Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Ecco (2015), Edition: Reprint, 304 pages
Description
When she discovers her grandfather's notebook, which is filled with stories of a miracle worker named the White Rebbe in league with the mysterious Angel of Losses, Marjorie embarks on a journey into the past to unlock the secrets he kept.
Media reviews
At the heart of Stephanie Feldman's debut, The Angel of Losses, is a deceptively straightforward story. The heroine, Marjorie, is a Ph.D. student living and studying in New York. Her subject is the "Wandering Jew" — the mapping and reclamation of an ancient legend. She spends her days in the
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library, reading and researching, the evenings redrafting and honing her thesis. She is a woman with "a weakness for stories," but one who is often selfish and cold. When we meet her, she seems well on the way to walling herself into an ivory tower.
Marjorie is intolerant and suspicious of her brother-in-law, Nathan — for whom her sister Holly has converted to Orthodox Judaism — despite a shared obsession with the esoteric texts of his faith. The sisters were close as girls, but now each encounter ends in misunderstanding and recrimination. And there's no doubt that our heroine is often the one at fault.
When Holly clears out the house in preparation for the birth of her first child, she invites her sister to claim what she wants of the family's library. Among the books, Marjorie finds a notebook containing a closely written account of the legend of the White Rebbe, a powerful, miracle-performing rabbi who is said to be an immortal, cursed to wander the earth until the coming of the Messiah. It is here that the treasures in Feldman's breathtakingly accomplished debut begin to unfold into a story of magic and bold imagining.
Feldman's prose is beautifully crafted throughout, but where she tells of the White Rebbe and his fateful pact with Yode'a, the Angel of Losses, her prose takes on the cadences of a biblical tale` and offers up some of the book's most memorable writing: "As the first son granted to the rebbe, who was already late in life and parent to three daughters, Solomon was called to study as soon as he could speak. He was too small to hold his father's books, and so they were spread before him like the fields of a kingdom are spread before a prince."
This story, and the notebook, are the inheritance that Marjorie has longed for; she becomes convinced that the stories of the Rebbe are connected to her research and, more important, that they will allow her to understand the anger and despair with which her grandfather faced his last days. Although it is clear there had been a close bond between the two, for much of the book the grandfather we see through Marjorie's memory is neither gentle nor kind.
In one scene, Marjorie recalls being summoned on a late night winter excursion to the waterfront, her studies interrupted. "If the Almighty could be perceived by the human mind," her grandfather says to her as they watch the waves crash against the shore, "he would be this. The filthy ocean biting down on Coney Island." This disapprobation of faith allows a glimpse of the secret her grandfather took to his grave. Such a statement, filled with fury and disgust, could only come from one who had once believed.
There are enough clues at this point for the reader to be sure which 20th century tragedy it is that Eli has tried to erase from memory. We discover that Marjorie is right to think that the story of the White Rebbe will eventually deliver the truth of her grandfather's past. But the impact of the tale on her own life, as she searches for the three remaining notebooks she knows her grandfather also left behind, as her relationship with Holly and Nathan deteriorates and as her newborn nephew falls ill, soon takes on the fateful cast of the legend itself.
The conflict between the sisters and the uncovering of a family secret could have made for an easily recognizable contemporary New York family drama — and probably quite a good one. But Feldman is an ambitious writer who conjures up instead a deeply moving modern-day fable that far transcends the boundaries of its location and time. As she moves between the Rebbe's wanderings, grandfather Eli's tribulation and Marjorie's quest for the truth of her family's past, she has written a story that is at once thriller and mystery; and a nuanced exploration of the inheritance of loss and the guilt of survival as it is passed down through generations.
Every once in a while a book comes along that reminds us that even though a horror was visited upon a particular people, in a particular place and at particular moment in history, the story told is really about all of us, everywhere and for all time. It takes an extraordinary writer like Stephanie Feldman to bring that story to life. Show Less
Awards
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Adult Literature — 2015)
IAFA William L. Crawford Fantasy Award (Winner — 2015)
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member LancasterWays
There is a genre of fiction--perhaps "subgenre" is more accurate--that might be termed "Jewish fantasy." Like the folktales on which they draw, entries in the genre hover between magical realism, the tragic, and the absurd. The Golem & the Jinni (2013) is a recent (and popular) example, as is
When Marjorie and her sister, Holly, were children, their Grandpa Eli told them wondrous stories about the White Magician. Now an adult, studying for a PhD in literature, Marjorie misses the sweetness of that time in one's childhood when, in retrospect, things seem to have been perfect, just the way they were meant to be. Life has moved on in unexpected ways, as life often does. Eli turned mean in his old age, moved out of the family's house, died. Holly defied her family by converting to orthodox Judaism for love, and marrying Nathan, a member of the Berukhim (roughly, "blessed ones") sect.
