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The Mapmaker's Daughter
A sweeping story of 1492 Spain, exploring how what we know about the world shapes our map of life Valencia, 1492. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella issue an order expelling all Jews who refuse to convert to Christianity. Amalia Cresques, daughter of a Jewish mapmaker whose services were so valuable that his faith had been ignored, can no longer evade the throne. She must leave her beloved atlas, her house, her country, forever. As Amalia remembers her past, living as a converso, hiding her faith, she must decide whether to risk the wrath of the Inquisition or relinquish what''s left of her true life. A mesmerizing saga about faith, family and Jewish identity.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
320 people are currently reading
3788 people want to read
About the author
Laurel Corona
31 books136 followersI have loved reading and writing ever since my older sister came home from first grade to teach me what she had learned that day. My first publications were in the Oakland Tribune in a weekly section for children called "Aunt Elsie's Page," and a newspaper I put out for my family which featured reviews of what I was reading and news about what was happening in the lives of my dolls.
I was lucky enough to have parents who encouraged me from the beginning, and who showed their support by giving up much of what they must have wanted for themselves so my sister and I could get the best possible education. As a result, by the time I graduated from The Bishop's School in 1967 and enrolled as an English major at the University of California at Davis, I had come to appreciate that good writing is extraordinarily difficult but well worth the effort. I couldn't believe I could get a degree by devouring novels and poetry in bed in my pajamas, and writing papers on ideas that burned in me as I read, but it turned out to be largely true. Graduate school at the University of Chicago (MA 1972) and again at Davis (Ph.D, 1982) followed.
Professionally, early in my career I was both an instructor and an administrator of academic support programs at San Diego State University and the University of California at San Diego. I came to San Diego City College in 1990, first as a dean and then as a full-time professor of English and Humanities. I also freelanced in the 1990s, writing approximately 20 Young Adult titles for Lucent Books.
Lately, i have been enjoying the opportunity to serve as an enrichment lecturer on Silversea Cruises, and in my spare time, I am an avid tennis player, novice golfer, voracious reader, and a pretty good chef.
I was lucky enough to have parents who encouraged me from the beginning, and who showed their support by giving up much of what they must have wanted for themselves so my sister and I could get the best possible education. As a result, by the time I graduated from The Bishop's School in 1967 and enrolled as an English major at the University of California at Davis, I had come to appreciate that good writing is extraordinarily difficult but well worth the effort. I couldn't believe I could get a degree by devouring novels and poetry in bed in my pajamas, and writing papers on ideas that burned in me as I read, but it turned out to be largely true. Graduate school at the University of Chicago (MA 1972) and again at Davis (Ph.D, 1982) followed.
Professionally, early in my career I was both an instructor and an administrator of academic support programs at San Diego State University and the University of California at San Diego. I came to San Diego City College in 1990, first as a dean and then as a full-time professor of English and Humanities. I also freelanced in the 1990s, writing approximately 20 Young Adult titles for Lucent Books.
Lately, i have been enjoying the opportunity to serve as an enrichment lecturer on Silversea Cruises, and in my spare time, I am an avid tennis player, novice golfer, voracious reader, and a pretty good chef.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews
January 29, 2016
I was quite disappointed in this novel, as I loved Corona's others. The writing was good, particularly the descriptions of the various locale, but it read more like a travelog than a novel. I found another Goodreads review that pretty much summed up my view so I'm quoting it here:
"I found Amalia's journey impossible to get into. Focal character Amalia Cresques lacks both purpose and dimension. Ever a spectator, she doesn't actually do much of anything over the course of the story. Honestly, she spends ninety-five percent of the narrative sitting on her hands, a mere witness to the upheaval caused by the political and religious conflict of the period. Had she been properly developed, an active participant, or portrayed as a confidant and loyal friend to one of the key players, I might feel differently, but as it stands I felt her position as casual acquaintance of the noteworthy and powerful made exceedingly dull reading. While I'm on the subject, I was incredibly disappointed with Corona's treatment of the historical cast. Individuals like Jehuda Cresques, Henry the Navigator, Isabella of Portugal, Muhammed IX, Isabella I of Castile, and Isaac Abrabanel. Corona doesn't explore their personalities or give them a function in Amalia's story. Treating them as stock characters, they wander in and out of the narrative at random, flat impersonations with intangible identities, objectives and motivations."
In addition I had a hard time keeping track of all the people and places. This book really needed a map, even more disappointing in one titled "Mapmaker's Daughter." Not to mention that the 'map' of the title hardly makes an appearance in the story at all.
"I found Amalia's journey impossible to get into. Focal character Amalia Cresques lacks both purpose and dimension. Ever a spectator, she doesn't actually do much of anything over the course of the story. Honestly, she spends ninety-five percent of the narrative sitting on her hands, a mere witness to the upheaval caused by the political and religious conflict of the period. Had she been properly developed, an active participant, or portrayed as a confidant and loyal friend to one of the key players, I might feel differently, but as it stands I felt her position as casual acquaintance of the noteworthy and powerful made exceedingly dull reading. While I'm on the subject, I was incredibly disappointed with Corona's treatment of the historical cast. Individuals like Jehuda Cresques, Henry the Navigator, Isabella of Portugal, Muhammed IX, Isabella I of Castile, and Isaac Abrabanel. Corona doesn't explore their personalities or give them a function in Amalia's story. Treating them as stock characters, they wander in and out of the narrative at random, flat impersonations with intangible identities, objectives and motivations."
In addition I had a hard time keeping track of all the people and places. This book really needed a map, even more disappointing in one titled "Mapmaker's Daughter." Not to mention that the 'map' of the title hardly makes an appearance in the story at all.
July 18, 2014
A good read that is nonetheless somewhat anti-climactic. I was hooked into Amalia's story from the beginning. Her lifelong struggles as a conversa facing anti-Semitic persecution in Spain and Portugal were heart rending. However, I felt like this book lost rather than gained narrative momentum as it progressed. When the climax of your book is the Spanish Inquisition (this is revealed early on in an unnecessary and unsuccessful framing device where elderly Amalia reminisces about her life) and that climax lacks weight you know something has gone awry with the quality of the storytelling.
For as much as I enjoyed aspects of this book it failed to wow me because Corona could not decide if she wanted to write an intimate, small scale portrayal of one woman's experience of fifteenth century Judaism practiced under adversity or a broader work encompassing all the major royal, political and historical upheaval that occurred from 1432-1492.
This is yet another of book that I think really would have benefitted from being told in third rather than first person. Since Amalia's perspective on some pivotal plot points and supporting characters is limited the reader fails to engage with them. The third act in particular is basically a laundry list of Amalia's descendants (none of whom are developed in their own right) and hamfisted exposition.
This book needed to either be longer to give the royal characters, and Amalia's large extended family personalities or it needed to be shorter and more limited in its ambitions.
