What do you think?
Rate this book
The Third Daughter
“In The Third Daughter, Talia Carner ably illuminates a little-known piece of the sex trafficking of young women from Russia to South America in the late 19th century. Thoroughly researched and vividly rendered, this is an important and unforgettable story of exploitation and empowerment that will leave you both shaken and inspired.” —Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris
The turn of the 20th century finds fourteen-year-old Batya in the Russian countryside, fleeing with her family endless pogroms. Desperate, her father leaps at the opportunity to marry Batya to a worldly, wealthy stranger who can guarantee his daughter an easy life and passage to America.
Feeling like a princess in a fairytale, Batya leaves her old life behind as she is whisked away to a new world. But soon she discovers that she’s entered a waking nightmare. Her new “husband” does indeed bring her to Buenos Aires, a vibrant, growing city in which prostitution is not only legal but deeply embedded in the culture. And now Batya is one of thousands of women tricked and sold into a brothel.
As the years pass, Batya forms deep bonds with her “sisters” in the house as well as some men who are both kind and cruel. Through it all, she holds onto one to bring her family to America, where they will be safe from the anti-Semitism that plagues Russia. Just as Batya is becoming a known tango dancer, she gets an unexpected but dangerous opportunity—to help bring down the criminal network that has enslaved so many young women and has been instrumental in developing Buenos Aires into a major metropolis.
A powerful story of finding courage in the face of danger, and hope in the face of despair, The Third Daughter brings to life a dark period of Jewish history and gives a voice to victims whose truth deserves to finally be told.
The turn of the 20th century finds fourteen-year-old Batya in the Russian countryside, fleeing with her family endless pogroms. Desperate, her father leaps at the opportunity to marry Batya to a worldly, wealthy stranger who can guarantee his daughter an easy life and passage to America.
Feeling like a princess in a fairytale, Batya leaves her old life behind as she is whisked away to a new world. But soon she discovers that she’s entered a waking nightmare. Her new “husband” does indeed bring her to Buenos Aires, a vibrant, growing city in which prostitution is not only legal but deeply embedded in the culture. And now Batya is one of thousands of women tricked and sold into a brothel.
As the years pass, Batya forms deep bonds with her “sisters” in the house as well as some men who are both kind and cruel. Through it all, she holds onto one to bring her family to America, where they will be safe from the anti-Semitism that plagues Russia. Just as Batya is becoming a known tango dancer, she gets an unexpected but dangerous opportunity—to help bring down the criminal network that has enslaved so many young women and has been instrumental in developing Buenos Aires into a major metropolis.
A powerful story of finding courage in the face of danger, and hope in the face of despair, The Third Daughter brings to life a dark period of Jewish history and gives a voice to victims whose truth deserves to finally be told.
423 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2019
1570 people are currently reading
11309 people want to read
About the author
Talia Carner
19 books505 followersFormerly the publisher of Savvy Woman magazine and a lecturer at international women economic forums, novelist Talia Carner’s heart-wrenching suspense novels, PUPPET CHILD, CHINA DOLL and JERUSALEM MAIDEN and HOTEL MOSCOW have garnered rave reviews and awards. As each touches a social issue never explored before, they are often the choice of reading groups in the USA and abroad.
THE THIRD DAUGHTER, a novel about sex trafficking in Buenos Aires in the late 1800s, (HarperCollins 2019) was named Finalist by The Jewish Book Council (in the Book Club category.)
Talia Carner's 6th novel, THE BOY WITH THE STAR TATTOO, was released in February 2024 by HarperCollins. It is an epic historical novel weaving two yet-untold events set in France, the first set in 1946 in the aftermath of the Holocaust, when agents from Eretz Israel roamed the European countryside to rescue hidden Jewish orphans (Youth Aliyah). The second is set in 1969, about the daring escape of the boats of Cherbourg, in Normandy, which were commissioned and paid for by Israel but whose delivery was blocked by a French arms embargo.
Sharon, the assistant to an Israeli naval officer stationed Cherbourg, is set to unravel the mystery of his journey from a French village to Israel. She is unprepared for the moral dilemma she will face upon solving the mystery.
Talia Carner's addictions include chocolate and social justice.
The author keynoted over 650 in-person events, in addition to 350 Zoom presentations during the two years of the pandemic. Please check www.TaliaCarner.com.
THE THIRD DAUGHTER, a novel about sex trafficking in Buenos Aires in the late 1800s, (HarperCollins 2019) was named Finalist by The Jewish Book Council (in the Book Club category.)
Talia Carner's 6th novel, THE BOY WITH THE STAR TATTOO, was released in February 2024 by HarperCollins. It is an epic historical novel weaving two yet-untold events set in France, the first set in 1946 in the aftermath of the Holocaust, when agents from Eretz Israel roamed the European countryside to rescue hidden Jewish orphans (Youth Aliyah). The second is set in 1969, about the daring escape of the boats of Cherbourg, in Normandy, which were commissioned and paid for by Israel but whose delivery was blocked by a French arms embargo.
