What do you think?
Rate this book
Drawing in the Dust
Scorned for agreeing to help an Arab couple excavate allegedly haunted grounds under their house, archaeologist Page Brookstone finds what may be the tomb of the prophet Jeremiah, as well as the remains of a woman, and intriguing scrolls documenting their relationship.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2009
34 people are currently reading
883 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
July 6, 2017
Three and a half stars.
Archaeologist Page Brookstone has been working for many years at a dig in Megiddo. It has not proved to be as satisfying as she expected, and much of that has to do with the faltering relationship between her and her boss and mentor Norris. When a young Arab couple come with pleas for her to excavate under their house in Anatot, Page is intrigued. More so when they claim the ghosts of two lovers share their home. Could it possibly be true? Or will Page end up making a fool of herself and destroy her reputation as a respected archaeologist?
Page decides to go ahead and makes a discovery that will shock and upset many. She finds the bones of two lovers and scrolls. One scroll she believes is by the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah. Another is by a young woman called Anatiya. It is interesting to see how these discoveries affect not only Page but others.
An interesting and engaging read, I enjoyed this novel. I liked the references to the prophet Jeramiah and the scriptures, but also the fictional inclusion of Anatiya. What I wasn’t as convinced about was the behaviour of Page. She acted more like a giddy teenager at times than a woman of almost forty. Also the modern day love story didn’t really work for me. I’m just not convinced it would be able to survive their huge differences in faith and outlook. It felt contrived, as did some aspects of the ending. However I am still glad I read it and did enjoy it. I particularly liked finding out more about Israel and the process of archaeology. Zoe Klein is also a poet and that shows throughout some of the beautiful writing. This is Zoe Klein’s debut novel and I will be interested to see what she writes next. I’ll be keeping an eye out.
Archaeologist Page Brookstone has been working for many years at a dig in Megiddo. It has not proved to be as satisfying as she expected, and much of that has to do with the faltering relationship between her and her boss and mentor Norris. When a young Arab couple come with pleas for her to excavate under their house in Anatot, Page is intrigued. More so when they claim the ghosts of two lovers share their home. Could it possibly be true? Or will Page end up making a fool of herself and destroy her reputation as a respected archaeologist?
Page decides to go ahead and makes a discovery that will shock and upset many. She finds the bones of two lovers and scrolls. One scroll she believes is by the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah. Another is by a young woman called Anatiya. It is interesting to see how these discoveries affect not only Page but others.
An interesting and engaging read, I enjoyed this novel. I liked the references to the prophet Jeramiah and the scriptures, but also the fictional inclusion of Anatiya. What I wasn’t as convinced about was the behaviour of Page. She acted more like a giddy teenager at times than a woman of almost forty. Also the modern day love story didn’t really work for me. I’m just not convinced it would be able to survive their huge differences in faith and outlook. It felt contrived, as did some aspects of the ending. However I am still glad I read it and did enjoy it. I particularly liked finding out more about Israel and the process of archaeology. Zoe Klein is also a poet and that shows throughout some of the beautiful writing. This is Zoe Klein’s debut novel and I will be interested to see what she writes next. I’ll be keeping an eye out.
July 5, 2009
DRAWING IN THE DUST by Zoë Klein is a magical and fully romantic read. I went into the book figuring that I would find a great story and found something so full of wonder and color that my brain is still swirling with the beauty of it. Much as a fairy tale leaves frosting and pixie dust floating about the head, DRAWING IN THE DUST leaves warmth and happiness surrounding you like a soft blanket fresh out of the dryer. I am absolutely ecstatic to share this review with you today and hope that it encourages you to pick this book up and get lost within the wonder of its pages.
DRAWING IN THE DUST follows the blond, beautiful, intelligent and lost Page as she journeys to discover who she is and what mysteries the world holds. Originally a divinity student in college, she found herself drawn to archaeology and has spent over a decade digging up the remains of past civilizations. She's always cataloging, recording, analyzing; she's searching for something but has no idea what that something is. When Ibrahim and Aisha Barakat show up at her dig, claiming to have ghosts visiting their home, Page is quick to dismiss them as the rest of her colleagues have. Her brain and heart war with each other and soon, despite the pleas of her coworkers, she finds herself on the Barakat's doorstep. What follows is a story woven with mystery, intrigue, suspense, and above all, love.
The discovery of a scroll and coffin in an ancient cistern set the world on fire. The scroll contains the words of a young woman, Anatiya, as she details her life and her love for the prophet Jeremiah. The coffin contains the old bones of Anatiya, locked in a loving embrace in the long-dead arms of Jeremiah. Her story and the obvious love between the pair throw age-old stories up into a whirlwind of chaos. When panic and destruction are becoming a part of everyday life, can the tender love of two long-dead mortals cure the world, or crush it?
I am not exaggerating at all when I say that DRAWING IN THE DUST is breathtakingly beautiful. This is one of the most unique and wonderful love stories that I have read. At the forefront is Page and her desire to find love despite the fact that she constantly pushes it away. As Page's discovery of the ancient scroll continues, we also learn of Anatiya and her undying love for Jeremiah. Klein gives a velvety soft, fluid texture to Anatiya and its practically impossible not to fall in love with the young woman, feeling every joy and heartbreak that she experiences. Anatiya's voice is the voice of love. I don't know how Klein does it, but she creates such a tender and romantic atmosphere that I feel even the most bitter and angry people would find themselves melting over her words.
Normally, a strong female character is what wins a book over for me. In this case I was extra lucky to experience two strong female characters. Both Page and Anatiya play strong leads and bring strong stories to the book even though one character is dead. One would expect that Page, the woman that we actually follow would steal the spotlight from Anatiya. Or perhaps Anatiya would steal it from Page seeing as how it is her scroll that Page discovers and her life that unfolds before us. Instead, Klein brings both characters to the front, showing amazing skill at creating two lead characters that can both stand in the spotlight together without one overshadowing the other.
