The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi (Grazia dei Rossi, Bk 1)
Author:
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
I am a Chassidic Jew as well as a lover of historical fiction. As I have lately been drawn into the world of Renaissance Italy, this book seemed like a great fit for my tastes! Isabella D'Este! A Jewish woman's secret book!
The book began interestingly enough, even with the slightly boring letter to Grazia's son which opens the book and establishes the form and point of view. A traditional Jewish Italian family is caught during a pogrom as a result of a blood libel during Pesach (which, most years, takes place during the same week as Easter). This is well portrayed. Almost every Jew is familiar with the Passover Seder and pogroms due to a blood libel are ubiquitous even today. (A "classic" blood libel is the claim that the local Jewish community kills Christian children so as to use their blood to make matzah - unleavened bread eaten over Pesach. However, there are quite a number of variations on this theme and they don't always occur over Pesach.)
But as I continued reading, the book began to ring of falsehood and, frankly, incredibly poor research on the part of Park. Because it has been a while since I read this book and I am basically writing this review so as to try to ameliorate the inexplicably imbecilic details presented as "factual research," I will give only one example of the many glaring errors within the book:
Throughout the book, the term "Wad Kalilla"pops up here and there. At first I thought this must be some strange Jewish Italian Medieval instition I've never heard of. But as I read further, I began to recognize the situations which required this Arabic sounding organization. (There is not letter "W" in Hebrew OR Yiddish OR, I am almost 100% positive, Ladino - the Jewish secular language spoken in Jewish communities around the Mediterranean.)
Wad Kalilla - Vaad Kehilla! Now how can anyone claim to have done research and make such a ridiculous mistake? I am confused. Is Park Jewish? If so, shame on her. Is she not Jewish? If so, even MORE shame on her! If you want to create an exotic heroine, do so! But research what you are portraying first!
OK, so people can mistakes with cultures they are unfamiliar with. So I decided to continue on with the book. A few days later, I realized I had made little progress in reading the book. So I picked it up and tried to get involved with the story.
No could do. I found the story boring, character development minimal at best, and the epistolary style very stilted.
You know, I could have forgiven most of the mistakes if the book had been interesting.
The book began interestingly enough, even with the slightly boring letter to Grazia's son which opens the book and establishes the form and point of view. A traditional Jewish Italian family is caught during a pogrom as a result of a blood libel during Pesach (which, most years, takes place during the same week as Easter). This is well portrayed. Almost every Jew is familiar with the Passover Seder and pogroms due to a blood libel are ubiquitous even today. (A "classic" blood libel is the claim that the local Jewish community kills Christian children so as to use their blood to make matzah - unleavened bread eaten over Pesach. However, there are quite a number of variations on this theme and they don't always occur over Pesach.)
But as I continued reading, the book began to ring of falsehood and, frankly, incredibly poor research on the part of Park. Because it has been a while since I read this book and I am basically writing this review so as to try to ameliorate the inexplicably imbecilic details presented as "factual research," I will give only one example of the many glaring errors within the book:
Throughout the book, the term "Wad Kalilla"pops up here and there. At first I thought this must be some strange Jewish Italian Medieval instition I've never heard of. But as I read further, I began to recognize the situations which required this Arabic sounding organization. (There is not letter "W" in Hebrew OR Yiddish OR, I am almost 100% positive, Ladino - the Jewish secular language spoken in Jewish communities around the Mediterranean.)
Wad Kalilla - Vaad Kehilla! Now how can anyone claim to have done research and make such a ridiculous mistake? I am confused. Is Park Jewish? If so, shame on her. Is she not Jewish? If so, even MORE shame on her! If you want to create an exotic heroine, do so! But research what you are portraying first!
OK, so people can mistakes with cultures they are unfamiliar with. So I decided to continue on with the book. A few days later, I realized I had made little progress in reading the book. So I picked it up and tried to get involved with the story.
No could do. I found the story boring, character development minimal at best, and the epistolary style very stilted.
You know, I could have forgiven most of the mistakes if the book had been interesting.
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