atamano's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexism, Homophobia, Antisemitism, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Grief, Terminal illness, Death, Alcohol, and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Torture, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury
bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
5.0
Review of The Weight of Ink
By: Rachel Kadish
Professor Helen Watt has been led by a former student to a cache of writings by a female Jewish scribe, Ester, from the late 1600s. Unfortunately, Helen needs help from an American college student, who is Jewish, Aaron Levy to handle the documents as she has Parkinson’s. We also see Ester’s story as she secretly writes against the expectations and pressures of her society.
This is such a page turner as we learn Helen and Ester’s stories told to the reader in this book. There lives run parallel to each other as they are both women that are trying to prove their worth and are talked down to by males. They have to learn how to accept their fates and let others in, as well. Aaron also has to learn some of these things but also to lesson his ego. He’s a bit of prick and arrogant. I get the frustration of wanting to talk to someone that you can have in-depth discussions, but Aaron is rude and insensitive to other’s feelings, especially women’s feelings. The only character that pissed me off more than Aaron was Bridgett Easton. She’s cold and unfeeling and represents the negative traits of modern women such as her lack of respect for history and her sense of entitlement. Another character that pissed me off is Bescos. He is cruel and arrogant and is a self-righteous bastard. The writing is beautiful with one half immersing you in the past and the other half immersing you in world researching history. She explores not only the challenges that still exist today, but the suffering of the Jews. The hatred that Ester and Mary experienced throughout the novel was hard to read. Helen’s struggle with Parkinson’s and trying to hold onto her pride was also heartbreaking to read.
Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Death, Hate crime, Sexism, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Religious bigotry
foreverinastory's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Wow this was lovely. I definitely want to read more books like this or about Jewish History in general, especially ones not tied to WWII.
Rep: Elderly disabled female MC, American Jewish male PhD student MC, Refugee Jewish female MC, blind rabbi side character, gay jewish male side character, various other Jewish side characters, including Israeli side characters.
CWs: Antisemitism, chronic illness, death, death of parents, homophobia and forced exile of gay side character, forced conversion to Christianity on threat of death, misogyny, public outing of gay character, religious bigotry, sexism, sexual content, murder of side character, terminal illness, violence, xenophobia, ableism, past mentions of torture, pregnancy of side character.
Rep: Elderly disabled female MC, American Jewish male PhD student MC, Refugee Jewish female MC, blind rabbi side character, gay jewish male side character, various other Jewish side characters, including Israeli side characters.
CWs: Antisemitism, chronic illness, death, death of parents, homophobia and forced exile of gay side character, forced conversion to Christianity on threat of death, misogyny, public outing of gay character, religious bigotry, sexism, sexual content, murder of side character, terminal illness, violence, xenophobia, ableism, past mentions of torture, pregnancy of side character.
Graphic: Antisemitism, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Misogyny, Outing, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Ableism, Pregnancy, Torture, and Murder
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