The Dovekeepers in Webster Public Library Readers

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Dovekeepers

Dovekeepers
By Webster · 3 posts · 6 views

last updated Aug 27, 2013 11:21AM

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Jul 30, 2013 Webster Library rated it it was amazing

Alice Hoffman impresses us with her lengthy tome about the history of the Jewish people. The story takes place after the Romans attack Jerusalem and force many Jewish people into slavery or to abandon their homes and seek refuge in the desert surrounding the region. The refugees escape Jerusalem and go to Masada, the last strong hold in the region. Hoffman obviously did a lot of research for this book. The story is told from four different perspectives. Four different women tell about the siege Alice Hoffman impresses us with her lengthy tome about the history of the Jewish people. The story takes place after the Romans attack Jerusalem and force many Jewish people into slavery or to abandon their homes and seek refuge in the desert surrounding the region. The refugees escape Jerusalem and go to Masada, the last strong hold in the region. Hoffman obviously did a lot of research for this book. The story is told from four different perspectives. Four different women tell about the siege on Masada and how their lives started and then interweave to get to the climax of the story where only two women and five children survive.

I had heard a lot of good things about this book and didn’t really know what to expect. In fact I didn’t even read the back cover of the book when I checked it out at the library. It wasn’t until half way through the book that I scanned the back and saw that only two of the five main female characters were going to survive. I wish they hadn’t written that on the back cover because I kept on thinking all the way through the story; who is going to survive? The four women: Yael, Revka, Aziza, and Shirah tell their stories starting with before they meet and how they arrived to Masada. They each continue “in the present” with what is going on currently. Each woman tells a story of loss and heartbreak. You feel for them and want to know what happens to them. Then their story ends and a new woman’s story starts. At first you’re like “no what happened to Yael, finish her story.” Then you start to read about Revka and become entwined in her life and fall in love with another woman’s story. It is spellbinding.

I loved learning about history and finding out about how other people lived. I felt that Hoffman’s story was credible. I didn’t once think that it was unrealistic. I had read the Red Tent by Anita Diamont and loved that book. It is a story set in biblical times, much like this one. At first I felt that this was a similar story and I still believe that if you like that book you’ll like this one and vice versa but I think that Hoffman’s writing style is better. I felt the story was more genuine. Even though the Red Tent wasn’t roses and lollipops I felt the ending was just tacked on. Hoffman writes with an even hand. She doesn’t make up words or phrasing to make the book seem more ancient. The people don’t talk like people talk now but it’s not distracting when you read it. I felt a connection to them because it wasn’t completely alien. I loved the story and could relate to feelings each woman had.

I love when authors take an event that not many people know about and then tell the story. It helps people learn about history and things that have been forgotten and give them a new life. No history should be forgotten and authors like Hoffman help keep history alive. I’ve read a few books that bring a new side to a part of history I didn’t know: Sarah’s Key, The Red Tent and Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society. I might even compare this to Amy Tan’s books: Joy Luck Club or Bonesetter’s Daughter because of the use of female characters telling stories that intertwine and break your heart. I loved this story and I feel that if you love books about history, love stories, women and books that have really strong character development, you’ll love this.

Jenny Paxson
Readers' Advisory Librarian
...more

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Nov 22, 2011 Joy rated it really liked it

A different book for Hoffman. This book tells the story of the persecution of the Jews in ancient Israel by the Romans, as told from the perspectives of four women. Hoffman apparently researched this history for 5 years to create this book. It's beautifully written. I cannot do it justice to describe how intricately she writes this tragic history with extraordinary prose. This is not a light read. I'm waivering between a 4 and a 5 with this one. ...more

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