Reviews

• No doubt this is a masterpiece and it packs a tremendous punch. It's totally heartbreaking and completely authentic in its depiction of character and its honest as to how a mother who had experienced what what the main protagonist had would feel. Terribly tragic, and sad, but incredibly insightful. The influence of isaac bashevis singer is only too apparent, but Ozick's vision is decidedly bleaker. A great, but depressing read.

• Un piccolo capolavoro: due racconti che inquadrano gli stessi personaggi ad anni di distanza: Stella e sua zia Rose, che nella loro marcia verso un campo di concentramento, nasconde nello scialle la sua piccola di 15 mesi. La sua lotta tragica per nasconderla e cercare di salvarla fino allo sconvolgente epilogo della sua terribile morte. Poi anni dopo in Florida dove Rose vive in uno squallido albergo la sua follia popolata di fantasmi tragici, primo fra tutti quello dello scialle che avvolgeva la sua piccola, in una lenta discesa verso l'annientamento. Poi, forse, l'incontro con un altro sopravvissuto dai campi, dapprima rifiutato, riuscirà a salvarla dall'autodistruzione. Insieme i due racconti costituiscono un grande romanzo sulla memoria, il dolore, la shoa e la follia. Da leggere assolutamente. Richiede un buon livello di conoscenza dell' inglese.

• "The Shawl" is one of those Holocaust themed novels that students of the subject must read. Other stories explore the events, while "The Shawl" shows the raw nerve of the survivor. Readers might be surprised by the brevity of the story - it's not even seventy pages - but Ozick intelligently composes every paragraph for powerful effect. The story takes place in Miami Beach during the late 1970's, a time I remember quite well growing up. Ozick captures the feel of the Miami Beach few remember today: a dying oven many people chose as their place to retire and die. The story resonates with me because my father is a Holocaust survivor who brought his family to Miami Beach. The alienation of Rosa Lublin, the protagonist is perfectly recreated. This is the kind of damage I expect to see in Holocaust survivors, but it's particularly horrible with Rosa. I will not spoil it for you, but I was amazed at how the first four pages of the story left me suddenly crying. Not enough stories explore the alienation of the Holocaust survivor. Read "The Shawl" and you will understand something the chronologies and statistics can never describe.

• It is really a good book related to holocaust survivors. It is worth reading. Book was in good condition with viable price.

• Brilliant writer. I ask myself after reading this heart wrenching story, how many Rosas there were back then and now in a different place but suffering the loss of a child in the most evil and horrific ways.

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