It is for reasons such as this that DRAWING IN THE DUST is a remarkable book. Klein's ability to bring us down into multiple stories while at the same time keeping utter cohesion is just amazing and adds such a level of depth to the book that enjoyment lasts long after the last page is read. People say it all the time, but in this instance, it could not be more true. Klein's characters really do jump off the page and cavort around you. DRAWING IN THE DUST follows more like a beautiful play, a wonderful moving work of art, than simple black lines on grey paper. It's been a day since I finished DRAWING IN THE DUST and I can still picture scenes from the book vividly in my head. That is the kind of artistry Klein puts forth.
Aside from the wonderful creation of great characters and a fantastic job at creating a compelling plot, Klein seems to be terrific at creating romantic tension. Romance is the key to DRAWING IN THE DUST, at least in my opinion, and romance is the thing that constantly pulls us along. It was very difficult for me not to experience an intense feeling of love while reading this book and I imagine many share my opinion. The story of Anatiya, the woman who dared to love a prophet, brings its own impossible bit of romantic tension. Add in Page, and her constant battle with her own self as she fights to find love and you've created an epic love story - one that is bound to capture hearts for years to come.
DRAWING IN THE DUST follows the blond, beautiful, intelligent and lost Page as she journeys to discover who she is and what mysteries the world holds. Originally a divinity student in college, she found herself drawn to archaeology and has spent over a decade digging up the remains of past civilizations. She's always cataloging, recording, analyzing; she's searching for something but has no idea what that something is. When Ibrahim and Aisha Barakat show up at her dig, claiming to have ghosts visiting their home, Page is quick to dismiss them as the rest of her colleagues have. Her brain and heart war with each other and soon, despite the pleas of her coworkers, she finds herself on the Barakat's doorstep. What follows is a story woven with mystery, intrigue, suspense, and above all, love.
The discovery of a scroll and coffin in an ancient cistern set the world on fire. The scroll contains the words of a young woman, Anatiya, as she details her life and her love for the prophet Jeremiah. The coffin contains the old bones of Anatiya, locked in a loving embrace in the long-dead arms of Jeremiah. Her story and the obvious love between the pair throw age-old stories up into a whirlwind of chaos. When panic and destruction are becoming a part of everyday life, can the tender love of two long-dead mortals cure the world, or crush it?
I am not exaggerating at all when I say that DRAWING IN THE DUST is breathtakingly beautiful. This is one of the most unique and wonderful love stories that I have read. At the forefront is Page and her desire to find love despite the fact that she constantly pushes it away. As Page's discovery of the ancient scroll continues, we also learn of Anatiya and her undying love for Jeremiah. Klein gives a velvety soft, fluid texture to Anatiya and its practically impossible not to fall in love with the young woman, feeling every joy and heartbreak that she experiences. Anatiya's voice is the voice of love. I don't know how Klein does it, but she creates such a tender and romantic atmosphere that I feel even the most bitter and angry people would find themselves melting over her words.
Normally, a strong female character is what wins a book over for me. In this case I was extra lucky to experience two strong female characters. Both Page and Anatiya play strong leads and bring strong stories to the book even though one character is dead. One would expect that Page, the woman that we actually follow would steal the spotlight from Anatiya. Or perhaps Anatiya would steal it from Page seeing as how it is her scroll that Page discovers and her life that unfolds before us. Instead, Klein brings both characters to the front, showing amazing skill at creating two lead characters that can both stand in the spotlight together without one overshadowing the other.
It is for reasons such as this that DRAWING IN THE DUST is a remarkable book. Klein's ability to bring us down into multiple stories while at the same time keeping utter cohesion is just amazing and adds such a level of depth to the book that enjoyment lasts long after the last page is read. People say it all the time, but in this instance, it could not be more true. Klein's characters really do jump off the page and cavort around you. DRAWING IN THE DUST follows more like a beautiful play, a wonderful moving work of art, than simple black lines on grey paper. It's been a day since I finished DRAWING IN THE DUST and I can still picture scenes from the book vividly in my head. That is the kind of artistry Klein puts forth.
Aside from the wonderful creation of great characters and a fantastic job at creating a compelling plot, Klein seems to be terrific at creating romantic tension. Romance is the key to DRAWING IN THE DUST, at least in my opinion, and romance is the thing that constantly pulls us along. It was very difficult for me not to experience an intense feeling of love while reading this book and I imagine many share my opinion. The story of Anatiya, the woman who dared to love a prophet, brings its own impossible bit of romantic tension. Add in Page, and her constant battle with her own self as she fights to find love and you've created an epic love story - one that is bound to capture hearts for years to come.
August 20, 2009
This is an interesting book. Klein is good at writing with a compeltely religious undercurrent without making things too heavy handed. Some people might take this book to be alot more then fiction but in my minds eye as I read it,it was pure fiction to me but very well written fiction I might add. I liked the Love story element to the book but I felt like Page and Mortchia's relationship did not hold the same passion and intrigue as Jermiah and Anitya's at the same time Anitya at times seemed more obsessed with Jerimiah then in love with him. It sometimes borded on unhealthy. My favorite elements of the book centered around the archilogical dig sights and such. I found that very interesting and Klein wrote it so well that at times I felt like I could feel the cold clay and the smell of all the dusty ancient artifacts. That requires talent as a writer to be able to write something that deliciously descriptive. She really transports you to the setting of the book so very well. I've never been to jerusalem but for a second while your reading the book you feel like you have. I liked that alot about this book.
July 4, 2009
Drawing in the Dust is the story of a Page, a woman who spends her days uncovering the past. She is a very talented archaeologist but is somewhat bored with her current situation. She's in Mediggo and searching to figure out life's mysteries. A couple comes to her in need of help. They see love making ghosts in their home. Page is skeptical but intrigued. She makes a visit to their home and feelings overcome her that she thought were buried. She leaves in a hurry but is drawn back to this home and decides to help this couple. Will Page find the meaning of life in the area beneath this couples home or will she just find herself?
Sometimes you need a book that speaks to you. Drawing in the Dust makes you think and feel. When you're looking for a book that will touch your soul, this is the one to pick up. It is a masterpiece! Now go read it:)
Thank you Ayelet from Pocket Books for sending me this book to review.
