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srakhmanov's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mankamon's review
emotional
slow-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
iridescencedeep's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Sexual content
Minor: Misogyny
tasyandrich's review
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
fi_hmltn's review against another edition
3.0
3.5, what an interesting discussion about religion and men’s behaviour towards women
izzyvb023's review
3.0
Didnt hate it, didnt love it! Read this for my “magic and monsters in yiddish literature” class, and I have to say that it was one of the lesser interesting stories we’ve read for the class. However, outside of that context, it was a pretty entertaining book! No character is likeable, but it was kind of funny. It dragged a bit in the first half but picked up once Yasha arrived in Warsaw.
geeniebean29's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sparky_sparky_boom_man's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
3.75
foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
3.0
Set in 19th century Poland, this tells the story of Yasha, a working magician, who travels around the country to visit his different mistresses and work in theatres. This novel is full of raw energy, it's told with vigour and liveliness that make it so enjoyable to read. I especially liked discovering more about the world of the shtetl and the Jewish communities within towns and villages in Poland. Yasha is a very believable character: torn between religious faith, and entering a life of crime and living with various mistresses. Some aspects of the book didn't work for me: I didn't entirely believe in some of Yasha's character development, and the ending fell rather flat. But overall I enjoyed the vivid characters, and Singer's energetic writing, and I would read more of his work.