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What Members Thought
If the story was interesting, I wouldn't have had a problem with it being a complete retread of The Source, a far superior slice-of-life-throughout-history dissection of how the Jewish faith has interacted with the other major religions over time. Michener's novel is more comprehensive, better-detailed, and more rewarding. But that's not the point...
Brooks clearly wrote this novel to capitalize on the Dan Brown phenomenon. Again, not a problem if the book was interesting, but it wasn't. The main ...more
Brooks clearly wrote this novel to capitalize on the Dan Brown phenomenon. Again, not a problem if the book was interesting, but it wasn't. The main ...more
This book is a combination of contemporary and historical fictions. Hannah Heath, a book conservationist, was asked to work on the Sarajevo Haggadah, a book which has been lost for many years. The contemporary part of of the book follows Hannah in her work, investigating and trying to construct the history of the Sarajevo Haggadah, and her personal lives.
The historical parts of the book spans many centuries and explores conjunctions of where the book has been and how it came into existence. I fo ...more
The historical parts of the book spans many centuries and explores conjunctions of where the book has been and how it came into existence. I fo ...more
This is a delightful, if implausible, story. I enjoyed the parts about ancient books and preservation and the stories within the story about the people who contributed to and treasured the book through the centuries. I found Hannah's mother's story unnecessary and overwrought and the modern intrigue rather clunky.
I listened to an audio version and felt that it was generally well done. But I question the use of accents. Why use a German accent when two Viennese men are speaking to each other prob ...more
I listened to an audio version and felt that it was generally well done. But I question the use of accents. Why use a German accent when two Viennese men are speaking to each other prob ...more
I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the stories about the individuals who had contact with the book throughout history. I thought the modern story line was good, but weaker than the the others and I wished that it had a little less prevalence. I appreciated Hannah as a contemporary "person of the book," but not THE person of the book.
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Hanna Heath is a book conservationist assigned to restore the Sarajevo Hagaddah. the book alternates between Hanna's life and short stories regarding the books path through history. I foudn the stories about the historic paths the book took to be too short and all of them were depressing. I do like the character of Hanna.
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This book was entertaining, but not fabulous. The treatment of racial issues in the book was rather flat and in danger of falling into stereotypes and the stories didn't connect enough for me. I like the idea of the book and enjoyed reading about the Sarajevo Haggadah and about conservation of old manuscripts in general. I won't be rushing to recommend this one, but I wouldn't discourage anyone either.
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I enjoyed this book a lot! I loved how it traces the history of the one book through time and place!
Apr 15, 2009
Natalie
marked it as to-read
Jun 15, 2009
Celeste
marked it as to-read
Jan 31, 2010
Dugger
marked it as to-read
Feb 26, 2010
Ines
marked it as to-read
Jan 17, 2013
Dana Arbelaez
marked it as to-read
May 15, 2013
Ashlee
marked it as to-read
Jul 01, 2013
Jane
marked it as to-read
Nov 28, 2014
Krista
marked it as to-read
