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5 stars!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😍
Oh. My. GOSH. My jaw is literally on the floor!! Definitely one of my favorite books I have ever read and for sure in my top 3 for this year so far. Maybe even overall in all my books I have ever read. The raw depth of human emotions, the very real application of actual Psalms and biblical references, unique journeys through faith and relationships with God...there are truly so many beautiful elements to this book and its writing that I truly can't pinpoint singular happenstances that stand out; so many parts and underlying themes are all so good.
The amount of research that went into this book truly shines through; the history is portrayed beautifully and the author weaved real life details into fictional story lines so seamlessly I am still convincing myself that the stories I read were not real themselves. The architecture, the locations portrayed throughout each story line, little details about the traditions, mysteries, beliefs, and practices plus the depth to each character were some of the best I have ever had the pleasure to read!
I heavily highlighted so many parts throughout the book; the imagery in the author's writing was so emotive and extremely well done...with just enough magic sprinkled in. Yael's story seemed longer than the rest, which at its end makes sense why. I am so pleased with how the story ended, and how each and every detail throughout the combination of each story was tied together and come full circle.
I loved the portrayal of these strong, ethereal women!! Each were so beautiful in their own ways, and to watch them come together in the dovecotes was such a magnificent thing to experience. This story truly captivated me and I thoroughly enjoyed every second...other authors can stand to take notes how a REAL strong woman lead is written! (*cough* Violet Sorrengail *cough*) The real life events that inspired this story, plus the details mentioned at the end of the book, were not sugar coated at all and it really draws attention to the weight that moment in time carried. I am also reminded of similar hardships being faced in that area even today...I have so much respect for the time the author took to make this story, though fictional, so authentic to the history and the area that influenced her to write this. Truly breathtaking!
**SPOILERS**
My favorite parts were for sure Yael's correlation with the lion, all throughout the book in different parts of her life. Her journey from hating herself, through rebellion, and ultimately growing into an observant and humble mother and friend was such a heart wrencher in the best way...I just wanted to give her a hug! The journey from self reliance to self acceptance was so lyrical, and I cried when she came to peace with her ghost(s)...literally and figuratively.
Revka was not one I expected to make it through as one of the survivors, but I am glad she did along with her grandsons. To watch her go from a hardened, calloused woman to one that admitted pain and opened her home and heart to Yael helped heal her. It pained my physically to read about the breath of her daughter, and the guilt she carried. The depth of grief and human emotion portrayed in Revka's chapter was profound and felt very real.
I expected Aziza to be one of the survivors with Yael, but her ultimate end in the final battle was truly a poetic one, and the way I would expect her to go. Her element was iron, and her love for the Man from the Valley was not what I expected...one of many twists throughout the book. Her life was never her own until she took control of her element, and I was half saddened to see the realities of Amram's fall from grace until his ultimate end as well. The dog's companionship was a nice touch, and I was torn to bits yet again.
Shirah felt like the catalyst for the rest of the stories endings, as she touched each one even at the beginning of Yael's when she was but a young house nurse for her in infancy before her banishment. (Another twist!) She was misunderstood and bound by love, which she too came to accept. I imagined her like my own mom, and how similar my sister and I were to Aziza and Nahara even down to personalities and my shooting of archery.
Each woman had its own theme, and each evoked their own emotion in the reader. Each one touched the other in some way, and they were equal parts of sadness, joy, and acceptance to put it in terms not profound enough to describe.
https://agapereview.com/2022/06/11/thedovekeepers
I paste the above link from another reviewer as I feel she touches on each element perfectly and relays the message of each story in the way I cannot articulate.
Oh. My. GOSH. My jaw is literally on the floor!! Definitely one of my favorite books I have ever read and for sure in my top 3 for this year so far. Maybe even overall in all my books I have ever read. The raw depth of human emotions, the very real application of actual Psalms and biblical references, unique journeys through faith and relationships with God...there are truly so many beautiful elements to this book and its writing that I truly can't pinpoint singular happenstances that stand out; so many parts and underlying themes are all so good.
The amount of research that went into this book truly shines through; the history is portrayed beautifully and the author weaved real life details into fictional story lines so seamlessly I am still convincing myself that the stories I read were not real themselves. The architecture, the locations portrayed throughout each story line, little details about the traditions, mysteries, beliefs, and practices plus the depth to each character were some of the best I have ever had the pleasure to read!
I heavily highlighted so many parts throughout the book; the imagery in the author's writing was so emotive and extremely well done...with just enough magic sprinkled in. Yael's story seemed longer than the rest, which at its end makes sense why. I am so pleased with how the story ended, and how each and every detail throughout the combination of each story was tied together and come full circle.
I loved the portrayal of these strong, ethereal women!! Each were so beautiful in their own ways, and to watch them come together in the dovecotes was such a magnificent thing to experience. This story truly captivated me and I thoroughly enjoyed every second...other authors can stand to take notes how a REAL strong woman lead is written! (*cough* Violet Sorrengail *cough*) The real life events that inspired this story, plus the details mentioned at the end of the book, were not sugar coated at all and it really draws attention to the weight that moment in time carried. I am also reminded of similar hardships being faced in that area even today...I have so much respect for the time the author took to make this story, though fictional, so authentic to the history and the area that influenced her to write this. Truly breathtaking!
**SPOILERS**
My favorite parts were for sure Yael's correlation with the lion, all throughout the book in different parts of her life. Her journey from hating herself, through rebellion, and ultimately growing into an observant and humble mother and friend was such a heart wrencher in the best way...I just wanted to give her a hug! The journey from self reliance to self acceptance was so lyrical, and I cried when she came to peace with her ghost(s)...literally and figuratively.
Revka was not one I expected to make it through as one of the survivors, but I am glad she did along with her grandsons. To watch her go from a hardened, calloused woman to one that admitted pain and opened her home and heart to Yael helped heal her. It pained my physically to read about the breath of her daughter, and the guilt she carried. The depth of grief and human emotion portrayed in Revka's chapter was profound and felt very real.
I expected Aziza to be one of the survivors with Yael, but her ultimate end in the final battle was truly a poetic one, and the way I would expect her to go. Her element was iron, and her love for the Man from the Valley was not what I expected...one of many twists throughout the book. Her life was never her own until she took control of her element, and I was half saddened to see the realities of Amram's fall from grace until his ultimate end as well. The dog's companionship was a nice touch, and I was torn to bits yet again.
Shirah felt like the catalyst for the rest of the stories endings, as she touched each one even at the beginning of Yael's when she was but a young house nurse for her in infancy before her banishment. (Another twist!) She was misunderstood and bound by love, which she too came to accept. I imagined her like my own mom, and how similar my sister and I were to Aziza and Nahara even down to personalities and my shooting of archery.
Each woman had its own theme, and each evoked their own emotion in the reader. Each one touched the other in some way, and they were equal parts of sadness, joy, and acceptance to put it in terms not profound enough to describe.
https://agapereview.com/2022/06/11/thedovekeepers
I paste the above link from another reviewer as I feel she touches on each element perfectly and relays the message of each story in the way I cannot articulate.
The Dovekeepers is an ambitious novel about four women in ancient Israel whose different paths lead them to Masada, a mountain in the desert, at a historical and tragic time in their history. Alice Hoffman has done a superb job researching this event, and it is evident in the details. The only critique I have is the bleeding over of the four voices. They were very similar in tone. I highly recommend this one. It will stay with me for a long time.
I wavered whether to give this book 3 or 4 stars but in the end to me it was a good book but not great. I certainly loved parts of it but overall it dragged on too much and was too mystical for my taste. I still recommend it though if you are looking for a solid, good book.
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