Reviews

Eternal Life by Dara Horn

the_lobrarian's review against another edition

5.0

Long ago, when the details were different, she had wondered if those details that filled every minute of every day were actually concealing something, something large and still and sacred. Many days and years and people had passed before she understood that the details themselves were the still and sacred things, that there was nothing else, that the curtain of daily life itself was holy, that behind it was only a void. Yet some days she still wondered. p. 16 [eBook, ch. 1]

"My fears while I was sick were pretty universal: not accomplishing as much as I'd hoped, not getting to see my children grow up," Mendelsohn recalls. "But those are really dynamic things. Every stage of a project or a year with a child is really different from the one before. And it's exactly those changes that make those things matter," she says. "I realized I wasn't afraid of dying. I was afraid of no longer changing. I wanted to keep changing, keep making and seeing things change. And if you back up a bit, you can see that none of that can happen without the arc of our lives, without one generation replacing another." p. 540 [eBook, ch. 15]

laurareads5's review against another edition

3.0

3 1/2 stars; I’m not really sure what I expected from this book, but I have to admit, I was a tad disappointed. The premise is so interesting- a woman makes a vow 2000 years ago that denies her death. The book is told from the perspective of the present and the past and it explores what makes life worth living.

dasbooch's review against another edition

5.0

This was a beautiful masterpiece, with deep allegories of Jewish History. I should warn that I felt much could be missed without a fair understanding of Jewish history, post second temple. That is my opinion. An excellent and well performed audiobook too.

georgiaahxo's review

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

hmogie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A

4.25

 When I first started reading this book my main thought was "Jewish Addie LaRue." Although it has a similar presence it explores some different themes around life, immortality, and family that I found to be interesting and compelling. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Child death, and Death

Moderate: Antisemitism, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Cancer

saraanneb3's review

5.0

Stunning and thought provoking

This book is amazing and detailed and beautiful. It made me think and ask questions and wonder about my own life.

johnwwyatt's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

loar's review

4.0

Mám tuhle autorku fakt ráda. Zajímavý nápad, pár myšlenek, co si podtrhnete, a spousta reálií z Jeruzaléma v době okupace Římany.

(Docela ráda bych si přečetla nějaký historický román z toho prostředí. Nějaké tipy?)

battyb's review

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

shariwatson's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5