Geraldine Brooks writes excellent historical fiction with a compelling storyline and such an interesting view on historical events that you will feel tempted to go back and read her source material to learn more about the events she uses as background. Her books are educational but also enjoyable reading.
I picked up People of the Book because it was the book of the month at the San Francisco Library. I finished it quickly and recommended it to everyone I had a conversation with over the next few weeks. It traces the history of the Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the oldest Jewish illuminated texts, through the research of a curator who has been brought in to restore the book following the war. Every clue she finds in the book provides a chapter in its history and the history of the Jews in Europe. People of the Book is a mystery, a tale of the sacrifice people make for their beliefs, a history lesson and an interesting view of art restoration.
Recently I read March, the untold story of the father from Little Women, one of my favorite books from childhood. March traces Mr. March’s journey as a Chaplain in the Civil War. It also shows how his history of involvement with the abolition movement led him to participate in a war that he was too old to fight in. I found the book especially interesting when I found out that much of the source material was the story of Louisa May Alcott’s father. March makes you consider what is right and wrong, what motivates people and how you rarely know the whole story behind actions.
I am looking forwarding to reading her other books Year of Wonders and Caleb’s Crossing.
No comments:
Post a Comment