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The Debt of Tamar
Bestselling author Nicole Dweck brings to life one of history's greatest yet overlooked stories of love and resilience.
In 2002, thirty-two-year-old Selim Osman, the last descendant of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, flees Istanbul for New York. In a twist of fate he meets Hannah, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and an artist striving to understand a father she barely knows. Unaware the connection they share goes back centuries, the two feel an immediate pull to one another. But as their story intertwines with that of their ancestors, the heroic but ultimately tragic decision that bound two families centuries ago ripples into the future, threatening to tear Hannah and Selim apart.
From a 16th-century harem to a seaside village in the Holy Land, from Nazi-occupied Paris to modern-day Manhattan, Nicole Dweck's The Debt of Tamar weaves a spellbinding tapestry of love, history, and fate that will enchant readers from the very first page.
In 2002, thirty-two-year-old Selim Osman, the last descendant of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, flees Istanbul for New York. In a twist of fate he meets Hannah, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and an artist striving to understand a father she barely knows. Unaware the connection they share goes back centuries, the two feel an immediate pull to one another. But as their story intertwines with that of their ancestors, the heroic but ultimately tragic decision that bound two families centuries ago ripples into the future, threatening to tear Hannah and Selim apart.
From a 16th-century harem to a seaside village in the Holy Land, from Nazi-occupied Paris to modern-day Manhattan, Nicole Dweck's The Debt of Tamar weaves a spellbinding tapestry of love, history, and fate that will enchant readers from the very first page.
295 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2013
68 people are currently reading
1709 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
August 24, 2015
Reading "The Debt of Tamar", is a little like getting swallowed up by the plant in
"Little shop of Horrors"? Just try to put this book down. Once you start it...
YOU CAN'T! YOU 'really' can't!
It's gut wrenching engrossing: An epic historical fiction-multilayered-passionate-intimate-
......a juicy & lushy escapist novel.
I never knew where this story was going next.
First I sad - and angry that I had to confront my own personal pain about the history of so many Jews that had to hide their religion. I 'am' Jewish. It kinda makes me sick to have to
continues to remember how mistreated Jewish people were...( and they were).
Can you image being 17 years old.. Raised as a Catholic, attending church every week, only to find out that you were Jewish? You think that might mess with your head, just a little?
It would me.
When 2 young teens - cousins- get news of 'the truth' ... that they are Jewish... life is never the
same for them again. At one point I was thinking, I wouldn't have blame them, if they wished to never have found out the truth.
However... ( they did).
Its clear that in order to survive ... JEWS MUST RUN...(escape plan set in action), and that's how it's done! Jews run!
The teens survive. The cousins escape Portugal, make it to Turkey.
Are you wondering what I am? Do these 'cousins' fall in love? YES, they do!
AS FOR WHAT HAPPENS, next, though - I'm not telling. I Had to wait and find out-- I was often
'dying' to know what was coming next.... So you can wait too. The author was ALWAYS steps ahead of me--- ( the rascal)... She will be steps ahead of you too.
Don't even try to guess where the story is going- won't work anyway. So, enjoy the ride!
I haven't even come 'close' to sharing how much more is packed into this novel.
Anyone who has loved Ken Follett's historical fiction books...( Pillars of the Earth-- World Without End, etc.), will love this book. Or Khaled Hosseini books... If you love his storytelling, you'll love Nocole Dweck.
The great part is that she didn't have to write a 1,000 page book to include 5 generations - visit the Ottoman Empire- America & The Holy Land...
Nicole Dweck is my new Hero: she told a fabulous story, absolutely beautifully written, and 300 pages. Perfect length for a novel
Love this book... You will too!
*Suggestion: I believe this would make a wonderful 'gift' book. For you mom's aunts, good friends.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Netgalley, and my new 'hero'.... *Nicole Dweck*! ( congrats on one terrific novel)
"Little shop of Horrors"? Just try to put this book down. Once you start it...
YOU CAN'T! YOU 'really' can't!
It's gut wrenching engrossing: An epic historical fiction-multilayered-passionate-intimate-
......a juicy & lushy escapist novel.
I never knew where this story was going next.
First I sad - and angry that I had to confront my own personal pain about the history of so many Jews that had to hide their religion. I 'am' Jewish. It kinda makes me sick to have to
continues to remember how mistreated Jewish people were...( and they were).
Can you image being 17 years old.. Raised as a Catholic, attending church every week, only to find out that you were Jewish? You think that might mess with your head, just a little?
It would me.
When 2 young teens - cousins- get news of 'the truth' ... that they are Jewish... life is never the
same for them again. At one point I was thinking, I wouldn't have blame them, if they wished to never have found out the truth.
However... ( they did).
Its clear that in order to survive ... JEWS MUST RUN...(escape plan set in action), and that's how it's done! Jews run!
The teens survive. The cousins escape Portugal, make it to Turkey.
Are you wondering what I am? Do these 'cousins' fall in love? YES, they do!
AS FOR WHAT HAPPENS, next, though - I'm not telling. I Had to wait and find out-- I was often
'dying' to know what was coming next.... So you can wait too. The author was ALWAYS steps ahead of me--- ( the rascal)... She will be steps ahead of you too.
Don't even try to guess where the story is going- won't work anyway. So, enjoy the ride!
I haven't even come 'close' to sharing how much more is packed into this novel.
Anyone who has loved Ken Follett's historical fiction books...( Pillars of the Earth-- World Without End, etc.), will love this book. Or Khaled Hosseini books... If you love his storytelling, you'll love Nocole Dweck.
The great part is that she didn't have to write a 1,000 page book to include 5 generations - visit the Ottoman Empire- America & The Holy Land...
Nicole Dweck is my new Hero: she told a fabulous story, absolutely beautifully written, and 300 pages. Perfect length for a novel
Love this book... You will too!
*Suggestion: I believe this would make a wonderful 'gift' book. For you mom's aunts, good friends.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Netgalley, and my new 'hero'.... *Nicole Dweck*! ( congrats on one terrific novel)
September 4, 2015
Two boys , born centuries and places far apart share a common
legacy , raised as Catholics as their Jewish families send them away to save them from the persecution of the Inquisition and later from Nazis in France . A Sultan's son and a young Jewish girl fall in love. A woman risks her life to save her people. This is a beautiful story crossing countries , continents and cultures and moving across centuries . It's horrific at times when the persecution of Jews at various times in history , the Inquisition, the Nazi invasion in France are depicted in the lives of these characters and heartbreaking when characters who love each other are separated. But it is also uplifting when they find out who they are and carry the legacy and faith that their parents died for , with them from that point forward .
I was taken by the story right from the beginning. I was aware that this was a story linking the past and the present and I've come to really enjoy these as long as the connections work and such was the case here . Spanning from the mid 16th century to 2006 , the past and present are linked by love stories which are the heart of the novel . What I was not aware of until I read the author's notes was that the book is that the author Nicole Dweck's heritage is that of Iberian Jewish/Middle Eastern or that one of the beloved characters in this story is based on the real life hero , Dona Gracia Nasi, who saved many Jews from the Inquisition .
Considering that this is not a lengthy book, it's pretty amazing how much time and how many places and how many characters are covered here and that these lives are woven together . It's almost impossible to try to condense the story here and I won't even try. I can say , though that in this short novel you will be transported across these places and times and the transition and connection work beautifully.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley.
February 25, 2018
I'm not even going to pretend to be nice. Don't bother to read this editorial rant if you do not appreciate any other opinion but the don't worry-be-happy mantra. I'm actually a very nice person, even if I try not to be. But sometimes....you know....the fuse just had it.
Bite me, chew me, spit me out. Ignore me, and try the book. Read other reviews and save yourself from my blabber, my pen puke, my verbal diarrhea.
This book, with its puffed up inside cover blurb should never, ever be mentioned in the same sentence as Khaled Hosseini, Sau Friedlander, Tadeusz Borowski,Leni Yahil, Paul Celan, Elie Wiesel, Primo Levi, Markus Zusak, John Boyne, Leon Uris, Ayşe Kulin, Elif Shafak, Orhan Pamuk, Sebahattin Ali, Inaam Kachachi, Samar Yazbek, Michelle Moran, Sandra Gulland, Sena Jeter Naslund, Catharine Delors, and a line-around-the-earth more authors of the same excellence.
These mentioned authors above have one thing in common: transforming reality into poetry of words, elevating it to a plane of harmony of history and the permanence of excellent writing. They are all masters of historical fiction or non-fictional historical narratives. Their style of writing is still associated with authentic writing about the Holocaust, for one, but also other historical events in places such as Istanbul, Paris, Middle-East, Israel, Europe, et al. That style renounces beauty and cleverness in the name of more sustaining values like humility and truth.
Another common aspect of their writing is that the events were not just literary subjects, but actually the central truth of their lives. There is a stylistic virtuosity to their work. The detail in their narratives came from memory and not from fast-grabbed details out of encyclopedias. They will never be accused of using Auschwitz as a tool for shock value, or for gross sentimentality, or for false gravitas. This can be a result of bad faith, or deliberate exploitation of the subject or both. Their intention was never to write redeeming human- interest stories.
I named just a few, but as mentioned before there are thousands of writers who could have told this saga better. It is the authenticity or the lack there of, in this 300 page-novel that got the pressure going on my fuse.
BUT....BUT...BUT!!!! .... the author has huge potential if the emotional exploitation to hit the pop-lit market can be avoided, the story expanded with more character development and pages added to introduce more texture in background and prose. Color played a major role in this text to express emotions and setting. Hues of blues, purple and pink. It was good, but not enough. The narrative was too fast-paced and often superficial to conclude a long history in 300 pages.
I did not want to read a pop-fiction version of history. I am not guilty of literary ADHD; I don't easily get emotionally destroyed by reality. You don't have to keep me mentally stable, or prevent my gentle soul to be polluted. Or change the horrors of the Holocaust into a kind of moral tourism, a mental excursion, to save me from bad karma. I can take it. All of it. In one go. That's why I can and want to read real historical fiction. And it is the reason why I thought this book might be a perfect read. Obviously it was not. Not exactly.
Don't bombard me with modern expressions such as:
"her cover's been blown" ( mmmm....was that applicable to the author, I wonder).
Really!? In 1542 !?
Or what about this eloquent modern American dialogue in centuries past:
"I don’t care about any of it. I just don’t want to lose my best friend.”
**
"He was a perfect gentleman.”
“Perfectly dimwitted.”
“I thought he was handsome.”
“Uglier than a monkey’s rear!”
“Lower your voice.”
**
"Just a skinny little thing"
**
"A dirty shoe kicked her in the gut"
**
“I figured as much.”
**
“You’ll both pack a small bag. Only essentials. Whatever you may need for a short journey.”
And what was the idea with the term G-d. (You must read the book to understand the meaning, or non-meaning of G-d.)