I am probably making this book sound worse than it is in my review. It is definitely worth reading for all my nitpicks. It's just a bit frustrating that this book doesn't fully capitalize on the potential inherent in its premise.
For as much as I enjoyed aspects of this book it failed to wow me because Corona could not decide if she wanted to write an intimate, small scale portrayal of one woman's experience of fifteenth century Judaism practiced under adversity or a broader work encompassing all the major royal, political and historical upheaval that occurred from 1432-1492.
This is yet another of book that I think really would have benefitted from being told in third rather than first person. Since Amalia's perspective on some pivotal plot points and supporting characters is limited the reader fails to engage with them. The third act in particular is basically a laundry list of Amalia's descendants (none of whom are developed in their own right) and hamfisted exposition.
This book needed to either be longer to give the royal characters, and Amalia's large extended family personalities or it needed to be shorter and more limited in its ambitions.
I am probably making this book sound worse than it is in my review. It is definitely worth reading for all my nitpicks. It's just a bit frustrating that this book doesn't fully capitalize on the potential inherent in its premise.
February 20, 2018
For those of you who love Spain and consider themselves Sephardic in nature, then this is the book for you. Yes, being a Wandering Jew is part of my soul. Life-long learning of the past educators entwined with personal traits in their histories will define us as a people. We are living proof that our existence will continue. We who have descendants will sing and dance and document our future. Books and film are testimonies today.
January 17, 2016
The Mapmaker's Daughter by Laurel Corona
3 Stars
Alternating between 1430's and 1492, we follow Amalia's struggle living in Spain during the Inquisition. Amalia was born into a family torn apart by the struggle of dealing with their Judaism. Her father and two sisters have decided to live as a converso. However, her mother and her grandmother are determined to pass down the rituals Jews hold dear. They see Amalia as the vessel for their dream. Amalia's ultimate decision to remain true to her mother's faith leads to a tremendous amount of sacrifice, heartbreak, and danger.
I'm a bit frustrated with this book. It should have been excellent, but it was simply mediocre. The attention to the customs of the Jews was fascinating. The common bond between the Jews and the Moors was interesting. However, apart from the customs Corona's narrative was sparse, which was ironic since Amalia was a poet. As Amalia watches the terror inflicted on the Jews around her I felt absolutely nothing. I just never felt a connection to any of the characters.
3 Stars
Alternating between 1430's and 1492, we follow Amalia's struggle living in Spain during the Inquisition. Amalia was born into a family torn apart by the struggle of dealing with their Judaism. Her father and two sisters have decided to live as a converso. However, her mother and her grandmother are determined to pass down the rituals Jews hold dear. They see Amalia as the vessel for their dream. Amalia's ultimate decision to remain true to her mother's faith leads to a tremendous amount of sacrifice, heartbreak, and danger.
I'm a bit frustrated with this book. It should have been excellent, but it was simply mediocre. The attention to the customs of the Jews was fascinating. The common bond between the Jews and the Moors was interesting. However, apart from the customs Corona's narrative was sparse, which was ironic since Amalia was a poet. As Amalia watches the terror inflicted on the Jews around her I felt absolutely nothing. I just never felt a connection to any of the characters.
April 29, 2015
I had no expectations of The Mapmaker's Daughter by Laurel Corona when I decided to read it. I had never read this author. I had seen the book in my Goodreads friends feed and was curious. Yet when I didn't have time to finish the book and was forced to return it to the library, I checked it out again because I was so impressed by what I'd read.
In the first two sections of this book the accomplishments of fictional protagonist Amalia were really impressive. As an adolescent she created a signing system for her deaf father, and presumably taught it to him so that they could utilize it for communication. Then she became his interpreter. Since her father became the mapmaker for Prince Henry the Navigator, he traveled in exalted circles and so did she. She had a facility for spoken languages and learned a number of them. Later she translated a great deal of Hebrew poetry into Portuguese for the Duke of Braganza. She also wrote her own poetry. She became the instructor of the grandchildren of the King of Granada, and then returned to her birthplace to teach the future Queen Isabella of Castille.
Yet Amalia maintained family as her haven when she felt a need for support. What's interesting about this is that it wasn't her genetic family of conversos. Amalia had actually chosen a prominent family that remained Jewish, and were leaders in the Jewish community of Andalusia, as her own. They warmly embraced Amalia. They were the Abravanels. The Abravanels of this era are known historical personages.
So I felt that the third section in which Amalia made a permanent life for herself among the Abravanels and completely identified with them also made a strong statement. She could have made another choice, and become a fervent Christian converso like her sisters. She had a number of opportunities to take that road. She could have joined Ferdinand and Isabella's court as a converso, but it was filled with intolerance, danger and suspicion. She had previously experienced a culturally vibrant court in Granada where her knowledge was valued and her Jewish religion was respected. It's easy to see why Amalia decided to distance herself from the monarchs known as Their Most Christian Majesties.
For me, the themes of Jewish survival and the maintenance of tradition were very well demonstrated by Laurel Corona through the story of Amalia in The Mapmaker's Daughter
For my complete review see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
In the first two sections of this book the accomplishments of fictional protagonist Amalia were really impressive. As an adolescent she created a signing system for her deaf father, and presumably taught it to him so that they could utilize it for communication. Then she became his interpreter. Since her father became the mapmaker for Prince Henry the Navigator, he traveled in exalted circles and so did she. She had a facility for spoken languages and learned a number of them. Later she translated a great deal of Hebrew poetry into Portuguese for the Duke of Braganza. She also wrote her own poetry. She became the instructor of the grandchildren of the King of Granada, and then returned to her birthplace to teach the future Queen Isabella of Castille.
Yet Amalia maintained family as her haven when she felt a need for support. What's interesting about this is that it wasn't her genetic family of conversos. Amalia had actually chosen a prominent family that remained Jewish, and were leaders in the Jewish community of Andalusia, as her own. They warmly embraced Amalia. They were the Abravanels. The Abravanels of this era are known historical personages.
So I felt that the third section in which Amalia made a permanent life for herself among the Abravanels and completely identified with them also made a strong statement. She could have made another choice, and become a fervent Christian converso like her sisters. She had a number of opportunities to take that road. She could have joined Ferdinand and Isabella's court as a converso, but it was filled with intolerance, danger and suspicion. She had previously experienced a culturally vibrant court in Granada where her knowledge was valued and her Jewish religion was respected. It's easy to see why Amalia decided to distance herself from the monarchs known as Their Most Christian Majesties.
For me, the themes of Jewish survival and the maintenance of tradition were very well demonstrated by Laurel Corona through the story of Amalia in The Mapmaker's Daughter
For my complete review see http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
August 10, 2016
The 15th Century in Spain and Portugal was a time of great upheaval with political intrigue, economic ups and downs, social and civil unrest. The tensions between Catholics, Jews, and Muslims were widespread and violence was common. This was a complex and interesting situation that had an effect on all of Europe and parts of Africa.
