Customer Reviews

Who by Fire: A Novel (P.S.)

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

OK, full disclosure: I took a class with Diana Spechler over the summer - so I can recommend both her novel and her classes! Obviously, I approached the book with heightened expectations, so I was pleased that by the end of the third chapter I was invested in the characters and interested in seeing where the plot would take me. The characters are believable, and the dialogue is natural, and sometimes painfully real. (I think I'd give the book five stars for the interactions between Bits and Wade alone...) Spechler is especially good at revealing characters slowly, so that by the end of the book, when the reader has seen several of the characters through 3 different pairs of eyes, they have a very different opinion of them than they started with. She does this organically, so it never feels like she's forcing a revelation on the reader, or twisting her characters to make them fit the plot. She did a great job depicting the yeshiva boys - their religious fervor is treated seriously, without ever making them seem like clichés or straw men. I did feel that the chapters were a little too short - I wanted to spend more time on each chapter, and I wanted to spend more time with each character, particularly Bits' mother. But really my biggest critique would be that I wanted it to be longer - the mark of a truly involving book!

This novel was absolutely amazing. Diana Spechler's writing is graceful and engaging, her characters are vivid, and her story was completely captivating. I loved this book and would recommend it to any fiction fan looking for a great read. Each chapter was told from a different characters perspective with their own unique voice. Diana Spechler flawlessly intertwines them into a heartwarming, funny, yet tragically honest portrayal of the bonds that hold a family together. A wonderful book! I bought a few copies for holiday gifts already and would suggest it for any book club as well.

Wow! Diana Spechler gives us the world's most disfunctional family yet succeeds in letting them enter our hearts. I found myself hating and rooting for each character at the same time. The chapters are short and make for an easy read. The story is so gripping, the book becomes impossible to put down. I came to quite a dilemna about half way through the book. On one hand, I wanted to race through to see what happened to the three main characters, but I couldn't bare the thought of finishing Who By Fire. A very satisfying ending makes this book one that I am planning on recommending to everyone I know. And I am looking forward to buying copies of this book for everyone on my Holiday Gift Giving list.

Who by Fire tells the story of Ash and Bits, a brother and sister whose younger sister Alena had been kidnapped more than a decade ago. When their mother informs them that her remains have finally been discovered, it's up to wild child Bits to go to Israel and convince her now Orthodox Jew brother to come home for a memorial service--no easy feat as he's been out of touch with the family since entering the yeshiva.

The book is told from shifting perspectives, really getting into the minds of the various characters. I'm no expert on Orthodox Judaism, so I can't comment on how accurate the scenes in Israel might be, but I do know that I couldn't put this book down.

None of the characters are particularly lovable, at least not for me, but that didn't stop me from devouring this book--I believe it's called the train wreck syndrome. What I mean is that each character is a bit (or a lot) of a mess--the book itself is far from a train wreck. Indeed, it's fabulous.

The plotting, pacing, and writing all shine; I particularly love Spechler's conversational, down-to-earth writing style, which you might not expect in a book with such deep subject matter. Spechler shows that humor has a place everywhere, even when dealing with heavy topics, and this is something that I firmly believe as well.

I give this books five espresso cups out of five. I simply couldn't stop reading, and as I wrote to Diana after I finished, I then found myself imagining what happened to the main characters--the true sign of a great book.

I actually found this book in a book store as a "staff pick." I decided to give it a try and I simply could not put the book down. Unfortunately I had purchased the book on a Tuesday and each following day at work, I wanted to go home and finish this book. I was pulled in by the characters and the story's many turns. It is told by the three characters from their respective perspectives, which I enjoyed. When finished, I wished I wasn't. Who By Fire is going to be my gift of choice this holiday season for everyone in my family that loves books. I would recommend it to anyone.

I loved this novel! Lots of people have written praise about the themes and the main characters, so I don't want to repeat that, but part of what works so well in this novel are the minor characters and they way they are used. Monica, Jonathan, Wade, David and Todd are all fleshed out, at times weird and creepy, at other times sympathetic, and always interesting. Spechler displays her command of craft by using those characters just enough to add dimension and further plot, without overwhelming the central narrative. It's just one of the many things that make this book amazing.

A fascinating book, engulfing the reader with sensitivity and passion. I find it very easy to relate to the main characters and their family. I too have a family member who performs rediculous finger magic. Kudos to the auhoress ... two thumbs up. Once started, you cannot put this book down.

All exceptional novels can take you out of your day to day world and plunge you into another place entirely. This is an exceptional novel. I know virtually nothing about the specific world that this novel portrays, but the themes of loss and longing and guilt and redemption are universal. The characters are sharply drawn, and Diana Spechler does not shrink from the flaws that animate them. A sparkling first novel, and a writer to watch...

A very impressive first novel here. In WHO BY FIRE, Diana Spechler explores the limits of faith, honesty, love, and forgiveness through a provocative series of events and a group of flawed but very likable characters. The pages of the novel fly by as we meet Spechler's characters and see them making questionable choices with potentially significant consequences. The plot continues to surprise, and the ending is just right. A thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable novel. I keep thinking of more people who need to read this.

Who By Fire, by Diana Spechler, was a book that made me hope for a rainy weekend. Thankfully the heavens complied and I was able to finish this book in nearly two sittings. The plot was very intriguing, and I was unable to put it down. I have purchased this book as a gift for a close friend and she finished it in two days as well. The characters are well written and instantly draw you into their world. Absolutely fascinating. I couldn't give a stronger recommendation!