Customer Reviews

Rashi's Daughters, Book II: Miriam: A Novel of Love and the Talmud in Medieval France

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have just completed reading this best seller and once again Maggie Anton has written just that, another best seller. This book was educational, encompassing the back drop of medieval France and the writings of Rabbi Rashi's commentaries of the Talmud. Being a continuation of the first book, Joheved, this novel was well worth the read. There was additional Talmud information and several new characters. It was an easy read, with more diversified issues. I am anxiously awaiting to hear about Rachael. Thank you, Maggie.

I picked this up at random in the library, not realizing it was the second book in a trilogy (and if the author's comments are accurate, will be also reproduced as bowdlerized children's books). From comments here, I think it is possible that the first book is better, but I can only comment on what I have actually read.

The premise is fascinating: the story of a learned Talmudic scholar, Rashi, in the 11th century, who has 3 daughters and no sons, so he daringly educates his girls far beyond the norms of the day. I imagine in real life, these were three extremely fascinating and unusual women. So it's astonishing what a dull, lifeless story author Maggie Anton gives us -- a tedious recitation of "life in the middle ages" strung along with endless sex scenes and talk about hymens, deflowerings, menstrual cycles, pregnancies and births. I suppose in a real sense, the life of a medieval woman was highly circumscribed and restricted, and limited to just pleasing her husband and producing dozens of children until she died (usually in childbirth).

But this was supposed to be about three extremely unusual, educated Jewish women -- at a time when education itself was rare (even amongst men) and among a small community of people whose faith was very different than the majority of their countrymen. I got absolutely zero sense from this book what it was like to be a Jew in Medieval France, how the Jews acted or lived differently than their countrymen, how the Christian majority really thought about or treated them.

You don't even get a sense of how other Jews, especially women, felt about these three rare birds -- I would have guessed them to face serious disapproval from other less educated women. After all, they are doing really socially challenging things, reading and disucssing Talmud, wearing tefillin...one girl is a "mohel", performing ritual circumcisions, something that even today is mostly done by men.

This book also struck me as derivative of Anne Diamont's much better book, "The Red Tent", with its emphasis on midwifery, and the attendant continual scenes of pregnancies and births. Undoubtedly this was a big part of women's lives at the time -- but in real life, mortality rates were very high, and yet there is little here about dying, still births, or the way women were quickly replaced by new wives. You'd almost think that midwifery was being practiced at a very high level of skill, when in fact it was filthy and primitive. Also, there is nothing in particular here to suggest that educated, Talmudically trained midwives had anymore medical skill to offer than French peasant midwives.

It was interesting to read that Ms. Anton has created a new, bowdlerized (sexless) version of the first book for "pre teens"). (Hint to Ms. Anton: girls of 13, 14 and 15 are not "pre teens".) That's because "Rashi's Daughters" is filled with the kind of howlingly bad sex stuff, presented as "historical", that has ruined plenty of non-Jewish literature -- constant scenes of deflowered virgins, wedding nights, hymens, penetration and endless talk about menstruation (called "flowers" here)....all in pretentious, often made up language instead of talking bluntly about the real thing. Ms. Anton clumsily copies a bit directly from "The Red Tent", where a young girl, worried about her wedding night, has an older sister surgically cut her hymen. Frankly, this isn't credible anyways -- most cultures revere virginity and place a high value on bleeding and pain as a sign of purity. I also can't imagine one sister doing this for another -- ewww.

The problem with this isn't about prudery -- I enjoy lusty, frank, erotic writing and some period stories are highly suited to this kind of treatment. But this topic is supposed to be about unique, educated women -- women with an unsurpassed knowledge for their time of religion, morality, history, tradition, ethics. It would be nice if they could think about something above the level of their groins, at least a little. Even their Talmudic research seems geared to things like contraception.

