People of the Book discussion

I am wondering if the book feels like a novel or rather a group of related short stories? Does the book hold together has one story? Is it historically well researched? Thanks for the info!

I think the series of stories holds together well. That is a novel. The cover will keep it together for you. I have always thought that would be a great way to write a story. I heard about it and have enjoyed it. I hope you can share the wonder of where Jewish prayer book travels over its life time. It is as if the book could talk. I want to read more of her books.

I thought that the modern story line concerning Hannah's life did a good job of cohering the stories of the "people." And I loved it when Lola was reunited with the "book."

Geraldine Brooks wrote a wonderful book called "The Year of the Plague" (I think that's the title), but she also wrote one I did not like at all, called "March," supposedly the journal of Dr. March, the father of the girls in "Little Women." That one was preachy and got so absurd and tiresome, I couldn't finish it. He told his daughters not to wear silk because why should silkworms die for us to have cloth? Come on!! I sympathize with PETA, but that is really going too far.

I think this story held together wonderfully! I really wanted to find out more about each stage the "book" went through. I'm glad to hear your (Elaine) reaction to March. I felt that way, too.

I finished this recently. I liked it more than March, but felt an inconsistency. All of Hanna's parts are first person, and most but not all of the historical fiction is third person. At first I thought there was a reason for first person and then third person for the historical ones. But I couldn't figure why the 'white hair' segment was first person instead of third.
I liked the detail and thought it was well researched, and a lot of interesting facts and tidbits are everywhere in the book. However she took on a lot of themes and different story lines in this. I thought the mother-daughter theme was week.
Also, the narrative should of taken into account how people would think in the 1400's and 1600's, and not the same beliefs and narration as present day. It seemed a little PC and not real, which I felt was also a flaw with 'March.'
It was a decent read, and for people that liked the rare book theme, I suggest a book called 'Conquest.' which is a rare book person finding an South American Aztec book.

The book I just recommeded is called 'The Conquest' and it's by Yxta Maya Murrey. I read it a long time ago, but remember enjoying it. Has similar themes to 'People of the Book' but they are different.

Although I really enjoyed "The People of the Book" I highly reccomend another book by Geraldine Brooks called "The Year of Wonders". It is probably one of my favorite novels with strong women and a wonderful ending. Her books have been one of the few times I've read historical fiction, and I'm no history expert, but I really enjoyed the history of "the book" - which I found to be the main "character". I pretty much forgot about "Hannah" until she shows up again at the end.

I loved this book. I have recommended it to all my "bookie" friends. I loved how all the stories were entwined and felat they worked together perfectly. I was not a fan of "March", I agree with Elanie it was preachy. I had bought this book a while back and after reading "March" I wasn't sure I would ever read it. I am so glad I did! Thanks Robyn, I am starting "The Year of Wonders" tomorrow!

As a Museum Professional I thought the The People of the Book held together very well, but I would understand if someone that is not familiar with the way a conservator's mind works could view it as disjointed or a series of short stories.
Since I enjoyed the book so much I then read The Year of Wonder and I enjoyed it very much however out of the two I preferred The People of the Book.

I've read nearly all of Geraldine Brooks' books, and I'm in the middle of her latest, Caleb's Crossing now.

If you can rely on Brooks for one thing it's thorough research. I wouldn't worry there. Attention to detail, voice, and imagery are her strongest points.

What you can't always rely on are her endings, which I often feel come a little out of left-field, and can be even superfluous, like the story could have safely ended the previous chapter. I also agree with some of the other comments about preachy-ness and inconsistencies in characters.

I'm about halfway through the audio version of People of the Book, and I'm a little disappointment. I normally love historical fiction. And I thoroughly enjoyed March. But People of the Book feels really contrived and there absolutely no suspense. Plus, I can't figure out exactly what is so special about the Hagaddah itself. That just doesn't come through for me.

One caveat - my lack of enthusiasm might be partly because prior to starting People, I listened to the audio version of Caleb's Crossing which was WONDERFUL, both in story and narration. So I was expecting to love this one just as much, but it's not happening.

I was sooooo disappointed with the beginning of this book and nearly didn't read past page 10!!! I REALLY did not like the main character but forced myself to continue reading (after all I'd made a SPECIAL trip just to purchase this book. It does get better and I was really glad that I continued to read and finished the book. Though I never did warm up to the main character, she just seemed so phony and shallow throughout the story! Anyway, good luck with it, you MAY be rewarded by the time you finish it if you choose to do so.
Marie

Marie wrote: "I was sooooo disappointed with the beginning of this book and nearly didn't read past page 10!!! I REALLY did not like the main character but forced myself to continue reading (after all I'd made a..."

