What do you think?
Anything But Yes: A Novel of Anna Del Monte, Jewish Citizen of Rome, 1749
“An intricately detailed novel of resistance and community.” — Kirkus Reviews
This beautiful new work of historical fiction was inspired by the diary of an 18th-century Roman Jewish girl who was imprisoned in a convent cell by the Catholic Church in an attempt to forcibly convert her. Anything but Yes is the true story of a young woman’s struggle to defend her identity in the face of relentless attempts to destroy it. In 1749, eighteen-year-old Anna del Monte was seized at gunpoint from her home in the Jewish ghetto of Rome and thrown into a convent cell at the Casa dei Catecumeni, the house of converts. With no access to the outside world, she withstood endless lectures, threats, promises, isolation and sleep deprivation. If she were she to utter the simple word “yes,” she risked forced baptism, which would mean never returning to her home, and total loss of contact with any Jew—mother, father, brother, sister—for the rest of her life.
Even in Rome, very few people know the story of the Ghetto or the abduction of Jews, the story of popes ever more intent on converting every non-Catholic living in the long shadow of the Vatican. Young girls and small children were the primary targets. They were vulnerable, easily confused, gullible. Anna del Monte was different. She was strong, brilliant, educated, and wrote a diary of her experiences. The document was lost for more than 200 hundred years, then rediscovered in 1989. Anything but Yes is also based on Davidow’s extensive research on life in the eighteenth-century Roman ghetto, its traditions, food, personalities, and dialect. Includes Italian to English glossary
This beautiful new work of historical fiction was inspired by the diary of an 18th-century Roman Jewish girl who was imprisoned in a convent cell by the Catholic Church in an attempt to forcibly convert her. Anything but Yes is the true story of a young woman’s struggle to defend her identity in the face of relentless attempts to destroy it. In 1749, eighteen-year-old Anna del Monte was seized at gunpoint from her home in the Jewish ghetto of Rome and thrown into a convent cell at the Casa dei Catecumeni, the house of converts. With no access to the outside world, she withstood endless lectures, threats, promises, isolation and sleep deprivation. If she were she to utter the simple word “yes,” she risked forced baptism, which would mean never returning to her home, and total loss of contact with any Jew—mother, father, brother, sister—for the rest of her life.
Even in Rome, very few people know the story of the Ghetto or the abduction of Jews, the story of popes ever more intent on converting every non-Catholic living in the long shadow of the Vatican. Young girls and small children were the primary targets. They were vulnerable, easily confused, gullible. Anna del Monte was different. She was strong, brilliant, educated, and wrote a diary of her experiences. The document was lost for more than 200 hundred years, then rediscovered in 1989. Anything but Yes is also based on Davidow’s extensive research on life in the eighteenth-century Roman ghetto, its traditions, food, personalities, and dialect. Includes Italian to English glossary
238 pages, Paperback
Published October 10, 2023
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October 11, 2023
In a Nutshell: A historical fiction novel inspired by the diary of an eighteenth-century Italian Jewish girl who was abducted to be converted to Christianity. Unfortunately, the writing style didn’t match my reading taste. But I loved the central character, the historical details, and the research.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Story Synopsis:
Anna’s journal, of which Tranquillo made seven handwritten copies for safekeeping after his sister’s death, was lost for more than 200 years, until a copy was rediscovered in a private collection in 1989. This novel is based on the annotated version of Anna’s journal, penned by Jewish scholar Giuseppe Sermoneta in 1989.
There’s no disputing the fact that this story inspires and infuriates in equal measure. Some members of the Catholic Church (I say this as a practising Christian) act as if God has sent them down to earth with a target on the lines of “Convert 100 people to Christianity during your time down there, else you won’t enter heaven.” Their ignorance of their fallacious approach towards conversion, their false sense of pride in being Christian, their distortion of biblical scriptures to suit their twisted purpose, and their despicable acts towards people of other belief systems, are shameful to the true tenets of the Christian faith. I always wonder why, if they are so supposedly so knowledgeable about what Jesus said, do they forget the Golden Rule he preached in Matthew 7:12: “Do unto others whatever you would like them to do to you.”
Anna’s story tells us of how such poisonous thinking was prevalent even in that era, when the Catholics treated the Jews as scum, forcing them into closed quarters, restricting them from most occupations, and converting them by any means. One tactic to get converts was that if a Jewish man converted to Christianity, and then declared before the Catholic officials that he was engaged to a Jewess, the girl was kidnapped or arrested, and forced to convert, even if the man’s claims were baseless.
This is what happens to Anna as well. But Anna is not just any girl. Though just eighteen, she had been brought up in a family that has educated its girls, treated them as equals, and taught them their rights and their faith. As such, Anna is determined to stand up to her oppressors and not give up her heritage or her values.
The author captures Anna’s spirit wonderfully. It would have been so easy to depict her as a sweet girl caught for no fault of her own, and leave it at that. But the complexity of Anna’s character development is something I relished. Instead of showing her only as a pious and humble Jewish girl, the writing depicts her as a realistic teen, being proud, rude, and judgemental as well, though I can’t really blame her for behaving this way with her captors. At the same time, it also shows her emotional vulnerability. Anna’s character is THE reason to read this story.
Though the book’s focus is primarily Anna, it also highlights several other misdemeanours of the local church authorities. We also get to know the living conditions of the Jews, not just how they functioned within the ghetto but also how they sometimes conducted business with those who persecuted them. Further, we also see the shameful behaviour of the church and its officials towards the Jews. They do not resort to physical torture, but their methods of psychological manipulation were no less reprehensible.