An even worse subplot is about young Miriam's husband, also a Talmudic scholar, who is a homosexual and sleeping around with his yeshiva study partners. Obviously, there have been gay people in every era and therefore must have existed even in such religious seminaries. But the angle of the story suggests this was common, even the norm, and at the end, the couple seems to have accepted the husband's orientation -- and stays together! I believe in actuality that an openly homosexual man in that time would have been looked at in contempt and driven out of the community. The level of tolerance and acceptance seems far too contemporary.

Unfortunately, the sum total of all this makes the book seems like an outwardly acceptable way to read about a lot of sex stuff -- "see mom, it's about the Talmud!", when in fact the content is mostly at the level of a gossip magazine...whose having sex with who, how good it is, who is pregnant, etc.

The historical aspects are thin, and very laboured. Ms. Anton may indeed be a Talmudic expert -- I can't argue that -- but she is unable to present what I think should be fascinating material in anything but a schoolmarmish way. The worst of the writing, to me, is how she will grasp a phrase or name for something and work it to death -- the French term for a tunic is "bliaut". So -- nobody can just get dressed or put on a tunic...no they have to get their red "bliaut" and put on a bliaut or buy a new bliaut. Ditto for confusing terms like "Hot Fair" -- maybe that is a literal translation, but honestly isn't "SUMMMER FAIR" more logical and meaningful? Basically, it's a fair that takes place in warm weather. There is no reason to use language to obscure and "fancify" everything that could be simple and clear.

If you can't bring yourself to read bodice rippers, and instead want to feel good that you are reading something about Jewish History or the Talmud, I guess books like this exist so you can have your cake and eat it too. But if you really care about these things -- there are far better books on Jewish History, on the Middle Ages and even on the scholar Rashi. Even the book jacket is incredibly lame -- instead of artwork of a medieval Jewish woman, we have an Italian mannerist painting of a Christian noblewoman of the 1600s, by the artist Bronzino. (On the first book, there is a portrait by Leonardo DaVinci!). I know authors do not produce or even OK their book jackets, but it's indicative of a generally slipshod attitude towards both history and the reading audience.

In conclusion: not worth the time it took me to read it.

Maggie Anton has done an outstanding job of allowing us into the house of Rashi. Her dialog flows beautifully and her discriptions color the time and place so that the reader has a vivid mental image of the life and surroundings of the characters. Without giving too much away, let me add that the specific issues that the characters face are treated with compassion and sensitivity. I would recommend the novel to anyone who loves historical fiction. I would recommend reading book one first.

What is so wonderful about this series is how the reader can feel as if they're experiencing life during the 11th century. Maggie Anton has the ability to write in such a manner that I felt "a part of" what was going on - I could smell, hear, feel the anquish and joy of all of the characters. Through her words we are given a view into the life of one of our most important sages - even if it is fictional in a lot of ways.

Whatever struggles the characters are going through are the same struggles that people are experiencing to this very day. To me, that is just one thing that made this book even more real - you experienced their struggles, their questioning of themselves - just as we all do every day of our own lives.

Maggie - excellent book! I have no doubt that the third book will be just as wonderful. L'Shanah Tovah!

After throroughly enjoying the first book in this series, I was extremely disappointed with this shallow and poorly written sequel. It reads like a Harlequin Romance with a few lines of Talmud thrown in for good measure. What happened to you- Ms. Anton? I think Rashi's daughters deserve better!

Rashi's Daughters, Book II: Miriam

Miriam: Excellent Social History and the Talmudic Process in One Good Read

Rashi's Daughters: Miriam

Maggie Anton

Review by Art Finkle

This second historical novel of a trilogy continues with Rashi's (a 10th century Jewish commentator on scared writings in what is now the Champaign region of France) second daughter, Miriam. The author brings realism of the 10th century social history, no small feat and places the emphasis on women in a patriarchal society. Although many may consider this book targeted to females, it should be read by all. Males should know that sacrifices their wives and mothers made for t heir education, a highly prized commodity during these times.