Sharon, the assistant to an Israeli naval officer stationed Cherbourg, is set to unravel the mystery of his journey from a French village to Israel. She is unprepared for the moral dilemma she will face upon solving the mystery.
Talia Carner's addictions include chocolate and social justice.
The author keynoted over 650 in-person events, in addition to 350 Zoom presentations during the two years of the pandemic. Please check www.TaliaCarner.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 709 reviews
November 9, 2019
Since I don’t read much nonfiction, one of the things that draws me to historical fiction is that I can learn about events of the past that I would never have known about. In the author’s note at the beginning, she says ,”This novel is inspired by real events, a buried shameful chapter in history that has been rarely explored in English language fiction. It is the tragic story of over 150,000 women who in the late nineteenth and twentieth century were deceived and lured from Eastern Europe into prostitution in South America.” The story of these women is depicted with the focus on the fictional character Batya, who is lured into sex slavery in Buenos Aires. Her story and those of the other young Jewish girls she comes to know as sisters, is heartbreaking, and gut wrenching. Talia Carner paints this vivid and lurid picture of the lives these young girls are subjected to. Some of the scenes are difficult to read.
It’s 1889 Russia and Batya and her family are in the middle of a pogram, forcing them from there home with meager belongings, their Jewish faith and each other. At 14, she is sent away by her family with a man, they believed was honorable, who would marry her when she turned 16 and help the family find a way to America. They could not have been more mistaken. She’s sent to America, South America and this begins the depiction of a horrific piece of Jewish history that I was not aware of. It takes the young and naive Batya a while to realize what has happened to her and that the man is not going to do what he promised her parents. She does what she has to do to survive, saving the small amount of money they give her and jewelry from the men who frequent the brothel, in hopes of saving enough to send for her family. The women are not allowed in the synagogue or even in the Jewish cemetery and are called dirty and shunned by the wives of the women whose Jewish husbands frequent the brothels. But as time goes on, she finds that it is near impossible to escape this fate, until she meets a man who wants her to help expose the vile men who are holding these women as sex slaves, as hostages. Batya becomes strong and is determined in her mission to save her family. This was worthwhile to read providing a wonderful character, a captivating story and a piece of history I knew nothing about. Kudos to Talia Carner for telling the story of these women who were horribly victimized.
I received an advanced copy of this book from William Morrow/HarperCollins through Edelweiss .
January 8, 2020
I’m always a sucker for historical fiction especially when discovering events I was totally unaware of.
In the late 1800’s, Jews were exiled from Russia. Salvation for many was thought to be in South America. However, many young girls and women, were forced into prostitution in Buenos Aires, Argentina as a means of survival.
This is one girl’s story - Batya - and although a work fiction, it echos some horrific truths.
4.25⭐️
In the late 1800’s, Jews were exiled from Russia. Salvation for many was thought to be in South America. However, many young girls and women, were forced into prostitution in Buenos Aires, Argentina as a means of survival.
This is one girl’s story - Batya - and although a work fiction, it echos some horrific truths.
4.25⭐️
September 14, 2019
Talia Carner has written a raw, heartbreaking, disturbing, and important story. One of the things I like most about historical fiction is it is an engaging and entertaining way to learn about our past. This book spotlights a part of history I was not previously aware of. Thousands of eastern European women at the turn of the 20th century being tricked into moving to South America where they will work as prostitutes anti-Semitism was prevalent in Eastern Europe and these young girls and their families were hopeful for a better life in the Americas. There is no way to paint this desolate situation in a good light, but this book handled it with a loving and gentle hand. This book was not always easy to read, but I believe it is so necessary because human trafficking is still going on. And these girl’s deserve to have their stories told.
Batya and her family are living a life of poverty in Russia. When a stranger approaches offering Batya a Life of riches filled with big mansions and society events The family feels as though this could be their way out. The only thing is that young Batya will move to Argentina on her own and in a couple years at the age of 16 she will marry this man. When Batya arrives in Argentina she realizes all the promises were falls and she finds herself in a life full of beatings, rape, and prostitution. Batya was such a sympathetic character my heart could not help but break for her. She was so strong, so determined, and so angry. I loved the bond she found with the other girls in the house and I admired how she never lost her desire to reunite with her family. She was also extremely resourceful eventually finding love and even becoming a well-known tango dancer. This was such an important story about a determined girl and her relentless fight for a better life.
This book in three emojis: 🌎 💃🏼 💪🏻
Batya and her family are living a life of poverty in Russia. When a stranger approaches offering Batya a Life of riches filled with big mansions and society events The family feels as though this could be their way out. The only thing is that young Batya will move to Argentina on her own and in a couple years at the age of 16 she will marry this man. When Batya arrives in Argentina she realizes all the promises were falls and she finds herself in a life full of beatings, rape, and prostitution. Batya was such a sympathetic character my heart could not help but break for her. She was so strong, so determined, and so angry. I loved the bond she found with the other girls in the house and I admired how she never lost her desire to reunite with her family. She was also extremely resourceful eventually finding love and even becoming a well-known tango dancer. This was such an important story about a determined girl and her relentless fight for a better life.
