by Geraldine Brooks
This review is begun while still a few pages from the end of the book. Since I don't want to spoil other reader's enjoyment of Geraldine Brooks' inspired concept that not only entertains, but informs, being unaware of the conclusion should not be a handicap, Needless to say I heartily reccommend "People of the Book".
I know people who avoid fiction considering the time spent reading an imagined concoction wasted.. Ms Brooks, who not only provides masterful prose, but expertly weaves truth and fiction into the story she imagines, certainly did not waste my time. The protagonist, Hannah Heath's passionate search for truth as a rare book expert will take you on a journey far more fascinating than the lastest twist in crime solving novels. Hannah Heath's nee Sharansky's personal story would satisfy the plot dimension for most authors, but Geraldine Brooks offers much more, drawing from an incredible bank of research on subjects in her novel.
Offered the job of a lifetime, Hannah Heath departs her home In Sydney, Australia for Sarajevo, Bosnia in 1996. The town devastated by the horrendous war between Christians and Moslems is still haunted by an uneasy peace. Saved from the rubble of a museum, a fabulously illuminated Hebrew manuscript, a Haggedah, a small book of great historical value, is entrusted to Hannah in hopes that she can use her skill to conserve its rare beauty.. She encounters the young museum curator, Ozren Karaman,who grudgingly allows her access to the manuscript. Once professionally involved, Ozren and Hannah shed mutual resentments as they soon become lovers.
With meticulous care, Hannah begins the process of restoring the book, removing artifacts to be examined by experts, an insect wing fragment, a wine stain, salt crystals and a white hair, clues that may reveal how this extremely unusual manuscript made its way from fifteenth century Spain to Sarajevo. Sealed in glassine envelopes, the artifacts are taken by Hannah, one by one, to laboratories where they can be examined by scientists using leading edge technology.
Alternating with Hannah's personal story as she unravels the mysteries of the book, Geraldine Brooks imagines events beginning in fifteenth century Spain, using exhaustively researched details, about each artifact Hannah found in her examination of the Sarajevo Haggedah, The Insect Wing, The Wine Stain, The Salt Crystals and The White Hair.
I couldn't resist finishing "The People of the Book", and I can assure you that the conclusion brings together all the intricate threads of the narrative with the satisfaction found in a skillfully plotted detective novel. I wasn't surprised to read in the after notes that Geraldine Brooks was inspired by actual events she encountered as a Wall Street Journal reporter in Sarajevo..
P.S. Klaus will love reading about Hannah's return to Australia.
Review by Don Mac Brown
I know people who avoid fiction considering the time spent reading an imagined concoction wasted.. Ms Brooks, who not only provides masterful prose, but expertly weaves truth and fiction into the story she imagines, certainly did not waste my time. The protagonist, Hannah Heath's passionate search for truth as a rare book expert will take you on a journey far more fascinating than the lastest twist in crime solving novels. Hannah Heath's nee Sharansky's personal story would satisfy the plot dimension for most authors, but Geraldine Brooks offers much more, drawing from an incredible bank of research on subjects in her novel.
Offered the job of a lifetime, Hannah Heath departs her home In Sydney, Australia for Sarajevo, Bosnia in 1996. The town devastated by the horrendous war between Christians and Moslems is still haunted by an uneasy peace. Saved from the rubble of a museum, a fabulously illuminated Hebrew manuscript, a Haggedah, a small book of great historical value, is entrusted to Hannah in hopes that she can use her skill to conserve its rare beauty.. She encounters the young museum curator, Ozren Karaman,who grudgingly allows her access to the manuscript. Once professionally involved, Ozren and Hannah shed mutual resentments as they soon become lovers.
With meticulous care, Hannah begins the process of restoring the book, removing artifacts to be examined by experts, an insect wing fragment, a wine stain, salt crystals and a white hair, clues that may reveal how this extremely unusual manuscript made its way from fifteenth century Spain to Sarajevo. Sealed in glassine envelopes, the artifacts are taken by Hannah, one by one, to laboratories where they can be examined by scientists using leading edge technology.
Alternating with Hannah's personal story as she unravels the mysteries of the book, Geraldine Brooks imagines events beginning in fifteenth century Spain, using exhaustively researched details, about each artifact Hannah found in her examination of the Sarajevo Haggedah, The Insect Wing, The Wine Stain, The Salt Crystals and The White Hair.
I couldn't resist finishing "The People of the Book", and I can assure you that the conclusion brings together all the intricate threads of the narrative with the satisfaction found in a skillfully plotted detective novel. I wasn't surprised to read in the after notes that Geraldine Brooks was inspired by actual events she encountered as a Wall Street Journal reporter in Sarajevo..
P.S. Klaus will love reading about Hannah's return to Australia.
Review by Don Mac Brown
1 comment:
Gotta read this one!
Ken
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