It was difficult to decide what was more disappointing: the poor narrative or the incredibly poor knowledge of the history in general, and of the region Ms. Brooks writes about in her "People of the Book". Since a lot has been said about the former in other reviews, I will comment on the latter.

On p. 67 you will find a hilarious sentence ending with "...,yet following the forms of Petrarchan sonnets that had been carried inland from Diocletian's court on the Dalmatian coast." Diocletian retired to his palace on Dalmatian coast in 305 A.D. and died there in 311 A.D. Following his death, the palace was used as an administrative center and the governor's residence until, in 615, it became a refuge for the residents of Salona when their city was sacked by the Avars. In other words, there has been no "court" after Diocletion's death. And Petrarch... well he wasn't born until a thousand years later - in 1304. He wrote his most famous sonnets, those to Laura, between 1327 and 1368.

Another "pearl" from the page 199 (Venice, 1609): the mysterious Doña Reyna de Serena plans to move to the Ottoman Empire..."They say the city of Ragusa is very lovely - not so lovely as Venice, to be sure, but at least it will be an honest life." The citizens of Dubrovnik, or lovely Ragusa would be horrified at this claim. They are namely very proud of the fact that the tiny city-state of Ragusa successfully balanced its sovereignty between the interests of Venice and the Ottoman Empire from the 14th century until 1808, when marshal Marmont abolished the republic and integrated its territory into the Illyrian provinces within the Napoleonic Empire. In other words, Ragusa has never been a part of the Ottoman Empire, although it welcomed many Jews exiled from Spain and Portugal.

The Sarajevo Haggadah of Pesach, one of the most mysterious and interesting Haggadot in the world, is at the center of Geraldine Brooks' novel "People of the Book".
Haggadah, which means "telling" is a rabbinic exegesis the Jewish liberation from Egypt, as told in the Exodus book of the Torah, fulfilling the scriptural commandment to Jews to "tell your son" about this crucial event. It is used to set the order of the Passover Seder. The Sarajevo Haggadah, the oldest of the Sephardic Passover Haggadot, dating back to fourteenth century, is unusual - it is illuminated with beautiful, colorful illustrations, which is against the religious rule, forbidding making images of humans and animals. One of the illustrations shows the Jewsish family and a young, black woman at the same table, a puzzling and surprising picture. This unique property and the book's artistic value raise interest of many people, not only from the world of book conservation, but also political and religious fractions.

When in 1996 thirty-year-old Hanna Heath, an extraordinarily gifted, Australian master book restorer, gets an urgent phone call from her teacher, Amitai, at 2 am, she is just annoyed, but the news is exciting. She is summoned to Sarajevo to assess the authenticity of the Sarajevo Haggadah, which has just resurfaced after being lost for years, found and rescued by the Muslim librarian, Ozren Karaman.

Hanna begins working on the Haggadah with mixed feelings - she is in Bosnia in the middle of a religion-based conflict, closely watched by bank employees, bodyguards and UN officials, who distract her. She is also excited by the prospect of learning something about the history of the mysterious book. She carefully mends the booka and finds little details, which can be helpful: missing clasps, an insect's wing, a white hair, and a red stain. Pursuing these clues, she travels to Vienna and Boston, and learns a little about the journey of the book, making exciting hypotheses, which not always are true...

Because of the novel's construction, the reader learns about the Haggadah more than Hanna would ever know. The chapter alternate between Hanna's studies and her point of view, and the history of the Haggadah, which brings the reader farther and farther back in time, starting with WWII, when the Jews are forced out of Bosnia, moving to the 19th century Vienna, when the book was re-bound, then to Venice of 1609, Spain of 1480, and finally Seville of 1409, getting to the core of the mystery of the illuminations. Each of the historical chapters is a gem of a story in itself, capturing the spirit of time and place, and introducing remarkable characters, each carrying a secret of their own. Based on facts about the miracle of the Sarajevo Haggadah's survival through the ages, Geraldine Brooks has woven a wonderful fictional story - or one of the versions of the truth.

Hanna's story, which frames the history of Haggadah, is also not banal. Hanna discovers herself in a process of working on the Haggadah, finds and comes to terms with the love of her life, revises her relationship with her emotionally distant neurosurgeon mother, and learns of her father's family.