In 1564, when this saga starts out with the wealthy Portuguese matriarch Doña Antonia (Nissim) and her two children, her biological daughter, Reyna, and her adopted nephew, Jose, modern American colloquialism was still a faraway pipe dream, darling. This narrative style prevented me from getting into this book almost until the very end, to be honest.
The saga centers around the Jewish religion. It's history. it's sorrows and 'sadnesses'. The ambitious plot builds the outcome of the Jewish people in 300 pages. As you can imagine, it resulted in an informative summary of a very old story.
José who happily functioned as a Christian until he was seventeen years old, realized that the Jewish religion chose him and that his parents would rather die than convert to Christianity, leaving him orphaned. The book started out with him regarding himself as the happiest orphan alive. (does that sound sixteenth century narrative at all?)
Then he spends his time finding the reason for people to die for this religion.
Soon he was delving into metaphysics and once again, astronomy, through the mystical teachings of the Zohar. Never before had his mind operated on so many different planes simultaneously. It was as if Kabbalah was a language stored in his memory before birth and the process of learning was merely an exercise in recollection.
Be patient. This is important. Functioning as Christians for many years, but being Jewish in disguise, did not have them break out in hives, grew them Vampirian molars, or had them hunch-backed and buckle-legged as a result. They actually survived nicely, until the ruling regime got interested in the widow's wealth, during the Edict of Expulsion, and they all had to flee for their lives, with the support of the Jewish Underground Movement. They ended up at the mercy of the Ottoman Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent (his name derived from the wise Solomon in the Bible) who believed in religious tolerance. Istanbul in Turkey was their destiny.
And so they lived happily ever after, until Tamar, the offspring of Jose and Reyna, fell in love with Murat, the Sultan's grandson, and suddenly the religious intolerance came into play. Not from the Sultan's side, but from the Jewish Jose Nissam. The religion who left him orphaned and living as a a Christian for 17 years. The religion now prevented him from accepting his daughter's choices. A fate probably worse than death.
Jose had no trouble to be Christian until he was told his true heritage. He had no trouble with being the guest of the Muslim Sultan either. But the possibility of an inter-faith marriage had him at the brink of well....yes...read the book to see what I mean.
Then Tamar disappear, and oh dear, Murat the young Sultan is heartbroken. Hence the curse that will follow this family to the ends of...well a modern life in Manhattan, New York and Connecticut.
Was there a fulfillment of the prophecy? Honest to G-d, it remained a mystery to me. The story line and plot follow the basic template of modern romances. People fall in love, passion blooms, then something happens and the dramatic ending looms. In this case, another century or two invades the narrative to add historical fictional elements to the final conclusion.
The saga spans over several centuries, different geographical zones, through a cultural miasma, dropping in at the Holocaust, Paris, Israel, Tiberia, a cottage overlooking the sea of Galilee, and at last a modern day New York.
It is a love story with a mystery. All done in 300 lightning-fast pages of plot. Historical informative, yes. The show-don't-tell principle flew out the window as a result. Sad.
The Jewish history summarized as I said. A shock-value-added grab at the inhumane atrocities of the Jewish fate and the Holocaust, with a lighter hue of rose than the normal, yet still digestible if you don't indulge in true historical fiction and reality too much. A gentle rendition of history. For instance, Bulgarians, who started the first successful uprising against the 500-year Ottoman regime, might write a totally different version of the Ottoman history. If it made people so happy, why overthrow it?
If Jewish Don José Nissem authored this book, this tale would have had a really different take on his life and legacy. The story would have been a much more realistic version of events, truer to the historical fiction spirit of Jewish authors. Turkey and Bulgaria, for instance, became safe havens for Jews during WWII.
A magnificent book to read in this regards is The Last Train to Istanbul by Ayşe Kulin. This book is a serious rendition of the rescue effort of Turkish Jews from Paris, and the conflict of an inter-faith marriage between A Jewish young man and a Muslim young woman. It's quite an antidote to The Debt of Tamar in style, narrative and authenticity. ( My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
So yes, Tamar's story is light, it's love, it's supposedly historical fiction in the don't-worry-be-happy and emotional-baiting styles. A different kind of historical fiction. Some people cried, experienced it as an emotional roller coaster. Good for them. I told you to read this book and decide for yourself. It is also a tragedy. A really sad story.
If you're still here, thank you. So we're still friends, right? My sad conclusion is that religion can really destroy or enrich people's lives. It does not change people physically, it changes their destiny. It will destroy mankind if we refuse to adapt and respect one another.
I actually enjoyed the last part of the book. The ENDING.....SUPERB!!!!!! Punched right out of the romance zone, although the book is about love, destiny, loyalty and so on. Very well articulated and eloquently focused on excellent word smithery. Well-done. So, a three star rating says it was okay. One was for the Jewish history. The book has merit and will be a blast for the right reader. It calls out for a very different audience. Great author.
Thanks for reading. Sorry about my rant. I adore Starbucks coffee, it elevates me to the clouds, but when I can enjoy it straight from the tree, I'm dancing on the moon!
Sela.
Bite me, chew me, spit me out. Ignore me, and try the book. Read other reviews and save yourself from my blabber, my pen puke, my verbal diarrhea.
This book, with its puffed up inside cover blurb should never, ever be mentioned in the same sentence as Khaled Hosseini, Sau Friedlander, Tadeusz Borowski,Leni Yahil, Paul Celan, Elie Wiesel, Primo Levi, Markus Zusak, John Boyne, Leon Uris, Ayşe Kulin, Elif Shafak, Orhan Pamuk, Sebahattin Ali, Inaam Kachachi, Samar Yazbek, Michelle Moran, Sandra Gulland, Sena Jeter Naslund, Catharine Delors, and a line-around-the-earth more authors of the same excellence.
These mentioned authors above have one thing in common: transforming reality into poetry of words, elevating it to a plane of harmony of history and the permanence of excellent writing. They are all masters of historical fiction or non-fictional historical narratives. Their style of writing is still associated with authentic writing about the Holocaust, for one, but also other historical events in places such as Istanbul, Paris, Middle-East, Israel, Europe, et al. That style renounces beauty and cleverness in the name of more sustaining values like humility and truth.
Another common aspect of their writing is that the events were not just literary subjects, but actually the central truth of their lives. There is a stylistic virtuosity to their work. The detail in their narratives came from memory and not from fast-grabbed details out of encyclopedias. They will never be accused of using Auschwitz as a tool for shock value, or for gross sentimentality, or for false gravitas. This can be a result of bad faith, or deliberate exploitation of the subject or both. Their intention was never to write redeeming human- interest stories.
I named just a few, but as mentioned before there are thousands of writers who could have told this saga better. It is the authenticity or the lack there of, in this 300 page-novel that got the pressure going on my fuse.
BUT....BUT...BUT!!!! .... the author has huge potential if the emotional exploitation to hit the pop-lit market can be avoided, the story expanded with more character development and pages added to introduce more texture in background and prose. Color played a major role in this text to express emotions and setting. Hues of blues, purple and pink. It was good, but not enough. The narrative was too fast-paced and often superficial to conclude a long history in 300 pages.
I did not want to read a pop-fiction version of history. I am not guilty of literary ADHD; I don't easily get emotionally destroyed by reality. You don't have to keep me mentally stable, or prevent my gentle soul to be polluted. Or change the horrors of the Holocaust into a kind of moral tourism, a mental excursion, to save me from bad karma. I can take it. All of it. In one go. That's why I can and want to read real historical fiction. And it is the reason why I thought this book might be a perfect read. Obviously it was not. Not exactly.
Don't bombard me with modern expressions such as:
"her cover's been blown" ( mmmm....was that applicable to the author, I wonder).
Really!? In 1542 !?
Or what about this eloquent modern American dialogue in centuries past:
"I don’t care about any of it. I just don’t want to lose my best friend.”
**
"He was a perfect gentleman.”
“Perfectly dimwitted.”
“I thought he was handsome.”
“Uglier than a monkey’s rear!”
“Lower your voice.”
**
"Just a skinny little thing"
**
"A dirty shoe kicked her in the gut"
**
“I figured as much.”
**
“You’ll both pack a small bag. Only essentials. Whatever you may need for a short journey.”
And what was the idea with the term G-d. (You must read the book to understand the meaning, or non-meaning of G-d.)
In 1564, when this saga starts out with the wealthy Portuguese matriarch Doña Antonia (Nissim) and her two children, her biological daughter, Reyna, and her adopted nephew, Jose, modern American colloquialism was still a faraway pipe dream, darling. This narrative style prevented me from getting into this book almost until the very end, to be honest.
The saga centers around the Jewish religion. It's history. it's sorrows and 'sadnesses'. The ambitious plot builds the outcome of the Jewish people in 300 pages. As you can imagine, it resulted in an informative summary of a very old story.
José who happily functioned as a Christian until he was seventeen years old, realized that the Jewish religion chose him and that his parents would rather die than convert to Christianity, leaving him orphaned. The book started out with him regarding himself as the happiest orphan alive. (does that sound sixteenth century narrative at all?)
Then he spends his time finding the reason for people to die for this religion.
Soon he was delving into metaphysics and once again, astronomy, through the mystical teachings of the Zohar. Never before had his mind operated on so many different planes simultaneously. It was as if Kabbalah was a language stored in his memory before birth and the process of learning was merely an exercise in recollection.
Be patient. This is important. Functioning as Christians for many years, but being Jewish in disguise, did not have them break out in hives, grew them Vampirian molars, or had them hunch-backed and buckle-legged as a result. They actually survived nicely, until the ruling regime got interested in the widow's wealth, during the Edict of Expulsion, and they all had to flee for their lives, with the support of the Jewish Underground Movement. They ended up at the mercy of the Ottoman Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent (his name derived from the wise Solomon in the Bible) who believed in religious tolerance. Istanbul in Turkey was their destiny.
And so they lived happily ever after, until Tamar, the offspring of Jose and Reyna, fell in love with Murat, the Sultan's grandson, and suddenly the religious intolerance came into play. Not from the Sultan's side, but from the Jewish Jose Nissam. The religion who left him orphaned and living as a a Christian for 17 years. The religion now prevented him from accepting his daughter's choices. A fate probably worse than death.
Jose had no trouble to be Christian until he was told his true heritage. He had no trouble with being the guest of the Muslim Sultan either. But the possibility of an inter-faith marriage had him at the brink of well....yes...read the book to see what I mean.
Then Tamar disappear, and oh dear, Murat the young Sultan is heartbroken. Hence the curse that will follow this family to the ends of...well a modern life in Manhattan, New York and Connecticut.
Was there a fulfillment of the prophecy? Honest to G-d, it remained a mystery to me. The story line and plot follow the basic template of modern romances. People fall in love, passion blooms, then something happens and the dramatic ending looms. In this case, another century or two invades the narrative to add historical fictional elements to the final conclusion.
The saga spans over several centuries, different geographical zones, through a cultural miasma, dropping in at the Holocaust, Paris, Israel, Tiberia, a cottage overlooking the sea of Galilee, and at last a modern day New York.