Sometimes you need a book that speaks to you. Drawing in the Dust makes you think and feel. When you're looking for a book that will touch your soul, this is the one to pick up. It is a masterpiece! Now go read it:)
Thank you Ayelet from Pocket Books for sending me this book to review.
April 10, 2009
This book almost made it to the "Abandoned" list, but I forged ahead. What bumped it from 1 to 2 stars are that the story mostly takes place in Israel and that archeology is one of the themes; so, two interesting subjects. However, the first person narrator, a young 40's going on 15 year old female archeologist, is one of the more annoying characters with whom I've ever spent time, and that, among other things, makes it a tough read. The jacket brags that readers of "The Red Tent" will like this book - well, not really. Read "The Red Tent" instead.
December 11, 2022
Anatiya is in love with Jeremiah the Biblical prophet. He died, of course, long ago. And so did Anatiya, his contemporary. Nevertheless, her love lives on, and there are those in the twenty-first century who can feel it.
Page, an archeologist, has spent years at the dig in Megiddo, a never-ending treasure trove of finds. Told in first person in present tense, we learn that she has problems with tedium and the demands of her boss.
She comes across an Arab couple who insist their house is haunted--and will she dig beneath it? Intending to put them off, she soon finds herself captivated by what lies beneath. Anatiya’s love is restless.
Here is a novel of far-reaching love and the conflict it arouses. Every chapter begins with Anatiya’s poetry, but a more subtle poetry flows through the pages. The description is captivating, whether about the moon, the towns, or the ordinary conversation. It all takes on a magical quality that invites the reader to savor every word. And in the process, we learn the different sides of love and its effect on others.
Page, an archeologist, has spent years at the dig in Megiddo, a never-ending treasure trove of finds. Told in first person in present tense, we learn that she has problems with tedium and the demands of her boss.
She comes across an Arab couple who insist their house is haunted--and will she dig beneath it? Intending to put them off, she soon finds herself captivated by what lies beneath. Anatiya’s love is restless.
Here is a novel of far-reaching love and the conflict it arouses. Every chapter begins with Anatiya’s poetry, but a more subtle poetry flows through the pages. The description is captivating, whether about the moon, the towns, or the ordinary conversation. It all takes on a magical quality that invites the reader to savor every word. And in the process, we learn the different sides of love and its effect on others.
August 29, 2012
I'm a couple years late on getting around to this one: I was reading an ARC version of this book (yes, an advance reader copy, over three years after its release), in which Page goes to an archeological dig in the home of Ibrahim and Naima. But in reading other reviews, it sounds like Naima's name changed to Aisha in the published version. Which makes me wonder if anything else changed. However, I'll forge ahead and assume what I read was much the same as what everyone else read.
Page is a little immature for a nearly 40 year old woman, but I still liked her well enough. She's selfish in a lot of areas, made clear when she's dealing with her friends and with men. She tries to defend herself to her mentor/wannabee romantic interest Norris by saying...but I'm a terrible friend to everyone, not just you, and expects him to forgive her based on that (though clearly Norris has his own issues). Jordana listens to Page cry on the phone over a man while Jordana herself is in labor and her husband is begging her to hang up. I'm not certain we see her grow out of that either, by the end of the book. But there is so much more-interesting stuff going on in the book, I didn't focus too much on that.
Page (and others) had a very articulate dialect, which I tried to justify as speaking very properly to non-native English speakers. But even though very few people would speak like she does, I also overlooked that, because I liked the descriptive, if a bit proper, writing throughout the book.
I thought all the characters were fairly well developed, considering most of them are just minor supporting roles. Mortichai is an odd duck, and jumps from creepy guy to potential love interest a little quickly, although then the friendship/ relationship develops a bit oddly itself and is undefined for a majority of the book.
I know very little of the biblical references, so had to learn about Jeremiah as I went. I liked the scroll of Anatiya... sure it's a bit dramatic, but they mention she would have been young when writing it, and what teenager in love (or in obsession) isn't dramatic. Not sure if that was what the author intended, but that was how I read it.
There were a lot of incredible discoveries and unbelievable events that I was willing to go along with, including all the sneaking, stealing and creating deceptions to bring the scroll the public. But when it came to the very last chapters, it suddenly felt like a cheesy mystery novel....searching out the crime scene based on a hunch/ vision, hiding from the bad guys, putting herself in danger only to be unexpectedly rescued in the nick of time. I could have done without that part. The other part where that feeling invaded the story for me was in the cabin in the woods with Page and Jordana translating the scrolls in hiding.
I enjoyed far more than I disliked in the book, and thought it was brought to life very nicely. I don't go out of my way to read historical fiction, but of those I've read, this one falls into the category of 'historical fiction that I prefer to pretend actually happened', like the Jim Fergus books or the Red Tent. It wasn't quite as strong as those books, or I'd have given it five stars. But it's definately one I'll recommend.
Page is a little immature for a nearly 40 year old woman, but I still liked her well enough. She's selfish in a lot of areas, made clear when she's dealing with her friends and with men. She tries to defend herself to her mentor/wannabee romantic interest Norris by saying...but I'm a terrible friend to everyone, not just you, and expects him to forgive her based on that (though clearly Norris has his own issues). Jordana listens to Page cry on the phone over a man while Jordana herself is in labor and her husband is begging her to hang up. I'm not certain we see her grow out of that either, by the end of the book. But there is so much more-interesting stuff going on in the book, I didn't focus too much on that.
Page (and others) had a very articulate dialect, which I tried to justify as speaking very properly to non-native English speakers. But even though very few people would speak like she does, I also overlooked that, because I liked the descriptive, if a bit proper, writing throughout the book.
I thought all the characters were fairly well developed, considering most of them are just minor supporting roles. Mortichai is an odd duck, and jumps from creepy guy to potential love interest a little quickly, although then the friendship/ relationship develops a bit oddly itself and is undefined for a majority of the book.
