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Glasgow to Galilee #1
The Credit Draper
'The Credit Draper', an original debut novel by J. David Simons, is more than just an immigrant's story about the search for identity in an alien land - it is also a book about whisky, football and waterproof clothing.
309 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 30, 2024
This captured the tensions of belonging/not belonging of a Jewish refugee in west coast Scotland set against the backdrop of a penny collection retail credit business. I felt it was a tad overwritten and with some authentic dialogue which for some reason slightly irritated me.
November 20, 2017
I would have given this one 4* but absolutely hated the ending & the way it was executed.
June 23, 2015
For months I skipped past this book on my kindle as the subject just didn't appeal. Then came the day I just wanted to read something different and I started reading this.
I am glad I did because it was a really good read with some very interesting characters. The main character Avram Escovitz is a Russian Jew who is sent to live with a Jewish family in the gorbals area of Glasgow in 1911 to escape conscription into the Russian army.
The story is about his life as part of a moderately wealthy Jewish family through WW1 and the imprisonment of the matriarch of the family in an internment camp in Leeds, the sudden illness of the father of the family, his education, his love of football and his dreams of playing for Celtic through to his new life as a credit draper in the highlands of Scotland and beyond.
There is so much detail in this story and so many supporting characters who give it an added dimension, especially as Avram reaches the highlands.
My only grip would be the ending. The last bit of the book seems rushed in comparison to the rest and I found the ending a bit out of kilter with what had gone before. There were more questions than answers on finishing the book and I just felt it could have been done better.
I am glad I did because it was a really good read with some very interesting characters. The main character Avram Escovitz is a Russian Jew who is sent to live with a Jewish family in the gorbals area of Glasgow in 1911 to escape conscription into the Russian army.
The story is about his life as part of a moderately wealthy Jewish family through WW1 and the imprisonment of the matriarch of the family in an internment camp in Leeds, the sudden illness of the father of the family, his education, his love of football and his dreams of playing for Celtic through to his new life as a credit draper in the highlands of Scotland and beyond.
There is so much detail in this story and so many supporting characters who give it an added dimension, especially as Avram reaches the highlands.
My only grip would be the ending. The last bit of the book seems rushed in comparison to the rest and I found the ending a bit out of kilter with what had gone before. There were more questions than answers on finishing the book and I just felt it could have been done better.
October 13, 2013
I have to admit, I was made aware of this book by a friend of the author.
The central character, Avram, is a 12 year old Russian Jewish immigrant who is sent by his mother, to avoid conscription into the Russian army, to an old friend in Glasgow, Scotland prior to WWI.
The story follows his coming of age over the next decade and more. And, provides historical background on the life and relationships of the Jews in Scotland. Avram's guardian, Papa Kahn, tells Avram, 'while I was waiting for the ship to take me to this paradise across the ocean, I started to like it here. This Glasgow with its little community of Jews. The kosher food. The Yiddish. The Scots with their tolerance of our ways. Our respect for education. For social justice.'
I enjoyed the author's prose, but did feel that the chapters didn't always transition smoothly. The endings felt abrupt and the beginnings not always an easy connection. The book ending was a surprise, but the most likely alternative might be uninspired. I'm purposely vague to prevent spoiler!
The central character, Avram, is a 12 year old Russian Jewish immigrant who is sent by his mother, to avoid conscription into the Russian army, to an old friend in Glasgow, Scotland prior to WWI.
The story follows his coming of age over the next decade and more. And, provides historical background on the life and relationships of the Jews in Scotland. Avram's guardian, Papa Kahn, tells Avram, 'while I was waiting for the ship to take me to this paradise across the ocean, I started to like it here. This Glasgow with its little community of Jews. The kosher food. The Yiddish. The Scots with their tolerance of our ways. Our respect for education. For social justice.'
I enjoyed the author's prose, but did feel that the chapters didn't always transition smoothly. The endings felt abrupt and the beginnings not always an easy connection. The book ending was a surprise, but the most likely alternative might be uninspired. I'm purposely vague to prevent spoiler!
April 13, 2016
What ,
So what happened there??? Ending obscure !!!. Have to admit to skipping bits but still ending ! Just seemed odd.
So what happened there??? Ending obscure !!!. Have to admit to skipping bits but still ending ! Just seemed odd.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews