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Apr 02, 2017 Nat rated it really liked it Following the binds and curses that tie four generations of women together, this dazzling novel of mothers and daughters held me practically spell-bound to the pages. Gabriela's mother Luna is the most beautiful woman in all of Jerusalem, though her famed beauty and
charm seem to be reserved for everyone but her daughter. Ever since Gabriela can remember, she and Luna have struggled to connect. But when tragedy strikes, Gabriela senses there's more to her mother than painted nails and lips. Desper Gabriela's mother Luna is the
most beautiful woman in all of Jerusalem, though her famed beauty and charm seem to be reserved for everyone but her daughter. Ever since Gabriela can remember, she and Luna have struggled to connect. But when tragedy strikes, Gabriela senses there's more to her mother than painted nails and lips. Desperate to understand their relationship, Gabriela pieces together the stories of her family's previous generations—from Great-Grandmother Mercada the renowned healer, to Grandma Rosa who
cleaned houses for the English, to Luna who had the nicest legs in Jerusalem. But as she uncovers shocking secrets, forbidden romances, and the family curse that links the women together, Gabriela must face a past and present far more complex than she ever imagined. After having read The Two-Family House, following an Ashkenazi-Jewish
family, I was beyond grateful to have then found The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem, which is set around a Sephardi-Jewish family. And it contains practically all that I cherish, from epic family sagas to curses to secret loves, and all things in between. I was practically giddy with feeling all the things the characters were feeling. So this book greatly surpassed my expectations. The women in the Ermosa family were marvellous
storytellers, and I was more than willing to sit for hours on end and listen to their tales, as one does. But let's circle back to the heart of all the problems in the family: “The curse of the Ermosa women. My Grandma Rosa told me that the Ermosa women are cursed with men who don’t want them, and vice versa.” And what I found most intriguing was how we get to go back in time and see the exact moment the curse took place and with whom it all started:
Gabriela's great-grandfather Raphael Ermosa. Seeing the curse traced throughout the generations was beyond gratifying at first. My mind was transfixed with how everything was linked so seamlessly in one way or another. However, once you read about the same failed love story repeated more than a handful of times with each passing generation, you get to the point of exaggeration, which I'd feared going into this book. Speaking of which, another thing I feared was the
English translation since so many phrases that I love in the original language translated so weakly and awkwardly once read in the translator's words. Iconic Hebrew phrases such as “Tfu, may their name be erased” sounded extremely odd to me in English. But I gradually learned to get over it with time, mainly thanks to the addition of Ladino phrases being inserted in the dialogue. Speaking of which, “pishcado y limon” is definitely a
favorite: “Like everyone else in Jerusalem, Mercada believed in the evil eye and was afraid of evil spirits. When she came home from the market at dusk, staggering along with her baskets on the cobblestones of the Ohel Moshe neighborhood, she could swear she heard the sound of footsteps following her, and convinced that at any moment she would encounter an evil spirit, she would walk faster and murmur, ‘Pishcado y limon.’ Like all the other Spaniols she too believed that the
combination of the two words fish and lemon would fend off the spirits.” On that positive note, I remember the exact moment I became enchanted with this story: Gabriel Ermosa falling in love with Rochel and their unrelenting circumstances. Their romance was the only thing to convince me to read on. It was passionate, tender, and unfortunately short-lived. Looking back, nothing else in this story quite compared to those two together. “The extraordinary
love story of Rochel Weinstein, the Ashkenazia from Mea Shearim, and Gabriel Ermosa, the Spaniol from Ohel Moshe, was the talk of the town.” I kept hoping for more after it was over... but nada, Gabriel was forced to move on while I still kept an inch of hope in my heart. Also, it didn't help that I'd read this particular part of the book late at night, so my heart felt like it was right in the middle of their conflicting ones. I mean, how could you