I know very little of the biblical references, so had to learn about Jeremiah as I went. I liked the scroll of Anatiya... sure it's a bit dramatic, but they mention she would have been young when writing it, and what teenager in love (or in obsession) isn't dramatic. Not sure if that was what the author intended, but that was how I read it.
There were a lot of incredible discoveries and unbelievable events that I was willing to go along with, including all the sneaking, stealing and creating deceptions to bring the scroll the public. But when it came to the very last chapters, it suddenly felt like a cheesy mystery novel....searching out the crime scene based on a hunch/ vision, hiding from the bad guys, putting herself in danger only to be unexpectedly rescued in the nick of time. I could have done without that part. The other part where that feeling invaded the story for me was in the cabin in the woods with Page and Jordana translating the scrolls in hiding.
I enjoyed far more than I disliked in the book, and thought it was brought to life very nicely. I don't go out of my way to read historical fiction, but of those I've read, this one falls into the category of 'historical fiction that I prefer to pretend actually happened', like the Jim Fergus books or the Red Tent. It wasn't quite as strong as those books, or I'd have given it five stars. But it's definately one I'll recommend.
June 24, 2009
The back-cover blurb is what drew my attention to this book since this is my first read by author Zoe Klein. The story has strong mystical components as well as many references to the story of the Biblical prophet Jeremiah. Readers who are unfamiliar with Jeremiah's story may find it hard going, but I didn't have any problems.
Page is an American archaeologist who has been working in Israel for more than a decade on the excavations at Megiddo. She likes her work, but is realizing a sense of dissatisfaction with her current situation. Her long-time friend/mentor and boss recently made a pretty strong pass at her; her refusal and his inability to accept it have resulted in a very strained working relationship. So Page is ripe for change and when a Palestinian couple approach her on the dig, she listens to their story more closely than she realizes. Her boss scoffs at their claims of a haunted chamber underneath their home at Anatot, but Page cannot seem to forget. When she drops by their home on her day off, she quickly becomes drawn into the thrill of discovery and risks her career and professional reputation when she leaves Megiddo and begins work in Anatot.
Those familiar with the story of Jeremiah will either love or hate this story. Klein fleshes out the prophet far beyond what is known and connects her life with that of a young woman who 'loved' the prophet. The author quotes from a fictional 'Scroll of Anatiya', the story of the young woman from long ago who passionately loved the prophet. Each chapter is headed by a quote and the author admits to having actually written the entire scroll while in school as a parallel to the life of Jeremiah. Biblical purists will no doubt be up in arms and screaming at the extent of poetic license Mrs. Klein uses in her tale.
I found the 'mystery' and archaeological discovery portions of the book quite riveting. But I had to wade through the author's metaphysical meanderings as she psychoanalyzes her lead character during the entire novel. It could just be that I'm shallow--if I want to read a character study, then that's what I look for; if I want to read an archaeological mystery, then that's what I want. I just wish the author had limited herself to one or the other and I would have enjoyed "Drawing in the Dust" much more.
Page is an American archaeologist who has been working in Israel for more than a decade on the excavations at Megiddo. She likes her work, but is realizing a sense of dissatisfaction with her current situation. Her long-time friend/mentor and boss recently made a pretty strong pass at her; her refusal and his inability to accept it have resulted in a very strained working relationship. So Page is ripe for change and when a Palestinian couple approach her on the dig, she listens to their story more closely than she realizes. Her boss scoffs at their claims of a haunted chamber underneath their home at Anatot, but Page cannot seem to forget. When she drops by their home on her day off, she quickly becomes drawn into the thrill of discovery and risks her career and professional reputation when she leaves Megiddo and begins work in Anatot.
Those familiar with the story of Jeremiah will either love or hate this story. Klein fleshes out the prophet far beyond what is known and connects her life with that of a young woman who 'loved' the prophet. The author quotes from a fictional 'Scroll of Anatiya', the story of the young woman from long ago who passionately loved the prophet. Each chapter is headed by a quote and the author admits to having actually written the entire scroll while in school as a parallel to the life of Jeremiah. Biblical purists will no doubt be up in arms and screaming at the extent of poetic license Mrs. Klein uses in her tale.
I found the 'mystery' and archaeological discovery portions of the book quite riveting. But I had to wade through the author's metaphysical meanderings as she psychoanalyzes her lead character during the entire novel. It could just be that I'm shallow--if I want to read a character study, then that's what I look for; if I want to read an archaeological mystery, then that's what I want. I just wish the author had limited herself to one or the other and I would have enjoyed "Drawing in the Dust" much more.
January 31, 2022
As an archaeologist, I had to laugh at some moments in this book (excavating by moonlight?), but it eventually grew on me. As most novels with an archaeological plot line, the focus is more on the mystique of the dig than the tedium of paperwork and analysis. I could relate to the idea of one's mentor being disappointed in choosing a path outside of the expectations they had for their student. I also had a professor that worked at the site of Megiddo featured in the book. But, I've never heard of an archaeologist being able to afford an apartment by Central Park unless they were born into money. Financial mysteries aside, I was enchanted by Klein's Anatiya and the meaningful connections between the characters in the story. I agree with other reviews that our first-person narrator, Page, can be annoying at times, brilliant yet blind to what will bring happiness and meaning to her life. These critiques aside, Klein weaves a poetic story about life and death, grief and joy, that is quite beautiful to read. It's a book about faith, but you don't have to be a follower of any particular religion to relate to its message of love and celebration of life.
May 26, 2010
This was an ok book, but not great. Honestly, I think my problem started because the book cover sounded so fascinating, and so I peeped at the back of the book at the author's acknowledgments before I started reading, and subsequently found out that the author had written the Scrolls of Anatiya (yes, I'm secular enough that I would never have known that) and even though those scrolls wound up becoming a prevalent part of the book, I just felt that it was conceited to then write a whole book about how the scrolls she had written herself were found. I couldn't get over it.
I did like the characters - although some were one dimensional, it felt like the cast of characters that one would come across today in modern Israel. I really like Mor. However the prose was excessively flowery, and unrealistic, and there was frankly too much quoting of bible passes in conversation.