"People of the Book" is a lot better than Zafon's "The Shadow of the wind" and infinitely better than anything by Dan Brown (in my opinion, it is similar to neither of these books, but I know that it has been compared to them). I devoured it in two wonderful evenings and would recommend it to anyone.

The interweaving was skilled, although the characters, at times fell flat, and the events predictable.

I also prefer a lighter touch. The best example of tackling a serious subject without a professorial POV is "Yiddishe Mamas: The Truth About the Jewish Mother." It is written by Marnie Winston-Macauley, author of the spectacular calendar series, A Little Joy, A Little Oy (2009).

Although one is fiction, while the other non-fiction, the tonal difference is worth looking at.A Little Joy, A Little Oy: A Banquet of Jewish Humor and Wisdom 2009 Day-to-Day Calendar

Jewish Book MavenYiddishe Mamas: The Truth About the Jewish Mother

Our book club selected this book and I didn't know anything about it when I bought it. I enjoyed it very much. It is full of interesting characters and the way the story is woven together was very well done. I even learned a little history along the way!

This is the story of the Sarajevo Haggadah, a real book that has a mysterious 500-year history. When Geraldine Brooks learned about it and was intrigued by the mysteries it held, she did what most writers would do; she made it up. This novel goes back and forth between present and past, showing the bits of evidence that a contemporary book conservator finds in its pages and then shows the reader where those things came from; a butterfly wing, a wine stain, a white cat hair, etc. I thought it dragged a little in the middle but picked up again at the end.

Personal narrative and the way it affects and changes an object is a major theme of Geraldine Brooks' People of the Book. Brooks was inspired to write the novel based on actual events surrounding the discovery and recovery of the Sarajevo Haggadah. In Brooks' fictionalized account, a manuscript conservator named Hanna Heath is commissioned to examine the ancient text before its placement in a museum's collection. In analyzing the haggadah, she finds a number of odd an out-of-place items: a white hair, an unidentified stain, a gossamer wing, and more. Even as Hannah is all research and science in discovering the hidden history of this book, personal narratives arise that give life and breadth to the text itself.

I really enjoyed learning more about the people whose hands this haggadah had passed through. But when the novel would refocus on the present, and on Hanna, I just kept losing interest. I did not particularly like her as a character, and I didn't always believe in the authenticity of her actions or motives. I found myself eager for her to discover a new twist or turn in the pages of the haggadah, just so we could at least radiate out into a new adventure.

I also found myself frequently annoyed by the professorial tone Brooks sometimes employed. I had to resist the urge to keep Google at my fingertips - there was just SO much world history referenced throughout the book, along with many (MANY) foreign words and phrases. I know I risk sounding like a willing idiot by saying this, but I would have appreciated more of a "layman's" approach to this story.

Even so, I really did enjoy People of the Book. I thought the premise behind it was fascinating, and - as I said - I became easily engrossed in the different intimate stories coursing through the haggadah's pages. I read this as part of a book club, and we all felt there were good, weighty themes to discuss and many personal opinions to be shared about this unique novel.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I'd read Year of Wonders before and thought it a great tale. This also wrapped a story through history and the tell-tale scraps we leave behind. Learned a LOT about book preservation and all those good things. I read this while up in the mountains in Georgia, and will leave it up here for my sister in law to pick up if she's interested whenshe comes to visit. And then, it may travel some more....just like the book in the story, but under less trying circumstances.

This book sounded great to me. I like all the elements in promised--mystery, clash of cultures, sweep of time etc. yet the book does not work at all. The characters are flat and the situations predictable and predictably resolved. There was nothing special in this book.

I'm not one to rave much about books on ancient history, but Geraldine Brooks' "People of the Book" is a vastly impressive work like the threads in a finely woven tapestry. One not only learns much about early Jewish history, as recorded over the centuries in a haggadah, a type of living religious text, but Brooks' deftness transitions from the present day book restorer and her life to that of the ancients who wrote the text. The ending is, in itself, stunning, not only for its realism but for the way Brooks brings all the threads together in one final, mighty stitch.

Not as fast paced as that other historical fiction (The DaVinci Code), but this is not a thriller. It's a thinker and a wonderful one at that.

a fine book in all areas. would apeal to both men and women. a most compelling story.

