THE BOOKS OF RACHEL

by Joel Gross

The Books of Rachel is a fictional microcosm of 500 years of Jewish history. Since the 15th century, in the Cuheno family, the first daughter born to the family is given the name Rachel and a heritage of faith and courage as precious as the family diamond. A saga sweeping from the Spanish Inquisition to the birth of a Jewish homeland.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Religion, Short Stories, Jewish, Romance, Historical

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Joel's ten published novels include THE BOOKS OF RACHEL. His play, MARIE ANTOINETTE: THE COLOR OF FLESH, is published by Dramatists Play Service. His film script, MORTAL ARMOR: THE LEGEND OF GALAHAD, produced by Gale Anne Hurd, will be filmed in the UK next year. Joel has worked on films for Fox, Universal, Sony, and HBO. Joel has an M.A. in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University, and is a member of P.E.N., the Dramatists Guild, the Writers Guild, and the Authors Guild.

Reviews

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a big book and I left it for awhile but then came back to it. It is permanently on my book shelves and I found it most interesting and and a fascinating book to read.

[Rhapsodyblue00 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually read it on my Kindle -- this is the second time for me. I Read it years ago, when I was a young mother. It was startleingly (is that a word?) powerful then, but I had no idea how much I had changed. This is a beautiful, yet chillingly sad story. I find generational novels quite enriching. Following a family for 500 years, and its many branches from the Spanish Inquisition to the perils of the Holocaust of WWII and culminating in the early 1970's, the "Rachels" in this story were vastly diverse and each brought a new and different aspect of humanity to the story.

Despite the fact most of us do not have a "diamond" which is passed down from generation to generation, this is not just a Jewish story, but a story of all humankind. Everyone ever born has a family history, and without exception, the stories of those who have come before us are told and retold generation after generation. Though graphic in many places, it is not distasteful, life is fraught with challenges.

It is with the greatest regard that I look back on the many sad and uplifiting stories in my own background. Some equally sad and spectacularly beautiful. Thank you Mr. Gross for reminding me of these special people, and how my own life has been enriched by their lives -- and how I too have been enriched by your Rachels!

[Jenny Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It’s the story of a Jewish family of diamond merchants, ranging all over the world, from the 15th century to the 20th. It centers on a particular white diamond, always owned by a woman named Rachel. When one Rachel dies, the next girl born in the family is named Rachel and given the diamond. Every Rachel deals with the same questions of Jewish identity, assimilation and persecution, although they do it in very different settings. Every story stands beautifully on its own, and together they are particularly compelling.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot goes through a family's history for several hundred years. Just when you really get into one person's story, it jumps a generation or two. It was easy to get engrossed into the next generation because they explained the relation to the previous generation. Interesting to read the history from the time of early Jews to the Spanish Inquisition to modern times.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating story of a Jewish family that flourishes and prospers over 500 years despite the forces of persecution and assimilation.

The novel follows the Cuheno family, dealers in precious stones, and their heirloom, a magnificent sixty-carat diamond that is passed down through the male line to one daughter in each generation who is given the name Rachel. The brief wraparound segments concern Rachel Kane, who is presented with the gem, in accordance with family tradition, on her wedding day. As she touches the diamond, she is granted a vision of each of the previous Rachels who possessed it. Some Rachels lived happily, some did not; but each was called upon to risk everything for love, for honor, for family.

What I found most appealing about The Books of Rachel is the idea of tradition and continuity along a family line. The real treasure the Cuheno family possesses is not wealth or jewels, but Judaism, which manifests itself differently for each Rachel and for each era of history.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is so much to say about this one. It was the content and history that effected me not the writting which I found kind of cheap and cliched. This is my second time reading this book and I am so glad that I got to do this with our book club. Discussing this with other women was really enlightening and it brought up some worthwhile discussions and questions. The one thought/question that kept coming back to me is what would I do if I was in their place? How would I have known what the right actions was? The first chapters were gut wrenching and although I was glad to be done and move on it was important for me to share this experience with the first Rachel( I know that sounds funny but I don't know how else to explain it).

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started out really liking this book and then started to not like it so much and put it down for awhile. Then I picked it up again and finished it and ended up liking it again.

