rachelangle13's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-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
4.25
A beautifully crafted novel that comes together nicely. Some of the historical pieces worked better than others, and Hannah wasn’t particularly lovable, but overall I’m really glad I read
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
3.0
I recently attended an author event in which Geraldine Brooks was interviewed by Laura Moriarty! Brooks is smart and articulate, with a delightful sense of style. You can read about the experience here. (Photo of her kickass red booties included!)
ippym's review against another edition
2.0
Even though I raced through this book I couldn't connect with the protagonist's personality or any of her relationships at all - they all seemed so forced and textbook this or that.
I did enjoy the chapters tracing back the history of the Haggadah and the myriad of characters that we get to meet though. In particular, I liked how many of their fates were really left open to interpretation and that while they were a vessel for the Haggadah's passage through history you couldn't help but take an interest in what happened to them (except maybe one or two).
Overall however, I did think the writing was quite weak and the character development of the protagonist poor. The shifting timeline can also be confusing. It's a shame since Geraldine Brooks came highly recommended to me, perhaps I'll need to try some of her other books as it seems opinions vary depending on which of her pieces you read.
I did enjoy the chapters tracing back the history of the Haggadah and the myriad of characters that we get to meet though. In particular, I liked how many of their fates were really left open to interpretation and that while they were a vessel for the Haggadah's passage through history you couldn't help but take an interest in what happened to them (except maybe one or two).
Overall however, I did think the writing was quite weak and the character development of the protagonist poor. The shifting timeline can also be confusing. It's a shame since Geraldine Brooks came highly recommended to me, perhaps I'll need to try some of her other books as it seems opinions vary depending on which of her pieces you read.
kbratten's review against another edition
5.0
Great on audiobook. I got lost/bored through some of the back stories, and thought the conclusion lacked some oomph, but I enjoyed the story immensely. makes you want to go smell (and study) an old book.
analyndagrace's review against another edition
4.0
I wasnt sure I would give this book a high rating, the way the story weaved through the past and present didnt capture my attention, it isnt usually my style. But by the end it was like a treasure hunt and the treasure was the history of a sacred text. I loved the way the story ended bringing all the pieces of history together.
mlsweeten's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
buzzabelle's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
tinysealoot's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't love this book, it look me way too long to read it. I loved the voice of Hanna and Her storyline, It was the only saving grace of this novel for me. I was struggling to read through a lot of the chapters.
jerzgrl626's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was a really great read and a very unique approach to telling a story. I loved how the author interwove the history of the found "Haggadah" with the main character's own life. I am definitely looking forward to reading additional books by Geraldine Brooks!