It is a love story with a mystery. All done in 300 lightning-fast pages of plot. Historical informative, yes. The show-don't-tell principle flew out the window as a result. Sad.
The Jewish history summarized as I said. A shock-value-added grab at the inhumane atrocities of the Jewish fate and the Holocaust, with a lighter hue of rose than the normal, yet still digestible if you don't indulge in true historical fiction and reality too much. A gentle rendition of history. For instance, Bulgarians, who started the first successful uprising against the 500-year Ottoman regime, might write a totally different version of the Ottoman history. If it made people so happy, why overthrow it?
If Jewish Don José Nissem authored this book, this tale would have had a really different take on his life and legacy. The story would have been a much more realistic version of events, truer to the historical fiction spirit of Jewish authors. Turkey and Bulgaria, for instance, became safe havens for Jews during WWII.
A magnificent book to read in this regards is The Last Train to Istanbul by Ayşe Kulin. This book is a serious rendition of the rescue effort of Turkish Jews from Paris, and the conflict of an inter-faith marriage between A Jewish young man and a Muslim young woman. It's quite an antidote to The Debt of Tamar in style, narrative and authenticity. ( My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
So yes, Tamar's story is light, it's love, it's supposedly historical fiction in the don't-worry-be-happy and emotional-baiting styles. A different kind of historical fiction. Some people cried, experienced it as an emotional roller coaster. Good for them. I told you to read this book and decide for yourself. It is also a tragedy. A really sad story.
If you're still here, thank you. So we're still friends, right? My sad conclusion is that religion can really destroy or enrich people's lives. It does not change people physically, it changes their destiny. It will destroy mankind if we refuse to adapt and respect one another.
I actually enjoyed the last part of the book. The ENDING.....SUPERB!!!!!! Punched right out of the romance zone, although the book is about love, destiny, loyalty and so on. Very well articulated and eloquently focused on excellent word smithery. Well-done. So, a three star rating says it was okay. One was for the Jewish history. The book has merit and will be a blast for the right reader. It calls out for a very different audience. Great author.
Thanks for reading. Sorry about my rant. I adore Starbucks coffee, it elevates me to the clouds, but when I can enjoy it straight from the tree, I'm dancing on the moon!
Sela.
April 25, 2017
Some of the best books I've ever read seem to happen in two particular locations...on any mode of public transportation and in the bathtub. "The Debt of Tamar" enfolded me in a cocoon of love and destiny that took me from the Ottoman Empire to Nazi occupied France to a fishing boat in Israel to a hospital room in the United States all connected by the fate of two young lovers and a curse. Abandon the rational that will scoff "Oh, this is so unrealistic!" and give into the wistful heart that says "Yes!!! love is all around!"
December 17, 2013
What a beautiful book. The Debt of Tamar is more than a mere book, it is an experience. I loved every page. I would most definitely recommend to anyone who wants an escape...to another place and time. A veritable feast for the 5 senses. Wonderful!
January 30, 2019
I enjoyed it. It took me off course in the middle. Wasn't formulaic in the least. But after I got adjusted to the curveball, I really liked seeing it unfold. And of course loved the beginning - and the end.....
July 29, 2016
In the late 16th century, a band of Portuguese Jews sought refuge in Turkey under the protection of Suleiman the Magnificent, the most celebrated Sultan in the Ottoman Empire. Among those escaping persecution were noble widow Doña Antonia Nissim, her daughter Reyna, and her nephew Jose. Faced with the truth of their Jewish heritage for the first time in their lives, Reyna and Jose connect with each other and find love and comfort in Turkey. Years later, their daughter Tamar falls in love with the Sultan’s son, Murat; the two vow to spend the rest of their lives together despite the oppositions of their families and the obstacles of classism and religion that stand in their way. They remain committed to their shared determination until the tensions escalade between their families and Tamar vanishes. Mad with devastation, Murat assumes his role in the Ottoman Empire and sparks what will become known as The Sultan’s Curse, a plague that affects his every descendant. Fast-forward to present-day Turkey and Selim Osman, a wildly successful real estate magnate and the grandson of the last Osman Sultan. In the prime of his life, Selim has the world at his feet until fate deals him a cruel blow: a shocking and life-altering diagnosis. Abandoning his life in Turkey, Selim turns to a Manhattan hospital in the hope of a cure; here he meets Hannah, a spirited young painter whose father is fighting a medical battle of his own. As Selim and Hannah start to understand the depth of their connection they’ll rejoin a love once lost and finally bring two fates together after decades of dormant solitude.
A lush novel spanning generations and eras, The Debt of Tamar is ambitious and beautiful crafted by debut author Nicole Dweck. Its story is a fascinating one, spun with originality by the author in a fearless departure from the typical structure of a novel. There’s a noticeable artistry to the way Dweck uses a full cast – five generations’ worth of active characters – to tell the story of one love and one destiny. What could be expected to be a frustratingly complex tale becomes a genuinely accessible novel, one that balances names, dates, and histories all with a surprising and pleasing lightness. Dweck knows exactly how long to focus on a generation of characters before moving us on to the next, understanding very well how her reader will process all this information, all these emotions and experiences. Lingering purposefully on Tamar and Murat, the novel’s central love story is palpable, but it’s where Dweck goes next that will truly surprise and engross her reader.
There’s nothing predictable about The Debt of Tamar, which is a statement that takes on new meaning as soon as the reader finishes its final pages: often a book ends one way or another, happy or sad. I was mesmerized by the way Dweck approached Happily Ever After as something woven in the invisible power of fate, something that transcends human emotion and even the human lifespan. Her efforts awaken the reader to a mystical idea of the true eternity of love and its ability to triumph even after its lovers are gone. Beyond the enchantment of her story, Dweck proves herself a capable and truly talented writer, piecing together luminous moments of prose that will blossom under her audience’s eyes. Her writing, particularly in the contemporary portion of the novel, offers a gently poetic touch that caused me to stop and remark on the way words, though perfectly natural apart, can create something special together. I suppose that in itself is a reflection on her depiction of the legacy of Tamar and Murat: existing apart, but together in love.
(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on May 14, 2013 at LiteraryInklings.com. I received a copy of the book for the purpose of review.)
A lush novel spanning generations and eras, The Debt of Tamar is ambitious and beautiful crafted by debut author Nicole Dweck. Its story is a fascinating one, spun with originality by the author in a fearless departure from the typical structure of a novel. There’s a noticeable artistry to the way Dweck uses a full cast – five generations’ worth of active characters – to tell the story of one love and one destiny. What could be expected to be a frustratingly complex tale becomes a genuinely accessible novel, one that balances names, dates, and histories all with a surprising and pleasing lightness. Dweck knows exactly how long to focus on a generation of characters before moving us on to the next, understanding very well how her reader will process all this information, all these emotions and experiences. Lingering purposefully on Tamar and Murat, the novel’s central love story is palpable, but it’s where Dweck goes next that will truly surprise and engross her reader.
There’s nothing predictable about The Debt of Tamar, which is a statement that takes on new meaning as soon as the reader finishes its final pages: often a book ends one way or another, happy or sad. I was mesmerized by the way Dweck approached Happily Ever After as something woven in the invisible power of fate, something that transcends human emotion and even the human lifespan. Her efforts awaken the reader to a mystical idea of the true eternity of love and its ability to triumph even after its lovers are gone. Beyond the enchantment of her story, Dweck proves herself a capable and truly talented writer, piecing together luminous moments of prose that will blossom under her audience’s eyes. Her writing, particularly in the contemporary portion of the novel, offers a gently poetic touch that caused me to stop and remark on the way words, though perfectly natural apart, can create something special together. I suppose that in itself is a reflection on her depiction of the legacy of Tamar and Murat: existing apart, but together in love.
(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on May 14, 2013 at LiteraryInklings.com. I received a copy of the book for the purpose of review.)
April 24, 2013
From Portugal to Istambul, to Nazi-occupied Paris and newly-established Israel, this is a sweeping saga of a novel.
Inspired by the lives of Dona Gracia Nasi and her son, Josef, the book begins there – with the secret Jews and fleeing refugees of the 16th century – but then opens up, layer upon layer to unite both the Jewish and Muslim cultures. Dweck does this deftly, reeling us in and then pulling back, so that we watch the players in this drama interact up close and from afar. The result is a parallelism of sorts: A Jewish girl forbiddenly clashes against a Muslim prince and their love has ripple effects – careening, spiraling, never stopping until centuries later it finally reaches a long-awaited conclusion.
And yet, that conclusion is a long time coming and is not easily achieved. At first, Dweck seems to strike this inter-ethnic relationship at its base, putting an end to it as the decorum of the time dictated. But then we see – and perhaps this is the power of true love exerting its force – that their love knows no bounds and in fact will seep through every crevice, every descendent, every far-flung circumstance, until it has touched the people it was meant to touch and found the closure it sought.
It is not just love that needs to find a resting place in this novel, but also the characters themselves. So many of them suffer a crisis of identity, burdened by secrets they suspect but can’t unearth. Dweck’s characters are hapless souls – none of them know who they are. And here in lies another poignant element of the tapestry the author has sewn: in their search, the characters encounter each other. And when they meet, the past becomes a little clearer, the journey easier to bear.
Traditionally Orthodox Jews and devout Muslims are sworn away from one another. But in Dweck’s historical novel the divide vanishes and we see just humanity in its place. Simply men, simply women – all embarking on coming of age tales that will bring them home and enable them, finally, to know themselves.
Dweck’s novel is dizzyingly good. You will get swept up in it, meaning to read a couple of chapters and instead reading for hours. But it will demand your full attention; you must be wholly present. Dweck is a true writer who takes precision and care with each sentence. Adjectives are both carefully chosen and freely strewn so that you will be awash in images, similes and description at every turn. As a critic, I wrestled with this aspect of it. Instinctually, I felt the prose to be overwritten – but then again, it wasn’t badly written – in fact, it was magnificently done. So, what should I make of it, then? Maybe this: that Dweck has a whole palette of words at her disposal and she’s chosen to use them all, because she can.
Reading this, you will savor the language and the countless surprising ways the author has chosen to use it. Or maybe you’ll just forget about language entirely and simply race through the book to see what happens. I found myself so torn – one moment wanting to stop and marvel at a turn of phrase and the next wanting to skim a passage of description so as to get to the next juicy part. Dweck will play with you like this, in the most delicious of ways – with pacing first slow and then fast – ultimately crescendoing to a satisfying end.
*This novel can be purchased on Amazon.com* Enjoy!
~Kelly Massry
www.readlately.com
Inspired by the lives of Dona Gracia Nasi and her son, Josef, the book begins there – with the secret Jews and fleeing refugees of the 16th century – but then opens up, layer upon layer to unite both the Jewish and Muslim cultures. Dweck does this deftly, reeling us in and then pulling back, so that we watch the players in this drama interact up close and from afar. The result is a parallelism of sorts: A Jewish girl forbiddenly clashes against a Muslim prince and their love has ripple effects – careening, spiraling, never stopping until centuries later it finally reaches a long-awaited conclusion.
