HISTORICAL
FICTION
|
|
Debbie
Wiley
Book Reviews |
|
A page of a medieval
Jerusalem Talmud manuscript, from the Cairo Genizah.
|
A disputation between
Jewish and Christian scholars, (1483).
|
Jews (identifiable by the distinctive
hats that they
were required to wear) being killed by Christian knights. French Bible illustration from
1255.
|
|
|
BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Debbie Wiley Book Reviews
HOME
ROMANCE
FICTION SUSPENSE & THRILLERS
MYSTERY HORROR
URBAN FANTASY
AUTHORS
REVIEWER
PROFILES
|
The Fruit of Her Hands:
The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz
by Michelle Cameron
Rabbi
Meir ben Baruch is a famous Talmudic scholar from the thirteenth
century. What sort of woman would a man with such lasting influence
have married?
Shira is the daughter of a Rabbi and has been raised to appreciate the
joy of learning. One of his students, Nicholas Donin, rebels against
the conventional thinking of the time period and ultimately plays an
integral role in the atrocities committed against the Jewish people
during his lifetime. Shira is attracted to Nicholas but her father
intervenes. However, her youthful indiscretion haunts her even as she
meets and marries her soul mate, Meir ben Baruch.
Education is valued by Shira’s father but the societal expectations of
the thirteenth century are at odds with Shira’s desire to study the
Talmud. Michelle Cameron does a beautiful job at showing Shira’s keen
intelligence and her own emotional turmoil over the subservience
expected by women of the time. We get a glimpse of the true inner
strength that a woman such as Shira would have to possess to find a
balance that would make her happy while still meeting the demands of
society.
The thirteenth century is not always kind to Shira or Meir, but their
valor shines through regardless. The persecution experienced by the
Jews is horrific, to the point it brought tears to my eyes. Some of the
events are so shocking as to seem unbelievable, such as the story of
Hugh in Lincoln, and yet sadly the story is all too true. Shira is an
excellent narrator for these events as she sees the heavy hand of
religious persecution while learning herself not to judge others. Her
compassion and friendship with both Christians and Jews makes her
perspective appear more balanced and therefore accentuates the
horrendous nature of the various persecutions experienced by thirteenth
century Jews.
History comes vividly alive as Michelle Cameron weaves together
historical events with a bit of fiction to craft a moving and very
powerful portrayal of the life of a Jewish woman in the thirteenth
century. THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS evokes a strong emotional response that
lasts long after the last page has been turned. Bravo!
Publisher: Pocket
(September 2009)
Reviewed
by Debbie, Debbie Wiley Book Reviews
Review Courtesy of Amazon Vine
|
|
|