The author’s note at the end of the book elaborates on Anna’s life and how her diary led to this book. There’s also an Italian-to-English glossary.
The historical aspects of the book thus are impressive. Unfortunately for me, the writing style incorporates certain elements that didn’t work well for me.
To start with, the book dives straight into Anna’s capture, without any backstory. As such, the plethora of characters at the start is tough to recognise and remember.
Moreover, the story is written in a mix of the (simple) present tense and the (simple and perfect) past tense. Initially, the simple present felt like a radical choice, as it somehow gave me the feeling of watching the events live instead of hearing a narration, as happens in case of a simple past tense. However, there was no consistency to the tense usage, which switched from past to present to past even for the same timeframe. The back and forth of tenses confused me many times about the timeline. This was further complicated by the numerous flashbacks, which, while necessary to establish the backstory of Anna’s present confinement in the convent, pop in without warning.
Finally, the narrative point of view jumps across too many characters, both major and minor. There are multiple character perspectives within every single chapter. All of these factors ensured that I couldn’t really get into the book, despite the topic being so captivating.
If you are not as fussy as I about the writing approach, specifically about the use of the simple present tense and the hopping across various characters’ povs, this book ought to work better for you. I tried my best to go with the flow, but couldn’t connect with the style. My bad!
I would still recommend this compelling historical fiction to you. Anna’s story, and the Church’s historical hegemony, has been forgotten in the annals of time long enough. Unless we learn from the mistakes of the past, we can never hope to have a better future.
Before I forget, a nod of appreciation for that striking cover. The artwork is from an oil-on-canvas work named “Rêverie sur le Seuil”, painted in 1893 by French artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau. While there’s obviously no portrait of the real Anna del Monte, I think the girl on the cover art captures Anna’s spirit beautifully.
3.25 stars.
My thanks to Love Books Tours and author Joie Davidow for a complimentary copy of “Anything But Yes”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
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Story Synopsis:
1749. Eighteen-year-old Anna del Monte stays with her family in the Jewish ghetto in Rome. While they are relatively well off, it is nothing compared to their earlier standard of living, before the Roman Christians declared Jews to be unclean heretics and commandeered them into the ghetto.
One day, Anna is seized from her home at gunpoint and locked in a convent cell, in a bid to convert her to Christianity. With no access to anyone except her captors, who kept indoctrinating her on the superiority of Christian theology to shatter her strong Jewish faith, Anna resists being baptised and doesn’t succumb.
Later, her elder brother Tranquillo encourages her to write a diary of her struggles, in order to motivate other Jews on how to stay strong in their faith.
The book tells us Anna’s story through the third person perspectives of various characters.
Anna’s journal, of which Tranquillo made seven handwritten copies for safekeeping after his sister’s death, was lost for more than 200 years, until a copy was rediscovered in a private collection in 1989. This novel is based on the annotated version of Anna’s journal, penned by Jewish scholar Giuseppe Sermoneta in 1989.
There’s no disputing the fact that this story inspires and infuriates in equal measure. Some members of the Catholic Church (I say this as a practising Christian) act as if God has sent them down to earth with a target on the lines of “Convert 100 people to Christianity during your time down there, else you won’t enter heaven.” Their ignorance of their fallacious approach towards conversion, their false sense of pride in being Christian, their distortion of biblical scriptures to suit their twisted purpose, and their despicable acts towards people of other belief systems, are shameful to the true tenets of the Christian faith. I always wonder why, if they are so supposedly so knowledgeable about what Jesus said, do they forget the Golden Rule he preached in Matthew 7:12: “Do unto others whatever you would like them to do to you.”
Anna’s story tells us of how such poisonous thinking was prevalent even in that era, when the Catholics treated the Jews as scum, forcing them into closed quarters, restricting them from most occupations, and converting them by any means. One tactic to get converts was that if a Jewish man converted to Christianity, and then declared before the Catholic officials that he was engaged to a Jewess, the girl was kidnapped or arrested, and forced to convert, even if the man’s claims were baseless.
This is what happens to Anna as well. But Anna is not just any girl. Though just eighteen, she had been brought up in a family that has educated its girls, treated them as equals, and taught them their rights and their faith. As such, Anna is determined to stand up to her oppressors and not give up her heritage or her values.
The author captures Anna’s spirit wonderfully. It would have been so easy to depict her as a sweet girl caught for no fault of her own, and leave it at that. But the complexity of Anna’s character development is something I relished. Instead of showing her only as a pious and humble Jewish girl, the writing depicts her as a realistic teen, being proud, rude, and judgemental as well, though I can’t really blame her for behaving this way with her captors. At the same time, it also shows her emotional vulnerability. Anna’s character is THE reason to read this story.
Though the book’s focus is primarily Anna, it also highlights several other misdemeanours of the local church authorities. We also get to know the living conditions of the Jews, not just how they functioned within the ghetto but also how they sometimes conducted business with those who persecuted them. Further, we also see the shameful behaviour of the church and its officials towards the Jews. They do not resort to physical torture, but their methods of psychological manipulation were no less reprehensible.
The author’s note at the end of the book elaborates on Anna’s life and how her diary led to this book. There’s also an Italian-to-English glossary.
The historical aspects of the book thus are impressive. Unfortunately for me, the writing style incorporates certain elements that didn’t work well for me.
To start with, the book dives straight into Anna’s capture, without any backstory. As such, the plethora of characters at the start is tough to recognise and remember.