Book and manuscript conservator, Dr.Hanna Heath is brought to Sarajevo, after the Bosnian war, to examine what the authorities hope will be a huge find..a Haggadar or ancient Hebrew manuscript, written in the early 15th century. Hanna discovers some unusual tiny clues while examing the book such as a fine white hair, an insects wing, a supposed wine stain and salt crystals, all in a minute quantity and virtually invisible except to the trained eye. The most unusual feature about the manuscript is that it contains the most beautiful illustrations done in gold, silver and lapis lazuli and that, never before, has a Hebrew book contained illustrations, which are forbidden in that religion. The story is mainly that of the history of the book from its conception and through religious pogroms where this wonderful book is protected by people of all religions who value it for its beauty and in spite of fanatics who would destroy it. It's a wonderful journey through the centuries with wars, loves and conflicts of all kinds including sheer avarice and is a superb read for lovers of art and history.

What secrets lie in the pages of a sixty million dollar 500 year old book? Geraldine Brooks tells the story of the real Sarajevo Haddagah in her latest novel, People of the Book. Through CSI-style technical research during the book restoration process, clues to the books orgins, owner's and secrets spill out over centuries. No topic is off limits, as Brooks humanizes some of histories great intolerant atrocities. One comes to expect an informative read from this particular author, but I was absolutely blown away by this book. This book was a thoroughly enjoyable read. The deft structuring of the novel consumed me from page one--and had me sneaking in short readings wherever and whenever I could. I'm highly recommending it as one of the best I've read this year (so far).

Wrapped in story about the history of a Jewish book of great historical interest, the People of the Book reveals a colorful history of the Jewish people in all of their struggles throught Europe and the Middle East for the centuries of the books life.

I loved this book. Mystery, history, romance, suspense....it has it all. I also now have a much greater appreciation for the value placed on historical books and their painstaking restoration process. Very informative in an entertaining way.

This book takes you on a journey as you discover the history of an ancient Jewish prayer book. The author skillfully weaves the tales of everyone who has touched the book and impacted it's history while relating the story of religious conflict, persecution and times of cooperation between Muslims, Jews and Christians throughout the Centuries. This is all done while telling the story of the young woman who is sent to restore the book.
Well written; a book that I truly enjoyed!

Geraldine Brooks did it again! This book should capture the reader from the very first line. My book group reviewed People of the Book recently and gave it high ratings; everyone took something different away from the story. Not only will the reader discover what a book conservationist is, but the importance of maintaining & preserving books throughout history. The main character is like a detective who can take a grain of salt found in the binding of an ancient prayer book, research it, then discover the exact location where it came from. From that tiny grain of salt, she weaves a whole story that connects to the next discovered particle - until she pieces together the entire background of the prayer book. The final piece of the puzzle links together why and how the book came to be found in a Sarajevo library. The book highlights the common thread among all religions that many lose sight of in today's world.

I first heard about the book on a radio program. I found the book at the library, recognized the title and decided to give it a shot. What good fortune it was! The best book I read this summer...well written, interesting, enlighten and couldn't put it down. The fiction is believable, facts accurate and story plausible. what more can you ask for in historical fiction!

I saw this book at BN when it came out in December and would not have read it had I not read an article written by Geraldine Brooks published in "The New Yorker" on December 3, 2007, later that same week. The article tells the almost unbelievable but TRUE story of the Sarajevo Haggadah - how Dervis Efendi Korkut, a devout Muslim, saved the Haggadah from confiscation by the Nazis, how he and his wife Servet also saved Mira Papo, a Jewish girl, how he was later tried as a Nazi Sympathizer, how Mira later encountered Servet and leared of the pending trial but failed to testify on his behalf at that trial and then later redeemed herself by writing an account of his deeds that resulted in Dervis and Servet being declared Righteous Amonig Nations by the Commission for the Designation of the Righteous at Yad Vashem (yeah, this is a bad sentence). I keep a photocopy of the article with my copy of the book.

Having read the article, I bought the book. Given the known facts about the book and the amazing story about the people involved in its rescue from the Nazis, it was enjoyable to read a FICTIONAL account about how a Spanish Haggadah written in Hebrew but illuminated with Islamic ornamentation (Brooks points out that Jews, Christians and Muslims peacefully co-existed in Spain during a time known as the Convivencia) could travel from Morocco to Spain to Venice to Vienna, and ultimately resurface in the twice war-torn Sarajevo of our time. In a time where "Christians" and "Muslims" "hate" each other while equally "hating" the "Jews" it is refreshing to see just a glimmer of what we could all be and accomplish if we could see past the labels we put on each other.

