Lisa Pearl Rosenbaum

Poland, 1906. Friedl Alterman is laying in her grave in the Jewish cemetery in Zokof ready for her spirit to move on to a better place. Suddenly, Itzik Leiber, a 14-year-old boy, runs to her tombstone, hangs on to it for dear life, and beings to pray for help from the pursuing angry, Polish men. Friedl's spirit rises from her grave to protect him; thus beginning a haunting of three generations: Itzik, his son, and then his granddaughter. Even with the ghostly presence of Friedl, this is a show more realistic and fascinating story about one family and also the history of the Polish Jews. show less

Interesting book, somewhat hopeful regarding the possiblity of peaceful coexistence if we only live together. Some magical realism, but not as problematic as that by Marquez. Fairly well-defined characters

This book started slow, but by the end I was reading slower just to make it last a little longer. Lovely book that is hard to describe to someone. It's a story of Jewish-Polish relations through three generations. It's also about prayer, being a non-religious jewish-american, dance and growth of the soul. It's also a ghost story.

An amazing story that will get you thinking. This is the kind of book that sticks with you long after you have finished reading it.