This book in three emojis: 🌎 💃🏼 💪🏻
May 3, 2022
Harrowing, upsetting, heartbreaking, touching, enlightening and ultimately inspirational...the story of an innocent wide eyed caring beautiful Jewish 14 year old girl Batya . who from a family escaping poverty, persecutions and pogroms in late 19th century Russia, is ''married '' to seemingly respectable wealthy Jewish gentleman who she an her family are assured will take care of her and give her a better life in America, Instead Batya is trapped, and sold into sexual slavery, beaten, raped again and gain tortured caged kept in filth she is broken into slavery on a boat to Buenos Aires ,Argentina and soon realized that she has no choice but to accept a life of prostitution and the hell it entails. She has been a victim of the evil Moskowitz and the diabolical sexual slavery network Zwi Migdal. But these are not the only people in this narrative to show unspeakable cruelty. I felt a cold rage reading of how the Rabbis in Buenos Aires would not help these Jewish unfortunate suffering girls in any way seeing them as polluted 'tmei'' , though one or two were happy to avail themselves of these unfortunate girls services.
And I was sickened by how Batya aged only 15 was driven away from the synagogue by heartless 'virtuous ', 'respectable '' women of the Buenos Aires Jewish community, juts for craving a little spiritual comfort. She realizes she was chased by Cossacks in the pogroms, and now those persecuting her in the same way are her own people. Ultimately 'respectable'' society has always been cruel and heartless to women and girls caught up in prostitution , and as a result many who may have escaped and built a life were not able to do so and so died young as 'prostitutes''.
200 000 Jewish women and girls were trafficked by a Jewish pimps network and forced into prostitution or death. Batya sees a happy ending, the vast majority of women and girls who went through what she went through never did.
The author dedicates this book to the millions of women and girls trapped in sexual slavery. Nothing has changed but hopefully this book will create awareness and maybe a little compassion.
And I was sickened by how Batya aged only 15 was driven away from the synagogue by heartless 'virtuous ', 'respectable '' women of the Buenos Aires Jewish community, juts for craving a little spiritual comfort. She realizes she was chased by Cossacks in the pogroms, and now those persecuting her in the same way are her own people. Ultimately 'respectable'' society has always been cruel and heartless to women and girls caught up in prostitution , and as a result many who may have escaped and built a life were not able to do so and so died young as 'prostitutes''.
200 000 Jewish women and girls were trafficked by a Jewish pimps network and forced into prostitution or death. Batya sees a happy ending, the vast majority of women and girls who went through what she went through never did.
The author dedicates this book to the millions of women and girls trapped in sexual slavery. Nothing has changed but hopefully this book will create awareness and maybe a little compassion.
October 22, 2020
I was drawn in to the story, The Third Daughter by Talia Carner, and was fortunate enough to attend a book group discussion with the author present. The book explores a dark time in history for the Jews and it was wonderful to learn about it through the novel as well as from Talia Carner’s stories during our book talk.
This historical fiction novel takes place in the late 1800s and early 1900s where young teenaged Batya and her family are living in Russia. In order to escape poverty and with the hope of settling in the United States, Batya’s father married her off to Yitzik Moskowitz, a seemingly respectable, wealthy Jewish man visiting the Ukraine. He agreed to wait two years to marry young Batya, but insisted she travel with him for the time being. Once she turned 16, they would marry and settle in the United States, then they would bring over the rest of Batya’s family, to escape the progroms and anti-semitism in Russia, and be all together again. But sadly, this did not happen and Moskowitz was not who he appeared to be.
In The Third Daughter, Moskowitz abandons her, and Young Batya is shipped out all alone. Cruelly abused and violated on a trip across the Atlantic, she arrives in emotional and physical distress and is forced to work in a brothel in Argentina. At 14 years old she is caught up in legal prostitution and sexual slavery run by a Jewish criminal group called Zwi Migdal. The Third Daughter is the story of Batya’s enslavement and how she and the other young girls at the brothel survive. With little control over how she is physically treated by the men who visit the brothel, Batya is happy to be selected to dance the Tango with one of the johns, allowing her to reclaim her body during the time she is dancing. All the young prostitutes suffered greatly and lost dignity in life, yet they were able to create a prostitute cemetery which gave them strength and hope, knowing they could ensure their purity in death. With the ongoing dream of bringing her family to safety, Batya is faced with the dangerous opportunity to help bring down the prostitution network. This fictional story of Batya was heartbreaking, showing the strength of young girls trapped in this unwanted lifestyle and eye opening regarding Jewish organized crime at the turn of the century.
