I truly liked the generational saga aspect of this story. It was fascinating to see how the lives of different generations intertwined and how the events of one era influenced the next.

I also greatly enjoyed the individual stories regarding each of the women. Each woman had her own unique journey, filled with love, loss, turmoil, and even redemption. Their stories wove a beautiful tapestry that was both complex and engaging.

The author did an excellent job of developing the characters and making them come to life on the page. I found myself rooting for each of the women as they faced their challenges and fought for their dreams.

Overall, I thought this was a wonderful read that captured the essence of family, love, and the human experience. It made me laugh, cry, and think, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great story.

An intergenerational matriarch story unfolds as a great granddaughter embarks on a journey to discover the identity of her father. She delves deep into the histories of the matriarchs in the family, a path that takes her through significant points in Israeli/Jewish history.

The story has its share of events, yet at times, it feels as if nothing truly momentous occurs. The characterization of the disability is not to everyone's liking, but it does mirror the attitudes prevalent in early 1900s Jerusalem. The beginning is rather slow, gradually picking up pace in the middle and then stretching out in a prolonged ending.

Magical realism is present, infusing the story with a dreamlike quality. However, this aspect also leans towards the overtly sensual and sexual, perhaps trying a bit too hard. Overall, it is a story that offers a unique exploration of family, history, and identity, with its own set of strengths and weaknesses.

When suddenly a grandmother dies, from her wrinkled body covered by the breath of the last respiration, you, the future generation, exhale that breath, take it inside you and make a pact with yourself: to cherish it and always keep it.

Thus, Sarah built her family. She, first an unlucky lover, then a mother of a thousand children, a bearer of life and never of death, that Sarah consoled by a sudden and hidden love. Sarah, with strength and commitment, through the smell of focaccia, jellies and roses, raised her daughter Pnina Mazal, a strong woman herself, who absorbed everything around her. She learned languages as she drank water. Mazal, who growing up, lived through wars, famines and hatred. Mazal, who saw one love fade away and another that slowly grew, Ghuela, her daughter, red like the devil and just as perceptive, who chases a dream blocked by her. Amal, a woman who finally breaks the curse of men!

A female family novel, elegant and sweet, but like every woman knows how to be, also sometimes pitiless and cruel. A novel like pieces of photography that tell the story of one life, of many lives, of infinite lives.

L’Allende trasposta nel Medio-Oriente is a captivating work that delves into the lives of five generations of women. It combines elements of magical realism with history, traditions, and culture.

While some passages might seem a bit contrived or “false” in their descriptions, overall, the story manages to engage and persuade the reader.

The author takes us on a journey through the Middle East, introducing us to the unique experiences and challenges faced by these women. We witness their struggles, their triumphs, and the ways in which they navigate the complex web of family, society, and tradition.

The use of magical realism adds an element of mystery and wonder to the narrative, making it all the more enchanting. It allows the author to explore themes such as fate, superstition, and the power of the imagination.

Despite its flaws, L’Allende trasposta nel Medio-Oriente is a worthwhile read that offers a rich and detailed portrait of life in the Middle East. It invites us to step into the shoes of these women and experience their world firsthand.

The writing style of this book, which is reminiscent of those by Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Isabelle Allende, is truly perfect for narrating this multi-generational story. It follows a woman's journey as she embarks on a quest to uncover the unknown identity of her father. This book ticks all the boxes of my preferences, including magical realism, a generational story, mystery, and strong female characters. However, when I finished reading, I must admit that I found it a bit confusing. There are so many characters that I actually needed to make a list to keep them all straight. Nevertheless, I have already decided to read it again. Now that I know the characters, I hope I will be able to keep them in order. We'll just have to wait and see.

Unlike many others, I cannot comment on the cultural accuracy of the religions portrayed in the book. I simply accepted what was written as fact, as that aspect of the story only served as a backdrop to the main events. I really enjoyed Horn's writing, despite the serious programming issues my Kindle reader had, such as odd spacing and random paragraph jumps in the middle of sentences. Additionally, there were numerous spelling and punctuation errors that any editor should have caught.

If this kind of literature is to your taste, I believe you will enjoy it as much as I did.

It seems as if it is an imitation of magical realism, yet it feels too forced. I had hoped for a greater depth in the characters. The most captivating aspect for me was the historical perspective on Jerusalem over the decades. I persisted in reading to observe how the author would depict today's Jerusalem. There were indeed some small details, but overall it was unsatisfying.

The attempt at magical realism didn't quite hit the mark. The characters lacked the complexity and nuance that would have made them truly engaging. Instead of delving deep into their psyches and motivations, they remained somewhat one-dimensional. The historical inlet to Jerusalem was fascinating, but it could have been explored more thoroughly. The author only scratched the surface, leaving me longing for a more comprehensive understanding of the city's evolution.

While the story did offer some interesting tidbits about Jerusalem, it failed to provide a truly satisfying experience. I wanted to see a more vivid and detailed portrayal of the city, both in the past and in the present. The author had the opportunity to create a rich and immersive world, but unfortunately, it fell short. Overall, it was a decent read, but it could have been so much more.

In this book, there is one of the ugliest pages that I have ever read in my entire life.

It describes sexual relations as if they were made of cotton candy, and the only smell that these two people sense while having sex is the fragrance of roses. But is everything okay?

