PEOPLE OF THE BOOK
by Geraldine Brooks
As I started writing this review, I went back through the L&L archives to double check that my mom had never reviewed People of the Book, since I know it is a favorite of hers. And not only is there no review, there are no Geraldine Brooks reviews at all! Her Pulitzer Prize-winner March is an all-time favorite, so if you haven’t tried a Brooks book, now is the time. And our apologies for slacking on recommending her!
People of the Book tells the story of a mysterious haggadah (the book used to guide the Passover seder) that turns up in Sarajevo after the Bosnian war in dire need of repairs. Hanna, an Australian restoration expert, is called in and as she makes her repairs, she raises many questions about the origins and travails of this precious book.
Brooks interweaves with Hanna’s story, which also includes an incredible personal journey, chapters where the reader glimpses the book at various pivotal moments in its history. For example, how it survived the Nazi book burnings, how it passed the Italian inquisition censors and even the stories of the original writer and illustrator in the 15th and 16th centuries, respectively. Each new chapter adds to the awe I felt for the book and for the people who shepherded it. It has really made me look at historical artifacts in an entirely new way.
I love the way Brooks is able to mix historical fact and fiction but also tell many engrossing personal stories. Her prose is gorgeous and thought provoking and I highly recommend this book. (Lily)