This is the backdrop for The Mapmaker's Daughter as we see the experiences of one Jewish/Converso family and their daughter Amalia in particular. Despite having such a rich and interesting era from which to mine her story, Laurel Corona's book is little more than a formulaic Gothic romance with heart throbbing, bodice ripping, breathless tripe. If you like these sorts of romance novels then this might please you but it is certainly not my cup of tea.
This is the backdrop for The Mapmaker's Daughter as we see the experiences of one Jewish/Converso family and their daughter Amalia in particular. Despite having such a rich and interesting era from which to mine her story, Laurel Corona's book is little more than a formulaic Gothic romance with heart throbbing, bodice ripping, breathless tripe. If you like these sorts of romance novels then this might please you but it is certainly not my cup of tea.
March 31, 2014
In her usual fashion, Laurel Corona breathes life into a strong female character, wrapping the story in gorgeous prose. Although The Mapmaker’s Daughter does not top Finding Emilie for me, there was so much beauty and strength to be found in this story. The events portrayed are often tragic, but the way the story is told is beautiful.
The main character, Amalia Riba is a true embodiment of strength, and I enjoyed watching the details of her life as they unfolded. Amalia is a Jew in a time when that is a dangerous thing to be, and grows up under the looming shadow of persecution and eventual expulsion under the reign of Isabel and Ferdinand. Though she was born as a converso, her mother has secretly remained a Jew while outwardly appearing to be Christian. Amalia follows in her footsteps and as she grows older must decide what the ultimately means for her and the decisions she makes for herself and her daughter.
I loved the look into the lives of those from another time, culture and of different beliefs. This book is rich with historical detail of Jewish and Islamic customs and the setting of each place is so colorfully described that I felt like I had been there myself. The scenes of Amalia growing up on the seaside with her father were particularly beautiful, and the descriptions were beautiful enough to read over again. I found myself highlighting several passages.
There were times when I felt that the lack of dialogue was noticeable, so much so that I was excited when someone finally spoke. Sometimes the story leaned a little bit too much on introspection between major events. Due to the time period of the book, some of the language comes across as a bit crude. I know that in those days words we consider off-color weren’t considered that way then, but sometimes I wish the language had been a bit different. In my own personal opinion, the scenes of intimacy bordered on gratuitous and gave too much information that was not necessary to the scene. This is based on my personal preference, and I’m sure that other readers wouldn’t mind it quite as much as I did.
Although there were many things to pull from this story – the cruelty of one person to another, the harsh realities of life, the beauty of nature and peace found with God & self – I found that the familial bonds between the characters to be the most thought-provoking. While The Mapmaker’s Daughter is not necessarily a happy story, it shows that even in the darkest of times, there is power in family. Family goes beyond blood relation, and brings to life the idea that home truly is where your heart is – if you are with the ones you love, you are never far from home.
The main character, Amalia Riba is a true embodiment of strength, and I enjoyed watching the details of her life as they unfolded. Amalia is a Jew in a time when that is a dangerous thing to be, and grows up under the looming shadow of persecution and eventual expulsion under the reign of Isabel and Ferdinand. Though she was born as a converso, her mother has secretly remained a Jew while outwardly appearing to be Christian. Amalia follows in her footsteps and as she grows older must decide what the ultimately means for her and the decisions she makes for herself and her daughter.
I loved the look into the lives of those from another time, culture and of different beliefs. This book is rich with historical detail of Jewish and Islamic customs and the setting of each place is so colorfully described that I felt like I had been there myself. The scenes of Amalia growing up on the seaside with her father were particularly beautiful, and the descriptions were beautiful enough to read over again. I found myself highlighting several passages.
There were times when I felt that the lack of dialogue was noticeable, so much so that I was excited when someone finally spoke. Sometimes the story leaned a little bit too much on introspection between major events. Due to the time period of the book, some of the language comes across as a bit crude. I know that in those days words we consider off-color weren’t considered that way then, but sometimes I wish the language had been a bit different. In my own personal opinion, the scenes of intimacy bordered on gratuitous and gave too much information that was not necessary to the scene. This is based on my personal preference, and I’m sure that other readers wouldn’t mind it quite as much as I did.
Although there were many things to pull from this story – the cruelty of one person to another, the harsh realities of life, the beauty of nature and peace found with God & self – I found that the familial bonds between the characters to be the most thought-provoking. While The Mapmaker’s Daughter is not necessarily a happy story, it shows that even in the darkest of times, there is power in family. Family goes beyond blood relation, and brings to life the idea that home truly is where your heart is – if you are with the ones you love, you are never far from home.
March 4, 2014
Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
I first noticed Laurel Corona's The Mapmaker's Daughter when it was added to the Historical Fiction 2014 book list on Goodreads. The buzz caught my attention and by the time the title appeared on Netgalley, I was positively giddy at the prospect of reading it. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm was short lived.
Corona relies heavily on macro level ideas and motifs, offering her audience very little substance with which to relate on the micro level of the narrative. Concept heavy and exceedingly complex, I found Amalia's journey impossible to get into and while I greatly appreciated the author's illustration of faith, I felt her thesis overwhelmed her fiction and dragged the pacing to a pitifully painful crawl.
Focal character Amalia Cresques lacks both purpose and dimension. Ever a spectator, she doesn't actually do much of anything over the course of the story. Honestly, she spends ninety-five percent of the narrative sitting on her hands, a mere witness to the upheaval caused by the political and religious conflict of the period. Had she been properly developed, an active participant, or portrayed as a confidant and loyal friend to one of the key players, I might feel differently, but as it stands I felt her position as casual acquaintance of the noteworthy and powerful made exceedingly dull reading.
While I'm on the subject, I was incredibly disappointed with Corona's treatment of the historical cast. Individuals like Jehuda Cresques, Henry the Navigator, Isabella of Portugal, Muhammed IX, Isabella I of Castile, and Isaac Abrabanel. Corona doesn't explore their personalities or give them a function in Amalia's story. Treating them as stock characters, they wander in and out of the narrative at random, flat impersonations with intangible identities, objectives and motivations.
A slow and impersonal read, The Mapmaker's Daughter a chore to get through. Thematically interesting, but otherwise unremarkable.
I first noticed Laurel Corona's The Mapmaker's Daughter when it was added to the Historical Fiction 2014 book list on Goodreads. The buzz caught my attention and by the time the title appeared on Netgalley, I was positively giddy at the prospect of reading it. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm was short lived.
Corona relies heavily on macro level ideas and motifs, offering her audience very little substance with which to relate on the micro level of the narrative. Concept heavy and exceedingly complex, I found Amalia's journey impossible to get into and while I greatly appreciated the author's illustration of faith, I felt her thesis overwhelmed her fiction and dragged the pacing to a pitifully painful crawl.