A Little Background
In 1995, author Talia Carner attended an International Women’s Conference in Beijing where she learned about horrible acts against women. This is where the seed for her story was planted and she struggled with exposing a dark part of Jewish history, but the personal need to write about it never dissipated and The Third Daughter was published in 2019.
The Jewish organized crime group, Zwi Migdal operated in Buenos Aires for 70 years, luring young girls into legal prostitution with false promised of jobs, careers and better lives. There were over 1000 members and in the 1920s, 400+ pimps controlled 2000 brothels and 4000 women. The inhumane group run by Jews also supported Yiddish theater and donated money to build Jewish synagogues. (Corrupt people and businesses often are philanthropic as well.) Ultimately, Zwi Migdal was brought down by the Brazilian Jewish community.
Talia Carner is a wonderful speaker and often shares her knowledge at book groups and public events. I highly recommend reading her book and finding the opportunity to learn from her. Visit Talia Carner’s website for more information about The Third Daughter, her other novels and sex trafficking. Follow booknationbyjen.com for all reviews.
This historical fiction novel takes place in the late 1800s and early 1900s where young teenaged Batya and her family are living in Russia. In order to escape poverty and with the hope of settling in the United States, Batya’s father married her off to Yitzik Moskowitz, a seemingly respectable, wealthy Jewish man visiting the Ukraine. He agreed to wait two years to marry young Batya, but insisted she travel with him for the time being. Once she turned 16, they would marry and settle in the United States, then they would bring over the rest of Batya’s family, to escape the progroms and anti-semitism in Russia, and be all together again. But sadly, this did not happen and Moskowitz was not who he appeared to be.
In The Third Daughter, Moskowitz abandons her, and Young Batya is shipped out all alone. Cruelly abused and violated on a trip across the Atlantic, she arrives in emotional and physical distress and is forced to work in a brothel in Argentina. At 14 years old she is caught up in legal prostitution and sexual slavery run by a Jewish criminal group called Zwi Migdal. The Third Daughter is the story of Batya’s enslavement and how she and the other young girls at the brothel survive. With little control over how she is physically treated by the men who visit the brothel, Batya is happy to be selected to dance the Tango with one of the johns, allowing her to reclaim her body during the time she is dancing. All the young prostitutes suffered greatly and lost dignity in life, yet they were able to create a prostitute cemetery which gave them strength and hope, knowing they could ensure their purity in death. With the ongoing dream of bringing her family to safety, Batya is faced with the dangerous opportunity to help bring down the prostitution network. This fictional story of Batya was heartbreaking, showing the strength of young girls trapped in this unwanted lifestyle and eye opening regarding Jewish organized crime at the turn of the century.
A Little Background
In 1995, author Talia Carner attended an International Women’s Conference in Beijing where she learned about horrible acts against women. This is where the seed for her story was planted and she struggled with exposing a dark part of Jewish history, but the personal need to write about it never dissipated and The Third Daughter was published in 2019.
The Jewish organized crime group, Zwi Migdal operated in Buenos Aires for 70 years, luring young girls into legal prostitution with false promised of jobs, careers and better lives. There were over 1000 members and in the 1920s, 400+ pimps controlled 2000 brothels and 4000 women. The inhumane group run by Jews also supported Yiddish theater and donated money to build Jewish synagogues. (Corrupt people and businesses often are philanthropic as well.) Ultimately, Zwi Migdal was brought down by the Brazilian Jewish community.
Talia Carner is a wonderful speaker and often shares her knowledge at book groups and public events. I highly recommend reading her book and finding the opportunity to learn from her. Visit Talia Carner’s website for more information about The Third Daughter, her other novels and sex trafficking. Follow booknationbyjen.com for all reviews.
Read
October 17, 2022A note to book clubs:
I am sure that you'll have a lively, thought-provoking discussion. For discussion topics, please check my website www.TaliaCarner.com for several Q&A and interviews. For additional questions, please write to me at: AuthorTalia@aol.com .
I was honored beyond words with The Jewish Book Council named THE THIRD DAUGHTER finalist in the Book Club category. Indeed, there is no greater pleasure for an author than to share her work and passions with appreciative readers. However, as of summer 2022, I must focus on my next novel, "The Boy With The Star Tattoo". I accept an occasional community presentation in-person and via Zoom, but my limited time can no longer accommodate smaller book club--even though I appreciate them enormously!
Upon request, I will continue an occasional webinar about the novel and /or a lecture about sex trafficking. You may check the dates on the Book Tour section of my website, www.TaliaCarner.com
Also, please subscribe to my newsletter for updates at AuthorTalia@aol.com .
Thank you so much for helping propel THE THIRD DAUGHTER to a best-selling status--and for the many conversations that it has generated.
Talia
I am sure that you'll have a lively, thought-provoking discussion. For discussion topics, please check my website www.TaliaCarner.com for several Q&A and interviews. For additional questions, please write to me at: AuthorTalia@aol.com .
