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Lädt ... Beyond the Ghetto Gates: A Novelvon Michelle Cameron
Keine Lädt ...
Melde dich bei LibraryThing an um herauszufinden, ob du dieses Buch mögen würdest. Keine aktuelle Diskussion zu diesem Buch. It's rare to find a historical novel set during Napoleon's invasion of Italy, let alone one incorporating the Jewish experience, so I am glad this book was written. At times, this novel felt like a romance (I kept guessing how the characters might pair up) and at others it felt like a thinly veined version of current events. The violence and hatred directed at the Jewish community is painful to read, but also sadly familiar. Overall, this book wasn't what I was expecting, but in a way that made it better than I anticipated. For her entire life Mirelle has known life behind the Ghetto gates. Every Jew in Ancona, Italy must live within the gated area. Her father runs a renowned Ketubah workshop and Mirelle relishes in the artistry, she also has a talent for keeping her father's accounting books in check. However, as Mirelle becomes a marriageable age, it becomes improper for her to work in the shop. Mirelle's parents also have a very wealthy suitor in mind for her. As these changes come into Mirelle's life, Napoleon's French Troops arrive in Ancona. With the troops arrives Christopher, a French soldier who makes Mirelle question her faith, her morals and her family. Beyond the Ghetto Gates is a transformative coming of age story as well as a deeply historical account of Napoleon's influence on Jewish communities during his Italian Campaign in 1796. I didn't know anything about Napoleon's time in Italy and was amazed by the changes he created as well as his infatuation with a miracle portrait of a Madonna. The writing changes between the points of view of Mirelle, Daniel and Christopher in Napoleon's troops and a Catholic family, Emilio and Francesca. All of these points of view are important to the story, however, it takes a little while to set everything up and the story didn't completely capture my interest until everyone's story lines came together. Mirelle's character was very well written. From the beginning I was amazed by her intelligence, steadfastness, caring nature and maturity. Mirelle's journey to find her purpose in life is a difficult one, filled with missteps, challenges and self realization. I appreciated that while romance was a part of the story, it was not what Mirelle fell back on in order to improve herself. Through Daniel and Christopher we see the impact of Napoleon's campaign through the eyes of both a Jewish and Catholic soldiers and their interactions with the citizens of Ancona. They see the effects of injustice as well as the positive and negative effects of faith on people and what that can drive them to do. I didn't know anything about Napoleon's Italian campaign or even the original Italian Ghettos before reading this and was glad to open my eyes to this part of history. The writing created vivid imagery of Ancona, the Ketubah workshop and the dazzling homes. Beyond the Ghetto Gates is an amazing story of courage, hope and doing what's right. This book was received for free in return for an honest review. Zeige 3 von 3 keine Rezensionen | Rezension hinzufügen
Auszeichnungen
When French troops occupy the Italian port city of Ancona, freeing the city's Jews from their repressive ghetto, it unleashes a whirlwind of progressivism and brutal backlash as two very different cultures collide. Mirelle, a young Jewish maiden, must choose between her duty--an arranged marriage to a wealthy Jewish merchant--and her love for a dashing French Catholic soldier. Meanwhile, Francesca, a devout Catholic, must decide if she will honor her marriage vows to an abusive and murderous husband when he enmeshes their family in the theft of a miracle portrait of the Madonna. Set during the turbulent days of Napoleon Bonaparte's Italian campaign (1796-97), Beyond the Ghetto Gates is both a cautionary tale for our present moment, with its rising tide of anti-Semitism, and a story of hope--a reminder of a time in history when men and women of conflicting faiths were able to reconcile their prejudices in the face of a rapidly changing world. Keine Bibliotheksbeschreibungen gefunden. |
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Google Books — Lädt ... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.6Literature English (North America) American fiction 21st CenturyKlassifikation der Library of Congress [LCC] (USA)BewertungDurchschnitt:
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Reading about the lack of control the women had over their lives made me so thankful I did not live in those times.
The details in the story reflect the depth of research the author did to give us such an engaging story. The descriptions of the ketubot (Jewish marriage certificates) in Mirelle’s father’s shop led me to the internet looking for images of the Ancona ketubot. I was awed by many of them.
I recommend this to those who enjoy reading about the Age of Enlightenment. ( )