in other cultures or in the past - and perhaps that’s fodder for another discussion another day. (Or perhaps I’m overanalyzing this and should just drop it.) Within a chapter or two, this book was un-put-down-able. And yes, that’s totally a literary term. I absolutely loved it, and if I didn’t have a stack of other books waiting to be read, I’d probably have started reading it all over again as soon as I finished. I could gush all day about how fantastic a read this was. I hope you all read it and love it, too.
Who By Fire is a story about a lot of things. The book is set thirteen years after the youngest child in a family has been kidnapped. The remaining children, a son and daughter, are in their early twenties. The son - who blames himself for his sister’s disappearance - has dropped out of school, cut all ties with his family, and is living in Israel as an Orthodox Jew. The father has divorced the mother and is living in Colorado with a new family. The mother is convinced that her son has joined a cult. The oldest daughter is a bit of a mess in her own way, and decides to drop everything and flies to Israel to find her brother and bring him home.
When I started reading, I did so with a bit of a suspicion that I wouldn’t be able to really enjoy the book because I’m not Jewish - that I wouldn’t be able to relate. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I’m not sure what made me think that I’d be less able to relate to a Jewish book than I can to the gazillion books I’ve read involving people in other cultures or in the past - and perhaps that’s fodder for another discussion another day. (Or perhaps I’m overanalyzing this and should just drop it.) Within a chapter or two, this book was un-put-down-able. And yes, that’s totally a literary term. I absolutely loved it, and if I didn’t have a stack of other books waiting to be read, I’d probably have started reading it all over again as soon as I finished. I could gush all day about how fantastic a read this was. I hope you all read it and love it, too.
February 16, 2017
In the genre of crap Jewish novels by young American Jewish women. Superficial, especially the characters who are mere stereotypes on the whole, and the unbelievable plot and the narrative lack subtlety. Nonetheless, a superior specimen of the genre. Spechler can write, and tells her fast moving story with a light hand. You can whip through the nonsense in a jiffy and the time flies by.
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