Moreover, the story is written in a mix of the (simple) present tense and the (simple and perfect) past tense. Initially, the simple present felt like a radical choice, as it somehow gave me the feeling of watching the events live instead of hearing a narration, as happens in case of a simple past tense. However, there was no consistency to the tense usage, which switched from past to present to past even for the same timeframe. The back and forth of tenses confused me many times about the timeline. This was further complicated by the numerous flashbacks, which, while necessary to establish the backstory of Anna’s present confinement in the convent, pop in without warning.
Finally, the narrative point of view jumps across too many characters, both major and minor. There are multiple character perspectives within every single chapter. All of these factors ensured that I couldn’t really get into the book, despite the topic being so captivating.
If you are not as fussy as I about the writing approach, specifically about the use of the simple present tense and the hopping across various characters’ povs, this book ought to work better for you. I tried my best to go with the flow, but couldn’t connect with the style. My bad!
I would still recommend this compelling historical fiction to you. Anna’s story, and the Church’s historical hegemony, has been forgotten in the annals of time long enough. Unless we learn from the mistakes of the past, we can never hope to have a better future.
Before I forget, a nod of appreciation for that striking cover. The artwork is from an oil-on-canvas work named “Rêverie sur le Seuil”, painted in 1893 by French artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau. While there’s obviously no portrait of the real Anna del Monte, I think the girl on the cover art captures Anna’s spirit beautifully.
3.25 stars.
My thanks to Love Books Tours and author Joie Davidow for a complimentary copy of “Anything But Yes”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
October 16, 2023
This was a very distressing book to read, especially at this time in history when Israel is facing terrorism. I have read many books about Jewish oppression but this is the first time I've read a book where it took place in Italy. Is there any place and any time where Jewish people have not been treated so terribly? The book is well researched and is based on a true story about a courageous young woman, Anna Del Monte. The facts were taken from her diary. Thank you, LibraryThing and the publisher, for an ARC of this book.
October 17, 2023
Anna Del Monte is living with her close-knit family in the Roman Jewish ghetto when she is forced by armed intruders to accompany them to a convent where she will be indoctrinated into the Catholic faith. Any utterance of the world "yes" will be taken as assent to be baptized into the Catholic faith. She is subjected to sleep deprivation, lectures, testimonials by converted Catholics and total isolation. Anna's Jewish faith sustains her for many days. It is sometimes difficult to keep track of the numerous inquisitors. Anna's history as recounted by the author as an end note is poignant.
Joie Davidow has done impressive research on the story of the Roman ghetto where Jewish people were divested of all they owned and forced to live in very humble housing due to their faith. Anna's diary of her experience was discovered in 1989 and adds another element to the research.
My thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
Joie Davidow has done impressive research on the story of the Roman ghetto where Jewish people were divested of all they owned and forced to live in very humble housing due to their faith. Anna's diary of her experience was discovered in 1989 and adds another element to the research.
My thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
January 4, 2024
Thank you to Edelweiss and Monkfish Book Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CONTENT WARNING: antisemitism, religious intolerance, grief, torture, self-harm, trauma
I stumbled across this book, and it struck me as incredibly interesting. There are a lot of books told from the Ashkenazi point of view, and I’m always interested in learning more about the Sephardic Jewish experience. This historical fiction story sounded perfect, especially since it’s based on a real-life diary of Anna del Monte, a young woman who actually experienced an abduction by the church during their period of forced conversions of Jews in Rome.
The story was fascinating. I immediately found myself connecting to Anna, a young, well-educated Jewish woman who grew up in the ghetto of Rome, where all of Rome’s Jews were confined. I loved her close ties to her family, and how strong the bonds between Anna and her siblings, as well as her parents were. In addition, Anna has close ties with others in the community, although her relationships were limited to other women. Even once she’s confined in the Casa dei Catacumeni, she occasionally attempts to speak to the priests and nuns, but is disappointed by how they interact.
During the 18th century in Rome, the Pope was on a mission to convert every Jew in Rome to Catholicism. Punitive measures were enacted to push the Jews towards conversion—blocking Jews from the majority of professions, forcing them to live in the crowded ghetto, mandating that they attend a sermon each week, and heavily taxing them for a variety of things, including guards around the ghetto, and payment for the weekly sermons, upkeep of the Casa dei Catacumeni, as well as requiring a monetary payment from the Jews for basically existing, putting them in massive debt to the church. However, these measures only converted a small number of Jews.
Instead, the church discovered that having people denounce Jews, where they said that a Jew had expressed some interest in Catholicism, could give them free rein to put a Jew in the Casa dei Catacumeni and get them to convert, no matter how. Additionally, if a man converted and said that a Jewish woman was his betrothed, he need offer no further evidence than his word to have her imprisoned and converted, forcibly if need be.
But when Anna del Monte is taken from her home at gunpoint and imprisoned in the Casa dei Catacumeni, all she knows is that she can say anything but yes. Because once she says the word ‘yes,’ all they have to do is sprinkle some holy water on her and she’ll be converted to Catholicism before she can blink her eyes. But Anna still has her mind, and uses it to think and remember the lessons she has learned throughout her life: to question, to think for herself, and to do what she believes in her heart is right. One conversation with a priest ended like this:
“‘You are an impudent and stubborn girl. Why is it so difficult for you to accept the wisdom of a man who is much older and more learned than yourself?’ ‘I am very sorry, sir, but I have not been taught to accept. I have been taught to ponder, to question, to think. I do not need to pray to your pictures or your statues. God is with me everywhere, and I pray directly to him.’”
It’s easy to empathize with her, being locked in a cell with nothing to do to occupy her mind, no answers as to why she was imprisoned, and the nuns and priests coming in at all hours of the day and night to pray over her, lecture her, cajole, and threaten her. While she wasn’t physically tortured, hunger and sleep deprivation were used as tools of torture, to get her to a place where she’d be willing to convert.
