In 1923, seventeen-year-old Esther Grünspan arrives in Köln “with a hardened heart as her sole luggage.” Thus begins a twenty-two-year journey, woven against the backdrops of the European Holocaust and the Hindu Kali Yuga (the “Age of Darkness” when human civilization degenerates spiritually), in search of a place of sanctuary. Throughout her travails, using cunning and shrewdness, Esther relies … relies on her masterful tailoring skills to help mask her Jewish heritage, navigate war-torn Europe, and emigrate to India.
Esther’s traveling companion and the novel’s narrator is Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu God worshipped by millions for his abilities to destroy obstacles, bestow wishes, and avenge evils. Impressed by Esther’s fortitude and relentless determination, born of her deep—though unconscious—understanding of the meaning and purpose of love, Ganesha, with compassion, insight, and poetry, chooses to highlight her story because he recognizes it is all of our stories—for truth resides at the essence of its telling.
Weaving Eastern beliefs and perspectives with Western realities and pragmatism, Guesthouse for Ganesha is a tale of love, loss, and spirit reclaimed.
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I really like the way Judith interwove the interactions of Ganesha with the main character Esther. She was able to effectively give voice to Ganesha as if he were always there offering spiritual wisdom that felt true and wise. Such an amazing transformation of Ganesha into a living character who flows along smoothly with the travels and travails of Esther as she navigates survival within the atrocities of the Nazi era in WWII. Rich and beautiful language throughout. Highly recommend this book
Invite this book into your house of very special reads, and you will savor the visit! Judith Teitelman had me at the Rumi epigraph. Without a lot of knowledge of Hindu gods, but much knowledge of family lost and damaged in the Holocaust, I approached this novel warily. I learned about Ganesha over the course of the novel as he narrated much of the story and through verse and philosophic commentary, granted the reader a more sympathetic perspective on the main character, Esther. Her rigid, emotionally withheld attributes might otherwise have discouraged the reader from believing in her redemption over the course of the extended plot. And, I’m a sucker for
*well done magical realism,
*fine lyrical writing,
*stories where fiber arts are featured, and
*books that remake a family member’s legacy to feature the humanity we all share.
Brava, Gut gemacht, and bahut badhiya
Ms. Teitelman!
This is a novel that confounds, mystifies, demands and engages, with a story so imaginative and out of the ordinary that, to take the ride as a reader, you must be willing to walk between the mystical and mundane, the grounded and the intangible. If you do, you will be rewarded with a fully unique and mesmerizing reading experience.
The title alone, Guesthouse for Ganesha, alerts us that the many-armed elephant-headed Hindu deity will play a role, but what is unexpected is how and when this beloved god shows up: in a shabby Indian booth in a Jewish quarter of Germany shortly after WWI and in the prelude of WWII. You might ask: how does this Hindu god factor into one of the most ignoble moments in the history of humanity? That is just one of the compelling questions of the story.
Esther is our protagonist, though a challenging one. When she is left at the altar by the man she believes was her destiny, we feel for her devastated heart. But as her burden of pain drives her from her family with nary a look back, as it hardens her heart and turns her into a woman bereft of compassion and empathy, incapable of normal, expected emotions – like the love of a mother for a child, a wife for a husband – we are asked to continue to follow her journey, continue to see her as good, despite the pain and anguish she not only experiences herself, but inflicts on others, particular those children and that husband. She is, at many times, very difficult to like, much less cheer for, yet Teitelman has written her story with such sharp creativity and propulsive plotting that it is impossible to let go of Esther, even when she enrages and confounds. It is, in fact, that very iron will and unbending strength that determines her survival.
And weaving and wafting around her from the moment they meet in that booth are the words, thoughts, guidances, and tender observations of Ganesha, the god in her corner. I felt somewhat baffled as to why this god chose this woman to mentor, to save, to accompany throughout her life, but decided to simply let myself be swept up in the notion. It is certainly an intriguing one!
Teitelman’s gift is that she is able to take this fantastical premise, this odd fusion of religions, histories, times and places, and fashion a story that is poetic and painful, often mystifying and maddening, but one that makes us care, makes us want to know how this god informs and transforms the life of one heartbroken, battered woman living at this excruciating time. It is beautiful and utterly unique storytelling.
Mystical and inspiring
A remarkable and truly unique novel
One part magical realism, one part spiritual meditation, Guesthouse for Ganesha is a remarkable novel. The dual narrators—a bitter, jilted young woman and the Hindu god who’s keeping an eye on her—transcend cultures and belief systems in all too human story about the power to heal and adapt in the face of crushing betrayals. Teitelman depicts Esther’s inner struggle and her journey with stirring compassion and insight. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.
A beautiful, mesmerizing, and uniquely creative novel. What a clever approach to a story about a shrewdly resilient young woman who manages to hide her Jewish heritage as the Nazis advance throughout Europe. While the opening chapter tells us of Esther’s hardened heart, and though we witness countless examples of her unyielding emotions, any harshness is lightened by the delightful voice of cookie-craving Hindu God, Ganesha, who narrates the novel as he lovingly and protectively follows Esther on her journey. A story of heartbreak, struggle, and survival, Guesthouse for Ganesha’s ending is an utter triumph of spirit on many levels. Definitely on my top ten list of best books I’ve read over the past year.
I enjoyed this novel as it is well-written and has a compelling plot and protagonist. I don’t have a problem with unlikable characters; in fact, I find they make a story interesting by challenging a reader to refrain from harsh judgment too quickly. I think this is a tale which is open to interpretation. Be openminded as you’re reading this book and understand that it is reality blended with mysticism and spirituality, which means you will need to suspend disbelief. Through the novel I enjoyed the interweaving of Ganesha’s commentary with the main narrative, as it kept me wondering how and when he might show himself to Esther and what role he fills in the story. It lent some mystery and edginess to the plotline.
I loved the meticulous descriptions of stitches and materials and the process of sewing, all of which were artfully written and provide insight into Esther’s character and values. Teitelman does a fantastic job setting up her protagonist’s fastidious dedication to quality and perfection, which play into the character’s survival instinct.
One distraction was the ongoing injection of other languages. While sprinkling Yiddish, German and Dutch between their English translations is a lovely touch and helps the reader keep track of the language shifts with Esther’s various relocations, the inclusion of the other languages throughout the story was, for me, overkill. I eventually just skipped past the foreign languages to continue with the story and it did not affect my enjoyment of the book.
Guesthouse for Ganesha is a captivating story about a woman on a mission to simultaneously lose and find herself. Enduring devastating heartbreak, then the unfathomable horrors of war, with the necessity of hiding herself and adapting her identity for survival. During it all, she is not alone, as a powerful force creates a path forward for her. A timely read in 2020, offering a reminder that through the darkness, we can align with Light and move through our own obstacles when we follow our inner guidance, tuning in to listen to what our own soul has to say.
I was immediately drawn to the title because I love Indian culture (and Ganesha, in particular) so I purchased the book without even reading a blurb about it! Being steeped in Holocaust history as a practicing Jew with ties to family who died in the Warsaw Ghetto, I might have avoided this book had I known the setting. However, once engaged in Esther’s life, I could not stop! What I discovered is a poignant and sometimes heart-rending tale told by a masterful storyteller. With compelling and beautiful prose, Teitelman takes readers on an epic journey from darkness to light that is continually hopeful and life-affirming.
Esther Grunspan is disenchanted with the world when she is left at the alter at seventeen years of age. In 1923, she escapes to Koln, and with her talent for sewing and perseverance, she navigates war-torn Europe. This story has a very interesting thread—her journey has a silent partner, the Hindu God Ganesha. He follows her and, in essence, protects and delivers her. Esther is not certain what it is, but at times, she feels a presence and, ultimately, is drawn to India. But to get there, she struggles and goes through more than most of us go through. She is resilient and strong. She is definitely not the typical protagonist, and a reader might be inclined to judge her for some of the harsh choices she makes, but one can admire her at the same time for her desire to persevere. Through it all, I wanted to know what would happen. The novel reads easily and quickly, has deep, complicated themes, and is written in a creative way with the voice of Ganesha throughout. I enjoyed the poetry and the prose as well as the different settings and the research it took to write this novel. I strongly recommend this novel to someone who is not afraid to take a tough journey with Esther and learn some very important lessons along the way. Excellent read!
A wonderful, timely story (timeless, really) so universally human and at the same time mystical, super-human. I love the narrator, Ganesha, weaving in and out with his observations and his poetic voice, mesmerizing at times. The merging themes of the personal journey of Esther, her interior/exterior challenges in the context of the era in which her journey takes physical form, the universal themes of light and dark, all moved me deeply. The final scene, where all merges, is stunning. The historic part, the geographic part, I was there, wherever the writer placed me, I was THERE. Not only is this a masterful piece of writing, deliciously so, but the story-telling grips one too. I could not put it down until I had taken the entire ride, all of it.
We accompany Esther through the world’s darkest events, never wanting to leave her side, despite her challenges. We are devastated by human behavior and ultimately uplifted by the force of goodness and spiritual lightness. Teitelman weaves complicated situations into a coherent journey, capturing details as fine as the stitches Esther sews to save her life.
Deeply original. A spiritual journey as well as a very moving saga of love, loss, and survival. A reclamation of one’s true self.