If any of the negative reviews have you worried - read the article first if you can, then read the book.

I saw this book at BN when it came out in December and would not have read it had I not read an article written by Geraldine Brooks published in "The New Yorker" on December 3, 2007, later that same week. The article tells the almost unbelievable but TRUE story of the Sarajevo Haggadah - how Dervis Efendi Korkut, a devout Muslim, saved the Haggadah from confiscation by the Nazis, how he and his wife Servet also saved Mira Papo, a Jewish girl, how he was later tried as a Nazi Sympathizer, how Mira later encountered Servet and leared of the pending trial but failed to testify on his behalf at that trial and then later redeemed herself by writing an account of his deeds that resulted in Dervis and Servet being declared Righteous Amonig Nations by the Commission for the Designation of the Righteous at Yad Vashem (yeah, this is a bad sentence). I keep a photocopy of the article with my copy of the book.

Having read the article, I bought the book. Given the known facts about the book and the amazing story about the people involved in its rescue from the Nazis, it was enjoyable to read a FICTIONAL account about how a Spanish Haggadah written in Hebrew but illuminated with Islamic ornamentation (Brooks points out that Jews, Christians and Muslims peacefully co-existed in Spain during a time known as the Convivencia) could travel from Morocco to Spain to Venice to Vienna, and ultimately resurface in the twice war-torn Sarajevo of our time. In a time where "Christians" and "Muslims" "hate" each other while equally "hating" the "Jews" it is refreshing to see just a glimmer of what we could all be and accomplish if we could see past the labels we put on each other.

If any of the negative reviews have you worried - read the article first if you can, then read the book.

This book is pure shlock. After having read and enjoyed her previous book, March, I expected much better. The "clues" provided in the manuscript lead to obvious but absurdly far-fetched conclusions by the extremely annoying and self-satisfied Aussie narrator. She manages to be both extremely sorry for herself and convinced of her own righteousness and brilliance at the same time. The other characters are stereotypical and predictable, and they all succumb to cliched but lurid Jewish fates. Don't waste your money on this potboiler.

This book is pure shlock. After having read and enjoyed her previous book, March, I expected much better. The "clues" provided in the manuscript lead to obvious but absurdly far-fetched conclusions by the extremely annoying and self-satisfied Aussie narrator. She manages to be both extremely sorry for herself and convinced of her own righteousness and brilliance at the same time. The other characters are stereotypical and predictable, and they all succumb to cliched but lurid Jewish fates. Don't waste your money on this potboiler.

The modern characters are weak and the story doesn't stick together very well. But the historic dramas were quite intriguing. Fells like this book was written by two different authors.

The modern characters are weak and the story doesn't stick together very well. But the historic dramas were quite intriguing. Fells like this book was written by two different authors. Overall, if you are looking for a book to kill time, you can give it a try. Nothing more than that.

This is a great work of historical fiction. Weaving well-researched fact with fictional story, the story of the famous Sarajevo Hagaddah is told here.

If you like historical fiction with a bit of mystery intertwined, you will like this. I won't repeat the plot, but I found it totally fascinating and found myself going back to reread parts -- the chapter headings were so helpful, I'm thinking the author anticipated readers rereading parts. The idea of taking art "backwards" isn't new, but it is still fascinating.

And, if you enjoy this title, check out the movie The Red Violin and another great book by Susan Vreeland Girl in Hyacinth Blue

This isn't highbrow literature, but it is one of the more entertaining books I've read recently, particularly since I love reading about books and book history. This is the story of an old haggadah (a Jewish sacred test used at the Passover table). The narration alternates from the modern viewpoint of a book restorer to the various people over centuries who have helped the haggadah to survive. The love story contained within the modern narrative moves quicker than I expected and is trite and somewhat tacky. Fortunately, the parts of the story about book restoring are interesting, and the haggadah's history is interesting as well. I'm a bit ashamed to admit I couldn't put this down.

This is a beautiful book, and I must admit that I burst into tears upon finishing it. It wasn't until I was an adult that I found out from my uncle that our family had been forced out of Spain in 1492. They went to Holland and then eventually made their way across Europe to what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire. While the memory of leaving Spain had stayed with the family, the Spanish family name had not. This book gave me a feel of what their life in Spain might have been like.

