Sandy's Spotlight
BOOK REVIEW
DAUGHTERS OF IRAQ
BY
REVITAL SHIRI-HOROWITZ
Author: Revital Shiri-Horowitz
Genre: Women's Fiction, Historical Fiction, Jewish Fiction, Jewish History
The following is my May 31, 2012, 5 Star review:
A heartwarming family tale of love and loss.
I feel the need to start this review out by stating that DAUGHTERS OF IRAQ by REVITAL SHIRI-HOROWITZ is more than just another novel. This is family storytelling at its best. Every once in a while, you come across a book that the author has put her whole heart and soul into and is able to convey every emotion flawlessly to the reader. This is one of those very special books. I was completely absorbed by the stories of Violet, Farida and Noa and I felt the love in the words as I read them. I took my time with this book. I savored every word and emotion and didn't want it to end. Through Ms. Shiri-Horowitz's words, I felt the joy and the pain of these women. I was very touched by this book.
We learn of Violet as a vibrant child and then woman through the family stories that her sister, Farida, shares with Violet's daughter, Noa. We learn of Violet as a mother through Noa's recollections and through Noa's pain and guilt of losing her. Then we are treated to something so special by the author. She introduces Violet to us and her family as a woman through her diary that she writes to her loved ones as she lay dying from cancer.
This book is full of hardship, joy, pain and through the amazing storytelling ability of RIVITAL SHIRI-HOROWITZ, we as the reader feel it all. I laughed. I cried. This is an amazing book and I will most definitely be reading it again.
Amazon Purchase Links and Blurb:
"Daughters of Iraq” is the compelling story of three women from the same family. It is the story of emigration from Iraq to Israel in the early 1950’s as experienced by two sisters: Violet, whom we learn about through a diary she kept after being diagnosed with a critical illness, and Farida, whose personality unfolds through her relationship with her surroundings, and with herself. The third character is Noa, Violet’s daughter and a student, a young woman in her twenties who is searching for meaning. Noa embarks on a spiritual quest to the past, so that she can learn how to build her life in the present and the future.
The book is the story of love, of roots, and of how the two interface: the love between mothers and daughters, between sisters, between fathers and daughters, between a brother and sister. It is also the story of romantic love, sometimes fulfilled sometimes unrequited, stories that are forever engraved in the hearts of lovers.
Author Links:
Amazon Author Page
Goodreads
I would like to end this blog post by asking that everyone share this post with friends and family. This was perhaps one of the most beautiful books I have ever read.