People of the Book

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Historical Fiction
Hanna Heath, a young Australian book conservationist is summoned to Sarajevo in order to preserve the Sarajevo Haggadah, a Jewish prayer book about passover. Hanna gets to work and finds clues as to the hands it once passed through; a bit of butterfly, a stain.

This books tells a story both in the present and the past. I was much more interested in the past story as it covered various Jewish persecutions and the stories seem to come to life. The present story was a little contrived and not quite as believable, starting with Hanna being such a great restorer at such a young age.

The past travels through Bosnia where a Muslim hid the book to preserve it, Austria-Hungary, Italy and Spain where this illuminated manuscript was first created and saved when the Jews were expelled,

I also liked to read the story on the conservation efforts. All in all an interesting read!

First Line: "I might as well say, right from the jump: it wasn't my usual kind of job."
Rating:
(4.0/5)