The Loves of Judith

Rating:
Summary: sad sadder and saddest
Review: Hi i refuse to give this book a worthy so called star. it doesn't deserve it. you'll want to sell the book before you even finish it. before you buy it check at your local library first. it is a book i took out of my collection and trashed it. it wasn't worth my time and i'm sure it won't be worth yours either. it was just about judith going to all these guys. personally it reminds me of someone from where i came from. don't fall for the book it's not worth anyones time. Thank You.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: I have a great love for Jewish literature and culture, and this book reinforces the beauty of each of those things through Shalev's marvelous storytelling. Each one of the characters is uniquely and vividly drawn, from jealous Aunt Bathsheba to mournful Moshe to cold and beautiful Rebecca. The book takes place over several decades, weaving in and out of time as each person's history is revealed. As you begin the book, you might think that "The Loves of Judith" only refers to Zayde's three fathers, but you soon find that even Zayde himself and Naomi, his adopted sister, are defined by their love for this mysterious woman.

The story is told primarily through the memories of Zayde, Judith's son, and Jacob, one of Judith's suitors. Each of the four sections of the book circles around a meal which Jacob prepares for Zayde. As Zayde savors the food Jacob prepares, he also savors the memories of his mother that Jacob shares with him. Through their remembrances, we learn that Judith is a woman who defies the common practices of the time period, remaining true only to herself and rejecting her suitors' attempts to possess and define her. Every main character's path is set by Judith's actions, and each comes to love her for a different reason.

"The Loves of Judith" explores the ways in which love affects individuals, families and even entire villages. Love brings some characters together and tears some apart, predicts their destinies and lingers with them until their deaths.

The story is like a good meal: flavorful, unpredictable, and completely satisfying. Trust me, you'll want to help yourself to this novel again and again.

Rating:
Summary: Will tug at your heartstrings!
Review: In post World War II Palestine, Judith is dead and her son Zayde inherits something from each of his three fathers. Moshe, the first of the three fathers, hires Judith to care for his two children when his own wife dies in a tragic accident. Globerman, the cattle dealer and the second of the three fathers , falls in love with Judith when he comes to do business with Moshe. Sheinfeld, a canary breeder and the third father, believes he has a relationship with Judith when, in fact, he doesn't. Who the fathers are and the extent of their relationships to Judith and Zayde are revealed as the story is told.

Shalev is most magnificent when he describes the pioneers of Israel as individual characters. They are colorful, quirky, and strong. Again in this book, the author uses the splendor of animals and nature to create a rich, complex story. It may seem confusing at the onset, but all pieces fall into place in the end and the vivid imagery lingers long after the book is closed.