not be captivated by their liveliness and intensity for another at nearly 12 a.m.? “Rochel hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the man in the market, his broad, white smile, the dimples creasing his cheeks. She could feel her heart pounding when she thought about him, the blood climbing through her veins and flushing her face. And she, who always preferred sitting on the steps and staring at the sky, she, who refused to help her mother with the washing, cleaning, and taking
care of her little brothers, now she jumped to carry her mother’s basket to the market for the Shabbat shopping each week.” The eagerness and agony and everything that transpired to lead to their ending left me with a wildly beating heart. Needless to say, their story touched my soul the most. However, this unfortunately lead to the rest of the book paling in comparison for me. Throughout my reading experience of The Beauty Queen of
Jerusalem, I kept looking for that same spark to reignite, but I waited in vain because that fervor never seemed to last too long whenever it did reappeare. Sure, there were a few points here and there to keep my interest (sisterly love, family drama, etc.), but overall this story seemed to have reached a peak with Rochel and Gabriel for me. That's not to say that the rest of the characters weren't fleshed out and lively--because they definitely
were. Since each generation was given its respected page-time, I couldn't have been more grateful to have gotten to know each and every one of them. Their shared moments varied from the gentle and real to the painful and exciting and beautiful. And I felt similar to how the youngest Gabriela felt about her family secrets: “It was stronger than me, this thirst for the story of the women in my family, for the secrets that would help me understand. I knew I might discover
things I’d regret knowing afterward, but since my nona had opened this Pandora’s box, I had to know so I could move forward with my life.” From all the women in the Ermosa family: Mercada, Rosa, Luna, Rachelika, Becky, Gabriela... to all the men: Raphael, Gabriel, David, Moise, Handsome Eli Cohen... Wai wai wai, I couldn't have been prouder to have known and read about such a vibrant family. It surpassed my expectations. 4/5 stars Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission! Support creators you love. Buy a Coffee for nat (bookspoils) with Ko-fi.com/bookspoils
Dec 15, 2015 Pia rated it it was amazing This book took me by surprise. I had read other reviews about it, and they mostly agreed on how good it was, but it was even better. This is the story of the Ermosa family, Sephardic Jews that live in Jerusalem.
Four generations described from the 1930's to the 1970's. This is the story of
the Ermosa family, Sephardic Jews that live in Jerusalem. Four generations described from the 1930's to the 1970's. Though Luna, as the beauty queen
would seem to be the main character, her sisters are equally if not more interesting. Rachelika and Becky live in her shadow but have their own stories. And Gabriela, Luna's daughter is a beautiful and angry woman. And the elders! Mercada and Nona Rosa are completely opposite. You love them and you hate them. This is a family that clings together at all times. It can be oppressive, but it is also endearing. There's so much love you feel it in each page. I highly recommend this book. It
taught me not only about a culture so very different than mine, but about families, love and tradition. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. A powerful family saga, this book is brutally honest. It starts with the narrator, Gabriela, talking about her childhood in the 1950s
in Jerusalem. Gabriela’s relationship with her mother Luna is strained at best. Perhaps, it would be even more fitting to describe it as mutual aversion. From the very beginning of the book, Luna is portrayed as a dismal mother and a horrid wife, a cold, spiteful woman. I disliked her immensely a A powerful family saga, this book is brutally honest. It starts with the
narrator, Gabriela, talking about her childhood in the 1950s in Jerusalem. Gabriela’s relationship with her mother Luna is strained at best. Perhaps, it would be even more fitting to describe it as mutual aversion. From the very beginning of the book, Luna is portrayed as a dismal mother and a horrid wife, a cold, spiteful woman. I disliked her immensely and wanted to know what happened to Gabriela next, but the book veered off.
Jan 11, 2016 Annette rated it liked it This story is of family saga spanning four generations told in a very simple prose. The story starts a bit boring. It’s all about family dynamics; who was liked the most; who said what – “maybe a hundred
times.”
