You know the saying suggesting that something is bigger than the sum of its parts? That does not apply in my opinion to Tamar Yellin‘s “The Genizah at the House of Shepher.” It has plenty of beautiful and memorable parts. The way the author treats old and new Jerusalem creates a nostalgic feel even in those who never been there. The introductory description of every single major character is precise and make them look and feel alive. The academic treatment of biblical scholarship. These and many more are delightful to read on their one.
But the book as a whole is too far from being perfect. The story runs on too many threads in too many different eras and areas. Some authors can pull it off. I love reading grand family sagas arching over centuries. However I would have preferred to read the content of this book as a series of short stories. Apparently in the newer addition of the book there is an interview with the author in which she mentions that she thinks of herself more as a short story writer. I have to agree with her,
One way to handle my dissatisfaction of the book is to think of the book itself as a genizah. Genizah refers to depositories of synagogues, where unused sacred texts are kept, before they can be buried. This book has chapters that seemingly have nothing to do with the rest of the book. I thought long and hard trying to figure out how the four midrashim (stories) about Moses– some of them are traditional, others are made up by the author–connects to the plot. I came up empty. That’s when I decided that just as in a genizah–where next to each other can lay two unrelated items, one of them a historical gem, the other useless junk—the subsequent chapters next to each other may have nothing to do with each other. The value of the genizah is in its mix, so maybe the value of this book should also be sought in the mix of genres it offers.
I am sorry to say that this approach didn’t work for me. Despite that the story in itself is interesting. Next time I want to read Yellin (and it is worthwhile, because her descriptive powers are impressive) I will check out her short stories.