I was honored beyond words with The Jewish Book Council named THE THIRD DAUGHTER finalist in the Book Club category. Indeed, there is no greater pleasure for an author than to share her work and passions with appreciative readers. However, as of summer 2022, I must focus on my next novel, "The Boy With The Star Tattoo". I accept an occasional community presentation in-person and via Zoom, but my limited time can no longer accommodate smaller book club--even though I appreciate them enormously!
Upon request, I will continue an occasional webinar about the novel and /or a lecture about sex trafficking. You may check the dates on the Book Tour section of my website, www.TaliaCarner.com
Also, please subscribe to my newsletter for updates at AuthorTalia@aol.com .
Thank you so much for helping propel THE THIRD DAUGHTER to a best-selling status--and for the many conversations that it has generated.
Talia
August 22, 2019
This historical fiction is based on a near century long practice of a legalized union of pimps in Buenos Aires luring and kidnapping hundreds of thousands of struggling and starving girls and women from Eastern Europe under the false pretenses of marriage or employment in hopes of saving their families back home only to sell them into prostitution.
This was a difficult story to read, a young girl, in desperate circumstances finds herself betrothed to man and whisked away from her family that very night to begin her journey to what they have all been led to believe will be a life of privilege and wealth.
Batya, only 14, quickly learns that she and her family have been lied to and her only goal is to find a way to save her family.
The reader is given a look into brothel life in Buenos Aires and the levels of corruption and contempt.
This is a fast paced read and a sure-fire recommendation for any reader who loves historical fiction.
Thank you to the publisher and to Edelweiss for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
This was a difficult story to read, a young girl, in desperate circumstances finds herself betrothed to man and whisked away from her family that very night to begin her journey to what they have all been led to believe will be a life of privilege and wealth.
Batya, only 14, quickly learns that she and her family have been lied to and her only goal is to find a way to save her family.
The reader is given a look into brothel life in Buenos Aires and the levels of corruption and contempt.
This is a fast paced read and a sure-fire recommendation for any reader who loves historical fiction.
Thank you to the publisher and to Edelweiss for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
September 7, 2019
The Third Daughter is a book all historical fiction fans must read! It's the story of a young Jewish girl at the turn of the century, who at 14 leaves her impoverished family with a fast talking man, who swears to her father that he'll marry her when she turns 16. Her father desperate for his daughter, Batya to have a better life allows this man to take her to Buenos Aires to live and be his high society wife. Although, this fast talking man is no friend or future husband to Batya, he's a trafficker taking young women out of Russia to a life of prostitution and degradation. Once in Buenos Aires Batya realizes he's lied to her and there is no fancy mansion, or life of high society, only the beatings, starvation and captivity of prostitution. With no way to escape and the fear of what would happen if she were to escape with no where to go, she begins accepting her new life and she becomes strong, independent and angry. With no way out and no money she has no choice, but to accept her fate and do what she can to live long enough to hopefully be reunited with her father and sisters in Russia. The "sisters" in the house become her only friends and she begins to learn how to play the "game" and survive. Then one day a stranger walks into the house and chooses Batya to spend time with, he's not like all the other men she realizes and he wants to help her, but she's got to break the rules and even steal from her pimp to receive this help. Can she do this? Is this stranger just another customer or is he different and really wants to help? Can she trust someone after years of not being able to trust anyone in her life? This is a period in history I'd never heard about. Thousands and thousands of young female Russian Jews are being trafficked for their use in the sex trade of South America. These girls are scared, lonely and stuck, they have no way to escape their lives of shame once kidnapped. The suicide rate among them is high. I found the author did an excellent job of describing the conditions and hardships these women lived through. The book does have some graphic rape and abuse scenes, so if you're triggered by such content this may not be the book for you. I feel the author had to be so graphic in order to convey to the reader just how bad these girls had it once kidnapped. The story is unbelievable, but based on true facts, it's heartbreaking, but also a story of survival and strength, and it's beautifully written. I've never read anything by Talia Carner, but after reading this one, I'll definitely search out others by her. She definitely did her research and I feel she's taken a horrible time in history and written a raw, emotional and moving book. I couldn't put the book down and ended up finishing it in less than a day. As disturbing as the story is, at times I feel it's an important story to share. This book will definitely stay with me for a while, this is a part of history we all need to know about, as trafficking is still prevalent in today's world and only with stories like this will we be able to understand the extent of the problem that's been going on for hundreds of years. I highly recommend this one,it will break your heart, yet show the resilience of these young women in a time when society forgot about them! Happy Reading!
September 4, 2019
I learned something I knew nothing about in reading this novel. Set first in Russia in 1889, the story tells of the young Jewish women who were taken, under very false promises, from their families in Russia, and then forced into the sex slave/prostitute role in brothels in South America, in this book, Buenos Aires. Batya is only 14 years old when the seemingly wealthy Moskowitz approached her father about wanting to marry Batya, when she turned 16 or course. Batya's family had been fleeing the czar's pogroms, and were seeking a safe place to settle, often going with little food, and working in humiliating and demeaning ways to try to earn a pittance. They became convinced that Moskowitz offers a way to find a better life for Batya, and possibly for them to follow, once she is settled in Buenos Aires. They agree to send Batya with Moscowitz, with the understanding that they will wait to marry until Batya turns 16; in the meantime she will be under the guardianship of his sister in Buenos Aires. What transpires for Batya afterward is one horror after another.