Such a book is full of good intentions that I don't even know why it attracted me that day. The characters live in the magical world of fairy tales and are all blonde and beautiful like never before.

The only positive thing is that at least it doesn't last long.

However, this kind of description seems a bit too idealized and脱离现实. It may give readers a wrong impression of sexual relations.

In real life, sexual relations are more complex and diverse, and need to be treated with respect and responsibility.

We should not simply beautify or simplify them.

Maybe the author wanted to create a beautiful and romantic world, but in doing so, he忽略了 some important aspects of reality.

Overall, this book has both优点 and缺点, and we need to view it objectively.

Four women across five generations show the passage of time in a Jerusalem that is constantly evolving.

These four diverse figures are not only different in age but, above all, in character and approach to life. Sarah, the matriarch and progenitor of this small tribe, is instinctively connected to a still-natural past. Pnina Mazal finds herself as a bridge between a too-concrete world and a too-abstract one. Gherula, who breaks every known pattern, is unknown to her family. And finally, Amal, who has to take stock and close the ranks left in history.

Among the history of the last century, there is a touch of magical realism. "Four Mothers" shows how even the most banal act and the most familiar relationships are pregnant with the magical fragrance of roses. It delves into the complex tapestry of their lives, revealing the hidden emotions, dreams, and struggles that lie beneath the surface. Each woman represents a different era and a different way of seeing the world, yet they are all interconnected by the thread of family and the shared experience of living in Jerusalem.

The story unfolds like a beautiful symphony, with each note adding to the rich and vibrant melody of their lives. It is a celebration of the strength and resilience of women, and a testament to the power of family and tradition in a changing world.

Four Mothers is a captivating story that actually delves into five generations of a family of Jerusalemite women.

It offers a comprehensive overview of Israeli history throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries. At first sight, it seems that there are no men associated with these independent women. However, in reality, there were men in the background who were involved with these successive generations of mothers.

The narrative commences with the last of these mothers, Amal, and her quest to discover the identity of her absent father. Through her research, we come to know about the founding mother, Mazal (luck). The central character in the book is her daughter, Sara, an extremely beautiful woman who later in life becomes a healer. Just like in Genesis, Sara marries Avraham and they have a son Yitzhak. Sara also gives birth to Pnina-Mazal, a talented linguist. In turn, Pnina-Mazal gives birth to Geula (redemption), a tough political radical, feminist, and lawyer who represents the rights of the Arab population. Geula firmly refuses to disclose anything about her father to her daughter, Amal. Although we never learn the identity of her father, Amal manages to break the "curse" of her foremothers by giving birth to a son.

The book is vividly rich in the colors and smells of Jerusalem. The author explores the intimate relationships these mothers had, their joys and sorrows. Horn depicts an easy and tolerant relationship between Arabs and Jews until the mid-20th Century. That changed around the time of the War of Independence, and the current atmosphere between the two groups is one of suspicion and distrust.

The story of five generations of Jewish women in Jerusalem is a remarkable and inspiring one.

These women have faced numerous challenges and hardships throughout their lives, yet they have persevered and continued to fight for survival.

From the early days of settlement in Jerusalem to the present, they have witnessed wars, persecution, and displacement.

Despite these difficulties, they have passed down their traditions, values, and faith from one generation to the next.

Each generation has added its own unique chapter to the family's story, with the women playing a crucial role in maintaining the family's unity and identity.

Today, the fifth generation of Jewish women in Jerusalem continues to carry on the legacy of their ancestors, while also adapting to the modern world.

They are a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit, and their story serves as an inspiration to us all.

Each page carries with it emotions and transmits the strength of the protagonists: women wounded by life who do not break but hide their vulnerability behind the courage to live in order to build a better future.

Women prisoners of solitude, overwhelmed by passions and broken dreams, women capable of rebuilding their own lives in the face of difficulties without ever losing their humanity. Women with eyes veiled with sadness who fight and, like a buried seed, are reborn to a new life.

Shifra Horn, with a clear writing sometimes poetically veiled with melancholy, gifts us with the memory of a complex society in which traditions are important and mark the daily life. The memory becomes the place where to get lost and find oneself by getting to know women and men who have done what they thought was right, without fanfare. Adventurous women ready to fight in their life path. […]

In the novel “Four Mothers”, the author addresses great themes through the dramas and private affections. On every page, an indefinite pain is breathed that, from mother to daughter, involves the women of the family. Unpredictable women marked by the tragedy of History and by a tumultuous personal destiny. Women who deserve all our respect.

Full review on the blog Penna D'oro http://pennadoro.blogspot.com/2018/06...

One of the best books I've ever read is truly a remarkable piece of literature.

It has the power to transport the reader to different worlds and times, making them feel as if they are a part of the story.

The characters are so vividly described that they seem to come alive on the pages, and the plot is engaging and full of twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

Each chapter is like a new adventure, filled with excitement, mystery, and emotion.

The author's writing style is beautiful and flowing, making it a pleasure to read.

Whether you're a fan of fiction or non-fiction, this book is sure to capture your heart and imagination.

It's a book that you'll want to read again and again, discovering new details and insights each time.

I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read that will leave them with a lasting impression.