I'm glad to hear you say this Marie: I also loved the book but had a hard time really feeling connected to or sympathetic towards the main character. It didn't spoil the book, but it was distracting and I especially had difficulty believing in her romantic connection to Karaman after her long explanation of how she preferred to keep her relationships shallow and in a mainly physical realm.

Npldirector wrote: "Marie wrote: "I was sooooo disappointed with the beginning of this book and nearly didn't read past page 10!!! I REALLY did not like the main character but forced myself to continue reading (after ..."

Hi There,
Thanks for confirming my own perception that the book's main character and her distracting romantic connection diminished my otherwise positive experience with this story.

Want to try another great story? Though in now way related to People of the Book; Peter Mattiessen's Far Tortuga is an intriguing and engaging story. It's poetically told tale (though the dialect takes a bit of getting used to in the beginning) of men, small boats and life on the sea.

Cheers,
Marie

Marie wrote: "Npldirector wrote: "Marie wrote: "I was sooooo disappointed with the beginning of this book and nearly didn't read past page 10!!! I REALLY did not like the main character but forced myself to cont..."

Never mind how much I hated the "obligatory" Spanish Inquisition scene, I too found the heroine rather unlikeable - from her unpleasant relationship with her mother to her bizarre romance. They certainly didn't add to the story and were a distraction at best.

Maggie Anton

I thought the book held together well, I thought the different stories were interesting.
I must echo some of the complaints though...I had a hard time with the first chapter and the random ending. The relationship between Hanna and Ozren was totally superfluous and unnecessary to the plot.
Placing the improbabilties of Hanna's story aside, I thought the book held together admirably.

I think an interesting question in relation to the idea of "holding together" is whether or not we like the idea of the book itself being the central character--because it is the book itself that passes through various hands over time that creates the link. I liked this "novel" almost as much as (I believe) The Year of Wonder--the one about the plague--the one I didn't think held up as well was March!

The linked stories that follow the path of the haggadah are wonderful. I found the contemporary story unnecessary and a device that doesn't work. Nine Parts of Desire is still my favorite Geraldine Brooks book.

I agree Harriet, the comtemporary part of this work was an unecessary distraction. Not familiar with Nine Parts of Desire - I'll have to take a look at that one.

Nine Parts of Desire was written when Brooks was still a journalist in the Middle East. As you can tell from Caleb's Crossing, her strong suit is research and non fiction. At the time she wrote Nine Parts of Desire, she had married an American who is Jewish and converted to Judaism.
The book is filled with excellent interviews with Muslim women, most of them professional, as I remember it. the reader feels as if she is walking through the Middle East with a marvelous interviewer.
After she wrote Nine Parts of Desire, she and her husband were in England where she wrote her first novel, The Year of the Plague, which was a good uncomplicated novel, researched well.

I agree with Elaine in message #4 As for "People of the Book" I think it is marvelous and have recommended it to many who feel likewise. This is one of those books that the reader wants to stretch out at the end and then begin over!

Harriet wrote: "Nine Parts of Desire was written when Brooks was still a journalist in the Middle East. As you can tell from Caleb's Crossing, her strong suit is research and non fiction. At the time she wrote Nin..."

Nine Parts of Desire and Year of the plague now on my to-read list, thanks for the suggestions!

Hi Harriet, you now have me anxious to return to Geraldine Brooks for another look at her work. People of the Book was the first of hers I'd encountered. I did very much enjoy her style in the part of that work that relates to the story 'of the book'.

Thanks for your insight.

I just finished this book and I'm wondering if it's because I'm aging, but I had to go back and read parts to connect everything in my mind. Was everyone else able to "get it" in one reading? I almost wished she had written it backwards, from 1400's to present so I could follow easier. For me it was a puzzle I had to go back over. I had to go back and read the end of each story then the beginning of the previous one in order to follow the book's ownership. I'm searching online for a "recap" which would clarify points in case I missed something. (Please let me know where I can find one!)

For example, did everyone get that Vistorini was a Kohen? That slipped by me the first read. So I got to wondering then if he converted back to Judaism at some point? This book left me with so many questions about what happened to other characters. I know it's not relevant, but I'm anal that way! :)

Incidentally, I thought the plot regarding the counterfeit book was very weak, raising even more questions regarding the plausibility, but I'm not concerning myself about that.

Matt wrote: "But I couldn't figure why the 'white hair' segment was first person instead of third."

I think the author is trying to hide the gender of the main character in this particular segment.