Focal character Amalia Cresques lacks both purpose and dimension. Ever a spectator, she doesn't actually do much of anything over the course of the story. Honestly, she spends ninety-five percent of the narrative sitting on her hands, a mere witness to the upheaval caused by the political and religious conflict of the period. Had she been properly developed, an active participant, or portrayed as a confidant and loyal friend to one of the key players, I might feel differently, but as it stands I felt her position as casual acquaintance of the noteworthy and powerful made exceedingly dull reading.
While I'm on the subject, I was incredibly disappointed with Corona's treatment of the historical cast. Individuals like Jehuda Cresques, Henry the Navigator, Isabella of Portugal, Muhammed IX, Isabella I of Castile, and Isaac Abrabanel. Corona doesn't explore their personalities or give them a function in Amalia's story. Treating them as stock characters, they wander in and out of the narrative at random, flat impersonations with intangible identities, objectives and motivations.
A slow and impersonal read, The Mapmaker's Daughter a chore to get through. Thematically interesting, but otherwise unremarkable.
March 16, 2014
3.5 stars. In "The Mapmaker's Daughter," Amalia's life is changing quickly. She is living in Spain just prior to and during the expulsion of the Jews from Spain. She is a part of an affluent family but her family is of Jewish descent. She and her family are straddling two sides of history. This book was a mixed bag for me. It started out strong for me and then tapered off through the story. Overall, I still liked this book because of the historical detail.
Amalia was a very interesting character to me. A lot is happening to her and around her and in many ways, she is an observer and it felt as if she was merely being taken along for the ride, especially during the last part of the book. I really felt like I wanted more involvement from her. I really enjoyed reading about her young life. Her family was fascinating. They live as Christians after their conversions but the women in her family still practice some of the Jewish traditions, which I found absolutely fascinating.
I have not read a lot of historical fiction set in this time period. I really liked reading about how some of the people, like Amalia's family still practiced their religion in secret. It was interesting how many people pretended to be someone they weren't in order to escape the notice of people like Torquemada. I also really liked reading about how the Spanish royalty really felt about the Inquisition. It was interesting to see all of the different perspectives!
Amalia was a very interesting character to me. A lot is happening to her and around her and in many ways, she is an observer and it felt as if she was merely being taken along for the ride, especially during the last part of the book. I really felt like I wanted more involvement from her. I really enjoyed reading about her young life. Her family was fascinating. They live as Christians after their conversions but the women in her family still practice some of the Jewish traditions, which I found absolutely fascinating.
I have not read a lot of historical fiction set in this time period. I really liked reading about how some of the people, like Amalia's family still practiced their religion in secret. It was interesting how many people pretended to be someone they weren't in order to escape the notice of people like Torquemada. I also really liked reading about how the Spanish royalty really felt about the Inquisition. It was interesting to see all of the different perspectives!
March 1, 2015
Had to force myself to get through this one and skimmed the last 100 pages or so. The content was interesting; the writing just sort of so-so. Endless sentences that did not catch my attention and the paragraphs? Starting and ending wherever - just wherever. I felt like I was reading I did this; I did that; then I did this again; then she did that again.
Not my style of writing at all, but for some, perhaps a tremendous book. But for me, 'too simply written' as my mother would have said.
A shame, too, as this book concerns a topic, time and place I'd like to learn more about it, and in more depth.
Not my style of writing at all, but for some, perhaps a tremendous book. But for me, 'too simply written' as my mother would have said.
A shame, too, as this book concerns a topic, time and place I'd like to learn more about it, and in more depth.
October 14, 2024
2024 update:
I don’t know how I could have rated this book anything less than 5 stars! It’s one of my absolute favorites and I think about it a lot. Amalia’s story reminds me so much of my own and her ability to find her identity and stay true to it is so inspiring.
2019 review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved this book! The beginning was a bit slow, but once Amalia stayed true to her own identity, the story really took off!
I don’t know how I could have rated this book anything less than 5 stars! It’s one of my absolute favorites and I think about it a lot. Amalia’s story reminds me so much of my own and her ability to find her identity and stay true to it is so inspiring.
2019 review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved this book! The beginning was a bit slow, but once Amalia stayed true to her own identity, the story really took off!
March 16, 2023
I DNF on page 32 / chapter 3. I wanted to power through this, but I have far too many books on my TBR list to do it. What convinced me to quit this book was when I saw a 2 star review that said this,
"What frustrated me was the continual presence of hatred against Spanish Christians. I would not be surprised if the author had a bone to pick with Christianity in general."
I think this book tells an important story. Jewish people in Spain were treated very poorly, and it shouldn't be ignored. But does the author have to make every Christian character unlikable? And in the chapters I did read, Amalia/Leah is very angry at her sisters for wanting to be Christians. I had no patience for reading about a bratty character who would hate on her sisters for having beliefs different to her own. There could have been nuance in their conflict, none existed.
So overall the book was too boring for me to continue. I would've kept going if it was written in Ruta Sepety's style. She starts her historical books off with some kind of action, conflict, nail-biting situation that really grabs the reader. There was none of that here.
I think this book tells an important story. Jewish people in Spain were treated very poorly, and it shouldn't be ignored. But does the author have to make every Christian character unlikable? And in the chapters I did read, Amalia/Leah is very angry at her sisters for wanting to be Christians. I had no patience for reading about a bratty character who would hate on her sisters for having beliefs different to her own. There could have been nuance in their conflict, none existed.
So overall the book was too boring for me to continue. I would've kept going if it was written in Ruta Sepety's style. She starts her historical books off with some kind of action, conflict, nail-biting situation that really grabs the reader. There was none of that here.
July 15, 2014
a sprawling saga of medieval spain and portugal 1432-1492 told through 1st person of amalia riba (cresques) , or better, he family thought of her as ama - lia, god loves leah. they were conversos, jews who went catholic, but like many, secretly kept their jew faith. so amalia is the descendent of the cresque who made the catalonian atlas http://www.bigmapblog.com/2011/cresqu... . she gets in all kinds of situations, living in sagres while her first husband sails for henry the navigator, lives in queluz with the free jews, she's a widow now and meets a granadan muslim diplomat and they fall in love, so she moves to granada to teach and fuck, then that falls through, she is invited to teach for queen elizabeth in spain (who goes mad eventually when her children, isabel and afonso are taken from her) so amalia goes back to portugal, livin' large til king jaoa kicks em all out, back to spain they go, the new king/queen isabel and ferdinand finally conquer al-andalus/grananda, kick all the muslims and jews out of iberia, then decide to kick out or burn, all the conversos and jews in rest of spain, so in 1492 amalia is on the shore waiting for a ship, and she has to leave the atlas behind.
full of intricate historical detail, strong feminist characters and situations, and historical characters, the novel rocks fast and is sad and inspiring . not the greatest plot/writing in the world but good novel of complicated scenario.
full of intricate historical detail, strong feminist characters and situations, and historical characters, the novel rocks fast and is sad and inspiring . not the greatest plot/writing in the world but good novel of complicated scenario.
