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Summary: The epitome of great historical fiction
Review: If you are a fan of well-written historical fiction, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It brings together all the elements of a great mystery while recreating the historical context of sixteenth-century Lisbon, the increasingingly intolerant attitude taken by the Church towards the Jews as millenial fever started to take hold, and the adjustments that Jews made as they sought to occupy a liminal space in which they were protected de jure but were incredibly vulnerable de facto. As a historian who has studied this time period extensively, I would like to congratulate the author on his research and his talent at turning that research into a creative work. It's a hell of a read. If the author is interested in a further dialogue with me, I would welcome the opportunity to write to him personally.
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Summary: Excellent historical as well as mystery/thriller novel
Review: Cleverly written, it accurately and convincingly conveys the history of early 16th century Portugal as well as being a "page-turner" of a mystery and spell-binding thriller novel. I couldn't put it down! If you liked Umberto Eco's "Name of the Rose", you'll love "The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon". The imagery is beautiful, the view into the world of jewish mysticism, and the vivid portrayal of this tumultous historical period is captivating. Like Eco's book, this novel has many layers of meaning and a clever, intricate mystery. However, the pace of this book is much faster than Eco's "Name of the Rose"...once you start reading, it is hard to put it down.
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Summary: Best book ever
Review: The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon is not only a very well written history of the Jewish community in those years, but also the insight into a man's mind and fears. Excellent.
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Summary: I welcome comments from readers
Review: I spent three years of my life on this novel--one year doing the research in the USA and Portugal, and another two years writing it. I've been amazed by the wonderful reviews and reactions I've gotten in the many countries where the book has already been published. It's been very interesting for me to hear from readers in places like Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic. Now that THE LAST KABBALIST OF LISBON is out in America and Canada, I would be very interested in hearing from Amazon.com customers. I welcome their reviews.
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Summary: Fantastic!
Review: Great insight of the Inquisition in Lisbon. Beautiful historical research. I strongly recommend to anyone interested in learning more about Portuguese and Jewish history or just looking for a good book written in very elegant prose.
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Summary: A literary mystery in the tradition of The Name of the Rose
Review: A number-one bestseller in Portugal, The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon is an extraordinary novel that transports the reader into the universe of Jewish Kabbalah during the Lisbon massacre of April 1506. Just a few years earlier, Jews living in Portugal were dragged to the baptism font and forced to convert to Christianity. Many of these "New Christians," in secret and at great risk, perservered in their rituals, and the hidden, arcane practices of the kabbalists, a mystical sect of Jews, continued as well. One such secret Jew was Berekiah Zarco, an intelligent young manuscript illuminator. Inflamed by love and revenge, he searches, in the crucible of the raging pogrom, for the killer of his beloved uncle Abraham, a renowned kabbalist discovered murdered in a hidden synagogue, along with a young girl in deshabille. Risking his life in streets seething with mayhem, Berekiah tracks down answers among Christians, New Christians, Jews, and the fellow kabbalists of his uncle, whose secret language and codes at turns light and obscure the way to the truth he seeks. A marvelous read, a challenging mystery and a telling tale of the evils of intolerance, The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon compels and entertains.
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Summary: Murder and a history lesson
Review: "The last kabbalist of Lisbon" is a man named Berekiah Zarco, a jew living in Lisbon in the beginning of the 16th century. During that year's Passover celebration, the christian population in Lisbon revolted against the jews, and many atrocities were commited. Zarco's uncle, Abraham, a powerful jew and kabbalist, was involved in many irregular activities. During the riots, Berekiah's life is turned upside down, and, among other things, his beloved uncle is murdered, under mysterious circumstances.
Richard Zimler has created a novel based in many layers, characters and situations. Sometimes a little confusing, but always interesting, Zimler guides us since his discovery of the hidden documents written by Zarco centuries ago, to his misfortunes while trying to find his uncle's murderer. The violence contained in the novel is purposedly very graphic, so that the reader can relate to what happened during the period. Most of his characters are complex, but, even if the story is narrated in first person, I felt detached from Berekiah, the main character, paying attention to other characters, more interesting in my opinion. Zimler has written a story that is really a "whodunnit", mixed with the fictional account of one of the most unhappy times in human history. I liked it and recommend it, although it is a little too dense to become "popular". Grade 8.0/10
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Summary: Zimler's Amazing story
Review: This book was so powerful. I really enjoyed what the author did with this book. After a seredipitous find of a genizah in his friend's basement, he creates this phenomenal story--weaving elements of history, religion, mystery, and tragedy. Berekiah is a secret Jew in 16th century Portugal. His family professed that they converted and were "New Christians" after 1492, but they continued their Jewish customs and traditions. When his world is turned upside down by the death of his beloved uncle, Berekiah sets out to find the murderer. With the "Old Christians" marauding the streets of Lisbon, killing many Jews and plundering their possessions, Berekiah and his best friend, Farid, search for answers. Only someone who intimately knew Uncle Abraham could have killed him, and Berekiah searches for the killer amongst his own friends and loved ones, the inner circle of "threshers", fellow secret Jews that studied Kabbalah with his uncle. Berekiah tells the story in first person narrative, and I felt that we were not able to learn very much about him because of this. We learn more about his family and the inner circle of threshers than we do about him. The story is also told in present tense, so it is very easy to get steeped and feel like you are right there with Berekiah and Farid. I enjoyed this book very much and I learned a great deal about Marrano history.
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Summary: Agonizingly slow
Review: I just finished Last Kabbalist and it was a chore to do so. The dialogue was amateurishly written and I found that I really didn't care at all about any of the characters. I AM a kabbalistic Jew and bought the book full of anticipation. After the first chapter, however, I proceeded with what could best be decribed as a dogged determination. I had to finish it to see if it ever got any better. Unfortunately, it never did. I finished it with nothing more than regret for the time I wasted in reading it. Not recommended.
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Summary: Not so bad, but not so good
Review: The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon was neither a thriller, nor very educational about the history of Lisbon's Jews, nor was it very much about kabbalah. Rather, it scratched the surface of all three. My advice is, read a book about kabbalah, a book about the History of Jews in Europe, and a book by Agatha Christie or someone. While it might take you three times as long to get through the books, one would learn 10 times as much. Dont get me wrong, The Last Kabbalist is not garbage, but you wont find yourself thinking about the story while day dreaming on the elevator.
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