Several years in Batya's life in Buenos Aires pass, and even with the shame and loneliness that are her constant companions, there are some good things in her life. She lives with a house of other young girls who are in the same circumstances, and forms some close friendships; she has enough food to eat, and pretty dresses to wear; she is kept somewhat safe from the poverty and starvation she sees elsewhere in the city; and she has a few favorites among the men who become her regular customers.
As the author tells Batya's story, she also sheds light on other aspects of life in Buenos Aires during this time, especially among the Jewish community. And in her notes both before and after the book, the author states that over 150,000 young girls from Eastern Europe were forced into prostitution in South America, during the late 19th and early 20th century. She also recounts some of the in-depth research she undertook in writing this book. I am adding this one to my list of favorites for this year.
I want to thank LibraryThing, the author, and William Morrow Publishers for the copy of this book I was given.
Several years in Batya's life in Buenos Aires pass, and even with the shame and loneliness that are her constant companions, there are some good things in her life. She lives with a house of other young girls who are in the same circumstances, and forms some close friendships; she has enough food to eat, and pretty dresses to wear; she is kept somewhat safe from the poverty and starvation she sees elsewhere in the city; and she has a few favorites among the men who become her regular customers.
As the author tells Batya's story, she also sheds light on other aspects of life in Buenos Aires during this time, especially among the Jewish community. And in her notes both before and after the book, the author states that over 150,000 young girls from Eastern Europe were forced into prostitution in South America, during the late 19th and early 20th century. She also recounts some of the in-depth research she undertook in writing this book. I am adding this one to my list of favorites for this year.
I want to thank LibraryThing, the author, and William Morrow Publishers for the copy of this book I was given.
September 7, 2023
After reading this book I have learned to never judge a book by its cover. A friend told me I must read this book and I looked at the cover and thought, not sure. Well I must say she was right. This is a book you will not want to put down. It is a part of history I knew nothing about and I shake my head wondering how this could be possible. It is based on true events that took place in the late 1800's in South America. Jewish men, speaking Yiddish, came to Jewish families in Eastern Europe promising to take their young daughters to a better life in America. In Eastern Europe at the time there were progroms going on and life was horrific. These Jewish men were really pimps and they were kidnapping young girls and taking them to South America for the legal prostitution trade that was going on there. It is estimated that more than 150,000 Jewish women were forced into prostitution, thousands of which committed suicide from being totally broken, being forced to sleep with 70 men a day. The white slave trade went on in South America for 70 years. It amazes me how strong some women can be. Batya was one of those women. What she unselfishly endured in hopes to bring her family out of Europe is incomprehensible. Living a life that was unfathomable, these girls were able to form bonds with each other and even with some of the men. I asked myself at the end of this novel if I would ever be able to trust again. I can't imagine how. I was totally engrossed in this book from the beginning until the end and the very last sentence had me bawling. There is nothing better than a book that has an outstanding ending. I read Jerusalem Maiden many years ago and enjoyed it and am now ready to read more books by Talia Carner.
September 14, 2019
Naive is a word that has never been used to describe me, but this book shocked me.
I thought it was going to be another historical fiction about hard times in Europe but was blown away by the horrors, the degradation, corruption, enslavement of young Jewish girls that actually took place. I never heard about this part of Jewish history, at all! It was sad and difficult to read but well worth it and, most definitely, unforgettable.
I thought it was going to be another historical fiction about hard times in Europe but was blown away by the horrors, the degradation, corruption, enslavement of young Jewish girls that actually took place. I never heard about this part of Jewish history, at all! It was sad and difficult to read but well worth it and, most definitely, unforgettable.
January 28, 2021
I read The Third Daughter because it was a selection of a book club that I am a member of. It has been a few months since I finished the book and I feel that it satisfies what I could call an author's responsibilities to their reader. I don't have the book with me so I can't get too specific, but my recollections are indicators of the strength of the book.
For one thing, the characters are well developed. The protagonist matures from a young innocent child to a worldly prostitute. Her transformation is not an easy one and is well portrayed. Her pimp is more complex than simply being uniformly evil. Other prostitutes are believably damaged as they find themselves in a life that they never knew they were entering. The settings are interestingly described in both the descriptions of the cities of Eastern Europe and the red light district of Buenos Aires. On a personal note, I would be very intrigued to visit Buenos Aires, although that is not a desire that originated through reading this book.
And then there is the plot. What an excellent disciplined chain of events. The settings take us around the world. Without providing a spoiler, I very much enjoyed the end of the book because I didn't see it coming, yet it made sense.