“And she knows that she could never believe in the benevolence of a faith that resorts to such cruel means of persuasion.”
The writing style wasn’t my favorite part of the story, I have to admit. Although the arguments given by the clergy was awfully repetitive, this is the type of lecturing that Anna was subjected to ceaselessly, day and night. It makes sense that it would be repetitive and even a bit boring, because the arguments weren’t innovative or interesting on their own anyway. I found myself endlessly frustrated by their arguments, the circular logic, the inability to accept that someone else might think differently, the ignorance, and the sheer intolerance that people showed towards each other, while simultaneously preaching a message of love and tolerance and ‘love thy neighbor.’ It makes the Catholic Church seem endlessly hypocritical, and the worst part was that they showed absolutely no insight into this. Anna’s refusal to show even the slightest willingness to convert threw their entire belief system into question, especially when so many Jews continued to cling to their beliefs, even when doing so had such harmful consequences on one’s social, financial, and legal bearing.
Davidow clearly did a ton of research for this book. The conditions of Jewish people in Rome in the 18th century are well-studied, along with the little idioms that are used (apparently there’s an English-Italian glossary in the back of the print version, but not the ARC). The way that the church operated at the time, and how conversions were accomplished at that time were also described in detail here. Even the Jewish prayers, customs, and beliefs were represented wonderfully, except for one little detail. During the story, it is mentioned not once, but twice, by Anna, that observant Jews have sex through a sheet. This is a myth, and it has been propagated throughout history despite it being far from the truth. It probably grew out of the tradition of men wearing tzitzit, a fringed undergarment that is worn beneath a shirt. It’s a garment with a hole in the center for the head, and it drapes down the front and the back of the man’s torso, so that the fringes can be seen hanging out of a shirt. But orthodox Jews have sex just like everyone else do, without a sheet between them. And there was no need to include this false detail in such a meticulously researched book, especially when it had nothing to do with anything.
“A sheet separated them, even when they made love.”
Overall, this was a great read. I found it fascinating to see how much influence the Catholic Church had over so many parts of the world, and how it wielded that influence to harm Jewish people in so many ways. I couldn’t help but feel for the Jews of Rome, especially knowing that this was based on a true story, and discovering what really ended up happening to Anna at the end of the story. It was especially interesting to me to see what life was like for Sephardic Jews throughout history. The immense historical research that went into this book is so impressive, and this is the kind of book I walked away from having learned more than when I started reading.
CONTENT WARNING: antisemitism, religious intolerance, grief, torture, self-harm, trauma
I stumbled across this book, and it struck me as incredibly interesting. There are a lot of books told from the Ashkenazi point of view, and I’m always interested in learning more about the Sephardic Jewish experience. This historical fiction story sounded perfect, especially since it’s based on a real-life diary of Anna del Monte, a young woman who actually experienced an abduction by the church during their period of forced conversions of Jews in Rome.
The story was fascinating. I immediately found myself connecting to Anna, a young, well-educated Jewish woman who grew up in the ghetto of Rome, where all of Rome’s Jews were confined. I loved her close ties to her family, and how strong the bonds between Anna and her siblings, as well as her parents were. In addition, Anna has close ties with others in the community, although her relationships were limited to other women. Even once she’s confined in the Casa dei Catacumeni, she occasionally attempts to speak to the priests and nuns, but is disappointed by how they interact.
During the 18th century in Rome, the Pope was on a mission to convert every Jew in Rome to Catholicism. Punitive measures were enacted to push the Jews towards conversion—blocking Jews from the majority of professions, forcing them to live in the crowded ghetto, mandating that they attend a sermon each week, and heavily taxing them for a variety of things, including guards around the ghetto, and payment for the weekly sermons, upkeep of the Casa dei Catacumeni, as well as requiring a monetary payment from the Jews for basically existing, putting them in massive debt to the church. However, these measures only converted a small number of Jews.
Instead, the church discovered that having people denounce Jews, where they said that a Jew had expressed some interest in Catholicism, could give them free rein to put a Jew in the Casa dei Catacumeni and get them to convert, no matter how. Additionally, if a man converted and said that a Jewish woman was his betrothed, he need offer no further evidence than his word to have her imprisoned and converted, forcibly if need be.
But when Anna del Monte is taken from her home at gunpoint and imprisoned in the Casa dei Catacumeni, all she knows is that she can say anything but yes. Because once she says the word ‘yes,’ all they have to do is sprinkle some holy water on her and she’ll be converted to Catholicism before she can blink her eyes. But Anna still has her mind, and uses it to think and remember the lessons she has learned throughout her life: to question, to think for herself, and to do what she believes in her heart is right. One conversation with a priest ended like this:
“‘You are an impudent and stubborn girl. Why is it so difficult for you to accept the wisdom of a man who is much older and more learned than yourself?’ ‘I am very sorry, sir, but I have not been taught to accept. I have been taught to ponder, to question, to think. I do not need to pray to your pictures or your statues. God is with me everywhere, and I pray directly to him.’”
It’s easy to empathize with her, being locked in a cell with nothing to do to occupy her mind, no answers as to why she was imprisoned, and the nuns and priests coming in at all hours of the day and night to pray over her, lecture her, cajole, and threaten her. While she wasn’t physically tortured, hunger and sleep deprivation were used as tools of torture, to get her to a place where she’d be willing to convert.
“And she knows that she could never believe in the benevolence of a faith that resorts to such cruel means of persuasion.”