October 8, 2014
The author, a professor of humanities at San Diego City College, identifies deeply with Jews and explains that she is a Jew and a novelist by choice. Her passion for this book's subject matter is evident throughout.
This historical novel begins with reflections of 1432 and is told in the first person through the eyes of Amalia, the mapmaker's daughter who is looking back on her life. Because the story includes both Henry the Navigator and queen Isabella of Spain, the protagonist had to live across a number of generations. Beginning on the eve of the Inquisition, the story focuses on underappreciated and sometimes forgotten women in fifteenth-century Iberia. We are introduced to the converso, a Jew who pretends to be Christian in order to remain safe and survive persecution. We also learn of Jewish rituals and their importance to the community of believers. Observance of Shabbat and the ritual of mikvah predominate. Corona, in fact, dedicates her book to "the mikvah and the countless Jewish women who have restored their strength and optimism in its waters," a practice that has obviously shaped the world view of any female who has practiced it. Informative and compelling, this novel teaches readers about identity, choices, persecution, exile, and the importance of community.
This historical novel begins with reflections of 1432 and is told in the first person through the eyes of Amalia, the mapmaker's daughter who is looking back on her life. Because the story includes both Henry the Navigator and queen Isabella of Spain, the protagonist had to live across a number of generations. Beginning on the eve of the Inquisition, the story focuses on underappreciated and sometimes forgotten women in fifteenth-century Iberia. We are introduced to the converso, a Jew who pretends to be Christian in order to remain safe and survive persecution. We also learn of Jewish rituals and their importance to the community of believers. Observance of Shabbat and the ritual of mikvah predominate. Corona, in fact, dedicates her book to "the mikvah and the countless Jewish women who have restored their strength and optimism in its waters," a practice that has obviously shaped the world view of any female who has practiced it. Informative and compelling, this novel teaches readers about identity, choices, persecution, exile, and the importance of community.
July 12, 2018
If you're interested in understanding the situation of Jews in Spain before the expulsion, this book offers a chance to feel the fear, joys, and uniqueness of this era. As a historical romance, it's a love story between men and women but also a love story of the land, of learning, and of Jewish life. It may be difficult to suss out what is historically accurate and what's invented, but Corona helps the reader by including a brief discussion at the end of the book on the historicity of her story. As one might expect, many male characters are historical figures while the women's characters had to be imagined. A bonus of this book is the inclusion of poetry from Andalusia in English translation. The meter and wordplay may be lost in translation but the sensuousness of the poetry remains.
April 21, 2023
DNF. I tried so hard to get into this book and it just went on and on and on. The main character, Amalia was never developed in the way she should have been. The story just did not draw me in. I really wanted to like it. I’m fascinated by the history and I will be traveling in Portugal. This book was a huge disappointment and I have too many other books on my TBR list.
March 30, 2024
This is a masterpiece! The strong narrator, Amalia, is a woman to be emulated. All of the various faiths are represented evenly and realistically. The 15th century was a brutal period for non-Christians because the Christians of the time were most unchristian. My heart broke again and again as I read this! And I read it while on vacation in Spain! The hate-mongering continues to this day and targets everyone. It makes me appreciate John Lennon’s “Imagine there’s no heaven….”
June 28, 2024
The overall concept was interesting but it was too long
August 17, 2015
Beautifully written but s-l-o-w, oh so slow, and too full of hatred and sadness.
You'd think a book titled "The Mapmaker's Daughter" would feature more map. Or at least some. The art of mapmaking is barely referenced at all. And this is one of the few books out there that genuinely needs a map. The story takes place all over the southern region of Spain and Portugal. (I took a trip through this region a few years ago and loved revisiting it in the book, though it would have driven me nuts were I not familiar with the geography of this area).
Jews of southern Spain were given three awful options: 1 - leave. 2 - remain Jewish but be subjected to fines, taxes, and lack of protection afforded Christian and Muslim citizens. 3 - convert to Christianity and forever be judged for not being Catholic enough. These enforced policies were and remain a crime against humanity.
Amalia/Leah has an interesting background story: she is one of many Spanish Jews that publicly converted to Christianity but practice their Jewish faith in secret. Her mother is a devout Jew; her father doesn't care either way; her sisters enjoy being Christian.
The converso storyline ends early on in the book as Leah and her father move to Portugal. From there, it's a bit of a travelogue. The story is at its best when Leah's sexy Berber lover is on the page; the writing, even though it's PG, just sizzles.
What frustrated me was the continual presence of hatred against Spanish Christians. I would not be surprised if the author had a bone to pick with Christianity in general. I'm not naive enough to believe that the Jews, Muslims, and Christians of 1492 Spain lived in perfect harmony. However, the author fails to account for the fact that regardless of faith, they were all as Spanish as Ferdinand and Isabella. Nor does the book explore why Jews were so persecuted. From historical texts I've read, it was not so much of a religious difference as it was a cultural or socioeconomic reason (similar to how early Mormons weren't persecuted so much for holy underwear, but rather acting like douchebags). I feel the author missed an opportunity here.
There is one mention - yes, one in the entire book - of an unnamed Christian friend of Leah's son-in-law who helps them, though it's covered in a single sentence. All other Christians are downright hateable in this book. All Jewish characters are saintly (Leah's mother is a nasty bigot and yet we're supposed to love her), and the author glosses over the Grenada characters, softening things like slaves, harems, and eunuchs. A more balanced approach to characters would have been more believable and far more interesting. I would have found it exciting to explore some interfaith relationships and perhaps make use of a multiple narrator story to help show perspectives. The only remotely interfaith conversation is between Leah and Jamail and even that one is more on cultural differences.
September 9, 2016
So, fun fact: I misread the descriptive copy on the back of this book and thought that it took place in 1942 Spain -- a World War II novel. So it was a little bit of a surprise to realize that it actually centers around 1492 expulsion of the Jews from Spain, and incorporates several real-life historical figures into its plot, such as noted titular mapmaker Jehuda Cresques and Queen Isabella of Christopher Columbus fame.
Going in, I knew basically nothing about the historical context of this book (the Spanish Inquisition and the Alhambra Decree) and that maybe hindered my enjoyment a little. There's also a lot of Jewish tradition and royal genealogy that flew over my head that other readers may digest a little more easily. As a nonreligious person, it was sometimes very hard for me to get into the head of our narrator Amalia, whose family, along with the other Spanish Jews of the time, were forced to convert to Christianity in order to escape persecution. Amalia’s mother continued to teach her Jewish traditions and belief in secret, and Amalia spends much of her adulthood living openly as a Jew despite rampant anti-Semitism. Her decisions sometimes frustrated me no matter how hard I tried to understand her point of view.