It was a book that did not captivate me, and I could put it down while reading it.
I did like the characters - although some were one dimensional, it felt like the cast of characters that one would come across today in modern Israel. I really like Mor. However the prose was excessively flowery, and unrealistic, and there was frankly too much quoting of bible passes in conversation.
It was a book that did not captivate me, and I could put it down while reading it.
February 10, 2011
I was pleasantly surprised by this book, and loved every minute of reading it. Zoe Klein weaves a beautiful story! The writing itself was incredibly creative and inspiring. The story is fictional, yet I had a hard time not wishing it was true.
The story follows Page, an archaeologist in Israel. She goes against all of the advice from her peers and begins investigating a site that has been ridiculed for it's supposed ghost stories. What follows is an incredible find that leaves the whole world reeling. It's fun and spirited from beginning to end. It reminds you of the fact that the prophets in the Scriptures were real people with lives just as complicated as ours if not more so, just living in a different time.
There are a few odd references and assumptions, but it's then that I just remind myself that it's fiction, so it doesn't really bother me.
I loved it and would read it again!
The story follows Page, an archaeologist in Israel. She goes against all of the advice from her peers and begins investigating a site that has been ridiculed for it's supposed ghost stories. What follows is an incredible find that leaves the whole world reeling. It's fun and spirited from beginning to end. It reminds you of the fact that the prophets in the Scriptures were real people with lives just as complicated as ours if not more so, just living in a different time.
There are a few odd references and assumptions, but it's then that I just remind myself that it's fiction, so it doesn't really bother me.
I loved it and would read it again!
August 1, 2014
Milujem knihy, kde je hlavnou postavou archeológ, alebo archeologička!
Anotácia knihy je trochu zavádzajúca, lebo popisuje len časť príbehu. Spočiatku to vyzeralo len ako práca na odhaľovaní a odkývaní tajomstva v dome, kde vraj straší dvojica milencov. Ale je v tom aj viac mystiky a dejín a áno, aj viery... a hlavne je to príbeh o láske a jej hľadaní a naplnení. Aj keď to bolo len zbežne popísané, napr. byrokracia, či popis postupu vykopávok, o preklade, ale aj všetko o Izraeli a o rozdieloch medzi moslimským a židovským a kresťanským... proste mi to sadlo, bolo to zaujímavé a vôbec nie nudné. Nepátrala som, čo v tom je pravda a čo fikcia (aj tak sa to dozviete v doslove), ale príbeh zanechal vo mne veľmi príjemný dojem. A hlavná hrdinka sa mi ozaj páčila. Myslím, že si túto knihu ešte niekedy prečítam...
Anotácia knihy je trochu zavádzajúca, lebo popisuje len časť príbehu. Spočiatku to vyzeralo len ako práca na odhaľovaní a odkývaní tajomstva v dome, kde vraj straší dvojica milencov. Ale je v tom aj viac mystiky a dejín a áno, aj viery... a hlavne je to príbeh o láske a jej hľadaní a naplnení. Aj keď to bolo len zbežne popísané, napr. byrokracia, či popis postupu vykopávok, o preklade, ale aj všetko o Izraeli a o rozdieloch medzi moslimským a židovským a kresťanským... proste mi to sadlo, bolo to zaujímavé a vôbec nie nudné. Nepátrala som, čo v tom je pravda a čo fikcia (aj tak sa to dozviete v doslove), ale príbeh zanechal vo mne veľmi príjemný dojem. A hlavná hrdinka sa mi ozaj páčila. Myslím, že si túto knihu ešte niekedy prečítam...
June 25, 2013
This was a well-constructed book about Biblical archaeology and love. Certainly two things that are of interest to me. It focused on the prophet Jeremiah, which is one I don't really know much about. Half-way through the book, I did skim through his book in the Bible, but really, Klein gives readers all they need to know in her book. The excellent construction comes from Klein's extensive knowledge of the subjects, and her obvious desire to keep learning about them and sharing them with others. So I liked the Biblical archaeology and I liked the love story. It was a satisfying read, but not soul changing.
February 17, 2012
I reread this for a class on Jeremiah that I am teaching. As before, I found many of the ideas magical and lyrical. While this is a fairy tale on so many levels... (Why can't we all get along?) I did like the idea of bringing Jeremiah to life. I won't ever see the prophet the same way, alhtough I am not sure that he really did find the love of his life, other than his Divine mission. As for so many prophets, home life, in actuality suffers. So this is a nice fantasy, but not a realistic novelization. BTW, I thought Jeremiah died in Egypt. I still don't get how he ended up back in Anatot?
May 28, 2009
I thought the book had a lot of potential. The ghost story being set in Israel is what appealed to me, however the characters were not believable. I felt the main character did not act as a grown woman would- she was a permanent child. The dialogue was a bit pretentious at times, it seemed like Klein was trying too hard. There were a few great one liners, but I wouldn't tell people to waste their time reading this debut.
January 22, 2010
At the solid and good chapters, this book reminded me slightly of the Jewish version of the Da Vinci Code, and at other times, it just seemed plain silly. This book gives insight into the world of biblical excavation in Israel and focus on an American archeologist named Page Brookstone who uncovers murals, artifacts and remains suggestive of the prophet Jeremiah, buried with the woman he loved, Anatiya, who also has left a manuscript that parallels the Book of Jeremiah.
July 13, 2009
A beautiful story set in Israel involving the finding of the Prophet Jeremiah and his fictitious lover/prophetess entombed in an embrace in the basement of an Arab couple. A beautiful story chronicalling,exploring,protecting,promoting and poetically expressing-love which crosses religious,theological,cultural,and political barriers!!
February 11, 2011
I was a little hesitant to read this book, because on the back it says it is like the Red Tent, a book I didn't enjoy.. But I really like this one. I loved the character Page and the way she developed over the course of the book. I enjoyed all the details of Isreal and learning more about that culture. I really liked Zoe's writing style. It is pleasant to read--and I loved the ending.