And yet, that conclusion is a long time coming and is not easily achieved. At first, Dweck seems to strike this inter-ethnic relationship at its base, putting an end to it as the decorum of the time dictated. But then we see – and perhaps this is the power of true love exerting its force – that their love knows no bounds and in fact will seep through every crevice, every descendent, every far-flung circumstance, until it has touched the people it was meant to touch and found the closure it sought.
It is not just love that needs to find a resting place in this novel, but also the characters themselves. So many of them suffer a crisis of identity, burdened by secrets they suspect but can’t unearth. Dweck’s characters are hapless souls – none of them know who they are. And here in lies another poignant element of the tapestry the author has sewn: in their search, the characters encounter each other. And when they meet, the past becomes a little clearer, the journey easier to bear.
Traditionally Orthodox Jews and devout Muslims are sworn away from one another. But in Dweck’s historical novel the divide vanishes and we see just humanity in its place. Simply men, simply women – all embarking on coming of age tales that will bring them home and enable them, finally, to know themselves.
Dweck’s novel is dizzyingly good. You will get swept up in it, meaning to read a couple of chapters and instead reading for hours. But it will demand your full attention; you must be wholly present. Dweck is a true writer who takes precision and care with each sentence. Adjectives are both carefully chosen and freely strewn so that you will be awash in images, similes and description at every turn. As a critic, I wrestled with this aspect of it. Instinctually, I felt the prose to be overwritten – but then again, it wasn’t badly written – in fact, it was magnificently done. So, what should I make of it, then? Maybe this: that Dweck has a whole palette of words at her disposal and she’s chosen to use them all, because she can.
Reading this, you will savor the language and the countless surprising ways the author has chosen to use it. Or maybe you’ll just forget about language entirely and simply race through the book to see what happens. I found myself so torn – one moment wanting to stop and marvel at a turn of phrase and the next wanting to skim a passage of description so as to get to the next juicy part. Dweck will play with you like this, in the most delicious of ways – with pacing first slow and then fast – ultimately crescendoing to a satisfying end.
*This novel can be purchased on Amazon.com* Enjoy!
~Kelly Massry
www.readlately.com
February 15, 2014
Loved the book!!!!
The story begins with a family Dona Antonia, Reyna and Jose-the Nisshim Dynasty- the revelation of their religion and their practicing it secretly. The successive events start with the Edict of Expulsion from Spain; leading to their successful escape from the hellhole, alive; the years in Istanbul, in the save haven of the Ottoman empire under the protection of Suleiman, the Magnificent and Osman Imperial dynasty; and the birth and life of Tamar in the harem and ‘the debt’.
The narration then moves to the present world, Turkey to the stories of Selim Osman, the last living descendant of the Osmans of Ottoman Empire, and Ayda. Part III tells the infamous tale of the Nazi rule and concentration camps through the life and fate of David Herzikova. Swiftly the chapters bring about the story of Hanna Herzikova and the ‘debt’ being paid back through her.
Nicole Dweck is a very competent writer. The tone of the entire novel is that of brooding and melancholy, though there are a few instances of happiness, family and fun. She chooses her sentences and phrases well. Not too lengthy not too short, just the right length able enough to convey the right messages. She writes in poetic prose, elevating the mood of the situation in just a few lines that are so profound in their meaning. Words like these impress me to no end. The story has four parts- plots from different ends of the world, faraway lands, and dynasties. It is not a fact paced novel, the action is slow, but reading one page can take you through a few days, hours or in some chapters, through years. Time leaps are there to cover the long story spanning generations. But it is also a factor that kept me engrossed throughout.
Read more thoughts and opinions on this book, here:
http://pratikshya-magicmoments.blogsp...
The story begins with a family Dona Antonia, Reyna and Jose-the Nisshim Dynasty- the revelation of their religion and their practicing it secretly. The successive events start with the Edict of Expulsion from Spain; leading to their successful escape from the hellhole, alive; the years in Istanbul, in the save haven of the Ottoman empire under the protection of Suleiman, the Magnificent and Osman Imperial dynasty; and the birth and life of Tamar in the harem and ‘the debt’.
The narration then moves to the present world, Turkey to the stories of Selim Osman, the last living descendant of the Osmans of Ottoman Empire, and Ayda. Part III tells the infamous tale of the Nazi rule and concentration camps through the life and fate of David Herzikova. Swiftly the chapters bring about the story of Hanna Herzikova and the ‘debt’ being paid back through her.
Nicole Dweck is a very competent writer. The tone of the entire novel is that of brooding and melancholy, though there are a few instances of happiness, family and fun. She chooses her sentences and phrases well. Not too lengthy not too short, just the right length able enough to convey the right messages. She writes in poetic prose, elevating the mood of the situation in just a few lines that are so profound in their meaning. Words like these impress me to no end. The story has four parts- plots from different ends of the world, faraway lands, and dynasties. It is not a fact paced novel, the action is slow, but reading one page can take you through a few days, hours or in some chapters, through years. Time leaps are there to cover the long story spanning generations. But it is also a factor that kept me engrossed throughout.
Read more thoughts and opinions on this book, here:
http://pratikshya-magicmoments.blogsp...
March 13, 2014
It was the cover of The Debt of Tamar that caught my attention. Isn't it beautiful? Thankfully it doesn't end with the cover, this debut novel is also beautifully written. It's a story of love and loss, redemption, culture and faith.
Spanning centuries; from 16th century Portugal and the Ottoman Empire, to Nazi occupied Paris in the 1940's and present day Turkey and US. I've read quite a bit about The Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain and Portugal and find this period in history both horrifying and fascinating.
Beginning with the execution by burning of unrepentant Jews, Doña Antonia Nissim, her daughter Reyna and nephew Jose escape to Turkey with the help of Sultan Sulieman the Magnificent. When Reyna and Jose's daughter Tamar falls in love with the sultan's son, Murat, a decision by Jose sparks the debt, and so begins The Sultan's Curse. This part of the story I was most captivated by, I didn't want to leave.
Fast forward to present day and we follow Selim Osman, last living descendant of the Ottoman Sultans, then to Paris 1941 and the Herzikovas ... sounds confusing but as the story progresses common threads are slowly revealed and the tapestry is pieced together.
The Debt of Tamar has a haunting beauty, it's quite outside the realm of traditional, continuing the central love story of Tamar and Murat through other characters ... thwarted love, eternal love, beautifully entwined.
I understand why Nicole Dweck presented Debt of Tamar in such a way, but it didn't stop me wanting more. The characters felt elusive, fleeting, just a sense of them before they slip into the shadows. It's a story you need to be fully present for as confusion can easily override pleasure ... but maybe that was just me.
All up, a story I'm glad I had the opportunity to read and I look forward to more from Nicole Dweck.
Spanning centuries; from 16th century Portugal and the Ottoman Empire, to Nazi occupied Paris in the 1940's and present day Turkey and US. I've read quite a bit about The Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain and Portugal and find this period in history both horrifying and fascinating.
Beginning with the execution by burning of unrepentant Jews, Doña Antonia Nissim, her daughter Reyna and nephew Jose escape to Turkey with the help of Sultan Sulieman the Magnificent. When Reyna and Jose's daughter Tamar falls in love with the sultan's son, Murat, a decision by Jose sparks the debt, and so begins The Sultan's Curse. This part of the story I was most captivated by, I didn't want to leave.
Fast forward to present day and we follow Selim Osman, last living descendant of the Ottoman Sultans, then to Paris 1941 and the Herzikovas ... sounds confusing but as the story progresses common threads are slowly revealed and the tapestry is pieced together.
The Debt of Tamar has a haunting beauty, it's quite outside the realm of traditional, continuing the central love story of Tamar and Murat through other characters ... thwarted love, eternal love, beautifully entwined.
I understand why Nicole Dweck presented Debt of Tamar in such a way, but it didn't stop me wanting more. The characters felt elusive, fleeting, just a sense of them before they slip into the shadows. It's a story you need to be fully present for as confusion can easily override pleasure ... but maybe that was just me.
All up, a story I'm glad I had the opportunity to read and I look forward to more from Nicole Dweck.
November 25, 2015
Like a butterfly landing on a flower, savoring the nectar, then quickly moving on to the next flower was how this book seemed to me. It had me intrigued from the get go and I couldn't put it down. And then it changed to a different time period, and location and characters, which I wasn't ready for. And then it happened again. Still, I was engrossed and finally the thread wound its way through. Ah ha......
There were a couple of good lines, that if I don't note them here, most likely they'll get lost. "He almost turned back because the person on that dock was almost who he was, almost who he needed to be, but in his heart, he knew that when you were searching for your soul, almost didn't count."
Another: "All the universe is whirling. The moon is whirling around the earth. Our earth is whirling on its axis, forever around the sun. Other worlds, the constellations. The clouds in the sky and the stars in the farthest galaxies. We are not careening aimlessly through the universe. These men whirl because they are one with the universe."
I found this book to be an entertaining and an easy, fast read.
There were a couple of good lines, that if I don't note them here, most likely they'll get lost. "He almost turned back because the person on that dock was almost who he was, almost who he needed to be, but in his heart, he knew that when you were searching for your soul, almost didn't count."
Another: "All the universe is whirling. The moon is whirling around the earth. Our earth is whirling on its axis, forever around the sun. Other worlds, the constellations. The clouds in the sky and the stars in the farthest galaxies. We are not careening aimlessly through the universe. These men whirl because they are one with the universe."
I found this book to be an entertaining and an easy, fast read.
Read
November 24, 2015Review by Julie Joseph for the Jewish Book Council.
August 20, 2015
3.5 Stars. I've read several books in recent years about the persecution and subsequent expulsion of the Jews from Spain, and all of them ended with the central Jewish characters leaving, though none said where they were going. So I was left wondering: Where did the Jews go when they were forced out of Spain? This book gave me an answer: the Ottoman Empire. Aha! This story begins with two young people whose privileged world is upended when they discover that the Christian lives they've been living do not reflect their true heritage. But embracing their secret Jewish ancestry and faith places them in danger as the inquisition sweeps through, and they are forced to flee to Istanbul, where they find shelter under Suleiman the Magnificent's rule. The couple's daughter, Tamar, is raised and educated among the Sultan's harem, where she forms a close friendship with Suleiman's grandson, Murat, that blossoms into love. But just as Murat is coming into manhood and preparing to step into his role as the next ruler of the Ottoman Empire, with his beloved Tamar at his side, Tamar disappears. Devastated and unaccepting, Murat consults a seer who tells him that he and Tamar are destined to be together again, and thus Murat devotes much of his life to finding his lost love, and going a bit mad in the process, giving rise to whispers of a Sultan's Curse that will plague generations of his descendants. The rest of the story follows various descendants of both Murat and Tamar as their souls search for each other throughout the ages.
