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Reader rating: 4.17 out of 5 (12 reviews)
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People of the Book: A Novel
Author: Brooks, Geraldine |
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10 out of 12 readers would recommend this to a friend.
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| People of the Book | August 28, 2009 |
| By: Sean | Lincoln, Nebraska (US) | |
I found this book to be an enjoyable read. I especially liked experiencing the different events at various periods in time that provided background and lead into the current day adventure.
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| People of the Book | September 04, 2009 |
| By: readerbob | Lincoln, Nebraska (US) | |
Geraldine Brooks is an amazing writer. She creates vibrant, memorable characters in gripping situations set in a milieu based on meticulous historical research. People of the Book takes a real historical document, the Sarajevo Haggadah, a lavishly-illustrated Jewish prayer book dating from the 1400s, and weaves at least six separate stories of characters whose lives were intimately connected with the book over more than 500 years. Each story draws the reader into a tantalizing world, so real that you don’t want to leave it when that section of the novel ends. It’s a kaleidoscope of stories-within stories, spiraling over a grand vista of geography and culture. It’ll be a great springboard for discussion at the many “One Book One Lincoln” events scheduled this fall.
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| Something for almost everyone | August 27, 2009 |
| By: emjay | Lincoln, Nebraska (US) | |
This book appeals to many readers. If you like a good, old-fashioned thriller, the cover story of book conservator Hanna Heath, who unwittingly gets involved in uncovering a sophisticated international forgery scheme, keeps the pages turning. If you like art, the introduction to the amazing art work in the Sarajevo Haggadah (which is an actual document) fascinates. History? Geography? The background stories of the Haggadah take you into several centuries and several countries. Best of all, in all parts of the book, Brooks is a consummate story teller. Finally, the book is highly relevant to the modern world. The people of the book--Muslims, Christians, and Jews--come alive in their intricate and ever-shifting relationships over the years. This is a lively book that also engenders reflection.
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| Review for similar item: People of the book : |
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| great book | February 14, 2009 |
| By: avidreader1 | Lincoln, Nebraska (US) | |
I love Geraldine Brooks. She write such unique historical fiction-always basing it in reality but giving it a new fictional twist. This book follows the 500 year history of an ancient Jewish text. I was pleasantly surprised by the action involved twist at the end! I had to stay up all night to finish it!
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| Review for similar item: People of the book : |
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| Great writing | June 23, 2010 |
| By: my | Provo, Utah (US) | |
On the up side, I learned a lot through this book about Sarajevo, the Haggadah, and how Muslims, Jews, and Christians have entertiwined through the centuries. On the down side, the characters are all saturated with tragedy and angst. It seems that there is no one who comes in contact with the Haggadah who is living even close to a happy life. Readers with a weak stomach for torture may want to skim/skip the Inquisition segment. Warnings also for f-bombs, sexual violence, and a lesbian relationship (not graphically depicted).
Structurally, I liked how each chapter took readers to another time and place. It seemed strange, though, that readers were learning more about the book than the character (Hanna) who was researching it. Perhaps we are to assume by the ending that Hanna will learn all that the ominiscient narration depicted, though that seems unlikely.
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| Review for similar item: People of the book : |
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| well done | August 28, 2009 |
| By: Literary Ladies, etc. | Goffstown, New Hampshire (US) | |
Our discussion group is so diverse, they gave this book ratings from 3 to 5! One member was so disinterested, she was unable to finish the book. Most enjoyed it and were drawn into the historical aspects. Several women felt that Hanna wasn't particularly interesting or relatable but felt she was the glue. It was all about the "people" of the book, with the events, travels and travails of the book mirroring those of the Jewish people themselves. I personally found the history so fascinating and intriguing, I couldn't wait to learn more about the real Sarajevo Haggadah. The group definitely wants more by this author.
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| Review for similar item: People of the book : |
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| Boring book, boring story | August 22, 2009 |
| By: Marge | Anaheim, California (US) | |
I guess I just was not interested in an old book and how to restore it. Found the book boring, and could not finish.
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| Review for similar item: People of the book : |
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| dissenting voice | May 19, 2009 |
| By: awardreader | Virginia Beach, Virginia (US) | |
Brooks masterfully juggles a suspenseful frame story and imagined historical episodes in the history of the Sarajevo Haggadah. I too stayed up far too late to finish the novel. But I remain troubled by the particular mix of fact and fiction that very nearly libels a Bosnian librarian who only deserves our respect. I do appreciate the respect the novel gives to various Muslim characters who demonstrate that Islam can be a force for learning, culture, and tolerance. I hope readers will be intrigued enough to investigate the facts of the Sarajevo Haggadah and learn what parts of the novel are not fact.
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| Review for similar item: People of the book : |
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| People of the Book: a Novel | September 30, 2008 |
| By: read4u | Alexandria, Virginia (US) | |
Brooks has created an absorbing fictional tale around one of the most valuable books in existence, the Sarajevo Haggadah, a medieval Hebrew codex that would have been used during Passover Seders. Brooks begins the story with Hanna Heath, an Australian book conservationist who is asked by the UN to examine, analyze, and validate the book??s authenticity which has recently resurfaced after being saved from destruction by the Sarajevo??s library museum director during the Serbian shelling of the Bosnian capitol. As Hanna delves into her project she finds extraneous artifacts such as an insect wing, cat hair, wine stains, and evidence of salt crystals in the book??s binding and parchment that speak to the turbulent history of the book and its journey from medieval Spain to its present location of Sarajevo. Brooks straddles the present day with alternating chapters of the book??s history from its near brink of destruction by the Nazis back to the Spanish Inquisition and the expulsion of all Jews from Spain. Figured prominently in each event is the intermingling of Christian, Moslem, and Jewish faithful who adhered to their faith but were willing to save the beautiful manuscript. Just as there are those who would risk their lives to save one of another faith there are plenty of villains from all walks of faith quite willing to kill and torture in the name of God. People of the Book lets us see that regardless of the century, destruction in the name of God still continues through to the present day. Well researched, Brooks has brought to life complex characters who cannot escape their past while making the decisions that ultimately will effect the world stage.
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| Review for similar item: People of the book : |
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| Annp | March 19, 2008 |
| By: Ann | Cleveland, Queensland (AU) | |
Geraldine Brooks has written another interesting story. Wonderful for the reader to follow the history of the Haggadah through the centuries with alternate chapters covering the life of the book and its owners.
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