The writing style wasn’t my favorite part of the story, I have to admit. Although the arguments given by the clergy was awfully repetitive, this is the type of lecturing that Anna was subjected to ceaselessly, day and night. It makes sense that it would be repetitive and even a bit boring, because the arguments weren’t innovative or interesting on their own anyway. I found myself endlessly frustrated by their arguments, the circular logic, the inability to accept that someone else might think differently, the ignorance, and the sheer intolerance that people showed towards each other, while simultaneously preaching a message of love and tolerance and ‘love thy neighbor.’ It makes the Catholic Church seem endlessly hypocritical, and the worst part was that they showed absolutely no insight into this. Anna’s refusal to show even the slightest willingness to convert threw their entire belief system into question, especially when so many Jews continued to cling to their beliefs, even when doing so had such harmful consequences on one’s social, financial, and legal bearing.
Davidow clearly did a ton of research for this book. The conditions of Jewish people in Rome in the 18th century are well-studied, along with the little idioms that are used (apparently there’s an English-Italian glossary in the back of the print version, but not the ARC). The way that the church operated at the time, and how conversions were accomplished at that time were also described in detail here. Even the Jewish prayers, customs, and beliefs were represented wonderfully, except for one little detail. During the story, it is mentioned not once, but twice, by Anna, that observant Jews have sex through a sheet. This is a myth, and it has been propagated throughout history despite it being far from the truth. It probably grew out of the tradition of men wearing tzitzit, a fringed undergarment that is worn beneath a shirt. It’s a garment with a hole in the center for the head, and it drapes down the front and the back of the man’s torso, so that the fringes can be seen hanging out of a shirt. But orthodox Jews have sex just like everyone else do, without a sheet between them. And there was no need to include this false detail in such a meticulously researched book, especially when it had nothing to do with anything.
“A sheet separated them, even when they made love.”
Overall, this was a great read. I found it fascinating to see how much influence the Catholic Church had over so many parts of the world, and how it wielded that influence to harm Jewish people in so many ways. I couldn’t help but feel for the Jews of Rome, especially knowing that this was based on a true story, and discovering what really ended up happening to Anna at the end of the story. It was especially interesting to me to see what life was like for Sephardic Jews throughout history. The immense historical research that went into this book is so impressive, and this is the kind of book I walked away from having learned more than when I started reading.
December 8, 2023
*I received a copy of this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.*
I both liked this book and wanted more from it. This is the story of Anna del Monte, a young Jewish woman, who was kidnapped from her home in the eighteenth-century Jewish ghetto and taken to a convent where she was forcefully urged to convert to Christianity. Based on Anna's own writings about the experience, this novel is filled with details about how this kind of situation could emerge in 18th-century Rome and the tense undertones of interactions between the Jewish and Catholic communities. While this tale comes to a somewhat happy conclusion, I wished for more for Anna and her family, especially after their ordeals.
I both liked this book and wanted more from it. This is the story of Anna del Monte, a young Jewish woman, who was kidnapped from her home in the eighteenth-century Jewish ghetto and taken to a convent where she was forcefully urged to convert to Christianity. Based on Anna's own writings about the experience, this novel is filled with details about how this kind of situation could emerge in 18th-century Rome and the tense undertones of interactions between the Jewish and Catholic communities. While this tale comes to a somewhat happy conclusion, I wished for more for Anna and her family, especially after their ordeals.
September 19, 2023
Anna's story is a story of courage and strength.
Anna faced a difficult choice, but she chose to stand up for her beliefs, even though it meant suffering isolation, threats, and sleep deprivation.
She was a well-educated woman, and this helped her to resist the attempts to change her religion.
She was able to think about the arguments that were presented to her, and she was able to stand up for her own beliefs.
Anna's diary is a testament to Anna's courage and strength.
Anna's story is an inspiration to us all. It shows us that even in the face of great difficulty, it is possible to stand up for what we believe in.
Anna faced a difficult choice, but she chose to stand up for her beliefs, even though it meant suffering isolation, threats, and sleep deprivation.
She was a well-educated woman, and this helped her to resist the attempts to change her religion.
She was able to think about the arguments that were presented to her, and she was able to stand up for her own beliefs.
Anna's diary is a testament to Anna's courage and strength.
Anna's story is an inspiration to us all. It shows us that even in the face of great difficulty, it is possible to stand up for what we believe in.
November 30, 2024
In two hundred and thirty eight pages of exquisite prose, Davidow
tells a compelling story of a young Jewish woman, Anna, cruelly torn from her close-knit, loving family at the age of eighteen, and thrown into the clutches of a catholic convent. It is 1749,
and the Pope has secular power in Rome.
The Jews are confined to ghettos and deprived of the normal rights of citizens to trade and move about freely.
Most of all, the Church wants to convert Jews to Catholicism.
They send in every type of priest, theologian and acolyte to persuade their current victim to convert.
They are met with a young woman who has been educated in Latin, Hebrew and
Italian and who has an unwavering faith.Her logic, in the teeth of sleep deprivation,
inhuman conditions and lack of nourishment, frustrates the emissaries of the Pope.
What shines through is the power of faith in the teeth of aggressive persuasion.
These priests, who themselves had converted from Judaism, felt the loss of their
own real faith when they saw how Anna stuck so steadfastly to her own.
Legalities and historical setting are conveyed seamlessly within clear descriptive
prose.
