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The Dovekeepers - Alice Hoffman
The Dovekeepers
by: (author)
4.15 50
The Dovekeepers is Alice Hoffman’s most ambitious and mesmerizing novel, a tour de force of research and imagination. Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred Jews held out for months against armies of Romans on Masada, a mountain in the Judean desert. According to the ancient historian... show more
The Dovekeepers is Alice Hoffman’s most ambitious and mesmerizing novel, a tour de force of research and imagination. Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred Jews held out for months against armies of Romans on Masada, a mountain in the Judean desert. According to the ancient historian Josephus, two women and five children survived. Based on this tragic and iconic event, Hoffman’s novel is a spellbinding tale of four extraordinarily bold, resourceful, and sensuous women, each of whom has come to Masada by a different path. Yael’s mother died in childbirth, and her father, an expert assassin, never forgave her for that death. Revka, a village baker’s wife, watched the murder of her daughter by Roman soldiers; she brings to Masada her young grandsons, rendered mute by what they have witnessed. Aziza is a warrior’s daughter, raised as a boy, a fearless rider and expert marksman who finds passion with a fellow soldier. Shirah, born in Alexandria, is wise in the ways of ancient magic and medicine, a woman with uncanny insight and power. The lives of these four complex and fiercely independent women intersect in the desperate days of the siege. All are dovekeepers, and all are also keeping secrets—about who they are, where they come from, who fathered them, and whom they love.
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Format: paperback
ISBN: 9781451617481 (1451617488)
ASIN: 1451617488
Publisher: Scribner
Pages no: 505
Edition language: English
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Community Reviews
Chris' Fish Place
Chris' Fish Place rated it
3.0 It's not bad, but something is off
I have a feeling that this book is a bit of a let down, that in some ways it should be better or more likable than it is. Than I have to wonder if it is because in some ways it is too accurate; it is the fall of Masada after all. That’s not going to end well. And yet, it still fee...
Sarah's Library
Sarah's Library rated it
4.5 The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
Thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was great to finally read a book classified by others as "literary" and finally enjoy it. Most "literary" books are hard to read and require me to take frequent breaks to read lighter fare. For e.g. On Chesil Beach, it took me 6 weeks to make my way through this, re...
Leftie aka Closet Romance Reader
Leftie aka Closet Romance Reader rated it
5.0 The Dovekeepers
This is a first Alice Hoffman read for me. It was one of the top picks at my local bookstore when it first came out. I don't normally gravitate towards this kind of fiction but something about the cover and the synopsis called out to me, and I'm glad I followed thru.I don't know anything about this ...
Kaethe
Kaethe rated it
Set in 70CE concerning the Roman destruction of the Temple. As much as I enjoy the magical aspect of the story, Yael's memory of her birth was a bit much for me, and the unrelenting anguish of her early life made it hard for me to connect.Library copy.
Caffeine Reviews
Caffeine Reviews rated it
4.0
Great read! Wonderfully written, I can't say which character was my favorite, since I saw apart of myself in each one. The story is violent, bloody and doomed and yet there is love, friendship and a will to survive. My only complaint is that it did seem to drag on a bit and for that reason I'm givin...
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