March 12, 2012
It was okay but a bit preachy in some ways.
September 21, 2019
There is music to this book. An undercurrent of notes that almost disappears at times – and then swells into a flood of emotion and image – a song of words.
“Midnight is the most intimate of instants. The most hollow, superstitious, lost-in-the-woods, something’s-in-the-attic, moments of the day. Twelve is the knifepoint between the day’s deepest darkening and the commencement of its lightening, the kiss between the kingdom of the moon and the kingdom of the sun. It is a razor-breadth’s flash between love and hope.”
Archeologist Page Brookstone has been searching her whole life for something that started to disappear for her one New Year’s Eve at midnight. She searches through dust and bones and texts, looking for…something indefinable. Some answer to a question she is unable to form.
And with a major discovery that comes to her out of a mist – her life changes completely.
She is caught up in a world both completely outside of her own – and one that touches her soul. She is in Israel, where the ancient past and modern day live side by side. Where there is incredible beauty and mystery, and also unimaginable horrors. Where a day may contain prayers, work, joy…and bombings.
“He sits back down and continues talking. “Once I found a little foot. I picked it up delicately. It had a little scrape on the ankle. The scrape was not from the bombing, it was older, from at least a week before. It had scabbed over. This was a perfect little boy’s foot with a perfect little boy scrape on it from running, sliding, and playing tag. I can’t even comprehend the pain that his family went through. All I know is that I mourned for his little foot.”
There is a religious narrative to this book that didn’t touch me as much as it should have – through no fault of its own. I have almost no knowledge of the bible. For those who do, I think there would be a great deal more depth to the words, the discovery. As Page uncovers scrolls and artifacts of the prophet Jeremiah and a woman named Anatiya, she brings a new voice to the world…and only later discovers that it mirrors her own.
“This is the story of a woman, Miss Brookstone. This is not the mention of a woman in the context of a story of a man. This is her own voice, describing her own love. And she lived during one of the most tumultuous times in this region’s history. It’s a perspective entirely missing from our collections.”
From the dust, from a woman’s voice that comes only from words on a scroll, Page realizes much about herself, much about the choices she’s made, and that she has buried herself in the past to avoid choosing a future.
“I think of that devouring clock that I feel I’ve been running from since the night I knew my father was dying. I do feel patience and generosity leaking from my broken heart. Perhaps love will alight on me someday if I remain still like this. Perhaps not.”
Always running from and never running to, the words and life of Anatiya finally break Page out of hiding from herself.
“I think of the thousands of Canaanite tombs I’ve uncovered, and look at the now thousands of stars. They are related, I feel. Each star emanated one of those souls, who inspired a little more love, if only for a day, a couple of days, or years. Then comes grief, which is always the price for loving. But thank God for loving. And the stars keep shining their light to dispel the gloom, orient the troops, chart the wanderers, on and on and on. I marvel at the night.”
The music of the past, of a mute woman’s voice, of a land of dust and tears and blood, of newfound strength weave into this book. Though at times a few of the notes faltered, the crescendo was beautiful.
“The soul of a person is made from stories. Stories that keep telling themselves over countless ages, and when man is no longer listening, they become the lyrics to the music of galaxies.”
“Midnight is the most intimate of instants. The most hollow, superstitious, lost-in-the-woods, something’s-in-the-attic, moments of the day. Twelve is the knifepoint between the day’s deepest darkening and the commencement of its lightening, the kiss between the kingdom of the moon and the kingdom of the sun. It is a razor-breadth’s flash between love and hope.”
Archeologist Page Brookstone has been searching her whole life for something that started to disappear for her one New Year’s Eve at midnight. She searches through dust and bones and texts, looking for…something indefinable. Some answer to a question she is unable to form.
And with a major discovery that comes to her out of a mist – her life changes completely.
She is caught up in a world both completely outside of her own – and one that touches her soul. She is in Israel, where the ancient past and modern day live side by side. Where there is incredible beauty and mystery, and also unimaginable horrors. Where a day may contain prayers, work, joy…and bombings.
“He sits back down and continues talking. “Once I found a little foot. I picked it up delicately. It had a little scrape on the ankle. The scrape was not from the bombing, it was older, from at least a week before. It had scabbed over. This was a perfect little boy’s foot with a perfect little boy scrape on it from running, sliding, and playing tag. I can’t even comprehend the pain that his family went through. All I know is that I mourned for his little foot.”
There is a religious narrative to this book that didn’t touch me as much as it should have – through no fault of its own. I have almost no knowledge of the bible. For those who do, I think there would be a great deal more depth to the words, the discovery. As Page uncovers scrolls and artifacts of the prophet Jeremiah and a woman named Anatiya, she brings a new voice to the world…and only later discovers that it mirrors her own.
“This is the story of a woman, Miss Brookstone. This is not the mention of a woman in the context of a story of a man. This is her own voice, describing her own love. And she lived during one of the most tumultuous times in this region’s history. It’s a perspective entirely missing from our collections.”
From the dust, from a woman’s voice that comes only from words on a scroll, Page realizes much about herself, much about the choices she’s made, and that she has buried herself in the past to avoid choosing a future.
“I think of that devouring clock that I feel I’ve been running from since the night I knew my father was dying. I do feel patience and generosity leaking from my broken heart. Perhaps love will alight on me someday if I remain still like this. Perhaps not.”
Always running from and never running to, the words and life of Anatiya finally break Page out of hiding from herself.
“I think of the thousands of Canaanite tombs I’ve uncovered, and look at the now thousands of stars. They are related, I feel. Each star emanated one of those souls, who inspired a little more love, if only for a day, a couple of days, or years. Then comes grief, which is always the price for loving. But thank God for loving. And the stars keep shining their light to dispel the gloom, orient the troops, chart the wanderers, on and on and on. I marvel at the night.”
The music of the past, of a mute woman’s voice, of a land of dust and tears and blood, of newfound strength weave into this book. Though at times a few of the notes faltered, the crescendo was beautiful.