So the deal with me is that I don't like short stories. I get too involved with the characters and want more. This book is really a bunch of short stories just with a common thread that all of the characters are female members of a Jewish family. It follows these women through centuries of religious persecution.

I really enjoyed the history provided in the book and the first few stories but then, after a character that I really enjoyed, I got to a character that I didn't like that much and that's where my interest waned. I'm glad I eventually picked the book back up and finished it though.

[Lisa Mechanick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Each story within was compelling on its own, but woven together were just fascinating. Spanning six centuries of the same family, it really left me wondering about the vastness of my own family. The only reason I gave it four stars and not five was because it felt a little rushed to me at the end. Some of the earlier stories were quite verbose and it almost felt to me like the author realized he was running out of pages and needed to make the latter stories condensed. I was left wanting more!

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept is good. Trace a family diamond through generations of Rachels who owned it and in the process, describe the life of Jews during the various historical time periods. I learned a lot in this book about the restrictions placed on Jews throughout history. Most of the story is set in Europe--and life was very hard for the Jews during the times depicted in these stories. There is graphic violence and scenes of torture that are disturbing but unfortunately, based on historical fact.

[Debi Itow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joel Gross does an excellent job of reminding us of the horrors mankind has committed in the name of rightousness and religous dogma. It is the story of a Jewish family that begins with the Spanish Inquisition and goes through the centuries until the UN formed the state of Israel. While this was written 30 years ago, its message quite relevant today.

[Christoph Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Books of Rachel" by Joel Gross is a beautiful and sad book spanning 500 years of Jewish history by picking a series of Rachel's from the same family at different places and times.
From the Spanish Inquisition to Venice to the Holocaust of WWII the book tells great stories and the book left me moved, shaken and hopeful for humanity.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! OK, it has a bit of a clumsy framing device - a Jewish girl named Rachel receives her birthright, a diamond that has been in the family since the 15th century, on her wedding day. The diamond is always given to a girl named Rachel, and eventually the tradition became that it was given on her wedding day. So this Rachel, in the 1970s, touches the diamond and passes out, and has a vision of all the other Rachels - one in 1480s Spain facing the Inquisition, another in the ghetto in 1500s Venice, another in 1772 Berlin, one who left her home in Paris to travel to late 19th century Jerusalem, and the last one in Kent, England, 1937, as the Nazis power cemented in Germany and British fascists hoped to accomplish something similar at home. The writing of these episodes is powerful, and well-researched (good attention to historical detail), and occasionally brutal and horrific (as the treatment of Jews by Gentiles often was; this book certainly does not pull any punches), but the writing is, in general, quite good. In the end, the clumsy bit of framing has the modern-day 1970s Rachel wake up and wonder how she can live her life to be worthy of all the Rachels who have gone before. The framing is just so awkward, but the rest of the writing is so good, I didn't really care. The 5 stories within are historical fiction at its best!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been binging on Jewish history recently (see my review of Exodus by Leon Uris). The Books of Rachel is a saga spanning 500 years of Jewish heritage throughout Europe, tracing the lives of members of a wealthy Jewish family that has been in the diamond industry for centuries. The book opens on Rachel Kane's wedding day, as her father bestows upon her the Cuheno diamond, which has been passed down through the generations to the Rachels of the family. Following this brief prologue are 5 tales of Rachels who have possessed the legendary jewel. The original Rachel is terrorized by the Inquisition in 15th Century Spain. The second Rachel is a Venetian peasant who seeks to redeem sister's reputation and escape the life of the Jewish ghetto in the 1600's. The third Rachel lives an enlightened life in Berlin in the 18th Century until falling in love with a gifted Jewish scholar. The fourth Rachel leaves her home in Paris in 1852 and travels to Jerusalem to use her fortune and influence to help the Jews of the Holy Land. The fifth Rachel is a young noblewoman in pre-World War II England who falls in love with her tormented German cousin. Each story is unique, and each woman is headstrong and challenges convention in a world full of anti-Semitism. The Books of Rachel portray a great sense of what it was like to be Jewish (and a woman) throughout different periods of history and different parts of Europe.

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

It hasn't been easy for me to put into words exactly what I didn't enjoy about this book. Primarily, it wasn't quite what I was expecting.