I took me a while to warm up to The Debt of Tamar--about 200 pages, actually--and the reason for that is the writing style. It's a fast-moving story that does not leave much room for character development until the present-day storyline nears its conclusion. The quick pace doesn't leave a lot of room for in-depth story exploration either. Because it's a sweeping saga spanning multiple families and generations, I found it hard to develop a real emotional connection with most of the characters. Just when I felt like I was getting to know one of them, their part in the story was over and it was time to move on to the next character. And I felt like not enough time was spent on Tamar and Murat for me to feel the soul-deep connection that would give rise to the Sultan's Curse and guide the destinies of generations of their descendants. Nor could I figure out how some of the later characters were related to them. So I just tried to sweep those questions to the back of my mind and enjoy the story for what it was.
While I did feel that the writing lacked the sophistication and depth I've come to expect from historical fiction, Ms. Dweck did leave room in her prose for some fantastic, haunting imagery, poignant observations and social commentary, and mouth-watering description. I loved how the story wove together threads of the Jews under the Spanish Inquisition and under the Nazi regime, highlighting some similarities I had not fully recognized myself until now. I was totally enthralled as events and people finally came together in the present day, and the story did not pan out at all like I thought it would, so big props for unpredictability, but I can't say I was pleased with the outcome. I felt kind of cheated, like I didn't get to see the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy. Though I did shed a tear. I know! This book is a jumble of contrasting feelings for me--things I loved and things I didn't, elements that worked beautifully and some that didn't seem to work at all, characters whose motivations I couldn't understand and some whose motivations I understood all too well. There's definitely never a dull moment, and it takes the reader on a wild ride from Spain to the Sultan's palace and his harem to Paris under Nazi occupation to Palestine and present-day Istanbul and New York, with threads of the past and the Sultan's Curse woven throughout.
The Debt of Tamar is something different, something that may introduce readers to some history they haven't encountered yet, and something that may spark deeper thinking. I think this is the kind of book that will be a different experience for every reader. With so many characters and events and things to ponder, no two readers will walk away with the same thoughts and reflections. I like books like that.
I took me a while to warm up to The Debt of Tamar--about 200 pages, actually--and the reason for that is the writing style. It's a fast-moving story that does not leave much room for character development until the present-day storyline nears its conclusion. The quick pace doesn't leave a lot of room for in-depth story exploration either. Because it's a sweeping saga spanning multiple families and generations, I found it hard to develop a real emotional connection with most of the characters. Just when I felt like I was getting to know one of them, their part in the story was over and it was time to move on to the next character. And I felt like not enough time was spent on Tamar and Murat for me to feel the soul-deep connection that would give rise to the Sultan's Curse and guide the destinies of generations of their descendants. Nor could I figure out how some of the later characters were related to them. So I just tried to sweep those questions to the back of my mind and enjoy the story for what it was.
While I did feel that the writing lacked the sophistication and depth I've come to expect from historical fiction, Ms. Dweck did leave room in her prose for some fantastic, haunting imagery, poignant observations and social commentary, and mouth-watering description. I loved how the story wove together threads of the Jews under the Spanish Inquisition and under the Nazi regime, highlighting some similarities I had not fully recognized myself until now. I was totally enthralled as events and people finally came together in the present day, and the story did not pan out at all like I thought it would, so big props for unpredictability, but I can't say I was pleased with the outcome. I felt kind of cheated, like I didn't get to see the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy. Though I did shed a tear. I know! This book is a jumble of contrasting feelings for me--things I loved and things I didn't, elements that worked beautifully and some that didn't seem to work at all, characters whose motivations I couldn't understand and some whose motivations I understood all too well. There's definitely never a dull moment, and it takes the reader on a wild ride from Spain to the Sultan's palace and his harem to Paris under Nazi occupation to Palestine and present-day Istanbul and New York, with threads of the past and the Sultan's Curse woven throughout.
The Debt of Tamar is something different, something that may introduce readers to some history they haven't encountered yet, and something that may spark deeper thinking. I think this is the kind of book that will be a different experience for every reader. With so many characters and events and things to ponder, no two readers will walk away with the same thoughts and reflections. I like books like that.
March 4, 2014
The Debt of Tamar, by Nicole Dweck, was a completely beautiful and emotional journey. I quickly became lost in the story and was taken through a gamut of emotions as I read this gorgeous novel. Set initially in the 16th Century, a Jewish family is taken under the wing of the family and harem of the Turkish Sultan. This sets the foundation for the novel, as the Jewish child and the son of the Sultan, a future Sultan, play and grow up together and eventually form a bond. This section read like a tale from the 1001 Arabian Nights, though it was rich with real history as well. It touched the five senses through words and left me enveloped and engaged, so much so that I couldn't put the book down. I stayed up all night reading this book until I collapsed crying and spent from the emotional impact of the story.
Dweck's novel is her debut, but she writes like a seasoned writer. Of course, she is a writer in degree and work as well. But it's hard to cross over to fiction all the same and Dweck does it with amazing storytelling ability. As she intertwines the lives of the descendants of both lineages down through the decades, she writes with such purpose and with such seamless accuracy that I was never lost. Not only did I always feel connected to the story and the characters, no matter which religion or country the character was from of living in, but I also felt connected to a theory of fantastical nature that is our fates align with others and are destined, that people are put into our paths, that life takes on history's mysteries and unresolved turmoils in order to be remembered or to fix.
And I love stories of the Middle East, the history, the intertwining of faiths. She shows us how the cultures, countries, and faiths changed with each century, decade, and major historical time markers like WWII to the modern age. I was especially grateful, as a Christian, in her showing how for those who are Jewish it's a calling, a destiny to follow and yet how for Muslims in history have been humanitarians and hold a strong bond to their faith as well. In many ways this book shows that love, whether a mothers, a brothers, or a romantic interest, knows no bounds of faith, culture, time, position, or tradition.
I never give any spoilers, but Dweck's gentle wordswomanship in relation to dying and death, to redemption and faith, to restoration of the soul is outstanding. This book is one that will be a lasting memory for me and I hope to read much more from Dweck in the future. It wasn't just reading a book, it was an experience.
*I was sent a copy of this book in return for an honest opinion.
Dweck's novel is her debut, but she writes like a seasoned writer. Of course, she is a writer in degree and work as well. But it's hard to cross over to fiction all the same and Dweck does it with amazing storytelling ability. As she intertwines the lives of the descendants of both lineages down through the decades, she writes with such purpose and with such seamless accuracy that I was never lost. Not only did I always feel connected to the story and the characters, no matter which religion or country the character was from of living in, but I also felt connected to a theory of fantastical nature that is our fates align with others and are destined, that people are put into our paths, that life takes on history's mysteries and unresolved turmoils in order to be remembered or to fix.
And I love stories of the Middle East, the history, the intertwining of faiths. She shows us how the cultures, countries, and faiths changed with each century, decade, and major historical time markers like WWII to the modern age. I was especially grateful, as a Christian, in her showing how for those who are Jewish it's a calling, a destiny to follow and yet how for Muslims in history have been humanitarians and hold a strong bond to their faith as well. In many ways this book shows that love, whether a mothers, a brothers, or a romantic interest, knows no bounds of faith, culture, time, position, or tradition.
I never give any spoilers, but Dweck's gentle wordswomanship in relation to dying and death, to redemption and faith, to restoration of the soul is outstanding. This book is one that will be a lasting memory for me and I hope to read much more from Dweck in the future. It wasn't just reading a book, it was an experience.
*I was sent a copy of this book in return for an honest opinion.
February 14, 2014
The Debt of Tamar may be author Nicole Dweck's first novel, but you would never know it. She writes beautifully, lyrically. She tells a story that pulls you in from the beginning and keeps you glued. This talented author takes you to the corners of the world, spans centuries of time, and you are her willing companions every step of the journey. This amazing book is told in several parts, each being dedicated to an important character within the story.
I warn you, it's very difficult to do this book justice in a review. I don't want to give anything away, yet not give a good description of the story.I loved every single page of this book. In fact, i took 5 1/2 pages of notes while reading it. There is so much that happens between the book's covers. I didn't want to put it down.
The central theme of the book is how one act can alter the lives of so many. One decision changes the lives- present and future. What is done out of love and protection of someone you love can set into motion a chain reaction.
Jose's parents make a choice that impacts their son's life. When he has a daughter, he makes a devastating decision that impacts numerous lives and futures. Throughout the book you see this common thread within the characters. Each one's actions set in motion a chain reaction.
As I read Jose's story, I was all over the emotional map. The highs of his joys, and the lows of his heartbreak. His bravery was inspiring, and the pride he takes in his Jewish faith is remarkable. He's devastated when he sees a public execution of unrepentant Jews in Portugal, 1592 and it stays with him. He learns the truth of his own heritage, and doesn't look back.
The story takes a devastating turn when he sends his only daughter away so she can't marry the Sultan's son she's in love with. This is where you see the biggest chain reaction. From this decision, lives are affected for generations to come.
Nicole Dweck takes you all over the world, through centuries of time. You will become immersed in the Jewish culture, Turkish Sultan life, and more. You will become glued to the characters, and the story they unfold.
I apologize, this review doesn't begin to do the book justice. There is so much that happens within the book's 224 pages. It is a spellbinding read that you will not want to put down. You will see how one person's actions affect the world around them. Like me, you will be hooked and endure a journey of love, heartbreak, and strength.
I warn you, it's very difficult to do this book justice in a review. I don't want to give anything away, yet not give a good description of the story.I loved every single page of this book. In fact, i took 5 1/2 pages of notes while reading it. There is so much that happens between the book's covers. I didn't want to put it down.
The central theme of the book is how one act can alter the lives of so many. One decision changes the lives- present and future. What is done out of love and protection of someone you love can set into motion a chain reaction.
Jose's parents make a choice that impacts their son's life. When he has a daughter, he makes a devastating decision that impacts numerous lives and futures. Throughout the book you see this common thread within the characters. Each one's actions set in motion a chain reaction.
As I read Jose's story, I was all over the emotional map. The highs of his joys, and the lows of his heartbreak. His bravery was inspiring, and the pride he takes in his Jewish faith is remarkable. He's devastated when he sees a public execution of unrepentant Jews in Portugal, 1592 and it stays with him. He learns the truth of his own heritage, and doesn't look back.
The story takes a devastating turn when he sends his only daughter away so she can't marry the Sultan's son she's in love with. This is where you see the biggest chain reaction. From this decision, lives are affected for generations to come.
Nicole Dweck takes you all over the world, through centuries of time. You will become immersed in the Jewish culture, Turkish Sultan life, and more. You will become glued to the characters, and the story they unfold.
I apologize, this review doesn't begin to do the book justice. There is so much that happens within the book's 224 pages. It is a spellbinding read that you will not want to put down. You will see how one person's actions affect the world around them. Like me, you will be hooked and endure a journey of love, heartbreak, and strength.
