simlish's review against another edition
4.0
Read it here. Based on the antisemitic fairy tale "The Jew Among Thorns", from the POV of the daughter of the Jew and her search for revenge.
I hadn't previously heard of the fairy tale Among the Thorns is based on, and only found out about it when writing this review. The story stands on its own without that context, but I think I might have enjoyed it even more if I'd known about the fairy tale beforehand. For some reason, it doesn't seem to have had the same staying power as Cinderella. Fancy that.
Wikipedia refers to "The Jew Among Thorns" as having incidental antisemitism, since the Jewishness of the Jew is not integral to the story; his victimization is justified by his faith, but it's just flavoring. The boss of the fiddler is greedy and cheats the fiddler but is not punished. The fiddler steals the Jew's money, but the Jew is the one hung for theft. I understand the categorization of "incidental" antisemitism, but it clearly isn't. The Jew's sin is being a Jew.
Among the Thorns is a retelling and a response; Itte, the Jew's daughter, promises to get revenge for her father. She allows herself to be possessed by the Matronit in order to facilitate her vengeance. I don't pretend to be the most well educated on Jewish folklore or kabbalah, so I both asked my father, who does a fair amount of kabbalah and googled -- my father had never heard the term. Wikipedia redirects to Shekhinah, who I do know. I also found this, which has a little more information.
I loved this story, and I love that it's led me to do more research. I loved Itte, and her determination and rage. I loved the way Schanoes uses language. I loved the ending. I loved how Jewishness was worked into each part of the story. When I was younger, during the High Holy Days, my parents would let me read through the daylong services, as long as my reading was related to Judaism. My favorite book to bring was [b:After the Apple: Women in the Bible: Timeless Stories of Love, Lust, and Longing|337603|After the Apple Women in the Bible Timeless Stories of Love, Lust, and Longing|Naomi Harris Rosenblatt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1438492046l/337603._SY75_.jpg|328020], and I think if Among the Thorns had been out at the time I would have devoured it over and over.
The only thing I was not totally in love with was the way the Matronit spoke of G-d; it's certainly one interpretation, but the Matronit is presented as something of an expert, and there's little pushback on the idea of an uncaring G-d. I did like the line, "My daughter, if you did not [keep your covenants], who would you be?" but the concept did hit me in an argumentative bone. Two Jews, five opinions, and all that.
Overall, I really liked it, and it's such a quick (free) read that I highly recommend it.
I hadn't previously heard of the fairy tale Among the Thorns is based on, and only found out about it when writing this review. The story stands on its own without that context, but I think I might have enjoyed it even more if I'd known about the fairy tale beforehand. For some reason, it doesn't seem to have had the same staying power as Cinderella. Fancy that.
Wikipedia refers to "The Jew Among Thorns" as having incidental antisemitism, since the Jewishness of the Jew is not integral to the story; his victimization is justified by his faith, but it's just flavoring. The boss of the fiddler is greedy and cheats the fiddler but is not punished. The fiddler steals the Jew's money, but the Jew is the one hung for theft. I understand the categorization of "incidental" antisemitism, but it clearly isn't. The Jew's sin is being a Jew.
Among the Thorns is a retelling and a response; Itte, the Jew's daughter, promises to get revenge for her father. She allows herself to be possessed by the Matronit in order to facilitate her vengeance. I don't pretend to be the most well educated on Jewish folklore or kabbalah, so I both asked my father, who does a fair amount of kabbalah and googled -- my father had never heard the term. Wikipedia redirects to Shekhinah, who I do know. I also found this, which has a little more information.
I loved this story, and I love that it's led me to do more research. I loved Itte, and her determination and rage. I loved the way Schanoes uses language. I loved the ending. I loved how Jewishness was worked into each part of the story. When I was younger, during the High Holy Days, my parents would let me read through the daylong services, as long as my reading was related to Judaism. My favorite book to bring was [b:After the Apple: Women in the Bible: Timeless Stories of Love, Lust, and Longing|337603|After the Apple Women in the Bible Timeless Stories of Love, Lust, and Longing|Naomi Harris Rosenblatt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1438492046l/337603._SY75_.jpg|328020], and I think if Among the Thorns had been out at the time I would have devoured it over and over.