Then Gabriela, the main character, learns the story of her mother and grandparents from her grandmother. Her family roots went to Toledo when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella expelled the Jews from Spin in the 15th century. This short part is interesting and rich in cultural details. Howe Then Gabriela, the main character, learns the story of her mother and grandparents from her grandmother. Her family roots went to Toledo when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella expelled the Jews from Spin in the 15th century. This short part is interesting and rich in cultural details. However, as the grandma dies, the family present story turns back to boring drama: parents’ fights and Gabriela stealing money from father or
pencils and allowance from other students. Then Gabriela runs away from home to her aunt, who continues the family history of past generations, bringing the interesting story again. Here she learns about her grandfather’s forbidden love. However, as the story of past generations is being told and is heavily concentrated on family issues it gets boring again. When the issue with Turks or influence of British is woven into the story it gives the story a spark, which is actually missing
for most of the part. The story is very flat. I didn’t feel a connection with any of the characters. The story doesn’t evoke human emotions. The simple prose is to a point of boring.
Apr 23, 2018 Amy rated it liked it This historical fiction novel is a story of four generations of a family in Jerusalem. For
the positive aspects of the book, I would say it was interesting to see the culture and experience of the Sephardim Ladino Israelis of the time. (Sephardim and Ladino refers to Spanish Jews, and the closest allusion we have to this today is Latina or Hispanic Americans.) The elder grandmother would perform “Livianos,” an active prayer ritual process, to drive out demons and toxins or any internal problem. This historical fiction novel is a story of
four generations of a family in Jerusalem. For the positive aspects of the book, I would say it was interesting to see the culture and experience of the Sephardim Ladino Israelis of the time. (Sephardim and Ladino refers to Spanish Jews, and the closest allusion we have to this today is Latina or Hispanic Americans.) The elder grandmother would perform “Livianos,” an active prayer ritual process, to drive out demons and toxins or any internal problem. Other cultural idioms were interesting too –
every time another person is referred to, it is always followed up by “May he/she be healthy” as a constant reference. There were other unusual or unfamiliar customs, such as the process of naming a child after certain grandparents in a particular order, and how one construes their familial relationships. Its actually in there, that once married, the most important relationship to honor is that of your original mother. This is so different from our current American culture, and purports that a
woman is not really of worth unless she has children, particularly sons. The food was also hispanically derived, and it was interesting to see this culture and how it operated. There was a clear separation with the Askenazi (Eastern) Jews and the Sephardim, so much so that to have fallen in love, associated with this other branch would be committing an unbelievable sin. I did not know about the strength of that division, even amongst the same religion. There were other cultures to compete
against too, including the English and the Kurds. At times I was engaged in the story, and it passed well enough. I personally just wasn’t wowed by it. All in all, it was a solid three, really no more and no less. What struck me about the novel, and to be honest was tough to endure, was how unlikeable virtually every one of the characters were, particularly the women. There was absolutely almost no one to like. The novel focused on relationships between parents and children, and on marriages,
and every one of these relationships were painful. Yes, there were a few holdouts. Rachelika and Moishe had a lovely relationship and a fine family, as did Becky and Handsome Eli Cohen – who hands down had to be my favorite character in the book, even given what a minor character he was. And I loved how he is only refererd to as “Handsome Eli Cohen.” Who we come to know as a small boy, and he barely ages throughout the book even when eventually married. But these relationships were painful, and
they never improved. Particularly with mothers and daughters, and in one case with a mother and son. There is resentment and withholding everywhere that is the legacy passed down through the generations. Nona Rosa even refers to it as a curse. That the men in this family don’t love their wives, and therefore pass down a resentment so huge, that it affects the wives ability to adequately parent their children. The relationships were absolutely painful, almost unendurably so. One has to like a
character or believe in hope for their transformation, and there was so little of that here. Each character is more hateful than the next, and each relationship more painful. During a month where there is a focus on strong women, one imagines nearly any book would fit. This one does not. The women were incredibly weak, (given my personal definition of strength), and no one was capable of creating their own destiny. So much anger and pain and resentment. The Beauty Queen refers to Luna, (named
after the moon), the mother of Gabriela, whose point of view the story is written from. Luna may have been graced with extraordinary beauty, but to little end. She was angry, resentful, and bitter, and somewhat soulless. Through the book, Gabriela tries to piece together an account of the lives of the women and men that proceeded her and sort through her own internal demons that have developed as a result. I guess I thought I would love this more than I did. Instead, it just sort of left
me sad and sour for the pain of the relationships and characters. Its not one I would be quick to recommend.