October 16, 2015
This novel takes the reader all over the world and through history….from a 16th-century harem to a seaside village in the Holy Land, from Nazi-occupied Paris, to modern-day Manhattan, readers will be captivated by the love, history, and fate happening throughout the story.
Everything nearly everything about this book I enjoyed! I loved the generational feel of the novel and the scope of time covered. I loved encountering many different people and tales that worked together to form a larger story if that makes sense. The characters are all memorable and well drawn. One of the things I liked best about this novel was how much the character’s secrets impacted them and shaped their characters. Some times in novels some characters have secrets but the secrets don’t ‘define’ who they are, but in this novel the opposite is true. The secrets that the characters carry with them have long reaching effects and in many cases define who they are. I thought this made the characters complex and intriguing in a different way that is not traditional.
This book was not a long one…..it easily could have been because of the extensive amounts of history it covers. That was one of the things that I thought might have helped this book. While the characters were well developed and interesting, there was so much ‘story’ and history to cover in such a short time that I felt like the book wanted to be longer. I think each character’s ‘journey’ could have been so much more had the novel been allowed to be longer. It was almost like the author tried to condense the novel into a certain amount of pages rather than letting the stories become fully realized.
But other than that, everything else in the novel worked well. The descriptions of the exotic locations were breathtaking! After reading this book I want to visit Istanbul so bad! It sounds so gorgeous! It takes a very talented writer to construct a story of this magnitude but Dweck does a marvelous job creating an interesting, unique story set in an exotic setting, and covering lots of major historical periods that are full of intrigue!
This is a great read if you are looking for something a little different and off the beaten track!
See my full review here
Everything nearly everything about this book I enjoyed! I loved the generational feel of the novel and the scope of time covered. I loved encountering many different people and tales that worked together to form a larger story if that makes sense. The characters are all memorable and well drawn. One of the things I liked best about this novel was how much the character’s secrets impacted them and shaped their characters. Some times in novels some characters have secrets but the secrets don’t ‘define’ who they are, but in this novel the opposite is true. The secrets that the characters carry with them have long reaching effects and in many cases define who they are. I thought this made the characters complex and intriguing in a different way that is not traditional.
This book was not a long one…..it easily could have been because of the extensive amounts of history it covers. That was one of the things that I thought might have helped this book. While the characters were well developed and interesting, there was so much ‘story’ and history to cover in such a short time that I felt like the book wanted to be longer. I think each character’s ‘journey’ could have been so much more had the novel been allowed to be longer. It was almost like the author tried to condense the novel into a certain amount of pages rather than letting the stories become fully realized.
But other than that, everything else in the novel worked well. The descriptions of the exotic locations were breathtaking! After reading this book I want to visit Istanbul so bad! It sounds so gorgeous! It takes a very talented writer to construct a story of this magnitude but Dweck does a marvelous job creating an interesting, unique story set in an exotic setting, and covering lots of major historical periods that are full of intrigue!
This is a great read if you are looking for something a little different and off the beaten track!
See my full review here
March 5, 2014
I LOVE the cover for this book! If that doesn't shout 'read me you won't regret it', I don't know what does.
Reading this book I had a hard time believing this was Nicole Dweck's debut. She has a writing style like that of a seasoned writer, knowing how much information to give and how much to withhold. I thought the theme of this book was quite original and the sequence of these stories (within the book) flawless. In fact at times it was almost poetic and had me totally mesmerized right to the very end.
Beginning in the year 1542 in Lisbon, Portugal then continuing on to Istanbul, Nazi-occupied Paris and then to Israel and the US (present day), this book moves at a pace that always had me wanting to read just another chapter. The story lines moved smoothly with just the right amount of time spent in each place. Yes there were times that I wanted to hang around a little longer and get to know the characters better before moving on in time and destination.
This book is historical, some might feel more historical details would have been nice, but I loved it the way it is, given the feel for this story I think too much historical details might have detracted from the theme here (just my opinion). There is romance, mingling of religions and family dynamics (whether by blood or not), healing and forgiveness and more.
This book will stay with you long after you are finished and will appeal to those that love historical fiction, duel time period books and beautiful covers.
Reading this book I had a hard time believing this was Nicole Dweck's debut. She has a writing style like that of a seasoned writer, knowing how much information to give and how much to withhold. I thought the theme of this book was quite original and the sequence of these stories (within the book) flawless. In fact at times it was almost poetic and had me totally mesmerized right to the very end.
Beginning in the year 1542 in Lisbon, Portugal then continuing on to Istanbul, Nazi-occupied Paris and then to Israel and the US (present day), this book moves at a pace that always had me wanting to read just another chapter. The story lines moved smoothly with just the right amount of time spent in each place. Yes there were times that I wanted to hang around a little longer and get to know the characters better before moving on in time and destination.
This book is historical, some might feel more historical details would have been nice, but I loved it the way it is, given the feel for this story I think too much historical details might have detracted from the theme here (just my opinion). There is romance, mingling of religions and family dynamics (whether by blood or not), healing and forgiveness and more.
This book will stay with you long after you are finished and will appeal to those that love historical fiction, duel time period books and beautiful covers.
March 6, 2014
The debt of Tamar is a heart whelming and touching story.The story starts with a mid 16th century wealthy widow Dona Antonia Nissim arrested and charged with being a secret Jew. with the help of sulieman the great in all Turkish history,she and her children manage to escape to Istanbul. Dona Antonia's pretty cheerful granddaughter Tamar falls in love with sultan's son. A quiet love affair ensues until one day, the girl vanishes.
In the present day the descendant of sultan selim, a socialite prince after diagnosed suddenly face a deadly condition. In a Manhattan hospital, he meets Hannah, a talented artist. As their story twists and turns with that of their ancestors, readers are taken back to Nazi-occupied Paris, and to a seaside village in the Holy Land where a world of secrets is illuminated.
If anyone wants to land on another place and time then this is the best book.Nicole Dweck is a promising writer.she expresses the mood emotion and the situation gloriously. the phrases are not lengthy but concisely written.
My favorite quote is "But mostlt,they were tired words
words aware of all that had time before them
words aware of the quite nothing that would soon follow
They were words for endings"
In the present day the descendant of sultan selim, a socialite prince after diagnosed suddenly face a deadly condition. In a Manhattan hospital, he meets Hannah, a talented artist. As their story twists and turns with that of their ancestors, readers are taken back to Nazi-occupied Paris, and to a seaside village in the Holy Land where a world of secrets is illuminated.
If anyone wants to land on another place and time then this is the best book.Nicole Dweck is a promising writer.she expresses the mood emotion and the situation gloriously. the phrases are not lengthy but concisely written.
My favorite quote is "But mostlt,they were tired words
words aware of all that had time before them
words aware of the quite nothing that would soon follow
They were words for endings"
December 19, 2015
The idea struck me as odd. The debt of Tamar was that as she had been saved, so must her side of the family save her rescuers. This wasn't about unrequited love. But then what of all the Portuguese Jews saved by Tamar's grandmother? Seemed to me that her debt was more than paid in full. Nonetheless I enjoyed the sweep of the drama and rarely hear about the Ottoman Empire in a positive manner.
Although the characters' history and back stories were well researched, I didn't find many of fleshed out enough to really like or understand. Nonetheless this was an interesting sweep of generations and stories.
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Although the characters' history and back stories were well researched, I didn't find many of fleshed out enough to really like or understand. Nonetheless this was an interesting sweep of generations and stories.
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February 6, 2017
3,5* Isto porque adorei o início da história mas no decorrer da acção perdi-me um pouco na ligação dos personagens. Depois porque considero o título original " A Dívida de Tamar" muito mais apropriado. Não entendo porque é que as editoras fazem estas alterações quando a tradutora menciona nos agradecimentos o título original.
Ponto positivo, daí as 3,5*, me direcionaram para uma nova leitura histórica.
Ponto positivo, daí as 3,5*, me direcionaram para uma nova leitura histórica.
February 14, 2017
um 3,5*.
March 16, 2023
Much cooler in concept than in execution, I’m afraid. Alas.
This historical fiction novel starts in the 16th century. A converso aristocrat—that is to say, a secret Jew in Spain must take her family into hiding lest her daughter and her fortune be snatched away from her. They end up in Istanbul, the Ottoman Empire being a popular destination for Sephardic Jews during the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions.
Jose, her nephew and the head of the family, thinks he’s finally safe to practice his religion in peace. And he’s correct—up to a point. He becomes an important advisor to the sultan, but it turns into a double-edged sword. The sultan wants his daughter, Tamar, to be educated in his harem, and later his own son falls in love with her.
Faced with another attempt to have his family’s Judaism die out due to the whims of gentile rulers, Jose makes a choice that ripples throughout generations. This is more or less the language Dweck uses within the narrative. Jose and Tamar’s family owes the sultans a debt, which goes rippling through the cosmos, waiting to be paid.
Some 500 years later, their descendants meet up—I’d say it’s by chance, but the narrative quite distinctly uses language about fate. At the turn of the 21st century, Selim is the last descendant of the Ottoman sultans, and Hannah is the last descendant of Tamar’s family. They meet in a hospital in New York and, spoilers spoilers, the debt is paid. (I hope I can get away with spoiling that, seeing as I’ve divulged next to no details!)
The first half of this story worked better for me than the second, and frankly the overhanded cosmic angle wasn’t part of what intrigued me. I suppose, technically, I’m fascinated by stories that skip through the generations, though in this case I’d be equally as thrilled to stay in the 16th century. It felt like the start of something intriguing, and the new, modern-day story, when Dweck transitioned to it midway through the book, just didn’t pick up the baton. When it comes down to it, I’d rather the characters speak louder than the plot, and that’s certainly not what Dweck accomplished here.
Let’s say that in my occasional seesawing between agreeing with and disputing Kirkus reviews claims, I’m more in their corner with the novel, and this particular quote: “Awkwardly phrased and simply characterized, Dweck’s romance doesn’t linger over the finer details but does ensure that the universe is back on its axis as the story ends.” It’s what’s keeping this rating at a three stars for me, even though some of the historical and other details peppered into the narrative were impressive. Dweck certainly did her research!
And props to her, too, for going from self-published to a traditional deal with St. Martin’s Press. I’m also very grateful to her nod to the real-life character of Dona Garcia Nasi, fictionalized here as the aristocratic converso Jew. Nasi was indeed an inspirational woman who risked her life to smuggle hundreds of Jews away from the deadly Iberian Inquisitions. It’s a story worth telling, and I wish Dweck had stuck to it! Again, alas.
This historical fiction novel starts in the 16th century. A converso aristocrat—that is to say, a secret Jew in Spain must take her family into hiding lest her daughter and her fortune be snatched away from her. They end up in Istanbul, the Ottoman Empire being a popular destination for Sephardic Jews during the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions.