On a negative side, I found the start of the book slow. We spent a lot of time in Poland and I think that chapter could have been done as a flashback or it could have been expanded. Whatever there was a lot of text for very little to be understood. All in all, however, I found this book quite satisfying.
For one thing, the characters are well developed. The protagonist matures from a young innocent child to a worldly prostitute. Her transformation is not an easy one and is well portrayed. Her pimp is more complex than simply being uniformly evil. Other prostitutes are believably damaged as they find themselves in a life that they never knew they were entering. The settings are interestingly described in both the descriptions of the cities of Eastern Europe and the red light district of Buenos Aires. On a personal note, I would be very intrigued to visit Buenos Aires, although that is not a desire that originated through reading this book.
And then there is the plot. What an excellent disciplined chain of events. The settings take us around the world. Without providing a spoiler, I very much enjoyed the end of the book because I didn't see it coming, yet it made sense.
On a negative side, I found the start of the book slow. We spent a lot of time in Poland and I think that chapter could have been done as a flashback or it could have been expanded. Whatever there was a lot of text for very little to be understood. All in all, however, I found this book quite satisfying.
Read
August 7, 2024No rating cause not sure what to give it..maybe I'll update it later.
Hats off to the author for telling a unkown/little known piece of history.
For the most part I was into the book.. It's horrifying 😢 what was going on.
I admired Batya for carrying on with all that was happening to her and trying her best to find a way to bring her family over.
After page 325 I think it was (or sooner, not sure) it lost its appeal for me and I had no motivation to pick up the book.
Full disclosure: I skimmed to see what happened.
I couldn't fully connect to the narrative, it felt impersonal and like I was watching from behind a pane of glass.
Some of the things Batya was going through were horrible but it felt like she took us with her when she would disassociate.
Hats off to the author for telling a unkown/little known piece of history.
For the most part I was into the book.. It's horrifying 😢 what was going on.
I admired Batya for carrying on with all that was happening to her and trying her best to find a way to bring her family over.
After page 325 I think it was (or sooner, not sure) it lost its appeal for me and I had no motivation to pick up the book.
Full disclosure: I skimmed to see what happened.
I couldn't fully connect to the narrative, it felt impersonal and like I was watching from behind a pane of glass.
Some of the things Batya was going through were horrible but it felt like she took us with her when she would disassociate.
March 8, 2022
A very disturbing, unsettling and compelling story that takes place between 1890 and 1910. Based on actual events, that existed for over 70 years. The heroine is a fictional character as are all the other girls and the story takes place after one of the many pogroms that were occuring during this time.
The story is about a specific community but unfortunately the practices still exist today around the world and that is probably one of the most sad aspects of the book. I have been very careful not to divulge any spoilers.
The writer does an excellent job of telling the tale and exposing the horrific practice of sexual slavery.
The story is about a specific community but unfortunately the practices still exist today around the world and that is probably one of the most sad aspects of the book. I have been very careful not to divulge any spoilers.
The writer does an excellent job of telling the tale and exposing the horrific practice of sexual slavery.
January 10, 2020
I bought this book for my sister ( the third daughter). I felt badly listening to it because the third daughter had such a rough life, and then her new name was Esperanza- the name of the 6th daughter in our family. A friend of mine once told me if you can empathize with characters it is a good book. I did indeed empathize with the heroine of the book.
July 26, 2022
This intense and disturbing story is based on true events involving thousands of young Jewish women trafficked into prostitution at the turn of the 20th century. Batya leaves her family and Russian home behind, believing she'll be married to a wealthy respected Jewish leader who will build her a prosperous new life in South America. But instead, she arrives in Buenos Aires where she is sold into a brothel.
April 28, 2024
My apologies to my readers and honest reviewers for giving myself 5 starts. It's a minute response to the anti-Semitic attack announced on me and my books on December 17, 2023 until HarperCollins "deplatforms" this Jewish author, as the call for harassment states. It brought a shower of 1-stars on my books, especially the most recent one, The Boy With The Star Tattoo.
June 21, 2022
stick with it to the end
I almost stopped reading as I felt the author was lifting scenarios from Sholem Aleichem. I pushed further and the world changed with this wonderful novel based on historical events.
I almost stopped reading as I felt the author was lifting scenarios from Sholem Aleichem. I pushed further and the world changed with this wonderful novel based on historical events.
December 16, 2019
There's no way I can finish this book. Chapter after chapter of gratuitous child rape. I am sure it has a purpose, but it's not for me.
January 10, 2020
Extremely well written though difficult at times to read about human trafficking of jewish woman during the turn of the 20th century .
January 10, 2020
I never write reviews, however, I just wanted to recommend this heartbreaking yet captivating story. For all the young women who's story was never told, read this in honor of them.
December 11, 2020
A fascinating little known topic, which in my opinion deserved less “soft porn”descriptions and
deeper investigation into the reality......
deeper investigation into the reality......
April 11, 2021
Amazing wonderful book!