The only two stories I enjoyed were the last two. I felt like these were the only two stories that really encompassed the idea of rising above the negative aspects of the world. I felt like these were the only two stories where the Rachel's truly relied on their faith and their heritage to become better and archive something greater than the world around them. The other stories focused too much on amorality, discontent, hatred, and physical and sexual abuse. They did more to drag the reader down than to build the Characters up. Perhaps this was somehow the author's intent: to show the depths of the evils of the world; to contrast the more depressing stories with the final, more enlightening stories. For me, it wasn't the kind of book I expected it to be and the reading experience wasn't one I enjoyed. I came away from this book feeling disappointed.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book very much. I like the way Gross makes transitions between various moments in Jewish history. I found myself more interested in some of the characters than in others. I grew tired of how strikingly handsome each and every male love-interest is.

One aspect of the book that I find ironic--and I haven't fully formed this argument yet--is that many of the characters who drive the story are men. The book wants to take a decidedly female perspective--that of each of the Rachels--but it's the men who seem to control the women's actions.

I would like to read the prequel.

[May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this appraoch to a family saga! This book offers real period insight and flavor as you follow a Jewish family, and all of its branches, through history, providing a real sense of how each generation fit into its local community and the broader culture of the time. Using a daughter Rachel from each generation to develop the story is very creative, and truly successful!
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!!

[Janet Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was so educational for me. I am now reading his follow-on book (The Lives of Rachel) which is 1000 years of Jewish history starting in B.C. I was happy to see the follow-on book because I was considering rereading The Books of Rachel to pick up on all the dates and geography of the last 500 years of the Jewish Rachel stories.

[Karen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five distinct stories of strong willed Rachels, each story connected by a 60 carot diamond passed down through generations. I enjoyed this book for its historical content. I thought the last story was the weakest, but perhaps it was because I was not as fond of the last Rachel as I was of her ancestors. It also seemed to me that the author rushed the story to end the book.

[Steven Drachman]

What order should I read these books? Start with the prequel, which was just published, or this book, which was written first? If anyone's read them both and would care to comment, I'd appreciate it -

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book back when I was in junior high. It was an amazing book. It take you through the lives of many different Rachel and a inherited diamond. I found it extremely moving.

[Mari Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I read in childhood that stuck with me and didn't disappoint when I read it again as an adult. A beautiful engrossing epic story.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as a young teen... about to re-read, so may have to adjust the rating once I do, but I remember being absolutely captivated by the lives of these women..

[Dov Zeller]

The concept is great and the book seems well-researched but the writing isn't compelling enough to keep me reading.

[ManOfLaBook.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com

The Books of Rachel by Joel Gross is a saga traversing centuries, following the Cuheno / Ha-Cohen / Cohen / Cohn family of diamond dealers, who pass a diamond to daughters all named Rachel. Mr. Gross is a writer, playwright and screenwriter.

The novel fictionalizes 500 years of Jewish history from the 15th Century starting at a Jewish family being torn apart by the Spanish Inquisition to ones being destroyed by the Nazis. The first born daughter to the family is named Rachel, inheriting a precious heirloom in the form of a diamond.The novel fictionalizes 500 years of Jewish history from the 15th Century starting at a Jewish family being torn apart by the Spanish Inquisition to ones being destroyed by the Nazis. The first born daughter to the family is named Rachel, inheriting a precious heirloom in the form of a diamond.

In The Books of Rachel by Joel Gross writes a series of short novellas all loosely connected through some sort of distant family relations, a name (Rachel), and a family heirloom in the form of a diamond which passes to the Rachels. The novel travels through Jewish history, at times when Jews were oppressed, as seen through the eyes of each Rachel.

I really liked the aspect of a family heirloom being passed down for generations, I didn’t enjoy the depiction of Jews as diamond traders across generations. Frankly, I have no idea if there are families who have been in the diamond business for generations, but in this book Jews are either rich diamond merchants or poor beggars.

I did enjoy much of the story, the last section bored me to be honest, and the historical references. While the author chose to err on the side of the narrative, that is sometimes expected from historical fiction. That being said, historical accuracy, for me, makes these types of stories much more enjoyable. Historical accuracy is what make a novel historical fiction rather than a fictional story taking place in the past.

The author does not shy away from describing atrocities during that his characters suffered, so those with a weak stomach are warned. However, those parts can easily be skipped so it’s not really a problem.