Jose, her nephew and the head of the family, thinks he’s finally safe to practice his religion in peace. And he’s correct—up to a point. He becomes an important advisor to the sultan, but it turns into a double-edged sword. The sultan wants his daughter, Tamar, to be educated in his harem, and later his own son falls in love with her.
Faced with another attempt to have his family’s Judaism die out due to the whims of gentile rulers, Jose makes a choice that ripples throughout generations. This is more or less the language Dweck uses within the narrative. Jose and Tamar’s family owes the sultans a debt, which goes rippling through the cosmos, waiting to be paid.
Some 500 years later, their descendants meet up—I’d say it’s by chance, but the narrative quite distinctly uses language about fate. At the turn of the 21st century, Selim is the last descendant of the Ottoman sultans, and Hannah is the last descendant of Tamar’s family. They meet in a hospital in New York and, spoilers spoilers, the debt is paid. (I hope I can get away with spoiling that, seeing as I’ve divulged next to no details!)
The first half of this story worked better for me than the second, and frankly the overhanded cosmic angle wasn’t part of what intrigued me. I suppose, technically, I’m fascinated by stories that skip through the generations, though in this case I’d be equally as thrilled to stay in the 16th century. It felt like the start of something intriguing, and the new, modern-day story, when Dweck transitioned to it midway through the book, just didn’t pick up the baton. When it comes down to it, I’d rather the characters speak louder than the plot, and that’s certainly not what Dweck accomplished here.
Let’s say that in my occasional seesawing between agreeing with and disputing Kirkus reviews claims, I’m more in their corner with the novel, and this particular quote: “Awkwardly phrased and simply characterized, Dweck’s romance doesn’t linger over the finer details but does ensure that the universe is back on its axis as the story ends.” It’s what’s keeping this rating at a three stars for me, even though some of the historical and other details peppered into the narrative were impressive. Dweck certainly did her research!
And props to her, too, for going from self-published to a traditional deal with St. Martin’s Press. I’m also very grateful to her nod to the real-life character of Dona Garcia Nasi, fictionalized here as the aristocratic converso Jew. Nasi was indeed an inspirational woman who risked her life to smuggle hundreds of Jews away from the deadly Iberian Inquisitions. It’s a story worth telling, and I wish Dweck had stuck to it! Again, alas.
June 22, 2023
Vejam a minha opinião em vídeo, AQUI.
November 25, 2013
The Debt of Tamar begins in Portugal in 1542 with the remnants of Dona Antonia's family. Dona Antonia is a wealthy noble woman keeping a dangerous secret from her nephew, Jose, and her daughter, Reyna. After just a few pages, I fell in love with Jose and his journey to connect with the hidden history of his family that cost him so much along with his pursuit of love. But at the beginning is also where I encounter my biggest gripes with this book.
***From here on there may be some minor spoilers, so be cautious.***
Dweck is clearly a marvelously talented writer. Throughout 'The Debt of Tamar' her prose presents the reader with wondrous visions of 16th century Portugal and Turkey. I became immersed in the world the author created, languishing in the romantic settings deftly-worded in both Dweck's descriptive narratives and the emotions the surroundings illicit within her characters. I suppose it is this obvious skill inherent in Dweck's writing why I found it so jarring whenever a misstep was committed—sometimes glaring ones and other times just mildly distracting ones—that interrupted the pleasurable read.
One of the most troublesome of these missteps hits me right in the first few chapters of the book. The author made a single reference that sent me on an internet hunt about the history of clocks. Though forgivable, I found that the inclusion of such a detail, so early on, made me question many other aspects of the story, causing me to leave it to do research of my own. This occurs again later on when my favorite character, Jose, tells us about his plot to fool the Sultan where he speaks of the tragic toll Tuberculosis has taken on his family. TB had been commonly known as consumption until the 1900s yet Jose uses the modern medical term. With all the research Dweck must've done to write the book, this was particularly egregious, easily fixable and I find it strange that it has gone overlooked.
Another early distraction came in the form of the POV used to tell the story. I tend not to read books written in third person omniscient and I definitely do not write in this style because it's tricky. There were a few brief instances where I felt as if I was in the heads of multiple characters in the same scene, but they are few and far in-between. Something that did bother me more were the bits of dialogue that felt very modern and out of place in the 1500s.
'The Debt of Tamar' is bursting with rich details, characters you want to root for and some I fell in love with after a few words of introduction. But if ever a book could benefit from being longer, it would be this one. And here is where the book's pacing did the most damage for the reader in my opinion. As Reyna and Jose travel a treacherous road to the east, we are told of Sultan Suleiman. A man so magnificent, the word magnificent became apart of his title. While Dweck tells us many of the reasons for the Sultan's greatness, unfortunately his deeds came across as if I were reading from an encyclopedia rather than a novel. I learned interesting facts about him, but like several characters he came and went in the blink of an eye. While I can accept that for a minor character, the need to advance the story to present day robbed me of experiencing other major plot points to their fullest. As soon as I settled into Jose and Reyna's journey, I was hurtled into Murat and Tamar's love affair. For me, I got to it far before I wanted to and well before I could care for them or the love they might've felt for each other. I say might have because like the great Sultan Suleiman and his equally intriguing son, Selim—a character that I'm still not sure whether I consider him a villain or not—, Murat and Tamar, Jose and Reyna and Selim (the present day descended of Murat) suffered from a little too much telling and sadly not enough showing. It was only at the very end of Murat's story did I feel anything for him or his love Tamar which was a real shame because their tragic story has the potential to make even the hardest of readers cry and scream "Why?” to the heavens.
By the middle of the book though, the writing gets much stronger and my concerns regarding some of the aforementioned issues were assuaged. I hope my review suggests to anyone who might read it how much I really enjoyed the story and wanted to like this book. Even to me, my three star rating feels like a punishment, but the technical problems in the book prevents me from giving it anything higher. If addressed however, 'The Debt of Tamar' could easily garner a five star review from me. The story is that good. The writing is that promising. The imagery is that palpable. The characters are that interesting, that lovable. But for all these reasons, I expect and want more from the story and in the end the absence of these things left me with a feeling of being somewhat cheated out of a great read.
***From here on there may be some minor spoilers, so be cautious.***
Dweck is clearly a marvelously talented writer. Throughout 'The Debt of Tamar' her prose presents the reader with wondrous visions of 16th century Portugal and Turkey. I became immersed in the world the author created, languishing in the romantic settings deftly-worded in both Dweck's descriptive narratives and the emotions the surroundings illicit within her characters. I suppose it is this obvious skill inherent in Dweck's writing why I found it so jarring whenever a misstep was committed—sometimes glaring ones and other times just mildly distracting ones—that interrupted the pleasurable read.
One of the most troublesome of these missteps hits me right in the first few chapters of the book. The author made a single reference that sent me on an internet hunt about the history of clocks. Though forgivable, I found that the inclusion of such a detail, so early on, made me question many other aspects of the story, causing me to leave it to do research of my own. This occurs again later on when my favorite character, Jose, tells us about his plot to fool the Sultan where he speaks of the tragic toll Tuberculosis has taken on his family. TB had been commonly known as consumption until the 1900s yet Jose uses the modern medical term. With all the research Dweck must've done to write the book, this was particularly egregious, easily fixable and I find it strange that it has gone overlooked.
Another early distraction came in the form of the POV used to tell the story. I tend not to read books written in third person omniscient and I definitely do not write in this style because it's tricky. There were a few brief instances where I felt as if I was in the heads of multiple characters in the same scene, but they are few and far in-between. Something that did bother me more were the bits of dialogue that felt very modern and out of place in the 1500s.
'The Debt of Tamar' is bursting with rich details, characters you want to root for and some I fell in love with after a few words of introduction. But if ever a book could benefit from being longer, it would be this one. And here is where the book's pacing did the most damage for the reader in my opinion. As Reyna and Jose travel a treacherous road to the east, we are told of Sultan Suleiman. A man so magnificent, the word magnificent became apart of his title. While Dweck tells us many of the reasons for the Sultan's greatness, unfortunately his deeds came across as if I were reading from an encyclopedia rather than a novel. I learned interesting facts about him, but like several characters he came and went in the blink of an eye. While I can accept that for a minor character, the need to advance the story to present day robbed me of experiencing other major plot points to their fullest. As soon as I settled into Jose and Reyna's journey, I was hurtled into Murat and Tamar's love affair. For me, I got to it far before I wanted to and well before I could care for them or the love they might've felt for each other. I say might have because like the great Sultan Suleiman and his equally intriguing son, Selim—a character that I'm still not sure whether I consider him a villain or not—, Murat and Tamar, Jose and Reyna and Selim (the present day descended of Murat) suffered from a little too much telling and sadly not enough showing. It was only at the very end of Murat's story did I feel anything for him or his love Tamar which was a real shame because their tragic story has the potential to make even the hardest of readers cry and scream "Why?” to the heavens.
By the middle of the book though, the writing gets much stronger and my concerns regarding some of the aforementioned issues were assuaged. I hope my review suggests to anyone who might read it how much I really enjoyed the story and wanted to like this book. Even to me, my three star rating feels like a punishment, but the technical problems in the book prevents me from giving it anything higher. If addressed however, 'The Debt of Tamar' could easily garner a five star review from me. The story is that good. The writing is that promising. The imagery is that palpable. The characters are that interesting, that lovable. But for all these reasons, I expect and want more from the story and in the end the absence of these things left me with a feeling of being somewhat cheated out of a great read.
December 20, 2013
A 16th century in Portugal a widow, Doña Nissim, who had converted to Christianity to protect her family had a secret that she did not share with her daughter or nephew until she had arranged their flight. She followed them to the safety of the protection of the Ottoman Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent the most powerful ruler of the period who in his wisdom practiced total religious tolerance. The two youngsters married and their life was idyllic until their offspring, Tamar fell in love with the grandson of their saviour the Sultan. Her father, despite the acceptance of religious difference that had literally saved his, his family and countless others who had been accepted into the Sultan’s shelter, was a religious zealot and would not allow his daughter to marry outside their creed. The consequence’s of this brought long lasting misery to all concerned.
In Istanbul, this deep sadness is carried down through the following four centuries to the last in the line of the Sultan’s family, who, terminally ill, abandons his lover rather that pass on the sorrow to her. During a seemingly futile treatment in New York he meets Hanna, daughter of a Jewish survivor of the horrors of the Second World War. The story of their faltering love is entwined with the saga of survival in Nazi occupied Paris and on into the land of the Tamar’s eventual history. Finally the debt of Tamar comes to some conclusion in this engrossing historical novel.
The writing is accomplished and our author carries us surely through the evocative locations and lives entwined in this saga. There is never any moment when the story telling fails to pull you into its spell. There are however some problems with its presentation that, if rectified, would make it a truly formidable book.
