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katykelly's review
4.0
This book won't appeal to everyone - not a lot actually 'happens', it's almost a stage play in its scope of scenes and limited cast, a claustrophobic feel and slow pace. The political background passed me by as well mostly, but I did find the connection between the two main characters, when revealed, did keep me interested to see what would happen.
"In a small crumbling resort in the Crimea, two men meet after many years apart." That's the crux of the book - one man was jailed for many years, the other is now powerless and ageing, with regrets about his actions earlier in life. Kotler has fled his job and family with his young lover and by accident comes into the vicinity of Vladimir, an old acquaintance.
Truths will be brought to light in the head-to-head that is inevitable. Betrayals of one kind and another will surface.
I found this quite fascinating, but at the same time it's not going to be a blockbuster - no action, a lot of talking and politics. It could make a good film, but it's not a thriller, more a character piece.
"In a small crumbling resort in the Crimea, two men meet after many years apart." That's the crux of the book - one man was jailed for many years, the other is now powerless and ageing, with regrets about his actions earlier in life. Kotler has fled his job and family with his young lover and by accident comes into the vicinity of Vladimir, an old acquaintance.
Truths will be brought to light in the head-to-head that is inevitable. Betrayals of one kind and another will surface.
I found this quite fascinating, but at the same time it's not going to be a blockbuster - no action, a lot of talking and politics. It could make a good film, but it's not a thriller, more a character piece.
cami19's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lisawhelpley's review
4.0
This book was intense. Not car chase and explosion intense, but there is a relational intensity. Not like anything I've read before.
sjgrodsky's review
4.0
First, this is a fantastic choice for a book club. There are so many questions of morality and motivation that it's sure to engender a lively discussion.
Second – and another reason the book is a good book club selection – is that it's a reveal: You slowly learn the facts that bring the narrative into focus as the pages turn. It's easy to miss a crucial detail. So it's good to discuss with others who may have noticed what you didn't.
Now a few criticisms:
1
--
Baruch and Leora are very intelligent people. But you never learn exactly what their plan was in fleeing to Yalta. Would two such bright people jump on a plane and not have any good idea of what they were going to do when they got to their destination?
2
--
The character of Leora is disappointingly drawn. In the first half of the book you learn that she's smart, she's politically engaged and she has a sarcastic sense of humor. As the pages turn you hear less and less from her. You long to know what's going on in her head. And, key question: Does she really think she's going to start a new life outside Israel with a long-married, sixty-something Knesset member who is dragging tons of baggage?
But, of course, these criticisms only demonstrate how engaged I was in the story.
Second – and another reason the book is a good book club selection – is that it's a reveal: You slowly learn the facts that bring the narrative into focus as the pages turn. It's easy to miss a crucial detail. So it's good to discuss with others who may have noticed what you didn't.
Now a few criticisms:
1
--
Baruch and Leora are very intelligent people. But you never learn exactly what their plan was in fleeing to Yalta. Would two such bright people jump on a plane and not have any good idea of what they were going to do when they got to their destination?
2
--
The character of Leora is disappointingly drawn. In the first half of the book you learn that she's smart, she's politically engaged and she has a sarcastic sense of humor. As the pages turn you hear less and less from her. You long to know what's going on in her head. And, key question: Does she really think she's going to start a new life outside Israel with a long-married, sixty-something Knesset member who is dragging tons of baggage?
But, of course, these criticisms only demonstrate how engaged I was in the story.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting read. Kept my attention throughout but not something I'd read again and not something I couldn't have lived without reading.
sungold's review
3.0
While I am sad to say it, I simply could not fall into the rhythm of this story. I did develop some attachment to the characters presented here, but there remained a nagging sense that the characters were under-developed, perhaps a bit flat. There were a number of moments where I felt I needed to know just a little more, but that little more never surfaced, and I eventually read in hopes only of reaching the end. Worthwhile for the unique social commentary, but I otherwise would not recommend.
beardedbarista's review
4.0
Well I was very excited to win this book from the Goodreads give-a-way and even more excited to know I was one of the first to read it before it hit the shelves.
Probably not a book I would normally pick up but sometimes you need those kind of books to break the monotony of your usual reads.
The Betrayers was excellently written. I was a little thrown off by the dialogue set up but very briefly. The foreign setting was probably the most difficult part for me but that is only because I am not educated on affairs in Russia and Israel. David Bezmozgis does a superb job of creating the characters in the story. Leora and Kotler were both easy to envision as well as Svetlana and Tankilevich. I really wanted to like Kotler even though he was kind of a scumbag and there is no lack of sympathy towards Tankilevich.
My main issue with the story was that I would have liked more. It was a very simple story in a very complex situation. I found myself not caring for the characters only because the story was so uneventful. It is a story of betrayal and coincidence... or providence? It has a decent enough ending to wrap it up but it leaves you wanting to see more of what happens after and hopefully some explosions might occur.
I may just be ignorant to the deeper picture that is underlying in the book about life in Crimea for the Jewish community and also the other denominations that seemed to live very poorly. It was just a very simple story and one that is very quickly resolved.
It was a short book and I will credit it with that. At least it was not 600 pages and simple. I will most definitely pick up Bezmozgis other work and really did enjoy his writing style. This book just makes me want to be more educated on worldly affairs.
I may have to read it again once I am less ignorant to the world :)
Thanks for reading my review of The Betrayers by David Bezmozgis
Love,
Justin
Probably not a book I would normally pick up but sometimes you need those kind of books to break the monotony of your usual reads.
The Betrayers was excellently written. I was a little thrown off by the dialogue set up but very briefly. The foreign setting was probably the most difficult part for me but that is only because I am not educated on affairs in Russia and Israel. David Bezmozgis does a superb job of creating the characters in the story. Leora and Kotler were both easy to envision as well as Svetlana and Tankilevich. I really wanted to like Kotler even though he was kind of a scumbag and there is no lack of sympathy towards Tankilevich.
My main issue with the story was that I would have liked more. It was a very simple story in a very complex situation. I found myself not caring for the characters only because the story was so uneventful. It is a story of betrayal and coincidence... or providence? It has a decent enough ending to wrap it up but it leaves you wanting to see more of what happens after and hopefully some explosions might occur.
I may just be ignorant to the deeper picture that is underlying in the book about life in Crimea for the Jewish community and also the other denominations that seemed to live very poorly. It was just a very simple story and one that is very quickly resolved.
It was a short book and I will credit it with that. At least it was not 600 pages and simple. I will most definitely pick up Bezmozgis other work and really did enjoy his writing style. This book just makes me want to be more educated on worldly affairs.
I may have to read it again once I am less ignorant to the world :)
Thanks for reading my review of The Betrayers by David Bezmozgis
Love,
Justin
phenomenal_woman's review
3.0
characters: Baruch Kotler, Leora, Miriam, Benzion, Dafna, Chaim Tankilevich, Svetlana, Nina Semonovna
The first of my Giller short list reads, I enjoyed this novel, although I feel I missed a lot not knowing Jewish/Russian relations and history. Nevertheless, the micro-glimpse in to one day that told a lifetime of wrongs and injustices was incredibly well-structured and finely researched.
The first of my Giller short list reads, I enjoyed this novel, although I feel I missed a lot not knowing Jewish/Russian relations and history. Nevertheless, the micro-glimpse in to one day that told a lifetime of wrongs and injustices was incredibly well-structured and finely researched.
jdelloso's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
fast-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
4.75