The book is very well-written but moves rather slowly and at times assumes the reader will have enough knowledge of this historical context to understand the nuances of the plot. To be honest, some elements of the plot rang false to me (Muslims and Jews living together in peace?) until I perused Wikipedia for a bit and realized just how ignorant I was of the historical facts – the Moors were actually very tolerant of Jewish enclaves in Iberia. Isabella was a character in this book for maybe 100 pages before it dawned on me that she was that Isabella. Someone who actually knows a little bit about that time in history may appreciate Corona’s storytelling -- and may be able to follow some of the complicated family trees -- a little bit more than I did. But, I’m ultimately glad that I read this book because I learned a great deal more than I was expecting to. I just...lost interest after a while.
So I would recommend this book to fans of rich historical fiction, but with the caveat that it may be worth spending some time on Wikipedia if you’re not too familiar with the Inquisition.
Going in, I knew basically nothing about the historical context of this book (the Spanish Inquisition and the Alhambra Decree) and that maybe hindered my enjoyment a little. There's also a lot of Jewish tradition and royal genealogy that flew over my head that other readers may digest a little more easily. As a nonreligious person, it was sometimes very hard for me to get into the head of our narrator Amalia, whose family, along with the other Spanish Jews of the time, were forced to convert to Christianity in order to escape persecution. Amalia’s mother continued to teach her Jewish traditions and belief in secret, and Amalia spends much of her adulthood living openly as a Jew despite rampant anti-Semitism. Her decisions sometimes frustrated me no matter how hard I tried to understand her point of view.
The book is very well-written but moves rather slowly and at times assumes the reader will have enough knowledge of this historical context to understand the nuances of the plot. To be honest, some elements of the plot rang false to me (Muslims and Jews living together in peace?) until I perused Wikipedia for a bit and realized just how ignorant I was of the historical facts – the Moors were actually very tolerant of Jewish enclaves in Iberia. Isabella was a character in this book for maybe 100 pages before it dawned on me that she was that Isabella. Someone who actually knows a little bit about that time in history may appreciate Corona’s storytelling -- and may be able to follow some of the complicated family trees -- a little bit more than I did. But, I’m ultimately glad that I read this book because I learned a great deal more than I was expecting to. I just...lost interest after a while.
So I would recommend this book to fans of rich historical fiction, but with the caveat that it may be worth spending some time on Wikipedia if you’re not too familiar with the Inquisition.
January 18, 2014
Amalia Cresques is descended from the great family of Majorcan cartographers who produced the Catalan Atlas in 1375 (they are historical figures, though she is invented). As a child growing up in Seville in the 1430s she experiences the struggle of converso life: outwardly living as a Christian, but secretly continuing to celebrate the rituals of her family's Jewish faith. When tragedy strikes her family, Amalia moves to Portugal with her mapmaker father, where he serves Henry the Navigator in charting the new discoveries along the African coast. Here, in the environment of a (temporarily) tolerant court, she finds the foundations of her future, through marriage and through an increasingly warm friendship with the Abravanel family of Jewish advisers and scholars. But this happy balance can't last long, and Amalia and her friends must soon come to terms with ever increasing hatred and discrimination - which eventually looks set to drive them from their country altogether. It's a sombre and sobering piece of history.
Despite the book's fascinating subject, there are certain elements which aren't carried off quite as successfully. I found some of the characterisation rather simplistic and was especially struck by the fact that certain relationships felt like dramatic necessities rather than genuine emotional connections. This was particularly true of Amalia's great love affair, which seemed to happen very quickly and which had plenty of physical description but not, in my opinion, a correspondingly deep emotional conviction. Having said this, the story will still be of interest to those who are keen to learn more about this period, or who have an interest in Jewish culture and history. Corona describes Jewish customs with great warmth and respect, and the book was most interesting for me in this respect, as I knew so little about them. But unfortunately overall, as a novel, it just didn't quite grab me.
For a longer review, please visit my blog (where there are some spoilers - but also some images from the Cresques Catalan Atlas):
http://theidlewoman.blogspot.co.uk/20...
Despite the book's fascinating subject, there are certain elements which aren't carried off quite as successfully. I found some of the characterisation rather simplistic and was especially struck by the fact that certain relationships felt like dramatic necessities rather than genuine emotional connections. This was particularly true of Amalia's great love affair, which seemed to happen very quickly and which had plenty of physical description but not, in my opinion, a correspondingly deep emotional conviction. Having said this, the story will still be of interest to those who are keen to learn more about this period, or who have an interest in Jewish culture and history. Corona describes Jewish customs with great warmth and respect, and the book was most interesting for me in this respect, as I knew so little about them. But unfortunately overall, as a novel, it just didn't quite grab me.
For a longer review, please visit my blog (where there are some spoilers - but also some images from the Cresques Catalan Atlas):
http://theidlewoman.blogspot.co.uk/20...
August 18, 2014
I had never read anything by Laurel Corona until I chanced on this book. I am Jewish, and have read other historical fiction recently with Jewish content and strong Jewish women figures like this book, especially the books by Maggie Anton including the Rashi's Daughters trilogy.
Writing Jewish historical fiction is not easy but I find it fascinating. The author both presented an accurate description of Jewish (and converso/anusim) life in the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th century. (Although the Jewish women in this story were fictional, they were fairly typical of women of the time.) In order to accurately describe Jewish life, she needed to include important historical figures of Europe of the time. She also included the map making skills of the Jews and their importance in the Iberian peninsula.
Corona took on a heavy load to bring all of this together and in some instances in did not fit as smoothly as she may have intended, but I see the main purpose of this book is to present the life of the Jews in Spain and Portugal in the 1400s through the life of one very strong and conflicted woman named Amalia (whose Jewish name was Leah--the last two syllables of her Spanish name) whose parents were conversos but lived secretly as Jews. Leah wants to follow the path of her mother while her two sisters choose to follow Christianity and the desire of her father to blend in. Life is not easy. Amalia's mother lost 4 sons at birth or during the first several years of their lives to illnesses. Accidents and disease take the lives of many others and robs her father of his hearing. Yes, she marries naively and later has a love affair with a good man (but not of her religion) but her identity as Jew and her struggle to maintain it is what drives this book.
I strongly recommend it. It is a powerful read and a good way to learn about history of the time.
Writing Jewish historical fiction is not easy but I find it fascinating. The author both presented an accurate description of Jewish (and converso/anusim) life in the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th century. (Although the Jewish women in this story were fictional, they were fairly typical of women of the time.) In order to accurately describe Jewish life, she needed to include important historical figures of Europe of the time. She also included the map making skills of the Jews and their importance in the Iberian peninsula.
Corona took on a heavy load to bring all of this together and in some instances in did not fit as smoothly as she may have intended, but I see the main purpose of this book is to present the life of the Jews in Spain and Portugal in the 1400s through the life of one very strong and conflicted woman named Amalia (whose Jewish name was Leah--the last two syllables of her Spanish name) whose parents were conversos but lived secretly as Jews. Leah wants to follow the path of her mother while her two sisters choose to follow Christianity and the desire of her father to blend in. Life is not easy. Amalia's mother lost 4 sons at birth or during the first several years of their lives to illnesses. Accidents and disease take the lives of many others and robs her father of his hearing. Yes, she marries naively and later has a love affair with a good man (but not of her religion) but her identity as Jew and her struggle to maintain it is what drives this book.