That merchants, vineyard supervisors, jewelers and other what was thought to be traditionally male activities comes as a surprise. Moreover, not only is midwifery involved with the delivery of babies but they also had the very best of medical knowledge.

Miriam, as the second daughter of the great thinker continues to involve herself in the study of Talmud, a Jewish process of learning insights (from the Sages' writings from the 1st century onward), and making rulings on real-life situations. Such study was a male's role but since Rashi, a born teacher, only had daughters, he taught this arduous process to all of his daughters.

There were also vignettes that bespoke the unique personality of Rashi,

who collaborated with the Cardinal from the Christian community to interpret difficult passages from the original Hebrew; the role of semi-annual Fairs that promoted commerce and communication of all kinds; and the large role of superstition.

Overall, this novel captures social history and the Talmudic process in an extraordinary way. Plus the book is a great read.

To paraphrase a 1960's-era East Coast billboard for Levy's rye bread, "You don't have to be Jewish to love ...the second book in Maggie Anton's "Rashi's Daughters" trilogy, "Book II: Miriam."

Neither does one have to be Francophile, female nor feminist, romance nor historical novel devotee, vintner nor midwife, medieval nor Talmudic scholar, nor fond of long novels. However, you may wish to read its predecessor: "Book I: Joheved" first to add to your enjoyment of its plot and characters.

Never before have I read a novel in which a sense of time and place so removed from my own is so vividly detailed nor so effortlessly absorbing.

While the research and scholarship that went into this novel is evident, it serves the work rather than dominates it. At heart, this is a riveting story of family and community that will touch anyone whose heart is open and whose mind is inquisitive -- in short, a must-read.Rashi's Daughters, Book I: Joheved (Rashi's Daughters)

After reading Anton's first book in the series "Joheved", I was eager to purchase "Miriam". The focus on midwifery and women's medicine is very interesting and engaging. Little details about life and lifestyle are fascinating. And who knew these folks were so "juicy" about sex and sexuality? Really, I gained alot of perspective and I read this and the previous book in huge gulps. Learned more than I ever knew about Talmud and the Commentaries. Great read.

In 1078 Troyes, France, Rabbi Salomon ben Isaac, cherished and highly regarded by the local Jewish community as Rabbi Rashi, lovingly teaches the Talmud to his three daughters although that defies centuries of the norm as only males are supposed to study it.. His courageous intelligent middle daughter, Miriam really appreciates learning what the ancient Jewish wise men had to say about life as a Jew. As she learns much about her religion, she is determined to break gender boundaries that men not the Talmud has placed on women. Grieving the death of her betrothed, Miriam wants to become the midwife and mohel to the Jewish community of Troyes. However, many people oppose a woman studying the sacred Talmud as that is a man's job and a female performing circumcision on the newborn is as unacceptable too. While pushing the medieval envelop, Miriam has a new suitor as well Judah ben Nathan who has issues to hide too.

This is a fabulous biographical fiction based on the renowned medieval French Rabbi Rashi and his middle daughter Miriam. The tale brings to life how the eleventh century Jews lived in France, especially the educated rabbinical social class. As with the first book that focused on Rashi's oldest daughter Joeheved, RASHI'S DAUGHTERS-BOOK II: MIRIAM entertains the audience but also provides a profound spotlight on an enlightened Jewish teacher and his middle daughter. The saga continues with the youngest offspring Sotah to follow.

Harriet Klausner

The first book in this series, Joheved, provided a wonderful view into the life at the time of Rashi while providing a touch of sexual spice. The details in the lifestyles and professions of the time was great. I was anxious to read the second book and even pre-ordered it. As I read Miriam, I kept hoping for the details to come in, but they were pale in comparison to the first book. I was also dissapointed that the primary theme of the book was the sexual tension and interplay between yeshivah students, something completely overlooked in almost every review I've seen. I hoped that theme would end and something else would take over, but it continued throughout. I made myself finish the book, but I wish I had stopped at Joheved.