, which I received as an ARC from Goodreads (thank you, Goodreads), and is coming out in June 2011. After the review I will give you the details for the giveaway of the book (woohoo!) which I'm sure you will enjoy as I did. Here we go...
Esther Kaminsky, a young Jerusalem-born woman, can only dream of the life she wants - so far away from her real one, the life of an Orthodox Jewess, ordained by Hashem to be full of suffering and drudgery in order to help "hasten the Messiah's arrival." Little do her somewhat-sympathetic father and hard-hearted mother know, that when Esther leaves her school every day she's off to her art teacher's to study the only craft she loves - painting. How can Esther's two mutually exclusive worlds ever marry? Will they ever, before it is her time to marry, and forever extinguish her own dreams of painting and taking control of her life?The sense of urgency in the story, leading up to Esther's climactic decision, is breathless as she takes us through her daily life in the beautiful but poverty-stricken city of Jerusalem. Her daily tasks and all her thoughts are interrupted by her need for beauty and artistry, her life saturated with the desire to capture the world and make it her own. Esther's "impertinent" character and her reactions are believable through all the twists and turns she takes, upending some of her super-orthodox beliefs, only to reclaim them later on. Her confusion and desperation amidst so many trials and betrayals are immediate and heartrending to read about - I was completely absorbed in this story, which happens to be based on author Carner's great-grandmother but veers in a what-if direction that is also reflected on by the story-Esther. It slowed down a little too much after the Big Event I won't tell you about, but at the core this novel is a great exploration of faith in the face of reality and changing times and places. This was the theme that drew me to click on the "Request" link for the book in the first place, and I also got some great character development and language as rich and expressive as any of Esther's beautiful paintings. A terrific read, well worth a look in June 2011 - that is, if you are not the winner of the following
GIVEAWAY of JERUSALEM MAIDEN by Talia Carner ---
- Paperback: 464 pages
- Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (May 31, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0062004379
- ISBN-13: 978-0062004376
- Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
Very interesting review.
ReplyDeleteFound your blog via the book blog ning :) I'm a new follower and a new follower on NetWorkedBlogs as well!
ReplyDeleteI see you have Petals on the Wind by V.C. Andrews on your TBR shelf, I read that series several years ago and LOVED it. I love VC Andrews books (not the new ones that aren't her, but her original ones) and I think The Flowers in the Attic series was definitely my favorite!
Happy reading :)
April & My Shelf Confessions
This is a really interesting book. My wife will definitely get hooked on this.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your great review of JERUSALEM MAIDEN!
ReplyDeleteI would also like to share with your followers the exciting book group promotions we have initiated: Groups that select JERUSALEM MAIDEN can participate in the drawings of unique gifts.
1) A collectors' edition bottle of JERUSALEM MAIDEN wine grown in the Jerusalem mountains--and carrying the label of the book's cover art!
or
2) A Holy Land religious package of three vials: Galilee anointment oil, holy water from the Jordan River, and stones from Jerusalem —for each attendee,
or
3) An autographed copy of JERUSALEM MAIDEN.
Please e-mail MecoxHudson@gmail.com a photograph of your group holding their copies of the novel (Kindle screen is OK, too.)
And of course, if my schedule permits, I'd be delighted to participate in the meeting over the phone. Please write to me via my website at www.TaliaCarner.com .
Either way, because of the social issues behind my writing, I always promise my readers a lively and thought-provoking discussion at the meeting.
Thanks!
Talia Carner
Author