I strongly recommend it. It is a powerful read and a good way to learn about history of the time.
November 18, 2014
I really liked this book especially since the story concerned a historical period I had not really read much about. In this novel we follow Amalia, a young girl living a secret life. Her father is the highly esteemed map maker to Spanish and Portuguese royalty. Their family, born Jewish, has been baptized to avoid the travails of life as Jews in the 1430's. Amalia's mother secretly continues to practice her Jewish way of life and is teaching Amalia their traditions. Her older daughter rejects Judaism, her husband is terrified that these practices will be discovered and he will be barred from the Royal court. At this point in history Jews are tolerated to some extent in Spain, but barely. Tensions mount and the family must make difficult choices.
As an adult Amalia faces more religious tensions and eventually, the Spanish Inquisition. Along the way she finds friendship, love, and a true sense of self. Amalia is a very strong and interesting female character placed in a very turbulent and interesting time. The machinations in the Spanish Court are particularly nasty and juicy although they are not the main focus of the novel. Also interesting is the relationship between the Jewish people and the Moors (Muslims) who seemed, at this time at least, to celebrate their similarities rather than their differences....
As an adult Amalia faces more religious tensions and eventually, the Spanish Inquisition. Along the way she finds friendship, love, and a true sense of self. Amalia is a very strong and interesting female character placed in a very turbulent and interesting time. The machinations in the Spanish Court are particularly nasty and juicy although they are not the main focus of the novel. Also interesting is the relationship between the Jewish people and the Moors (Muslims) who seemed, at this time at least, to celebrate their similarities rather than their differences....
March 1, 2014
I was initially intrigued by the idea of a Jew living in Inquisition Spain, especially because of the title. Though Amalia is the daughter of a mapmaker, the designation is a bit misleading. I thought there would be more about the art of drawing maps based on recent discoveries and was hoping for more focus on 15th century exploration. Not so much.
It’s more about Amalia’s inner struggle to follow the religion that is her birthright. The book followers her from her childhood as a converso to her expulsion from her homeland as an elderly Jewish matriarch. But I never believed the conviction of her faith, as she did so many things contrary to her beliefs. I didn’t find her life particularly extraordinary or inspiring. There were some interesting historical references, but keeping up with backstabbing royals and deceitful rulers was tedious. Looking at the overall context of the novel and how it tried to represent the difficulty of Jews in Spain, it was moderately successful. I just don’t think Amalia was an exceptional narrator.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
It’s more about Amalia’s inner struggle to follow the religion that is her birthright. The book followers her from her childhood as a converso to her expulsion from her homeland as an elderly Jewish matriarch. But I never believed the conviction of her faith, as she did so many things contrary to her beliefs. I didn’t find her life particularly extraordinary or inspiring. There were some interesting historical references, but keeping up with backstabbing royals and deceitful rulers was tedious. Looking at the overall context of the novel and how it tried to represent the difficulty of Jews in Spain, it was moderately successful. I just don’t think Amalia was an exceptional narrator.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
March 14, 2014
In The Mapmaker's Daughter, Laurel Corona authoritatively gives the Jewish oppression in fifteenth century Spain a human face and heart in Amalia Riba, forced to make soul-defining decisions as her world rolls inexorably toward the Inquisition. Peopled with historic figures, her story soars from loneliness to love, tenderness to horror, and from despair to courage. Sentences of startling, hard-won wisdom leap from the page and command our memories not to forget them. Compelling, complex, and compassionate.
May 27, 2017
If I am given an option to rate this book more than 5, I will overwhelm it with 10 stars. Never have I encountered a fiction that tells warm stories of cordial relationship between Jews and muslims. Amalia or Leah's love on Jamil elevates the plot which is heavy with prosecution, stigma and anti-semitism. The edict of expulsion narrated in this book brought so much anger in me of how atrocious Isabella and Ferdinand of Aragon on Jews. But retribution found its way on their daughter Katherine of Aragon whose life ended in misery.
September 12, 2016
I was hoping for more emphasis on the historical and religious backdrop of this story, instead I forced my way through every cliché one would expect to find in a soap opera targeted at a teenage audience...
March 29, 2023
A solid four stars for this fine piece of women's historical fiction. The setting and time of The Mapmaker's Daughter were new for me, and I learned a lot. I do wish there could have been a map because our main character, Amalia, travels a lot, especially in the beginning. Additionally, many of the place names are very similar, and with so much back and forth between places, the map would have been beneficial. Plus, the novel's title (not to mention main themes) deals with maps!
Amalia is a compelling character; raised as a converso, her family are secret Jews. After some personal losses, Amalia lets go of her faith, and a large part of this book is about her accepting it again and embracing it fully, without hiding. This book does have adventure, romance, religion, turmoil, politics and much more. The first two-thirds were my favorite, as the last third is a little slow. As Amalia gets older and settles down, she no longer travels, and the plot slows. I also had no idea what direction this book was going to take, and the first part kept me hooked. It was refreshing to read about people, places and events I hadn't before, and Laurel Corona wrote it beautifully.
However, the more the book goes on, the bigger (and more confusing and complex) Amalia's extended family gets. Maybe a cast of characters or a family tree would have been a good addition because there were times when I couldn't keep track of who was who.
The timeline of this book is a little confusing; I noticed quite a few discrepancies regarding age and events. In the beginning of the book, first it would say Amalia is 8, then a few pages later she's 10; first her sister Susana is to be married in a couple months, and then it seems like a year has passed and she's still not married. It could have used stronger editing on that front because it got pretty fuzzy. It's the same for the last third of the book as well. First, Amalia's grandson, Judah, is said to be 21 on page 285, but two pages later, it says he's 20. Just these little things I noticed.
The tone of the book also shifts when Amalia comes back to her true religion, but for a little while longer it's still a gorgeous piece of women's historical fiction. Then, it becomes mostly about her religion and her family seems to take center stage. The plot slows, but the writing was still superb. Laurel Corona is a brilliant author, and this book has gorgeous prose. I suppose I nitpick sometimes, but I can't help but notice blatant mistakes.
Overall, I'm glad I read this book, mainly because of the new-to-me setting and time period. It was wonderful to read about a woman who made her own choices and became her truest self during a dark time in history. This book gets pretty dark, but its themes and events depicted were necessary to read about, if only because this is the only hist fic I'm aware of that doesn't shy away from it; I can't name any others that feature Jews and take place during the Inquisition in Spain.