December 21, 2019
I was lucky enough to have met Talia Carner last week at my synagogue where she spoke about the background of this book, and her experiences which led her to write it, and I had my copy autographed. After the talk, which was a bit shocking but ultimately inspiring, I needed to read it right away.
As with the talk, the subject matter of this book was dark and haunting. The first chapters are very reminiscent of Fiddler on the Roof, picking up where the story/play ends off, but it quickly goes in a very different direction. I really had no idea that the trafficking of poor Jewish girls and women to Argentina was a page in the Jewish history book at all, and I cannot believe that more people do not know about or talk about this.
All in all this was a very good read, even though I found parts hard to physically get through because they were so upsetting. Batya had such incredible courage to not only survive through experiences that would have broken pretty much any other woman, but to rise above it all and take risks to protect her family.
As with the talk, the subject matter of this book was dark and haunting. The first chapters are very reminiscent of Fiddler on the Roof, picking up where the story/play ends off, but it quickly goes in a very different direction. I really had no idea that the trafficking of poor Jewish girls and women to Argentina was a page in the Jewish history book at all, and I cannot believe that more people do not know about or talk about this.
All in all this was a very good read, even though I found parts hard to physically get through because they were so upsetting. Batya had such incredible courage to not only survive through experiences that would have broken pretty much any other woman, but to rise above it all and take risks to protect her family.
August 17, 2022
Historical fiction about an unthinkable human tragedy is irreparably marred by persistently lingering on sensual details. In a more subtle storytelling, it would be handled in such a manner as to make the reader feel ashamed and complicit. However, the manner in which this story is told, from the perspective of the victim, offers no such subtlety. It is the apparent intent of the author to make the tale enjoyable and readable by revisiting these titillating details and, frankly, it's just gross.
Also, the last line is stolen from the iconic last line of one of the great 20th century novels, maybe the greatest. This is assuredly not intentional, since there is no viable parallel between the two stories, so I assume that the author and her editors have either not read Ulysses, or they assume their readers haven't read it or wouldn't care. They are much mistaken.
Honestly, this is a trashy novel dressed up in a horrible chapter from history, and one would be far better served to skip straight to a non-fiction version.
Also, the last line is stolen from the iconic last line of one of the great 20th century novels, maybe the greatest. This is assuredly not intentional, since there is no viable parallel between the two stories, so I assume that the author and her editors have either not read Ulysses, or they assume their readers haven't read it or wouldn't care. They are much mistaken.
Honestly, this is a trashy novel dressed up in a horrible chapter from history, and one would be far better served to skip straight to a non-fiction version.
February 24, 2021
I tremendously enjoyed The Third Daughter. The subject matter covers a very little known piece of Jewish and South American history, wrapped up in a compelling story and terrific writing. We read this book for my book club and it allowed for a lot of interesting discussion. My group was lucky enough to have a book discussion with the author, Talia Carner, and we really enjoyed it; she clearly does her research and she is passionate about working to end sex-trafficking -- so much so that her website contains tips for how to spot sex-trafficking and things that we can do to help stop this horrifying crime agains girls and women. I heartily recommend this book and I admire the author's efforts to leverage her megaphone to make a positive impact on the world.
October 19, 2023
This book is absolutely fantastic, this is such a good example of a fiction story bringing to live an almost forgotten but important part of history. I feel for the women who had to undergo such a hard fate and had so little options to escape. It really is a disgrace that this was going on for such a long time. You sometimes hear that the white (female) slave trade never existed and that it was an unfounded hysteria. But this book and the research that went in to it prove that it was true and happened on an extensive scale.
January 3, 2021
An important subject poorly executed. If you know anything about sex trafficking, you will know most of the plot in advance. The storytelling is plodding and predictable, the language pedestrian, the effect both lurid and tedious, which is a terrible shame. While I have no doubt of the author’s sincerity in trying to bring the painful truth to light, this little-known and long-suppressed period in Jewish women’s history deserved a better telling.
August 24, 2021
This is a book for book groups to read and discuss during Adar as we think about Esther. Or anytime. But especially as we prepare for Purim.
Be warned, there is a lot of rape in this book.
To me, none of it felt gratuitous. This is a book about sex slavery.
There is no falling in love with one’s captor or enslaver. No romance.
And the perspective on Palestine and the rebirth of Israel is important, too.
Be warned, there is a lot of rape in this book.
To me, none of it felt gratuitous. This is a book about sex slavery.
There is no falling in love with one’s captor or enslaver. No romance.
And the perspective on Palestine and the rebirth of Israel is important, too.
June 19, 2022
This was an excellent book. It will teach you about a very dark part of Jewish history you may not have known . Then, go to the author’s website to learn more about the topic .She has tons of info there ; I ended up down a rabbit hole of information and I am so appreciative of this author for writing and researching about this topic. If at the end you want even more , there was a Recent podcast episode where Frank Figluzzi interviewed the author and I recommend that as well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 709 reviews