The desire to know what happened to Anna and the fact that it's based on her
contemporaneous diaries make this book hard to put down
October 22, 2023
This novel of the 18th century is based on the true story of Anna Del Monte, a Jewish young woman who, like many Roman Jews of her time, was kidnapped and forced into seclusion in a convent in order to try to convert her to Catholicism. Unlike most, if not all, of the other Jews who were so abducted, Anna resisted through all of the 13 days she was held captive and finally returned to her family, after which time she wrote an account of her terrible ordeal. Author Davidow used her diary as well as annotated versions of it to write this fictionalized account. I had the unfortunate luck to read this very soon after the horrific attack on Jews in Israel, and reading this novel hit home for me the unrelenting persecution Jews have faced in each country, in each century and in every conceivable way. Tormentors of the Jewish people have hunted them down and sought their lives, their property, and, as portrayed here, their very souls.
Anna as portrayed here is a strong woman of indomitable spirit, character and resolve, and these characteristics save her as she undergoes her trials, which include sleep deprivation, hunger, lecture upon lecture day and night, isolation, threats, cajoling, etc.
The story of what takes place behind the doors of the conversion convent is interspersed with a little history of the Jews in Rome, portraits of her family members and how they worked to free Anna, and vignettes of the people of the Roman ghetto. They form a wider picture of Jewish life in the 18th Century in Italy.
It's a well-written story providing insight into life for Jews at this time as well as a touching story of the bravery and strength of one particular woman facing horrific pressures. It was an eye-opener of a story. The author has done a great job of research as well as a good job of storytelling. It was a compelling read.
Anna as portrayed here is a strong woman of indomitable spirit, character and resolve, and these characteristics save her as she undergoes her trials, which include sleep deprivation, hunger, lecture upon lecture day and night, isolation, threats, cajoling, etc.
The story of what takes place behind the doors of the conversion convent is interspersed with a little history of the Jews in Rome, portraits of her family members and how they worked to free Anna, and vignettes of the people of the Roman ghetto. They form a wider picture of Jewish life in the 18th Century in Italy.
It's a well-written story providing insight into life for Jews at this time as well as a touching story of the bravery and strength of one particular woman facing horrific pressures. It was an eye-opener of a story. The author has done a great job of research as well as a good job of storytelling. It was a compelling read.
October 9, 2023
I knew nothing about Anna Del Monte or her story before I read this book,but, wow what a story. I love historical fiction and so i knew I would enjoy this but it was much better than I expected it to be.
It follows Anna who is kidnapped from her home and imprisoned in a convent with the sole purpose of converting her to Catholicism. whilst there she wrote a diary and it is through this we are told her story.
The book is well written with a compelling and at times heartbreaking read that was full of well developed characters some of which I think will have a place in my heart forever.
Anna really was an incredible woman, she was well educated, which for the time she was living in was rare, she was brave, strong and resilient, all of which are qualities I admire, but to be those things in the face of such adversity - oooh girl you my hero.
This was such an incredible read that was sometimes difficult to read but yet I couldn't put it down, I was with Anna all the way. Even through all the persecution and torture she went through, because lets be real, it was, from threats, total isolation and sleep deprivation she still chose to stand up for what she believed to be right and for that, and for so many other reasons, I love her.
A fantastic read that I would highly recommend, I would also highly recommend you go check out my girl Anna Del Monte because simply YAAASSS QUEEN.
It follows Anna who is kidnapped from her home and imprisoned in a convent with the sole purpose of converting her to Catholicism. whilst there she wrote a diary and it is through this we are told her story.
The book is well written with a compelling and at times heartbreaking read that was full of well developed characters some of which I think will have a place in my heart forever.
Anna really was an incredible woman, she was well educated, which for the time she was living in was rare, she was brave, strong and resilient, all of which are qualities I admire, but to be those things in the face of such adversity - oooh girl you my hero.
This was such an incredible read that was sometimes difficult to read but yet I couldn't put it down, I was with Anna all the way. Even through all the persecution and torture she went through, because lets be real, it was, from threats, total isolation and sleep deprivation she still chose to stand up for what she believed to be right and for that, and for so many other reasons, I love her.
A fantastic read that I would highly recommend, I would also highly recommend you go check out my girl Anna Del Monte because simply YAAASSS QUEEN.
October 14, 2023
What an incredible story!!
I was attracted to this book because of the cover. The young woman looking at me seemed like she had a story to tell. The title said she was a Jewish citizen of Rome in 1749. That piqued my interest. This was a subject I had never read about. And it was about a real person.
I am overjoyed that I read it. This young woman, a Jewess, had to withstand the barrage of priests and scholars, Cardinals and converts, and nuns kneeling and praying in her cell all wanting her to convert to Catholicism. She stayed true to her religion, her family, and her God no matter the promises and pleading of the people who came into the small cell. She did it by remembering her family, her faith, and reciting passages from the Torah and the Talmud she had learned since childhood. I admire her faithfulness to God and her family, her heroism under appalling conditions, and her ability to tell the people who came to visit that she would never say yes.
Joie Davidow has done a great job of researching the historical period and then blending it into the diary left by Anna del Monte. I highly recommend it! I will read more of this author's work. Her prose puts me in the cell with Anna. Anna's thoughts and actions are brought to life.
I received this book from Monkfish, the publisher, as a LibraryThing.com giveaway. All the opinions expressed are my own.
I was attracted to this book because of the cover. The young woman looking at me seemed like she had a story to tell. The title said she was a Jewish citizen of Rome in 1749. That piqued my interest. This was a subject I had never read about. And it was about a real person.
I am overjoyed that I read it. This young woman, a Jewess, had to withstand the barrage of priests and scholars, Cardinals and converts, and nuns kneeling and praying in her cell all wanting her to convert to Catholicism. She stayed true to her religion, her family, and her God no matter the promises and pleading of the people who came into the small cell. She did it by remembering her family, her faith, and reciting passages from the Torah and the Talmud she had learned since childhood. I admire her faithfulness to God and her family, her heroism under appalling conditions, and her ability to tell the people who came to visit that she would never say yes.