The only thing I was not totally in love with was the way the Matronit spoke of G-d; it's certainly one interpretation, but the Matronit is presented as something of an expert, and there's little pushback on the idea of an uncaring G-d. I did like the line, "My daughter, if you did not [keep your covenants], who would you be?" but the concept did hit me in an argumentative bone. Two Jews, five opinions, and all that.
Overall, I really liked it, and it's such a quick (free) read that I highly recommend it.
kadesdoorway's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
chmccann's review against another edition
4.0
I know I shouldn't be surprised anymore at how awful humans can be, but I'm just flabbergasted that there's a Grimm fairy tale where the protagonist tortures, robs, and procures the execution of a Jewish man.
At least this tale does a wonderful job of upending that story, telling it from the point of view of the Jewish man's daughter. This short story does a great job of establishing a feel for the time and place while also making the characters completely relatable. The way Itte's mother carefully weighs every decision to avoid the ire of Christians is heartbreaking, but we also see how the family goes about their daily lives in a pretty normal way. Of course, it only takes a single incident to destroy that normal life.
Itte's revenge is perfectly drawn, and ultimately echoes her mother's attempts at balance. It also sadly brings home how far we still have to go before that Grimm fairytale is only a curious artifact of our bigoted past.
At least this tale does a wonderful job of upending that story, telling it from the point of view of the Jewish man's daughter. This short story does a great job of establishing a feel for the time and place while also making the characters completely relatable. The way Itte's mother carefully weighs every decision to avoid the ire of Christians is heartbreaking, but we also see how the family goes about their daily lives in a pretty normal way. Of course, it only takes a single incident to destroy that normal life.
Itte's revenge is perfectly drawn, and ultimately echoes her mother's attempts at balance. It also sadly brings home how far we still have to go before that Grimm fairytale is only a curious artifact of our bigoted past.
nicolaever's review against another edition
3.0
A quick, easy read full of magic and cruelty. Heavy on the heart with everything you know happens in the future.
drkappitan's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written. A short but gripping read. Not quite a re-telling of the classic fairy tales, but a fitting tribute.
lightreading's review against another edition
3.0
This is a retelling of [b:The Jew Among Thorns|23274001|The Jew Among Thorns|Jacob Grimm|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|25084467], which I read so I could compare the retelling to the original, and all I have to say is this: I'm so glad this retelling exists!
The original is horrifying, how this incredibly prejudiced, cruel individual - clearly the bad guy - can come across as the hero so easily *cough* like in real life *cough*. It really makes me wonder how many moral lessons I've just accepted from fairytales, how many things I've absorbed and never even questioned.
So I'm extremely glad that this exists. That there is something to make us think of the other side of the story, that there is some type of justice for this character, that there is some form of a happy ending for his family.
The original is horrifying, how this incredibly prejudiced, cruel individual - clearly the bad guy - can come across as the hero so easily *cough* like in real life *cough*. It really makes me wonder how many moral lessons I've just accepted from fairytales, how many things I've absorbed and never even questioned.
So I'm extremely glad that this exists. That there is something to make us think of the other side of the story, that there is some type of justice for this character, that there is some form of a happy ending for his family.
nelsonseye's review against another edition
3.0
Among the Ruins had a fantastic start, a sympathetic lead, and a good ending. I did want more of a sense of vengeance, but I think the author made the right choice. I'm glad I've started reading the Tor shorts, and I hope to read more of this author.
feliciaj's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
In 17th-century Germany, Itte loses her father to antisemitic violence and devotes her life to seeking revenge on the town where he was made to dance in thorns and then hanged.
I loved how Veronica Schanoes executed the slow burn of her tale, making space to show how Yakov's death affects his family as they live on without him. It makes the revenge story all the more affecting, and the unexpected compassion Itte finds within herself more poignant.
The writing was brutal, not shying away from centuries of cruelty toward Jews, but also lyrical and utterly compelling. The ending was perfect - not unjust, but tempered with mercy.
One of my absolute favorites of the Tor shorts I've read so far.
I loved how Veronica Schanoes executed the slow burn of her tale, making space to show how Yakov's death affects his family as they live on without him. It makes the revenge story all the more affecting, and the unexpected compassion Itte finds within herself more poignant.
The writing was brutal, not shying away from centuries of cruelty toward Jews, but also lyrical and utterly compelling. The ending was perfect - not unjust, but tempered with mercy.
One of my absolute favorites of the Tor shorts I've read so far.
charlin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0