People of the Book in Around the World in 80 Books

Jun 16, 2010 Daisy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: italy, vienna, former-yugoslavia-balkan, australia, israel, spain, middle-east, audio-library-books, book-infinity

I think I liked it better as a story told to me than I would have liked reading it. It's one of the first audio books I've ever read/experienced. I took it hiking with me and walking around the city and of course in the car to and from jobs. Walking with an audio book is the best. You just want to keep on going. Experiencing a narrator is fun too. I grew attached to Edwina Wren's voice and sometimes bothered by the accents she put on (which I know were necessary, helpful even, to keep characters I think I liked it better as a story told to me than I would have liked reading it. It's one of the first audio books I've ever read/experienced. I took it hiking with me and walking around the city and of course in the car to and from jobs. Walking with an audio book is the best. You just want to keep on going. Experiencing a narrator is fun too. I grew attached to Edwina Wren's voice and sometimes bothered by the accents she put on (which I know were necessary, helpful even, to keep characters' voices clear).

As it was though, it was a great adventure. Parts were tedious and some lines were corny but I learned a lot and it means well. I mean, the moral of the story is the same as the moral of the Haggadah's existence, which celebrates the unification of all peoples and cultures and religions. Sure some of the episodes, especially the recent ones from our lifetime, tied up a little too pat, but it was all really very satisfying. You like being more in the know about the clues Hanna finds than she is. You've gotten drawn into the lives of the people-of-the-book throughout the centuries, you're practically the expert; you've got one up on Hanna but you know she's on course and you encourage her. Here's what shoshanapnw on goodreads says much better than I can: I especially appreciated the voyeuristic pleasure of knowing more about the Haggadah's story than the protagonist ever can.

I like that Hanna's relationship with her mother is stormy and unresolved. I like meeting Lola twice. I like that Hanna leaves her own trace in the Haggadah. I like how it comes full circle and Hanna figures out who created the whole thing. And all the historical pieces are entertaining and educational, from Spain in the 1400s to Italy in the 1600s, and WW2 in central Europe to the war in the Balkans. I hope I remember some of the historical details my mind usually lets loose. I hope listening to this book makes it easier to remember because I usually forget so much of what I read.

Also I learned the term "linguistic accommodation." That's when someone spends time in a foreign country and picks up the accent from there in their own language. I never knew there was a term for that.
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Jan 11, 2021 Daina rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Novel TW: Rape

People of the Book tells the fictionalized history of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the earliest Jewish volumes ever to be illuminated with images.

If I'm being completely honest, I wish that I liked this book more than I did.

The concept is fascinating to me- a historical fiction novel that aims to deconstruct the history of a religious tome by examining the political and religious climates of the eras it has survived. The structure is logical and well-done; though told prima Novel TW: Rape

People of the Book tells the fictionalized history of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the earliest Jewish volumes ever to be illuminated with images.

If I'm being completely honest, I wish that I liked this book more than I did.

The concept is fascinating to me- a historical fiction novel that aims to deconstruct the history of a religious tome by examining the political and religious climates of the eras it has survived. The structure is logical and well-done; though told primarily from the point of view of Hanna Heath, book conservationist brought on to work with the Sarajevo Haggadah, the timeline is interspersed with reverse chronological retellings of how certain particles and flaws within the book came to be. These retellings are set in different times of European and Middle Eastern history, ranging from La Convivencia to WWII, providing the reader with historical context surrounding the mystery of this renowned Haggadah's journey.

My qualms with People of the Book is the writing itself.

Although enamored by the concept of this book, I was so bored reading it. It felt like a chore. I was sludging my way through it because I really did like the way the story was structured, but the writing itself was slow and unexciting (might I even say dull?).

Another large issue I had with this book was the main character herself, Hanna Heath. She is patently unlikable, from beginning to end- (view spoiler) LOL ok.

The overall theme of this book, stated clearly in the final pages, is to illustrate that "to be a human being matters more than to be a Jew or a Muslim, Catholic or Orthodox." That theme gets lost when the plot is telling Hanna's story, but is front and center in the historical retellings. I think People of the Book had a lot of potential but it doesn't quite live up to it. Unfortunately, I do not recommend. ...more

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Oct 11, 2013 Rachel N. rated it liked it

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. ...more

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