Joie Davidow has done a great job of researching the historical period and then blending it into the diary left by Anna del Monte. I highly recommend it! I will read more of this author's work. Her prose puts me in the cell with Anna. Anna's thoughts and actions are brought to life.
I received this book from Monkfish, the publisher, as a LibraryThing.com giveaway. All the opinions expressed are my own.
October 16, 2023
A newly published historical fiction based on the diary of Anna del Monte during her imprisonment at the Casa de Catecumeni in 1749. The plot focuses on the period of time she has been forcefully taken from her parent's home in the Ghetto of Rome and then held captive in a dark prison cell. The target during her imprisonment was to convert her to Christianity using various psychological manipulation tactics whilst taking advantage of her vulnerability she tends to try hiding throughout those times.
This has been a refreshing read and taught me about a different part of history happening in Rome that I have not known about.
*** I have been gifted a digital copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion and review. ***
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Quote following:
"If you are locked in the Catecumeni, you must never say "yes", no matter what anyone asks you. Say "That would be nice," or "please," or "how kind." Anything but "yes". You must never admit to any believe, no matter how they try to trick you. Your only defense is to remain silent as long as you can bear it, and if you must say something, it must always be "no". You have only to say "yes" once to any question, and they will be quick to sprinkle you with holy water and declare you baptized."
This has been a refreshing read and taught me about a different part of history happening in Rome that I have not known about.
*** I have been gifted a digital copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion and review. ***
---------
Quote following:
"If you are locked in the Catecumeni, you must never say "yes", no matter what anyone asks you. Say "That would be nice," or "please," or "how kind." Anything but "yes". You must never admit to any believe, no matter how they try to trick you. Your only defense is to remain silent as long as you can bear it, and if you must say something, it must always be "no". You have only to say "yes" once to any question, and they will be quick to sprinkle you with holy water and declare you baptized."
October 20, 2023
This is another historical fiction book that has totally fascinated me and I've been gripped throughout.
Based on the real diaries of Anna Del Monte, who in 1749 was seized at gunpoint from her home, imprisoned in a convent and subjected to them trying to convert her from Judaism.
We've all read so much about the hideous treatment of Jews during WW2 but this really shocked me to see that similar behaviour really has been going on for so much longer!
Anna's diaries were lost for over 200 years and discovered in 1989. They documented everything that she was subjected to, how she felt and how she managed to be strong and not succumb to their wishes.
This was a difficult read in terms of its content - knowing that people were (and still are!) treated in this way just for their beliefs or for being different - it's just so heartbreaking!
This was a really well researched, well written read and was so thought-provoking. Had the diary not been found, this story would never have been told.
An important recount and fascinating and compelling read.
Based on the real diaries of Anna Del Monte, who in 1749 was seized at gunpoint from her home, imprisoned in a convent and subjected to them trying to convert her from Judaism.
We've all read so much about the hideous treatment of Jews during WW2 but this really shocked me to see that similar behaviour really has been going on for so much longer!
Anna's diaries were lost for over 200 years and discovered in 1989. They documented everything that she was subjected to, how she felt and how she managed to be strong and not succumb to their wishes.
This was a difficult read in terms of its content - knowing that people were (and still are!) treated in this way just for their beliefs or for being different - it's just so heartbreaking!
This was a really well researched, well written read and was so thought-provoking. Had the diary not been found, this story would never have been told.
An important recount and fascinating and compelling read.
November 22, 2025
Amazingly detailed fictionalized biography of a practise that actually was happening in the 1700's... Anna, an 18 year old educated and knowledgable Jewish girl is abducted. Held in a convent for 'converted' nuns she is grilled for days with the purpose of forced conversion. The pope has ordered that these are legal if even one convert claims betrothal without requiring any actual evidence. Only his own word. Only back door dealing over birth control tonics get her released. Legal please useless. Exhausted, steadfast, damaged she is returned to her family. Powerful deluded men and women subjected her to relentless abuse and questioning. It is appalling that such things happened. 1750 plus in the name of the Pope. Roman Jews. Not always the good guys in history.
October 8, 2023
I was drawn to this story as I love historical fiction especially when it is based on real people and real documents or diaries. Anna’s story is one of hope and courage. Her story is also one of persecution and imprisonment. It is a compelling story and this book is well written and difficult to put down. I had to know what was going to happen and it was amazing to think that this actually happened to Anna. It’s a fascinating and important story and I think it will be a good read for anyone interested in historical fiction.
I received a gifted copy of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and written voluntarily.
I received a gifted copy of this novel. This review is my honest opinion and written voluntarily.
October 20, 2023
I really liked this book. I love European history, but I had not read much about this time period. I had no idea how terrible the Catholic Church treated the Jewish citizens of Rome. This is a story of hope and determination. Anna was a strong willed young Jewish woman who was wronged by a man who thought he could acquire her by lying to the Pope and saying that they were to be wed. Anna was held against in her will and the Catholic attempted to force Anna to convert to Catholicism. She was able to stay strong and was returned to her family, but was she broken beyond repair? This book could be hard to read at times, but well worth it! Highly recommend for all the history lovers!
