Reviews

“In the summer of '76, the Shulmans and the Melishes migrate to Kaaterskill, the tiny town in upstate New York where Orthodox Jews and Yankee year-rounders live side by side from June through August. Elizabeth Shulman, a devout follower of Rav Elijah Kirshner and the mother of five daughters, is restless. She needs a project of her own, outside her family and her cloistered community. Across the street, Andras Melish is drawn to Kaaterskill by his adoring older sisters, bound to him by their loss and wrenching escape from the Holocaust. Both comforted and crippled by his sisters' love, Andras cannot overcome the ambivalence he feels toward his children and his own beautiful wife. At the top of the hill, Rav Kirshner is coming to the end of his life, and he struggles to decide which of his sons should succeed him: the pious but stolid Isaiah, or the brilliant but worldly Jeremy. Behind the scenes, alarmed as his beloved Kaaterskill is overdeveloped by Michael King, the local real estate broker, Judge Miles Taylor keeps an old secret in check, biding his time....” This book was basically a collection of stories about various characters living in the same town. All the stories are connected, which is how it becomes a novel, but they weren’t connected in a way that truly kept my interest. I read the book and finished it, but didn’t love it.

caitlinritchie's review against another edition

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fast-paced

3.5

paigeforster's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad 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

4.75

mslaura's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

mbsteblein's review against another edition

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4.0

I enjoyed learning about the Jewish faith and traditions through the characters and narrative.

jessrad505's review against another edition

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3.0

I bought this book when I was on vacation near Kaaterskill Falls in upstate New York and I thought it would be interesting to read a story that takes place there.

This is a beautifully written story and there are some incredibly poignant moments throughout. It is a character driven story, so not much of a plot, but plenty to ponder about life, death, spirituality, family, and tradition. It is also a really interesting window into the Jewish culture in New York.

I loved the way Goodman allowed each individual character's voice and personal struggles to weave through the story, the way they were all connected and yet disconnected at the same time. I was truly rooting for some characters and pained for others.

I felt that some aspects of the story surrounding the year round people living in Kaaterskill Falls were not integrated as well as they could have been, but overall this was an enjoyable read.

alfajirikali's review against another edition

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4.0

Am amazed that this was written by a 21 year old. I was fascinated by the insight, though it bored everyone else in the book club to tears.

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