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Reviews
"This
book is a truly wonderful endeavor to bring the Talmud,
the second Jewish Scripture, particularly its Babylonian
branch, to life for the reader and makes it possible to
come to terms with one serious and holistic attempt to
interpret how it presents itself. If you are intrigued
by what Judaism is, how it presents itself, and how it
came to be what it is today; and if, at the same time,
you are a fan of Jane Austin's "Pride and Prejudice,"
this is the book for you. There is little doubt that if
you are patient enough you will discover behind the unpronounceable
Persian names and exotic setting on the Euphrates River
both Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy." --- Tal
Ilan, Professor of Jewish Studies at the Freie Universitaet
Berlin; editor of "A Feminist Talmud Commentary"
"Maggie
Anton has written an imaginative and meticulously researched
story, compelling and rich both intellectually and emotionally.'
--- Rachel Adler, Professor of Jewish Religious
Thought and Feminist Studies, HUC-JIR, Los Angeles; author
of "Engendering Judaism: An Inclusive Theology and
Ethics."
"A lushly detailed look into a fascinatingly unknown time
and culture—a tale of Talmud, sorcery, and a most engaging
heroine!" --- Diana Gabaldon, author of
the bestselling Outlander series
"This is more than a touching story of love and loss,
a journey of an independent-minded woman or a tale of
magic and witchcraft. Anton’s imagination takes you into
the lives of our Talmudic Sages-- as young students and
venerated teachers, shy fiancés and strong husbands, devoted
sons and caring fathers. She also fills in the blank spaces
for us – the rich and important lives of women and girls
of those times. Researching her material well, Anton recreates
Talmudic times, both the day to day ordinary existence
and life fraught with danger and destruction, yet surviving
to bring us Jewish law and wisdom unto this very day."
--- Blu Greenberg, founding president of
JOFA, the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance; author of
On Women and Judaism: A View from Tradition.
"Maggie Anton's extensive research into
rabbinic and other contemporaneous materials is evident
throughout this novel. She skillfully weaves together
multiple Talmudic sources to create a vivid picture of
what life might have been like for the daughter of a prominent
rabbinic family in Sasanian Babylonia and Roman Palestine
in the late 3rd century, wrapped in a story of love, loss,
and a young woman's quest to find her purpose and place
in an androcentric world." --- Gail Labovitz, Associate
Professor of Rabbinics, American Jewish University; author
of Marriage and Metaphor: Constructions of Gender in Rabbinic
Literature.
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