May 2, 2024
While I learned a lot about the Jewish ghetto in Rome which lasted for over 300 years under harsh conditions imposed by the popes, and while the story of Anna di Monti is inspiring for her courage in resisting a forced conversion, I still can’t give this historical novel more than 3 stars. I found the repetitive nature of the story, which clearly impresses the reader with the cruelty Anna endured, to be tedious to read. I found myself skimming over the repeated visits to her cell from clerics and nuns and scholars. Over and over, more of the same. Still, fascinating and troubling history!
October 9, 2023
WOW! This book was truly heartbreaking and eye opening at the same time. I honestly wasnt aware of this part in history. And I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this book.
Anything but yes, tells the harrowing tale of life for Jewish Roman's in the 18th Century, and specifically the story of Anna and her capture and imprisonment.
The book is based on her own diary and research by the author
It's so hard to do this book justice, it's one of the only historical fiction books I've read that not only tells the story of life at the time but is also told through the voice of a real person.
I'm so glad her diary was rediscovered and her story told.
I think that made this book all the more heartbreaking and thought provoking. It's hard to read about the repression of the Jews a the time, even more so the Jewish Women. To read about the methods used by the Catholic Church at the time in order to convert them was absolutely shocking.
A beautifully written account of one womens courage, strength and faith.
I highly recommend giving this book a read.
Anything but yes, tells the harrowing tale of life for Jewish Roman's in the 18th Century, and specifically the story of Anna and her capture and imprisonment.
The book is based on her own diary and research by the author
It's so hard to do this book justice, it's one of the only historical fiction books I've read that not only tells the story of life at the time but is also told through the voice of a real person.
I'm so glad her diary was rediscovered and her story told.
I think that made this book all the more heartbreaking and thought provoking. It's hard to read about the repression of the Jews a the time, even more so the Jewish Women. To read about the methods used by the Catholic Church at the time in order to convert them was absolutely shocking.
A beautifully written account of one womens courage, strength and faith.
I highly recommend giving this book a read.
October 11, 2023
This beautifully written historical fiction novel is one of my new favorites. This book is based on the true story of Anna Del Monte who was forced to leave her home and imprisoned in a convent in order for her to be converted to Catholicism against her will. The author did research on the time period as well as read Anna’s diary. This was a book I struggled to put down and had me finishing this book in a day. For fans of historical fiction, I recommend giving this book a read.
March 30, 2024
I wanted to love this book and the fact that it is based on Anna Del Monte's diary made me want to enjoy it even more. I did learn from it and was surprised to understand more about the lives of Jews in Rome over a several hundred period. But something in the book felt flat - I wanted more depth. It's worth reading and it is thought provoking but it wasn't as emotionally gripping as anticipated.
October 13, 2023
This is a fascinating historical novel about an 18th century Jewish girl in Rome. This book is full of information and follows the imprisonment of Anna del Monte and life in the ghetto. I would recommend reading the actual book rather than on Kindle so you can check out the Italian words as you go along.
April 9, 2024
A true story about a young Jewish girl who was imprisoned in a convent cell while Catholic bishops and others deprived her of sleep and lectured her in attempts to convert her to Catholicism. This story provides a history of the Jewish ghetto in Rome and the horrendous conditions the Jewish people were forced to live under by the Catholics.
August 27, 2024
Anything But Yes is a beautifully written novel that explores an often-overlooked part of Jewish and Italian history. It tells the true story of a strong, resilient young woman who will not allow the church to pressure her--no matter the extreme measures they used--into abandoning her faith and her people. Highly recommended.
April 25, 2025
A sobering story based on a diary account of this event. It called to mind the case of Edgardo Mortara, and provided a glimpse into how Roman Jews -- and Jews of Italy in general -- lived at that time. I had not known much about their conditions.
The one drawback were some truly strange transliterations of verses from Tehillim and other Torah sources. It was like they were gibberish. Unsure how the editor let these slip past.
Nonetheless, worth reading.
The one drawback were some truly strange transliterations of verses from Tehillim and other Torah sources. It was like they were gibberish. Unsure how the editor let these slip past.
Nonetheless, worth reading.
May 29, 2023
I loved this book. The writing is compelling and I found the book nearly impossible to put down. I think the book gives a great view of Jewish life in Rome at the time. Character development is excellent. Thank you to Edelweiss and Monkfish Book Publishing for the digital review copy.
January 13, 2024
I'm really glad i read this! i was so excited for it to come out. This was a hard read emotionally, as it should have been. It was intentionally repetitive and bleak when it wasn't absolutely horrifying, as it should have been. I was absorbed every page, and just immediately transported to medieval Italy. There were times I wanted to cry but was far too tense for that. I was surprised at the end and still trying to articulate my feelings. I'm so glad this was written and I hope it's widely read.
March 12, 2024
An eye opening read. I appreciate the attention to detail and research that went into this book, along with the notion of bringing this strong and brave young lady’s story to light. It left me wanting in some places but overall a 3.25.
September 20, 2023
Interesting story that shows a different piece of history than the usual. Recommend
August 18, 2025
Almost like an exorcism!
This is a Jewish girls journal about her ordeal being locked in the catholic church conversion machine.
A fast read but eye lifting to plight of Jews in Italynin the 1700
This is a Jewish girls journal about her ordeal being locked in the catholic church conversion machine.
A fast read but eye lifting to plight of Jews in Italynin the 1700
August 21, 2026
Remarkably addictive for a story with essentially no plot.
December 22, 2023
The inspiration for some historical novels comes strictly from real life. That’s the case with Joie Davidow’s “Anything But Yes: A Novel of Anna Del Monte, Jewish Citizen of Rome, 1749” (Monkfish). While other novels have looked at life in the Roman ghetto, few offer as clear a view of Jewish-Christian relations at that time.
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/book...
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/book...
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