If all you know of Jewish history is the Bible or your World War II classes in school, this book attempts to fill in some of the gaps. The author also makes an excellent attempt to describe the lives of Jews in the past, including social hierarchy, traditions, as well as rituals. He doesn’t explain them, that was how things were and that’s that, maybe he tries to justify them as seen through the eyes of the people living them which I thought was a great addition to the story.

[Bandit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published in 1979 and I only became aware of it recently when it was made available for free as an ebook during a promo and as far as kindle freebies go this was an awesome find. Pretty great find in general, actually. I'm a huge fan of nonfiction told through objects and all things historical, this is a fictionalized account of Jewish chronicles unfolding over the centuries while following the same family of Cohen/Cuheno and specifically the Rachels of it and the famed Cuheno diamond they inherit. It's a very ambitious concept, some 500 years of a fictional microcosm all not only maintaining historical and sociopolitical veracity but also an incredibly compelling narrative. And because I can never resist a pun, leave it to a man named Gross to create such an engrossing story. Not a perfect one by any means, his chooses to shine the light on his Rachels at quite an early age and so their passions can at times come across as immature or puerile, all the Rachels are impetuous, obstinate, desperately romantic. And yet, they have the undeniable power and charisma to carry the narrative and it certainly helps that the numerous other characters, particularly the love interests, are fascinating in their own right. The novel starts around 15th century and takes the readers right up to late 20th, from the Jewish ghettos of Venice to barely settled Palestine to WWII, there's no shortage of dramatic material as a members of the perpetually loathed and prosecuted tribe struggle to make their way in the world. It's emotionally devastating to behold, even to a person toughened and embittered by modern politics. You might even see some parallels, learn a lesson or two. Then again if anyone really paid attention to the pat, the present probably wouldn't look as it does now. Anyway...whatever you may take away from this book, whether reading it for pure dramatics or historical value, it's a terrific read. I was completely engaged and, though it took a while, it was absolutely worth the time. There's apparently a prequel to this book with more Rachels in it. Would love to see that as a freebie some day, especially if it's anywhere near as good as the original. Very good book. Recommended.

[Shoshanah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seemingly forever ago a friend posted that The Books of Rachel by Joel Gross was one of her favorites. I made note of it and eventually picked up a copy through PaperBackSwap. I’m pretty sure it’s out of print. I’m not sure if the copy I have was from it’s first printing, but this was first published in 1979.

This book was a hidden gem and I’m surprised I hadn’t heard of this before her post. It follows a Jewish family over 500 years, always told the the eyes of a daughter named Rachel. I thought it would be similar to other multigenerational books I’ve read, with one central story where the protagonist changes over time. Instead it was 5 different snapshots in time and in between each a family tree to follow how each Rachel was related.

The 5 stories we hear take place in Spain in 1484, Venice in 1610, Berlin in 1772, Jerusalem in 1852, and England in 1937. I liked some stories more than others, but my favorite was the one from Venice.

This book wasn’t an easy one to read. At times there is such a focus on the Holocaust that it can be easy to forget how difficult it was being Jewish through most of our modern history. It definitely wasn’t a quick read either. It’s one I’d definitely recommend though, especially if you’re curious about what it’s been like being Jewish at various points in history.

4/5

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time Travel

I chose 5 stars for this book. I read this book 35 years ago. It made an impression then and so I wanted to read it again.
The first Rachel begins the story of all the Rachel's. The history of their times. It is a great read.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy history, romance and adventure.

[Amanzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I was gifted on my kindle (2009!) and it’s remained a solid favourite since then. Tracing generations of Jewish families and following the stories of five Rachels, each one is unique and mesmerizing. I love how we follow the diamond and each Rachel through different historical periods, and learn about the plight of the Jewish people throughout.

[Wynnelle Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to start this book with the idea of it going through several centuries of a family. However, the darkness of some of the Rachel stories was hard for me, with no redeeming conclusion for them. One of the Rachels lived a long good life, but most ended tragic. The history was done well, which I love when reading Historical novels.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful diamond is handed down through the ages to family members named Rachel. Each Rachel's story is told in the context of the history of her time. Through the storytelling, we learn a lot about the history of the diamond business and how Jews became prominent in this business. For those who didn't know about the oppression of Jews through history, there is plenty of information on this topic as well.