I disagree with other reviewers about the main character. I liked Hanna and thought the development of her character to be quite realistic.

The book came sooner than I expected, and I loved every page of it. Thank you

I loved Brooks's Year of Wonders, but this book is only sometimes riveting, more often slow. Most unfortunately, this is the first anti-Catholic novel I've read since I tried PD James about 20 years ago. So it was amusing when the main character in People of the Book says on page 264, "Having read rather too many P. D. James novels, I'd decided . . . " Alas! You surely have, Ms Brooks! I'm not Catholic myself, but without balance this book teeters towards untruth.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The author uses the real Sarajevo Haggadah as starting point for a fascinating fictional account of how it was so beautifully illustrated, how it came to be written, and how it was taken from place to place all over Europe over many centuries, and weaves that all together with the personal life of the book conservator who becomes involved with the Haggadah. The totally unexpected ending is amazing!
I liked the book so much that I bought the quite expensive taped version for a visually handicapped friend.

I couldn't stop reading this book. It was like a jig-saw puzzle with each piece just fitting perfectly. The history combined with the fiction made a powerful story. Highly recommended!

I am still in the middle of the book but so far am not particularly inspired. It is ok but not as wonderful as it was touted to be in all its reviews. Moves slow and has pretty stock characters. Would have liked a bit more depth in each vignette.

Disappointing even for a fluff novel. The Wikipedia article on the Sarajevo Haggadah is a more interesting read. Historical fiction needs either a quality retelling of history or a quality story to get by, and this book offers neither. There's precious little known of the Sarajevo Haggadah's existence, so Brooks imagines a series of events throughout its existence interwoven with a bit of modern-day drama. But she apparently went for the Dan Brown approach by inventing physical details of the book itself, throwing off the balance between history and fiction. The pattern of revealing a detail and immediately following it with a chapter set in the past is too contrived and trite even for mindless beach reading. It's certainly interesting to wonder about this book's journey through the years, but Brooks' imagined history offers little to recommend it.

This story is so well written. The diverse people involved in the books history and the mysteries of what eventually became of them spark the imagination. I wanted to know more, but really there was no need, it was obvious in most cases. The author was perfect at changing writing styles and placing me in the mini-worlds of these tragic figures. On finishing the book I immediately went on line and looked at pictures of the actual illuminations. It was both intellectually stimulating and a very good read. I look forward to enjoying more from this author.

simply wonderful. Beautifully written, brilliantly researched and compelling.

Geraldine Brooks gets better with every novel. I highly recommend this.

When do we consider loss in our own lives? What cost and what effect does loss have on our everyday existence? Is it traumatic only when a loved one passes or is there more of a sense of collective loss when looking at centuries of war, loss of life or needless destruction of towns and cities? How do we measure that loss compared to a loss of love or even when a beloved object goes missing? In reading Geraldine Brooks' novel, one comes away with a personal reflection of what loss means.

PEOPLE OF THE BOOK integrates all of the various and very dissimilar kinds of loss by telling the story of a journey of a beautiful rare meticulously engraved Haggadah.

Pulitzer prize winner Geraldine Brooks does a terrific job with this story. She was able to weave the true story of this missing prayer book into a well written historical fiction novel.

Hanna Heath is our protagonist who is an Australian book conservator summoned to investigate the authenticity of this newly surfaced gem of a prayer book which had been saved from a Bosnian museum by a librarian.

Hanna makes a series of discoveries while examining the find as any ancient book conservator would. She uncovers an insect wing, a thin strand of white hair, a stain that appears to be blood or wine, and some evidence that the prayer book had been near or around salt water. The investigation takes us back in time through centuries to the 1480's in Seville.

Brooks so competantly weaves a tale with intimate details and she introduces us to all of the PEOPLE who touched or were changed by this BOOK. The true story of the Haggadah is a beautiful and intimate study of the basic goodness of mankind through difficult and ominous events and Brooks is successful in capturing that quality in her literary art.

PROS:

Hanna's investigation leads us and her into the depths of intrigue, deception, and suspense. The journey of the book itself helps Hanna find out more about herself as well as truths she never knew existed. Fantastic weaving together of truth and fiction.

CONS:

Only one for me: the last chapter. It was just a little too pat and a bit incredulous. The main reason for this wonderful book not being a perfect five.

