WINNER OF A NATIONAL JEWISH BOOK AWARD A USA TODAY BESTSELLER “A gifted writer, astonishingly adept at nuance, narration, and the politics of passion.”—Toni Morrison Set in London of the 1660s and of the early twenty-first century, The Weight of Ink is the interwoven tale of two women of remarkable intellect: Ester Velasquez, an emigrant from Amsterdam who is permitted to scribe for a blind … who is permitted to scribe for a blind rabbi, just before the plague hits the city; and Helen Watt, an ailing historian with a love of Jewish history.
When Helen is summoned by a former student to view a cache of newly discovered seventeenth-century Jewish documents, she enlists the help of Aaron Levy, an American graduate student as impatient as he is charming, and embarks on one last project: to determine the identity of the documents’ scribe, the elusive “Aleph.”
Electrifying and ambitious, The Weight of Ink is about women separated by centuries—and the choices and sacrifices they must make in order to reconcile the life of the heart and mind.
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The story captures a time that is seldom covered. Good story and realistic characters
Absolutely beautifully written. I particularly enjoyed the historical references and philosophical discussions.
What a great book. I couldn’t put it down. A cache of Jewish writings is found from the 17th century is found under a stair in Richmond and turned over to a retiring professor and her postgrad. One plot is about the dynamics going on between these two and the university head of antiquities. The other time plot is during the 17th century when Cromwell allows the Jews to return to England and a blind rabbi comes from Amsterdam and Lisbon bringing his orphaned scribe Esther to bring the faith back to the lapsed Jews living there. Against this backdrop the characters are well developed and bring an understanding of that time and our own.
Couldn’t put it down!
The Weight of Ink is brimming with theology, philosophy, and matters of the heart. It demands of the reader that, like Ester, you question, even when the wisdom of the ages in the form of a learned blind rabbi is ever present to teach you the meaning of God and suffering. This magnificent book didn’t shake my faith but made it stronger. Because I can see in these tortured characters the spirit of love that drenches the book’s pages in indelible ink and laughs at Ester’s bitter refrain, let the truth be ash.
“This story, whatever it proves to be, belongs to all of us.” If you choose to read this book, then the story can belong to you, too.
Rachel Kadish has written a work of sublime reasoning and story. However, it is not an easy read. The depth of philosophical discussion and the wading into the deep waters of religious belief at times weight the reader threatening to pull them beneath the waves. Were it not for the brilliant ability of the author to blend history, diverse characters, and timeless mystery; the book might not have succeeded. But it does. In fact, although a weighty tome, I couldn’t put it down.
I wasn’t a stranger to the history that Ms. Kadish writes about, I am very familiar with the inquisition, and the expulsion of Jews from Spain and Portugal. I read in 2003 The Coffee Trader, which is about the life of Sephardic Jews that settled in Amsterdam, an intriguing read. But this book held the added mystery of newly discovered hidden documents and letters that held the potential of changing history. And I cannot fail to mention the backstory of a young British historian who in her search and rebellion travels to Israel in 1953 and finds love. I won’t spoil what happens next.
So the mystery begins when beneath the stairwell of a historical house in Richmond, England that is undergoing renovation the fragile papers with their even more fragile ink are discovered, and Helen Wats is called by her former student to access them. Now the story kicks in with its suspense. What will become of the priceless cache? Who will be allowed to write the dissertation that is a career-changing discovery that might immortalize their name? But most importantly, who is the author, scribe, and mind behind the letters?
An old historian who is ill and her sexy, assistant who is struggling with his dissertation and struggling to discover what kind of man he is are both on the quest but for entirely different reasons.
The book in beautiful detail elucidates the life of a seedling Jewish community in London, the plague of 1665, and the great philosophical heretical debate on the nature of God.
If you love history, a great mystery, romance, and the questioning of life and purpose you will love this book.
Truly beautiful. I enjoyed the thoughts on God, faith, and friendship.
I loved it.
Highly recommend.
This book had a little of everything a reader could ask for. I liked the way it jumped back in time and did not feel it was unconnected to the main story line which was also very interesting. There was action, mystery, romance, religion,history….Well done !!
This is one of the best books I’ve read for quite a time. It truly immerses us in the realies for Jewish women in the 17 Century, the yearning of a woman to become a Jewish scribe, and the obstacles she faces. It is also a commentary on the role of ego in academia, something I can personally attest to!
I found it to be a long, haed read.
Five star!
Brilliant! I heartily recommend this book about the dilemmas Jews faced during the 1600″s. Characters challenged me with their insight into life!!
Beautifully written original story of scholars separated by hundreds of years, each triumphing in his or her own way.
While a large book, I loved it all. It was hard not to keep reading it. In fact at the end I was up until 4 am finishing. It examines philosophy as it pertains to God, the Jewish faith, London during the plague; then in more modern times, the struggles of Israel when first becoming a nation, then the academic challenges later. It was interesting and intriguing.
Thoughtful, multi-layered historical novel. Beautifully written. I have recommended this book to numerous friends.
If you like true to reality historical fiction, read this book. The characters are authentic. It is longish, but don’t stop until you get to the fabulous end.
Slow to start but great character building and historical insights. Fascinating look at how even early history can affect the present.
It might very well be a masterpiece of our time.