Reviews

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

heidilreads's review against another edition

4.0

This is a slow journey/mystery... I'm not sure I'd have read it, but listening to it worked for me. I liked the contrast to my life.

eulrch's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

laurachaps's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

nowimfiner's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

mconsugar38's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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? No

4.25

aliciajmil's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

sydna_lowe's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! Although a bit slow in some parts, I always found myself intrigued and wanting to return. 

There’s a lot going on - Australian book conservator with a slightly deranged surgeon mother, a 500 year old Jewish book, international destinations galore (Sydney, Boston, London, Sarajevo, Vienna, Barcelona, and many more), war, crime, love interests, and so much more. But somehow Brooks made it all work, for me at least! I liked Hanna as a character, although I hated her mother and felt that part of the story was a bit of a stretch. I really enjoyed the multiple story lines and the imagined history of the Sarajevo Haggadah. It was clever how we started with the most recent story line and worked our way backwards to the very beginning. Some of the time periods intrigued me more than others (1940 and 1480 being my favorite, 1609 my least).

To me the overall message of this book was that good things can happen in bad situations, and that being human makes us all more similar than our differences. I thought this book packed a punch, and loved the history and takeaways.

jellokites's review against another edition

Just couldn't get into it, as it didn't grab me from the beginning. Maybe some other time I will try to read it again.

benjenga's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

arose178's review against another edition

informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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? No

4.5