A Weave of Women (Midland Books) [Paperback]

Esther Broner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 22, 1985 | Series: Midland Books

"... A Weave of Women is an astonishment.... I know of nothing else quite like it." —John Leonard, New York Times

"... an extraordinary novel, an original and beautiful work.... It is an extended epic poem which should become a classic." —The Nation

This magical, powerful, musical book creates a modern liturgy around the lives of fifteen very different women who come together in Jerusalem, a male-dominated culture, in 1972.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Women long ago unlearned the words that preceded weeping, the incantations, anagrams, curses, witchcraft. Now, instead of muttering these words, instead of chanting them, they weep." The importance of ritual, of life's spiritual path, is at the center of E.M. Broner's classic novel, A Weave Of Women. An eclectic community of women living in and around Jerusalem, the characters are committed to each other by spiritual need. They range from teenagers to women in their fifties, an international mix who form a society within a society, seeking ecclesiastical guidance their traditions do not provide. Each woman is an individual; each knows they must stand together. They learn a political lesson when they rally to save the "Home for Jewish Wayward Girls" - they change the name to "Home for Jewish Future Homemakers" and funds come pouring in. Life's contradictions live throughout this novel: "To love easily is a blessing. To be hurt easily is a curse." Laughing, crying, and struggling to make their lives complete, these women address issues of friendship, incest, love, abuse, loneliness, birth, and death, and perform rituals that cleanse, strengthen, and renew. Their rituals serve to empower them and the reader as well. -- For great reviews of books for girls, check out Let's Hear It for the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14. -- From 500 Great Books by Women; review by Holly Smith

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (April 22, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253203546
• ISBN-13: 978-0253203540
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #349,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but...., August 3, 2011

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Mrs.58 "GimmeDaOldDaze" (New Yawk) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Weave of Women: A Novel (Hardcover)

Reading Broner's recent obit sent me looking to purchase this novel. Its excellent for an intense feeling of eretz Isroel early '50s into '60s, but the allegorical writing felt dated and annoying after a few chapters. Book arrived quickly in clean condition.