A Historical Novel Spanning Generations Originally published in Hebrew and now a miniseries on Netflix, Beauty Queen of Jerusalem is a historical novel set in Jerusalem, tracing history as a Sephardic family,
there for generations, lives through the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the new British oppressors under the 1917 Mandate, the years leading to Independence in 1948, and on into the turbulent Sixties. The history offers context and color and depth to the story, although some of that background Originally published in Hebrew and now a miniseries on Netflix, Beauty Queen of Jerusalem is a
historical novel set in Jerusalem, tracing history as a Sephardic family, there for generations, lives through the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the new British oppressors under the 1917 Mandate, the years leading to Independence in 1948, and on into the turbulent Sixties. The history offers context and color and depth to the story, although some of that background may be confusing to those unfamiliar with the details. But, the beating heart of the story is not the history. This is not Leon Uris
with Exodus. Rather, it is the universal story of family difficulties and family estrangements that predominate. The narrative voice here is Gabriela, the daughter of Luna, the beauty queen whose fashion and style dazzled every man in Jerusalem, and the granddaughter of Gabriel and Rosa, who lived out a star-crossed marriage. They say you never really understand your parents until you are old enough to see them as individuals who made the best decisions they could and struggled to provide
for their families. Here, Gabriela gets the real dirt from her great grandmother and learns the dirty secrets of her family history. Chief among these secrets is what Rosa deemed the family curse – for the women of the Ermosa family to marry men who do not love them. This begins with a Rosa, the orphan girl who was pressed into a quickie marriage to Gabriel by his mother Mercado, who would not have him marry an Askenazi (Eastern European or Yiddish speaking Jew) because the family is
Sephardic (those who fled the Spanish Inquisition in 1492 and speak Ladino, a form of Spanish and Hebrew). Nevertheless his heart mourned for Rochel, who he never saw again, and Rosa was never dear to him though she bore him three daughters, perhaps for the only few times they slept together as Man and woman. The first daughter, Luna, is the apple of Gabriel’s eye, though she never got along with her mother. She is the fashionista as she becomes a teenager and every single man in Jerusalem follows her around. Though she could have her pick, she waits for her knight in shining armor, David, who she realizes later left his heart in Italy with Isabella. The result is a lifetime of strained relations as she eventually gives her heart to someone else entirely. It is all these family dynamics that Gabriela learns about, having never seen her parents or grandparents as individuals who had their own pains, Trials, and tribulations. It is a novel about families and about love and emptiness and wanting. ...more
Sep 25, 2016 Hermien rated it liked it I enjoyed the historical aspects of the book but didn't really warm to Luna or Gabriela and found the swapping between first and third person narrative annoying. I enjoyed the historical aspects of the book but didn't really warm to Luna or Gabriela and found the swapping between first and third person narrative annoying. ...more
Mar 10, 2021 Yana Goldman rated it really liked it
As one of the reviews says, this family saga is made interesting by the historical background. Ottoman empire, British rule, second World War, the independence war - all through the eyes of one family. For me this was the most exciting part. Many times while reading the book I grew increasingly frustrated with the characters, but that only shows how well the book is written. The only minus for is the jumping back and forth in time.
Feb 28, 2016 Shomeret rated it really liked it I was disinclined to read a book about a beauty queen, but
the author is Israeli so I looked beyond the title. I discovered that it's a family saga that partly deals with the period before Israel was a state. My grandmother, who was born in what was then the Ottoman Empire in 1905, spent her childhood in Jerusalem. So I'm always interested in learning more about the history of Jews in what would later be known as Israel. I agreed to review it and received an ARC via Net Galley in return for thi I was
disinclined to read a book about a beauty queen, but the author is Israeli so I looked beyond the title. I discovered that it's a family saga that partly deals with the period before Israel was a state. My grandmother, who was born in what was then the Ottoman Empire in 1905, spent her childhood in Jerusalem. So I'm always interested in learning more about the history of Jews in what would later be known as Israel. I agreed to review it and received an ARC via Net Galley in return for this
honest review. I have to admit that Luna, the title character, was unsympathetic. I found her self-absorbed and superficial. She always wanted to be the center of attention. Her sister Rachelika thought that love redeemed Luna. I disagree since she spent so much of her life acting like a spoiled brat. I thought that Luna's mother, Rosa, was the strongest woman in this book. I was interested in reading about the customs of the Sephardic Jews as described in this novel. Some were rather
alien to me because my background is Ashkenazi. The theme of conflict between Sephardi Jews and Ashkenazi Jews was important to this book. I thought that if there was a curse on Luna's family, as some women in the family believed, then the curse was prejudice against Ashkenazim. Yet as Ashkenazim became more powerful, they began to discriminate against Sephardim. This pattern of Ashkenazi discrimination against Sephardi Jews continued in modern Israel. I was also interested in the
portrayal of terrorism in this book, and the way terrorists are perceived by the characters. It's often said that one person's terrorist is another person's freedom fighter. I tend to draw the line at the victimizing of innocent civilians. So did Gabriel, Luna's father. He had no interest in supporting terrorists even if the terrorists were Jews. There is a character in this book who joined a terrorist organization engaged in actions against the British occupiers. There were other characters who
were sympathetic to such actions. Terrorists and their supporters tend to believe that the ends justify the means. Even if I am sympathetic toward the goals of terrorists, I believe that innocent blood on their hands will taint their cause, and that Gandhi's non-violent approach is a better model for freedom fighters. Yet I am glad that the author of this novel portrayed a spectrum of viewpoints on this issue. I have to say that the characters I really loved in this novel were Gabriel and
Luna's husband, David. They weren't saints, but they were men who were committed to doing the best they could for their families. I appreciated their sense of responsibility, just as I respected Rosa's endurance. Rosa, Gabriel and David gave The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem stature and pathos. For my blog's version of this review see
http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
This book completely swept me away. The story is lush as it covers three generations of women in Jerusalem, beginning in the early 1900s and working its way to the 1970s. I confess, the ending
felt a little rushed and I wasn't completely satisfied for it, but the rest of the book is so exquisite, I still give it five stars and highly recommend it. This is what historical fiction should be!
Una maledizione scorre nel sangue della famiglia Ermosa, una distinta famiglia di ebrei Sefarditi facente parte della prima ondata del ritorno, prima del mandato Inglese di Palestina: gli uomini sposano donne che non amano, e le donne, non amate, trasmettono la maledizione ai loro figli, assieme a un orgoglio tutto spagnolo e a un senso del dovere degno di un puritano.
What a sad book! I'm trying to understand if it is about the impossibility of communication between human beings, or about prejudice and
bigotry, or just about a family saga.
Aug 10, 2017 Buff rated it it was ok meh. Often unclear who was narrating. Needed better editing. Main characters not that likable.
Apr 30, 2016 Sue Seligman rated it it was amazing This is an incredible story of four
generations of mothers and daughters against the backdrop of Israel in the years prior to, during, and following World War II, and continuing through the 1970s. The book is a translation from Hebrew, and the setting is vividly described, every, sight, sound and smell is so realistic that the reader is transported to the places of the story. Gabriela Siton, the protagonist, is the daughter of Luna, the Beauty Queen of Jerusalem, a woman who is impeccably groome
This is an incredible story of four generations of mothers and daughters against the backdrop of Israel in the years prior to, during, and following World War II, and continuing through the 1970s. The book is a translation from Hebrew, and the setting is vividly described, every, sight, sound and smell is so realistic that the reader is transported to the places of the story. Gabriela Siton, the protagonist, is the daughter of Luna, the Beauty Queen of
Jerusalem, a woman who is impeccably groomed but whose perfect exterior hides a woman in turmoil, a woman trapped in a loveless marriage. Unable to love her child or her husband, Luna leads a double life which is unknown to all but her sister, and which will have repercussions on Gabriela's ability to form her own path in the world. During her difficult adolescence, Gabriela embarks on a journey to piece together the reasons behind her mother's lack of attachment by asking the older women in the
family for help and advice, and the story of the family curse is then revealed.....the curse of the Ermosa women who find themselves in loveless marriages, unable to give or receive love. Amazingly, Gabriela's mother, Luna, experiences similar situations as her own mother Rosa....as a daughter and as a wife. Luna and Rosa's relationship is as fraught with tension and heartache as that of Gabriela and Luna.
I was immediately drawn into the lives of this family in Jerusalem Luna a true beauty her daughter Gabriella with whom she has difficult relationship.We meet Gabriellas aunts Luna's sisters who she bonds with.A family saga a chance to see what life was like in Jerusalem&a family you will not forget.Moments of sadness moments of joy a touch of humor a wonderful read. I was immediately drawn into the lives of this family in Jerusalem Luna a true beauty her daughter Gabriella with whom she has difficult relationship.We meet Gabriellas aunts Luna's sisters who she bonds with.A family saga a chance to see what life was like in Jerusalem&a family you will not forget.Moments of sadness moments of joy a touch of humor a wonderful read. ...more
May 05, 2020 Julie rated it did not like it It was impossible to stay interested in it. Some of us have great relationships that are intimate in our lives making it difficult to want to stay invested in reading material that is all about people cheating on each other. There's more to this novel than that, but there was so much of it that I quickly lost interest. It was impossible to stay interested in it. Some of us have great relationships that are intimate in our lives making it difficult to want to stay invested in reading material that is all about people cheating on each other. There's more to this novel than that, but there was so much of it that I quickly lost interest. ...more
Started off slow but after 100 pages I couldn’t put it down. Nicely developed characters and a look into the interesting dynamics of a family. I enjoyed the historical setting of Jerusalem in the 1940s.
May 18, 2021 Shaina rated it really liked it
4.5
Jun 02, 2021 Rhonda rated it it was amazing Absolutely FANTASTIC!!! Loved every single page of this book!!!!
A beautiful story that covers three generations of women and their "curse" in love. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very powerful family story, told, as is the fashion these days not in a linear direction but going
back and forth through different time periods. I am slowly getting used to to this as so many books seem to be written this way now. One personal favorite was a scene where David points to the stone lion on top of the Generalli building on Yaffo street and tells Gabriella, his young daughter, that every night the lion comes down to pee. This is one of the stories that my Jerusalem born husband would tell our daughters when they were small. He would point out the lion and tell them that one of his first jobs was to take the lion on his nightly urination walk. I give this book only three stars because especially towards the end it feels like the author doesn't quite know how to end this book. The story gets all twisted and turned and I found my self becoming impatient. The story of The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem is told in two voices - the ominipotent narrator and
the daughter Gabriella, and sometime it gets a bit confusing. Also, there could have been some more editing to bring greater clarity and less repetition. I read the original Hebrew, maybe the English version is tighter. I just finished reading it, in time for my book club tomorrow. Perhaps in the future I will amend this review. (I write this reviews mainly for my friend Ellen who once berated me for not sharing my views about the books I've read. Since good friends are hard to find,
and dear old friends even more scarce, every time I write a review I feel like I am making a connection, so that when we meet again one day, our conversation will be that much richer. Happy New Year Ellen. And to anyone else who reads this, Happy New Year to you too!
A family saga of the (fictitious ) Ermosa family, a family of Sephardic Jews that spans four generations through the
20th century until the late 60's. The setting is in Jerusalem and the main theme emphasizes on the female members of the family and on the fact that they end up living with men that do not love them. I enjoyed the pictorial language that was used, seasoned with allot of Ladino expressions. I enjoyed the setting, Jerusalem, the city that I grew up in, with it's old neighborhoods an A family saga of the (fictitious ) Ermosa family, a family of
Sephardic Jews that spans four generations through the 20th century until the late 60's. The setting is in Jerusalem and the main theme emphasizes on the female members of the family and on the fact that they end up living with men that do not love them. I enjoyed the pictorial language that was used, seasoned with allot of Ladino expressions. I enjoyed the setting, Jerusalem, the city that I grew up in, with it's old neighborhoods and institutional buildings, its Mahane Yehuda open market, and
its old businesses, coffee shops, restaurants, schools etc. (Especially the fact that many of the places, restaurants, coffee shops, businesses and schools, mentioned in the story in the 40's, still existed under the same name in the 70's, 80's, and 90's when I lived there, and some still exist today) On the other hand, I did not connect to any of the characters, and I found some of the main ones irritating. The story is ok, but not more. This is not really and event driven story but more
character and relation driven and the characters and relations were a bit lame. One thing, I would like to know, and if anyone knows, please tell me, concerns the cover of the book (Hebrew edition). The woman in the photograph is Miriam Hadar Weingarten, the Israeli beauty pageant winner of 1958, journalist and lawyer. Does anyone know where the picture is taken?
What is the building behind her?
If you are looking for a good story, but light, this is it! Interesting to hear about the Askanzi/Sephardi rift in Israel at that time. It did get a bit depressing/repetitive as the book went on and has some story lines that were a bit inconsistent. Overall, it was a good read. Entertaining.
Nov 26, 2019 Melissa rated it really liked it I read this novel for book club and it made for an interesting discussion. I think I liked it more than others in my book club did, but there were also some aspects of the story that didn't work as well for me. It was interesting and kept me turning the pages, not wanting to
put it down. I felt bad for the characters, either because their husbands didn't love them or they were pining for their true love and had to settle for less. I was hoping for something good to happen to the characters. Most I read this novel for book club and it made for an interesting discussion. I think I liked it more than others in my book club did, but there were also some aspects of the story that didn't work as well for me. It was interesting
and kept me turning the pages, not wanting to put it down. I felt bad for the characters, either because their husbands didn't love them or they were pining for their true love and had to settle for less. I was hoping for something good to happen to the characters. Most of the time, I felt like I was witnessing several train wrecks, as everyone's lives were so messed up. The story went all over the place in terms of timing. Sometimes it felt like time was moving slowly and other times it sped
up way too fast. The author also switched narratives a lot within a section, instead of separating into a new section. Both approaches felt confusing for me. I liked that the story was set in Israel and the descriptions made me feel like I was right there. Overall, I enjoyed this novel, but felt it would have been better if it focused on only a few characters instead of jumping around between so many.
Apr 06, 2016 Talia Carner rated it it was amazing Sarit Yishai-Levi has captured both the
unbroken thread running through generations of a Sepharadic family and the intricacies of everyday life unspooling against the backdrop of Jerusalem--mostly under the British mandate of the 1920-1940. As sensuously infused with sights, sounds, and smells as a Jerusalem market, and as finely detailed and colorful as a Levantine tapestry, the novel is a thrilling exploration of a daughter coming to terms with her strained relationship with her mother. For tho For those who've read my novel JERUSALEM MAIDEN (dealing with Ashkenazi women in the early 1900 in the ultra-Orthodox community at the end of the Ottoman Empire rule) this novel offers a completely different view on another important segment of Jerusalem population.
May 06, 2021 Debra rated it did not like it I don’t understand why everyone is rating this book so highly. Most of the characters are selfish and unpleasant. The Holocaust occurs with barely a mention in the lives of these self involved people. The writing is not good, the characters seem very one dimensional and the story just drifts along. I kept waiting for something or someone to catch my interest. So Luna is pretty. We get it. She’s also an awful person. What is the point? What am I missing?
It's been a long time since I disliked a book this much. It took me forever to get through it, and honestly, if I wasn't reading it for my book club, I wouldn't have continued with it. The story was both far too drawn out and not fleshed out enough, the characters were mostly unlikeable and not relatable. The premise that people only had "one love" and otherwise could never find happiness with another partner was too Hollywood for me. The only interesting bit was the time period. It's been a long time since I disliked a book this much. It took me forever to get through it, and honestly, if I wasn't reading it for my book club, I wouldn't have continued with it. The story was both far too drawn out and not fleshed out enough, the characters were mostly unlikeable and not relatable. The premise that people only had "one love" and otherwise could never find happiness with another partner was too Hollywood for me. The only interesting bit was the time period. ...more
Quite an amazing read. Just finished it, so voilà, my usual disjointed comments: A lot of Jerusalem history from after World War One to the sixties, which never ceases to fascinate me. I didn't like Luna, the "beauty queen", at all. Seriously, I don't understand the Ashkenazi-Sephardi p A lot of Jerusalem history from after
World War One to the sixties, which never ceases to fascinate me. I didn't like Luna, the "beauty queen", at all. Seriously, I don't understand the Ashkenazi-Sephardi problems. Racism within the race. They are making a film/series of this with Michael Aloni playing one of the main characters. I loved him in Shtisel ...
Oct 07, 2017 Lisa Bernstein rated it really liked it This book was very enjoyable and gave an interesting look at 3 generations in pre-State Palestine and later Israel. I appreciated that the family was Sephardic, and the book includes a lot of Ladino, which is a fun change from so many books with Ashkenazi perspectives. I only noticed one error in the book, but it's the most egregious error I've ever found in a book: on the main character's wedding night, it describes her with her husband, but then you turn the page to page 228, and suddenly inst This book was very enjoyable and gave an interesting look at 3 generations in pre-State Palestine and later Israel. I appreciated that the family was Sephardic, and the book includes a lot of Ladino, which is a fun change from so many books with Ashkenazi perspectives. I only noticed one error in the book, but it's the most egregious error I've ever found in a book: on the main character's wedding night, it describes her with her husband, but then you turn the page to page 228, and suddenly instead of her husband's name, it's her father's! ...more News & InterviewsOne of the great benefits of working here at Goodreads World Headquarters is a little pastime we call trendspotting. Spend enough time staring... “From the top pocket of his finely tailored suit peeped a white carnation” — 0 likes “Love, Gabriela, fills a person, and anyone whose body does not flow with love, withers. Remember that Gabriela, remember what your grandmother is telling you.” — 0 likes More quotes…Welcome back. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Is The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem based on a book?The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem is an Israeli television series, based on a book of the same name by Sarit Yishai Levy, which aired on June 7, 2021, on the Yes Drama channel.
How many pages is The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem?The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem: A Novel 4.0 out of 5 stars.
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Product Details.. Is there a season 2 of The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem?The good news is that there will be a second season of “The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem.” The even better news is that it is coming sooner rather than later. The new season is slated to premiere around the end of 2022, and shooting began in June of this year in the city of Safed.
What language is spoken in The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem?HebrewBeauty Queen of Jerusalem / Languagenull
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