As with all historical novels the form of language is difficult to balance between narrative and a pastiche of period conversation. Whilst we follow the dialogue without difficulty, the usage of modern American argot does grate the nerves a bit, often harming the charm of the scene. “I figured as much” “had gotten wind of” “her cover’s been blown” etc. lay awkwardly in scenes of 16th century drama. There are some faults one senses in the obviously extensively researched story, one obvious one is that the fiercely republican France appeared do have a Royal French Air force. I am sure Constantinople was the home of the Ottomans, Istanbul suited Atatürk better. Perhaps it is some religious reasoning behind not using the full spelling of God.
The second part of the book is handled with much greater confidence and obviously doesn’t suffer from these problems. The only regret I had was that many of the chronicles that make up this rich yarn could have been developed more fully without harming the pace of the tale, it was if there was fear that the reader would loose interest if they were not taken on to a new thread. I really don’t think that would have been a problem and the expansion of the motivations would have added something.
A really brilliant first novel and well worth reading.
In Istanbul, this deep sadness is carried down through the following four centuries to the last in the line of the Sultan’s family, who, terminally ill, abandons his lover rather that pass on the sorrow to her. During a seemingly futile treatment in New York he meets Hanna, daughter of a Jewish survivor of the horrors of the Second World War. The story of their faltering love is entwined with the saga of survival in Nazi occupied Paris and on into the land of the Tamar’s eventual history. Finally the debt of Tamar comes to some conclusion in this engrossing historical novel.
The writing is accomplished and our author carries us surely through the evocative locations and lives entwined in this saga. There is never any moment when the story telling fails to pull you into its spell. There are however some problems with its presentation that, if rectified, would make it a truly formidable book.
As with all historical novels the form of language is difficult to balance between narrative and a pastiche of period conversation. Whilst we follow the dialogue without difficulty, the usage of modern American argot does grate the nerves a bit, often harming the charm of the scene. “I figured as much” “had gotten wind of” “her cover’s been blown” etc. lay awkwardly in scenes of 16th century drama. There are some faults one senses in the obviously extensively researched story, one obvious one is that the fiercely republican France appeared do have a Royal French Air force. I am sure Constantinople was the home of the Ottomans, Istanbul suited Atatürk better. Perhaps it is some religious reasoning behind not using the full spelling of God.
The second part of the book is handled with much greater confidence and obviously doesn’t suffer from these problems. The only regret I had was that many of the chronicles that make up this rich yarn could have been developed more fully without harming the pace of the tale, it was if there was fear that the reader would loose interest if they were not taken on to a new thread. I really don’t think that would have been a problem and the expansion of the motivations would have added something.
A really brilliant first novel and well worth reading.
March 23, 2014
Are you looking to get absolutely sucked into a riveting book? Are you looking for historical fiction and memorable characters? If so, you should really check out "The Debt of Tamar." I ate through this book in two sittings and it definitely blew me away. This book takes place in several different time periods and has love, family, and secrets at its center.
I don't really know where to even start with this book. The first time period was definitely my favorite and I almost wish that the entire book had taken place during the first time period.The book really takes place in a few different time periods. I loved reading all of them but I especially loved the first time period, which takes place during the Spanish Inquisition. The other time periods were good but not nearly as interesting to me. The first time period was so filled with action and intrigue for me.
The family at the center of this novel are pushed into the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul specifically where they will have to make a new life for themselves. Jose and his wife come to this place where they do not know anyone. They are swept into court life by the Sultan and raise their daughter and grudgingly promise their daughter, Tamar, to the Sultan's son. Mystery ensues. I loved reading about court life under Sultan Suleimon. I have not read a lot about this time period in this part of the world so it was absolutely engrossing to me.
The settings are really amazing in this book. I loved reading about Istanbul. That seems like such a fascinating city and I would love to visit someday. I really liked Dweck's description of the place. I could definitely picture it from the descriptions.
The rest of the book was enjoyable but slowed down for me. I liked seeing how the secrets of Tamar's family affected the characters in later time periods as a nice tie-together.
Overall, this was a good read!
I don't really know where to even start with this book. The first time period was definitely my favorite and I almost wish that the entire book had taken place during the first time period.The book really takes place in a few different time periods. I loved reading all of them but I especially loved the first time period, which takes place during the Spanish Inquisition. The other time periods were good but not nearly as interesting to me. The first time period was so filled with action and intrigue for me.
The family at the center of this novel are pushed into the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul specifically where they will have to make a new life for themselves. Jose and his wife come to this place where they do not know anyone. They are swept into court life by the Sultan and raise their daughter and grudgingly promise their daughter, Tamar, to the Sultan's son. Mystery ensues. I loved reading about court life under Sultan Suleimon. I have not read a lot about this time period in this part of the world so it was absolutely engrossing to me.
The settings are really amazing in this book. I loved reading about Istanbul. That seems like such a fascinating city and I would love to visit someday. I really liked Dweck's description of the place. I could definitely picture it from the descriptions.
The rest of the book was enjoyable but slowed down for me. I liked seeing how the secrets of Tamar's family affected the characters in later time periods as a nice tie-together.
Overall, this was a good read!
February 21, 2014
An absorbing and interesting historical saga which begins in the 16thC and finishes in the 20thC, although I would say the story does not end there! It follows the loves and lives of the Nissims, a Portuguese Jewish family, as they escape to Turkey to avoid persecution and also members of the Ottoman Dynasty. When Tamar, Jose and Reyna Nissim's daughter, falls in love with the Sultan's son, Murat, their happiness is doomed and they are split apart. Thus the 'Sultan's Curse' falls upon the families and has consequences on future generations.
This is a tale of love, family secrets and forgiveness that transcends time. I very much enjoyed it. The writing is quite lyrical and the story is beautifully told. It never gets bogged down with too many details and it's an easy read. The author gets her point across well, too. I liked how the various characters and their tales intertwined. Although the ending is left to the reader's imagination, I thought it finished on a note of hope.
I found it a compelling and captivating debut. I would have no hesitation in recommending The Debt of Tamar to historical fiction fans and would be most interested in reading Nicole Dweck's future books.
This is a tale of love, family secrets and forgiveness that transcends time. I very much enjoyed it. The writing is quite lyrical and the story is beautifully told. It never gets bogged down with too many details and it's an easy read. The author gets her point across well, too. I liked how the various characters and their tales intertwined. Although the ending is left to the reader's imagination, I thought it finished on a note of hope.
I found it a compelling and captivating debut. I would have no hesitation in recommending The Debt of Tamar to historical fiction fans and would be most interested in reading Nicole Dweck's future books.
April 3, 2013
The Debt of Tamar is a lovely romance with hints of fantasy. A Jewish family headed by a wealthy Spanish widow escapes Portugal and settles in Turkey during the rein of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century. Over time the sultan's grandson falls in love with Dona Antonia's granddaughter but because of their different faiths, her father spirits her away to a far off land.
Jump ahead four centuries to the time when a playboy prince meets the daughter of a French holocaust survivor. Could the love of this couple set them free from an evil that has followed these two families through the ages?
The author has come up with a unique plot that take us into far off, exotic settings and eras with descriptions that excite the senses. Early in the book, I felt some of the narration was almost overwritten, but as she goes along, the work definitely strengthens.
Her research is superb and I learned several historical facts that I had never heard before. For example, that the Sultan Suleiman practiced religion tolerance and allowed the persecuted Jews to live unharmed under his rule. In the end, I enjoyed the novel immensely and look forward to more of this author's work.
Jump ahead four centuries to the time when a playboy prince meets the daughter of a French holocaust survivor. Could the love of this couple set them free from an evil that has followed these two families through the ages?
The author has come up with a unique plot that take us into far off, exotic settings and eras with descriptions that excite the senses. Early in the book, I felt some of the narration was almost overwritten, but as she goes along, the work definitely strengthens.
Her research is superb and I learned several historical facts that I had never heard before. For example, that the Sultan Suleiman practiced religion tolerance and allowed the persecuted Jews to live unharmed under his rule. In the end, I enjoyed the novel immensely and look forward to more of this author's work.
December 8, 2013
Dweck’s debut novel, The Debt of Tamar, is an epic voyage from 16th Century Portugal to modern day New York and traveling through Istanbul, Paris, and Tiberius. The story follows the story of the Nissim Dynasty of which Tamar is a daughter and the Osman Imperial Dynasty.
There is no doubt that Dweck is a talented writer and storyteller. The story pulls the reader in from the first moment. The characters and locations are easy to imagine. I enjoyed watching the different character’s lives intertwine without their knowledge.
A few issues prevent me from giving this book a five star rating. I often felt that the stories went too quickly – cut off early so that we could get to the next part of the saga. This is one of those rare times when a book should actually be longer. This also leads to Dweck telling us too much information instead of showing us in the story. The dialogue also didn’t necessarily fit with the time period. Being a history buff, I felt that there could be more background information at times as well.
I recommend this book to readers that enjoy historical novels.
There is no doubt that Dweck is a talented writer and storyteller. The story pulls the reader in from the first moment. The characters and locations are easy to imagine. I enjoyed watching the different character’s lives intertwine without their knowledge.
A few issues prevent me from giving this book a five star rating. I often felt that the stories went too quickly – cut off early so that we could get to the next part of the saga. This is one of those rare times when a book should actually be longer. This also leads to Dweck telling us too much information instead of showing us in the story. The dialogue also didn’t necessarily fit with the time period. Being a history buff, I felt that there could be more background information at times as well.
I recommend this book to readers that enjoy historical novels.
September 17, 2015
I had a really hard time getting into this book because I felt it took too long to introduce the premise. It began in 16th century Portugal and Istanbul to establish a foundation for the future generations of the characters. But it dragged on (122 pages!) and almost lost my interest completely.
Fast forward to 2002 and Salim, the last descendant of the Ottoman sultans, is full of fear and guilt, the product of the “curse” alluded to in the first third of the book. When he meets Hannah, there is something magical in their encounter, and I thought their connection was compelling. I especially enjoyed the story of Hannah’s own father, half of a set of French “twins” in 1950. I thought the second half of the book would redeem the slow start, until the somewhat disappointing conclusion. Though I appreciated that a centuries-old debt had been repaid (whoa, cosmic), the outcome wasn’t satisfying. I wanted more from the characters than a resigned sense of indifference. Overall, it was a decent concept and the themes of regret and forgiveness were conveyed well, but it was overlong and mildly depressing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
Fast forward to 2002 and Salim, the last descendant of the Ottoman sultans, is full of fear and guilt, the product of the “curse” alluded to in the first third of the book. When he meets Hannah, there is something magical in their encounter, and I thought their connection was compelling. I especially enjoyed the story of Hannah’s own father, half of a set of French “twins” in 1950. I thought the second half of the book would redeem the slow start, until the somewhat disappointing conclusion. Though I appreciated that a centuries-old debt had been repaid (whoa, cosmic), the outcome wasn’t satisfying. I wanted more from the characters than a resigned sense of indifference. Overall, it was a decent concept and the themes of regret and forgiveness were conveyed well, but it was overlong and mildly depressing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
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