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thepurplepixel's review against another edition
- 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
Kadish weaves a story across centuries, following modern day professor Helen Watt’s and grad student Aaron Levy’s discovery of a collection of letters from the 17th century. The significance of the letters becomes apparent as they were written by a female scribe, a challenge to what the modern age understands of that earlier time period and culture. The more letters are read and translated, the more Helen and Aaron are given insight into the unique character of Ester. Kadish then switches to narrating the time of Ester’s dynamic life, describing her philosophical development during a volatile time in history, especially for a young Jewish woman.
I love how Kadish fleshes out the narrative for each protagonist and gives each a solid resolution. Even secondary characters, like Rivka and Mary, are given their due place. I also love the reflective themes of the novel. Kadish educated me on many things, including the 17th century, philosophy, and some components of Jewish culture and custom. I love that Kadish has her characters ask real questions, though I may disagree with how they’re answered. Indeed, I don’t know that Ester’s final philosophical views are as substantial as Kadish would suggest, given the correspondence and friendship Ester kept in the later part of the book. But the discussion is there, and for that I appreciate this book.
A few months ago I read The Invisible Life of Addie Larue. While The Weight of Ink lacks the fantasy elements in Schwab’s novel and does not have as strong of an indulgently romantic overtone, both examine a woman’s psychological and artistic birth and development in her quest for true independence. Readers of one would definitely appreciate the other.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Outing, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
atamano's review against another edition
- 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: Homophobia, Sexism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, Torture, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic
foreverinastory's review against another edition
- 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
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: Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Outing
Moderate: Ableism, Torture, Murder, and Pregnancy