Reviews

The Loves of Judith by Meir Shalev

otto58's review

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emotional funny hopeful slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

adina_goldman's review against another edition

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5.0

I don't know if you will love this book, but everything about Shalev's voice, his the world he describes and his ideas of love and magic wove a poetic world that was a pleasure to inhabit. I dragged out this reading because I didn't want to leave.

nana2's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective relaxing sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

vanderschootbente's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

mayaharel's review against another edition

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dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

skonyo's review against another edition

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4.0

3.6 - Zaide has 3 dads - all of which loved his mother but he doesnt know which is the physical one .
I listen to this book at a 1.5 pace . it has beautiful writing and beautiful moments, but it is also tedious and up to the last page i wasn't sure which rating ill give it . It was suppose to be 3 stars and i almost quit it in the end. i wanted it to finish but now i miss its charactersץ
This is the 4th book by Shalev I've read. The first was blue mountains ( רומן רוסי ) , his first book .Although i like back and forth storytelling i found that Shalev ways of displaying the skeleton of the story and then spiraling into it and filling it with flesh both annoy me and tire me. It took me almost 10 years to try him again with two she Bears . It had similar writing attributes but it worked - i loved it.
Then i tried My Russian grandmother... and loved it as well.
This book is more like his first and i struggled again with its beautiful tiring writing.
Those who love Shalev will love this book for sure. For me the jury is yet out with the verdict of what i think of this book.

yossikhe's review against another edition

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5.0

A wonderful, beautiful story, told with exquisite language and mastering suspense. The characters are wonderfully developed and each one is lovable in its one way. The premise (a man that has three fathers) and the setting (in a village life in rural Israel) have a very Gabriel García Márquez vibe. Loved it all around, felt like a sweet, easy to swallow meal that leaves you wanting more.

lenni's review

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3.0

I love Shalev and all he writes but I gave this three stars (instead of four) only because I hate being made to feel sad or embarrassed for someone - in this case Jacob. I know that's the whole point but it bummed me out. As always: beautiful, lyrical, mystical, yet firmly rooted in place.

robinf's review

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5.0

I bought this book in Jerusalem a year and a half ago. Meir Shalev is an award winning, well known writer and I have two other books of his in my library. "The Loves of Judith" is beautifully written. You can't help but get caught up in the bird imagery - both literal and figurative. The characters are rich, and slowly revealed throughout the novel. It is a love story, between men and a woman, between that woman and the children she raises. A memorable read.