The Last Jew

Rating:
Summary: I'm not a Jew, and I enjoyed the book
Review: This novel works on several levels: As a story about the Middle Ages; the expulsion of the Jews and Moors; the Spanish Inquisition; an adventure story of trying to escape the Inquisition while in disguise and hoping to solve a murder mystery. As the main character moves around parts of Spain taking different jobs and names to avoid death by the Inquisition, the author gives insights into the culture and history of those times. It's a historical adventure/murder mystery/character study that is a real page turner and keeps steady interesting pace start to finish. A real good read.

Rating:
Summary: Protestants on the Cover? Credibility issue.
Review: We'll I must say I have not read the complete book, but let us start with page ONE (the cover). The book is called "The Last Jew" and is said to be based on the Jews in Iberia prior to the 15th century, however the image on the book cover is of PROTESTANT men in an Inquisitional court. If the publisher/author made such a huge mistake by placing the Francisco Goya y Lucientes painting on book about Jews, how can anyone trust the historic credibility which is inside past the cover?

Rating:
Summary: Implausible
Review: Yonah Toledano, is a Jewish youngster who loses his family when Jews are expelled from Spain by Royal mandate at the end of the 15th century and the ruthless Inquisition institution of the Catholic Church prepares to gets in full force to render Spain full Christian

Though entertaining, the tale fails to go deep enough as to grasp the roots of the life problems that beset the character, in fact is unable to catch the essence of the suffering of a Jew who is undergoing two different and simultaneous ordeals, making a living and retaining its religious heritage in a more than hostile world, Yonah seems to be very lucky everywhere he goes, though he is devoided of the required character traits of aggressiveness and commitment required to get by at his current situation, he is just a righteous man who make friends anywhere up to the point of getting married, inherit property and become rich, too many fortunate coincidences

In addition, the story exhibits poor research to provide colorful images of Columbus time Spain, the light descriptions fit in the entertaining narrative but lacking rich details expected to glitter in a work such as this one