“The soul of a person is made from stories. Stories that keep telling themselves over countless ages, and when man is no longer listening, they become the lyrics to the music of galaxies.”
May 9, 2024
DNF @ 42%.
I almost got halfway through this book because it flows nicely enough that I didn't want to give up on it, and because I kept waiting for the promised romance between the prophet Jeremiah and his lover Anatiya to see if I liked that plotline more than Page's plotline. But nearly halfway through the book, Anatiya remains undiscovered. Instead, there is endless focus on neurotic, hypersexual Page.
Page Brookstone is a beautiful (so we are repeatedly told) American archaeologist a decade or so into a prestigious dig in Israel with her mentor. The beginning of the book focuses on how Page is dissatisfied with her current archaeological career and enduring her mentor behaving like a spiteful child after she rebuffed his unwanted sexual advances. She is also still grieving the death of her father, who committed suicide after living with ALS, which Page may have also inherited.
Eventually, a Palestinian couple arrives at the dig to beg for an archaeologist to excavate their home. They believe their house is haunted by spirits which need professional archaeologists to uncover. I honestly didn't quite follow this (I only had the audiobook and my aural comprehension is far below my written comprehension). Why has this not been dealt with in the 2,000+ years since Jeremiah and Anatiyah were buried? Why did they need professionals to excavate their house (people have been doing amateur digging since forever, and archaeology has only been a profession for like a century - why do these ghosts need a professional again?!?!)? Why do they think digging up their house will make the ghosts go away?!?
Anyway, Page does decide to excavate despite her mentor's scoffing and of course finds a landmark discovery. She will eventually figure out this is where the Biblical prophet Jeremiah and his lover Anatiyah were buried (who are presumably the spirits), but that didn't happen before I gave up.
Page is a very strange character. I think this book is going for a sensual and mystical vibe in the narrative but Page comes across as an odd duck with a one-track mind. When she has a bonding moment with another woman she feels like a sister-wife smiling over their shared husband (?!?!); she compares her new dig crew as feeling like a harem (!?!?!); she talks about "fillies and stallions" (young women and men) filling the clubs in Jerusalem; she personifies Israel as a sensual woman.
Page isn't the only one. The spirits infect everyone in the house with lust (Page's sexual preoccupation predates the ghosts, so she can't blame them), which leads to two of the young archaeologists on the dig having sex in their host's kitchen (!) and the guy pours the host's olive oil on the lady as foreplay (!!); and then they don't even clean the oil up (!!!). Apparently the spirits make people inconsiderate and selfish as well as horny!
Page finally has a focus for her lust when she meets an Orthodox Jew named Mortichai and falls in instalove. An Orthodox Jewish love interest is like a fundamentalist Christian love interest, which to put it kindly is an odd choice...Mortichai believes it's sinful for men and women to even touch.
I finally gave up the book when Page and Mortichai cutesily give a burial for Page's fingernail (?!?!) after Page shares a story that she once freaked out as a child after being forced to cut off a fingernail with a calcium deposit because she had become so attached to that fingernail (!?!?!?). Having two characters flirt over a piece of fingernail is just too much on top of everything else.
I almost got halfway through this book because it flows nicely enough that I didn't want to give up on it, and because I kept waiting for the promised romance between the prophet Jeremiah and his lover Anatiya to see if I liked that plotline more than Page's plotline. But nearly halfway through the book, Anatiya remains undiscovered. Instead, there is endless focus on neurotic, hypersexual Page.
Page Brookstone is a beautiful (so we are repeatedly told) American archaeologist a decade or so into a prestigious dig in Israel with her mentor. The beginning of the book focuses on how Page is dissatisfied with her current archaeological career and enduring her mentor behaving like a spiteful child after she rebuffed his unwanted sexual advances. She is also still grieving the death of her father, who committed suicide after living with ALS, which Page may have also inherited.
Eventually, a Palestinian couple arrives at the dig to beg for an archaeologist to excavate their home. They believe their house is haunted by spirits which need professional archaeologists to uncover. I honestly didn't quite follow this (I only had the audiobook and my aural comprehension is far below my written comprehension). Why has this not been dealt with in the 2,000+ years since Jeremiah and Anatiyah were buried? Why did they need professionals to excavate their house (people have been doing amateur digging since forever, and archaeology has only been a profession for like a century - why do these ghosts need a professional again?!?!)? Why do they think digging up their house will make the ghosts go away?!?
Anyway, Page does decide to excavate despite her mentor's scoffing and of course finds a landmark discovery. She will eventually figure out this is where the Biblical prophet Jeremiah and his lover Anatiyah were buried (who are presumably the spirits), but that didn't happen before I gave up.
Page is a very strange character. I think this book is going for a sensual and mystical vibe in the narrative but Page comes across as an odd duck with a one-track mind. When she has a bonding moment with another woman she feels like a sister-wife smiling over their shared husband (?!?!); she compares her new dig crew as feeling like a harem (!?!?!); she talks about "fillies and stallions" (young women and men) filling the clubs in Jerusalem; she personifies Israel as a sensual woman.
Page isn't the only one. The spirits infect everyone in the house with lust (Page's sexual preoccupation predates the ghosts, so she can't blame them), which leads to two of the young archaeologists on the dig having sex in their host's kitchen (!) and the guy pours the host's olive oil on the lady as foreplay (!!); and then they don't even clean the oil up (!!!). Apparently the spirits make people inconsiderate and selfish as well as horny!
Page finally has a focus for her lust when she meets an Orthodox Jew named Mortichai and falls in instalove. An Orthodox Jewish love interest is like a fundamentalist Christian love interest, which to put it kindly is an odd choice...Mortichai believes it's sinful for men and women to even touch.
I finally gave up the book when Page and Mortichai cutesily give a burial for Page's fingernail (?!?!) after Page shares a story that she once freaked out as a child after being forced to cut off a fingernail with a calcium deposit because she had become so attached to that fingernail (!?!?!?). Having two characters flirt over a piece of fingernail is just too much on top of everything else.