Amalia is a compelling character; raised as a converso, her family are secret Jews. After some personal losses, Amalia lets go of her faith, and a large part of this book is about her accepting it again and embracing it fully, without hiding. This book does have adventure, romance, religion, turmoil, politics and much more. The first two-thirds were my favorite, as the last third is a little slow. As Amalia gets older and settles down, she no longer travels, and the plot slows. I also had no idea what direction this book was going to take, and the first part kept me hooked. It was refreshing to read about people, places and events I hadn't before, and Laurel Corona wrote it beautifully.
However, the more the book goes on, the bigger (and more confusing and complex) Amalia's extended family gets. Maybe a cast of characters or a family tree would have been a good addition because there were times when I couldn't keep track of who was who.
The timeline of this book is a little confusing; I noticed quite a few discrepancies regarding age and events. In the beginning of the book, first it would say Amalia is 8, then a few pages later she's 10; first her sister Susana is to be married in a couple months, and then it seems like a year has passed and she's still not married. It could have used stronger editing on that front because it got pretty fuzzy. It's the same for the last third of the book as well. First, Amalia's grandson, Judah, is said to be 21 on page 285, but two pages later, it says he's 20. Just these little things I noticed.
The tone of the book also shifts when Amalia comes back to her true religion, but for a little while longer it's still a gorgeous piece of women's historical fiction. Then, it becomes mostly about her religion and her family seems to take center stage. The plot slows, but the writing was still superb. Laurel Corona is a brilliant author, and this book has gorgeous prose. I suppose I nitpick sometimes, but I can't help but notice blatant mistakes.
Overall, I'm glad I read this book, mainly because of the new-to-me setting and time period. It was wonderful to read about a woman who made her own choices and became her truest self during a dark time in history. This book gets pretty dark, but its themes and events depicted were necessary to read about, if only because this is the only hist fic I'm aware of that doesn't shy away from it; I can't name any others that feature Jews and take place during the Inquisition in Spain.
December 16, 2024
The Red Tent meets The Dovekeepers
First book I ever read on Kindle and will not be my last. I had downloaded the book a few years ago and forgot about it until I was on a long plane ride and the WiFi went down. When my must do activities ended I looked forward to the comfort of my favorite chair and my iPad this week not bothered by the growing darkness thanks to warmly lit screen. But I digress.
By birth I am Ashkenazi had limited understanding of the Sephardic culture growing up in NE suburbia. My interest began with a visit to the Tuoro synagogue in Newport, continued when I visited the Alexander Hamilton museum in Nevis and then connected the two. Leaving the East Coast to New Mexico a decade ago I never expected the next chapter in my learning: The Marronos. Thanks to an amazing special exhibit in Santa Fe I was able to explore on my own head scratching artifacts with Mogen David inserted on crosses, diaries of confused Catholic grandchildren whose grandparents (expressing themselves as Christian) kept Kosher and lit candles at sundown on Fridays. Why? Their parents did and their grandparents did and…. They converted maybe sort of but practiced in secret and were expelled.
Now I feel I have come full circle as Leah and her daughter and all the strong women in this book helped merged the over 600 year gap in my understanding. Had I read this book prior to the events of October 7, 2023 I would be reflecting on the Holocaust and might not feel the intense personal connection with the characters and story as I do now. How different are the present day presidents of certain universities from the cowardly monarchs of the novel? How different is the experience of Jewish Americans some ‘quiet’ in their observance for fear of anti-Semitic retaliation from the 15th century Jews of Spain and Portugal?
First book I ever read on Kindle and will not be my last. I had downloaded the book a few years ago and forgot about it until I was on a long plane ride and the WiFi went down. When my must do activities ended I looked forward to the comfort of my favorite chair and my iPad this week not bothered by the growing darkness thanks to warmly lit screen. But I digress.
By birth I am Ashkenazi had limited understanding of the Sephardic culture growing up in NE suburbia. My interest began with a visit to the Tuoro synagogue in Newport, continued when I visited the Alexander Hamilton museum in Nevis and then connected the two. Leaving the East Coast to New Mexico a decade ago I never expected the next chapter in my learning: The Marronos. Thanks to an amazing special exhibit in Santa Fe I was able to explore on my own head scratching artifacts with Mogen David inserted on crosses, diaries of confused Catholic grandchildren whose grandparents (expressing themselves as Christian) kept Kosher and lit candles at sundown on Fridays. Why? Their parents did and their grandparents did and…. They converted maybe sort of but practiced in secret and were expelled.
Now I feel I have come full circle as Leah and her daughter and all the strong women in this book helped merged the over 600 year gap in my understanding. Had I read this book prior to the events of October 7, 2023 I would be reflecting on the Holocaust and might not feel the intense personal connection with the characters and story as I do now. How different are the present day presidents of certain universities from the cowardly monarchs of the novel? How different is the experience of Jewish Americans some ‘quiet’ in their observance for fear of anti-Semitic retaliation from the 15th century Jews of Spain and Portugal?
June 9, 2022
The Mapmaker's Daughter is a dual timeline novel. In late 16th century England, Frieda Ortelius is a member of a famous cartography family, headed by Abraham Ortelius, who is a real historical figure. Frieda has fled to England to escape the bloodshed created by the Spanish, who are determined to murder all Huguenots living in the Low Countries, which define the coastal region of northwestern Europe, consisting of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
In the 21st century, Robyn is living with her father, who owns a shop the deals with antique maps. Robyn's husband was lost at sea 7 years earlier and has been unable to deal with this loss. In Clare Marchant's novel, these two women are connected via a map that Frieda created as a commission from Queen Elizabeth I and which Robyn has undertaken.
I do not wish to provide spoilers to this very interesting novel. Truthfully Frieda's life is far more captivating and interesting than Robyn's. The descriptions of cartography, with details of how maps are created, as well as the information about how sailors used newly created instruments that are designed for navigation are interesting and well done. The title does make clear who is the of this novel. Robyn's research into the provenance of this ancient map is interesting but not as compelling.
I want to thank the author and publisher, AvonBooksUK, for providing me with this ARC, in exchange for my honest review. My comments above are my honest thoughts about The Mapmaker's Daughter. Thank you also to NetGalley for introducing me to this interesting author.
In the 21st century, Robyn is living with her father, who owns a shop the deals with antique maps. Robyn's husband was lost at sea 7 years earlier and has been unable to deal with this loss. In Clare Marchant's novel, these two women are connected via a map that Frieda created as a commission from Queen Elizabeth I and which Robyn has undertaken.
I do not wish to provide spoilers to this very interesting novel. Truthfully Frieda's life is far more captivating and interesting than Robyn's. The descriptions of cartography, with details of how maps are created, as well as the information about how sailors used newly created instruments that are designed for navigation are interesting and well done. The title does make clear who is the of this novel. Robyn's research into the provenance of this ancient map is interesting but not as compelling.
I want to thank the author and publisher, AvonBooksUK, for providing me with this ARC, in exchange for my honest review. My comments above are my honest thoughts about The Mapmaker's Daughter. Thank you also to NetGalley for introducing me to this interesting author.
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