Recommended: B

People of the Book: A Novel


Bentley/2008

No spoiler here...I loved the book!

I think it is a book to be read twice. It is like a "nested doll"; each segment is built on the one that follows. But, it goes backwards.

The story begins with Hanna who is hired to preserve the Sarajevo Haggaadah. She discovers a few clues as to its provenance...a hair, a bit of salt, a stain, missing clips and an insect wing.

Each "clue" takes us further back into the history of the Haggadah. And, when it does, takes us back into another time where you understand how that little bit of something is part of the history of this Haggadah.

In real life, there is a Sarajevo Haggadah; this is what it's provenance might have been.

"People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks, relates in well researched, historical detail, the significance of books in society. There is mystery, intrigue and great character development with Hanna as the journey of the Sarajevo Haggadah unfolds. Brooks is a pretty good writer. I read "The March" at the suggestion of my local independent; Latitude 33-and I could not put that one down.

This book is not for everyone but I liked it and found it "illuminating".

"People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks, relates in well researched, historical detail, the significance of books in society. There is mystery, intrigue and great character development with Hanna as the journey of the Sarajevo Haggadah unfolds.

This book is not for everyone but I liked it and found it "illuminating".

This book is not easy to put down it was very insightful, enjoyed learning about this process of restoring books and the historical aspect of the making of books.

This book has all my favorite elements in it: mystery and historical tidbits, historical fiction and modern-day fiction. So why am I not rating it a five-star? It is not one of the best reads this year nor ever. I am pretty disappointed because I have heard good things about this author. I haven't read any of her other books and while I own a copy of "March," I am pushing that book further down my TBR list as I am not all that impressed with this book.

Don't get me wrong. It is not a bad book, it is just not all that wonderful. A reviewer or two mentioned in here that Hanna's story was more prevelant than the others' and I have to disagree. Her story was not well-fleshed out nor were the others' stories. To be honest, this book felt like a collection of short stories rather a seamless story tying the loose ends of history together over the years. The stories were good but not poignant enough to draw the imagination to the heart as one imagines the history behind the rare Hebrew manuscript that traveled over the course of time.

It is disappointing for me personally because I love books and have often wondered about the previous owners of antique books that I see on occasion. The stories are fine in this book, just doesn't flow together like I imagined it would. And the last few chapters were rather rushed as well as confusing. Why throw in a curveball so late in the book where there weren't any suspense built up to it? And the rejection Hanna must have felt at her lover's hands and her teacher's rejection ... it all fell flat. I walked away from this book feeling nothing.

If you like historical fiction, this one would fit the bill. Just don't expect an in-depth view of history.

6/2/08

The first four fifths of this book are a historical fiction built around the creation and travels of the Sarajevo Haggadah. The author uses the highly-charged drama of ethnic relations in Europe from the fifteenth century on and the religious wars in Spain to tell the story of the book and to spin a message of religious tolerance. The effect is charming, almost sentimental and if you are a fan of historical fiction you may be moved. There's also a wonderful excursion into the world of manuscript conservators that provides a vicarious chance to handle fabulous old books.
The rest of the plot concerns a very unlikely swap of the Haggadah and some unbelievable shenanigans around a romance.
Brooks is a good writer, her prose is occasionally luscious and this is a pleasant summer read if you don't look too deeply.

"People of the Book" drew me in with its title, and had me enthralled from the first page. This is an ambitious work, which could have been a disaster in the hands of a less skilled writer. But Geraldine Brooks does not disappoint; on the contrary, she exceeds my highest expectations. "People of the Book" is an intricate tapestry of one focal point through history, showing the mingled impact of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity from the 15th century through today. Simultaneously earthy, sincere, and thought-provoking, this is the most brilliantly written book I have encountered in a long time.

The author, Geraldine Brooks, has written several previous novels, including The Year of Wonders, a book based on historical fact and set in a village in England during the Plague.
I looked forward to this one, having loved her previous ones. Unfortunately, it lacks the same depth, character charm and believability of its predecessors. The only chapters which capture the reader are in the beginning and at the very end; these parts are very alive, perhaps because she bases them on a picture found in the original haggadah and on the story of how it was saved by someone in the museum.
The other chapters are more reminiscent of a romance novel (think Danielle Steel, only slightly better).