December 31, 2023
Anatiya is in love with Jeremiah the Biblical prophet. He died, of course, long ago. And so did Anatiya, his contemporary. Nevertheless, her love lives on, and there are those in the twenty-first century who can feel it.
Page, an archeologist, has spent years at the dig in Megiddo, a never-ending treasure trove of finds. Told in first person in present tense, we learn that she has problems with tedium and the demands of her boss.
She comes across an Arab couple who insist their house is haunted--and will she dig beneath it? Intending to put them off, she soon finds herself captivated by what lies beneath. Anatiya’s love is restless.
Here is a novel of far-reaching love and the conflict it arouses. Every chapter begins with Anatiya’s poetry, but a more subtle poetry flows through the pages. The description is captivating, whether about the moon, the towns, or the ordinary conversation. It all takes on a magical quality that invites the reader to savor every word. And in the process, we learn the different sides of love and its effect on others.
Page, an archeologist, has spent years at the dig in Megiddo, a never-ending treasure trove of finds. Told in first person in present tense, we learn that she has problems with tedium and the demands of her boss.
She comes across an Arab couple who insist their house is haunted--and will she dig beneath it? Intending to put them off, she soon finds herself captivated by what lies beneath. Anatiya’s love is restless.
Here is a novel of far-reaching love and the conflict it arouses. Every chapter begins with Anatiya’s poetry, but a more subtle poetry flows through the pages. The description is captivating, whether about the moon, the towns, or the ordinary conversation. It all takes on a magical quality that invites the reader to savor every word. And in the process, we learn the different sides of love and its effect on others.
June 27, 2017
I really wanted to like this book. It's been on my shelf forever and I decided to read it as a break from other reading I've been doing. It started off with a great setting and writing. The characters felt one-dimensional and grew tiresome quickly. I struggled to finish this book because it felt unfocused and cheap. What kept me going were some really great insights and the underlying philosophy that came through in a beautiful way in places. I was also disappointed because I felt like the author was trying to write strong women, but fell alarmingly short of that goal. I also feel the need to TW the protagonist's relationship with Itai, particularly with her in her sleep. I think it was meant to be romantic, but I found myself very disturbed by the whole thing and only kept reading in hopes that it would be resolved or acknowledged as inappropriate somehow...which it wasn't. The few good moments this book had were not worth trudging through the rest of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2018
I love to read by night and do audios in the day, this book started out interesting, Israel, artifacts, archaeology, shop talk, then I switched to audio... in comes romance... when reading you can skip what irritates you, but with ear phones on, phone buried deep in my pockets and garden gloves up to my elbows, skipping the annoying parts ain't easy! I hate romance chatter, ESPECIALLY by this main character, she is supposed to be 40, she sounded like an annoying teenager. I tried to grit my teeth hoping it was a minor comment, but after potting a dozen bare root roses it persisted. After checking out goodreads I see I am not alone in my summation, so much so that I officially quit, human or ghosts, romance is not my genre, I wanted something meaty to lock in and enjoy, this book is not for me, dnf, quit at 40%.
December 15, 2019
I did not like this book. While it was enlightening to read about the world of archaeologists in modern day Israel, the writing was overwrought and written as a romance novel with many dream sequences and a small 'c' christian point of view. The idea that the Arab couple would see ghosts and find ruins under their house and welcome her to excavate under their living room just seems far fetched and silly. The most believable and interesting part was the politics which ensued once her discoveries were made, implicating the archaeology business in the Jewish state. Sexual harassment in this setting was probably the most realistic fact, though it was clearly a romance written for a feminist audience. The main character and her love affair with the Haredi man was not believable.
March 29, 2019
This was a very interesting book. It follows a renowned archeologist as she leaves a major site to dig below the home of an Arab couple. She is scorned for chasing “ghosts” but ends up uncovering a beautiful painted cistern and a scroll written by a female scribe dating back over 2000 years. The scroll is a love story, the love being one of the ancient prophets. It is paralleled by a love story in the present. Although all fictional it gives a look into the lives/beliefs of Arabs, Orthodox Jews and Christians all overlapping in modern day Israel. It is a well written story blending old and new, religious and secular. It also gave me a strong desire to travel to Israel.
April 25, 2020
I come back to this book often, as it is always a pleasure to read. It is a beautifully written mystery with elements of spirituality, history, and romance intertwined with fantasy/ the metaphysical; It sucked me in so deeply the first time I read it, I found myself missing the characters and the story itself once I was done! The use of language is so so beautiful, the story told with imagery and emotional expression that lingers long after it is read. One is given the chance to feel a sense of wonder, curiosity, worry, and awe. It was a beautiful world to get lost in, and is by far one of the best books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
May 31, 2024
I have to sit with this for a while. The book was a journey. Rabbi Zoe Klein is an author of exquisite stories. I want to read more and to know more.
An excerpt -
"I remember . . . But it is as if I have two simultaneous memories -- one possible and one impossible. (...) And I remember the incorrect memory as vividly as the correct one. (...) A true memory and a false memory. (...) Memory is always twofold . . . There is what happened and then there is the story we tell ourselves about what happened. Everyone does that. You're not crazy. . . . I remember . . . The memory is still crisp and real."
This novel will stick with me as a favorite.
An excerpt -
"I remember . . . But it is as if I have two simultaneous memories -- one possible and one impossible. (...) And I remember the incorrect memory as vividly as the correct one. (...) A true memory and a false memory. (...) Memory is always twofold . . . There is what happened and then there is the story we tell ourselves about what happened. Everyone does that. You're not crazy. . . . I remember . . . The memory is still crisp and real."
This novel will stick with me as a favorite.
November 13, 2023
This very, very bizarre book written by a Jewish Rabbi imagines that the prophet Jeremiah had a lover. The writer includes pages and pages of poetry, supposedly written by a mute admirer of the prophet. An archaeologist, herself unable to find love, unearths the bones of the prophet intertwined with his over, as well as her book of love-poetry. The book seemed far more like fantasy fiction than historical fiction, although it did give insights into the conflicts between the Arabs and the Jews, particularly concerning the prophet they both claim.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews