
Jerusalem Maiden
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Narrated by:
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Lise Bruneau
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By:
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Talia Carner
In the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, a young Orthodox Jewish woman in the holy city of Jerusalem is expected to marry and produce many sons to help hasten the Messiah's arrival. While the feisty Esther Kaminsky understands her obligations, her artistic talent inspires her to secretly explore worlds outside her religion, to dream of studying in Paris - and to believe that God has a special destiny for her. When tragedy strikes her family, Esther views it as a warning from an angry God and suppresses her desires in order to become an obedient.
But when a surprising opportunity forces itself on to her preordained path, Esther finds her beliefs clashing dangerously with the passions she has staved off her entire life - forcing her to confront the most difficult and damning question of all: To whom must she be true, God or herself?
©2011 Talia Carner (P)2012 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...




















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Strong historical context
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No dreaming, No painting, No thinking . . .
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I had so many emotions towards Esther. I sympathized with her as a young girl and the family tragedies that plagued her. Later, I was angry yet empathetic of her behavior as a married mother in Paris. I found her actions infuriating yet liberating.
I relished in her newly found pleasures, but also grew frustrated with her constant attempts to justify her behavior through the will of HaShem.
The author perfectly captured the guilt that only a mother can feel when she is torn between the responsibility of mothering and filling an inner desire. Esther’s situation is even more agonizing, as she is taught to believe that her actions may literally help bring or hinder the coming of the Messiah. In her young mind, her sins not only affect her family, but ultimately all of mankind. And yet, despite this mountain of pressure, she is barred from participating in the study of Torah, something her inquisitive mind craves.
The descriptions of food, neighborhoods and nature were captivating and beautifully detailed. The narrator’s voice was exquisite and did justice to the beautiful writing. The explanations of Jewish laws and customs were laid out perfectly for those unfamiliar with Haredi life.
The ending was perfect. It brought me to tears. The story captures the rawness of humanity and challenges our concept of tradition and sin. Throughout the entire book, Esther struggles in wondering whether HaShem is blessing or punishing her for her actions. The ending is a reminder that those blessings and punishments (if thats what we want to call them) will likely come one way or another, regardless of the paths we choose. It’s the story of life.
A stunning tale with beautiful narration
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Mispronounced words kill the reader
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Agony aunt ruins ending to a fine novel.
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A Sad, Aggravating Story
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