Prompt delivery of a perfect-condition book. Thank you for the accurate description and for the reliable service

Ms. Brooks certainly know how to tell a story and to keep the reader in polite but nagging tension.
This biography of a book is a wonderful narrative, a story of passion and wonder. A rare case of history told as a novel (there is too much of this kind floating around, but rare exception do happen)where the moral is less than obvious, the narrative riveting and extremely well constructed, so that the Italian principle of "if not true is it well made up" not only applies, but is surpassed..

This book was fascinating to read and it expanded my horizons which is one of the things I treasure in a book. It did take some work to keep track of what was going on and when as it jumped back and forth. Brooks's story of the Sarajevo Haggadah's journey, both true and imagined, illustrates the power culture, art and literature have on people of the world. Some will give their lives to protect it while others are intent on destroying the culture of the "other", knowing what power it has.

"It would be something, to be back there, when the haggadah was still just some family's book, a thing to be used, before it became an exhibit locked up in a vitrine....."
"Oh, I don't know.....It's still doing what it was meant to do or it will be, as soon as it goes into the museum. It was made to teach, and it will continue to teach. And it might teach a lot more than just the Exodus story."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, from what you've told me, the book has survived the same human disaster over and over again. Think about it. You've got a society where people tolerate difference, like Spain in the Convivencia, and everything's humming along:creative, prosperous. Then somehow this fear, this hate, this need to demonize 'the other' - it just sort of rears up and smashes the whole society. Inquisition, Nazis, extremist Serb nationalists....same old, same old. It seems to me the book, at this point, bears witness to all that."

We can add the cultural treasures of Baghdad to that list.

I was anxious to read this book after hearing the author interviewed on NPR. After reading the book, I assumed the NPR interviewer had not read the book. It was very disappointing to me because it missed the opportunity to be a great book; instead, it was just another story (albeit with a fascinating theme) that was not as well-written as it could have been, and the flaws in the writing (or perhaps it was the editor's fault) were too severe to ignore. I hate it when a book sets you up and then lets you down with a thud, and that was exactly my experience when I approached the end of the book, which describes a preposterous 'solution' to a thorny problem that seemed more fabricated than likely.

I am impressed by Geraldine Brooks' most recent work; People of the Book. Brooks is also the author of Year of Wonders which is one of my favorites.

I thought Brooks did a wonderful job of creating very realistic characters throughout history and a sense of time and place for each character. She creates a story that revolves around the path of travel of a fifteenth century Hebrew manuscript.

I particularly enjoyed the contemporary character Hanna Heath who is responsible for the conservation of the priceless Haggadah in 1996. During the course of her work she discovers several interesting artifacts within the book itself. Through separate chapters the reader is taken back in time to where each item was incorporated into the book.

A very clever and thought provoking book. The characters Brooks creates experience a multitude of horrors. She illustrates many different ways that Anti-Semitism manifested itself throughout history. But she also shows us people who are willing to risk their lives to save another human being as well as preserve important historical artifacts.

This was a book club selection and it offers endless topics for discussion. It touches on love, hate, war, vice, anti-Semitism through the ages and describes many horrors throughout history as well as kindness and heroism.

I thought this was a very well done story, well written and cleverly executed. But I would have liked to learn a little bit more about any one of the character's stories. I'm not a big fan of the short story and I think this book is like several short stories that are connected. I love details and gut wrenching sorrow and I think this story could have had just a little bit more of both.

I also love when I read a work of fiction and I'm able to learn a little bit about something really interesting like antiquarian book conservation. Did you know that parchment was made of flesh? (I was an art student in college and I think I might have remembered that.) I also enjoyed reading how modern science is applied to unravel the mysteries of art restoration and conservation.

One of the things that I thought was so amazing is that this story was inspired by the true story of the Hebrew codex known as the Sarajevo Haggadah. Many times as I was reading I was wishing there were pictures of the silver clasps and the various illustrations.

*Spoiler* sort of*
And I was happy to learn that Geraldine Brooks was able to see the real Sarajevo Haggadah.

I was first captured by the main character, Hannah Heath, but I found myself being even more captivated by some of the minor characters as the history of the Haggadah goes back in time to Venice, Seville, etc. I was enchanted by the slowly unfolding mystery and the creative way that Geraldine Brooks ties the history of the "people of the book" together over a 400-some year span.