Holly is pregnant, and she and Nathan need to move Eli's things to make room for the baby. With that in mind, Marjorie rushes to what once was her family's house--now alien, rearranged for Jewish needs, like keeping kosher--to rescue the notebooks in which Eli recorded his stories of the White Magician. Only something is wrong; the notebook she finds mentions not the White Magician, but the "White Rebbe." (The term "rebbe" is related to "rabbi." Its meaning is more general; rather than referring to a clerical office, which it can, it may also indicate a spiritual leader, and so on. Regardless, it is a honorific.) But Marjorie recalls her Grandpa dimly eyeing the orthodox Jews in town and complaining about "those people." Clearly, things weren't quite what they appeared.
That's a lot of exposition in order to review a book that isn't 300 pages long, but I think it demonstrates the quandary in which writers of Jewish fantasy find themselves. The size of their potential readership is inversely proportional to the degree of Jewish detail they incorporate into their story. Feldman is clever: She begins with a non-Jewish character, Marjorie, who is writing a dissertation on the trope of the "Wandering Jew," and whose sister is a convert to Judaism. Explication of potentially bewildering topics, then, is embedded in the nature of the story. In the opinion of this reader, Feldman deftly avoids "infodumps" by working details into the natural course of characters' conversations. There are, of course, some awkward moments. The descriptions of the database on which Simon, Marjorie's love interest, is working--an application that permits users to track worldwide Jewish "wandering--may cause some readers' eyes to glaze over. (But it was like candy to this graduate of history and library science programs.)
The story alternates between Eli's diaries and Marjorie's narration, a structure that should work, but which this reader found frustrating. Folktales are simplistic by nature, and, by mimicking that quality in the chapters devoted to Eli, the narrative, at times, becomes jumbled. It is difficult for the reader to differentiate from one another characters that are rendered in brief. Is this guy the one who...no, that's the other one. Later in the narrative, as the mystery of the White Rebbe is revealed, all becomes clear, and the identities of characters are sorted out. Readers should prepare themselves for some potential early confusion, though.
Feldman's real strength is her portrayals of her characters. Marjorie, the very definition of a "type A" personality, is a bit of a pill. Her resentment, distrusting relationship with Nathan is well-drawn. Likewise, Feldman masterfully draws Nathan as the stereotypical ultra-orthodox Jew, distant and studious, only to subvert that image as the story progresses. Holly is a particularly engaging character, an artist and free spirit who took upon herself a lifestyle that Marjorie perceives as constrictive. Indeed, female readers who have a sister will find in the dynamics of Marjorie's and Holly's relationship much with which to identify.
The Angel of Losses is well told and engaging, and compensates for its early structural weaknesses with gorgeous prose and identifiable characters. For those readers sensitive to it, religion is present, although it is treated either, in folktale form, as "magic," or as a source of family contention. Marjorie, for instance, perceives Holly to be subservient to her "patriarch," Nathan. Ultimately, it is family, and family drama, that is the driver of Feldman's narrative, and that's something to which every reader can relate. A promising debut, The Angel of Losses is especially recommended to readers who love folktales and strong female characters.
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Michael Chabon's alternate history, The Yiddish Policemen's Union (2007). Because Jewish fantasy imposes on readers certain special requirements, for instance, rudimentary knowledge of Judaism, the genre is not for everyone. At least one acquaintance of this reviewer couldn't finish The Yiddish Policemen's Union because it was "too Jewish," by which he meant it included too many things about which he knew too little, Yiddishisms, of course, but also obscure religious concepts likely only to be understood by Jews and those non-Jews with an interest in religion. This is a difficult hurdle to cross. Helene Wecker circumvented it by minimizing her novel's "Jewishness"; Chabon, macher that he is, went all in. Stephanie Feldman treads a careful middle ground in her debut novel, The Angel of Losses (2014, Deckle Edge).When Marjorie and her sister, Holly, were children, their Grandpa Eli told them wondrous stories about the White Magician. Now an adult, studying for a PhD in literature, Marjorie misses the sweetness of that time in one's childhood when, in retrospect, things seem to have been perfect, just the way they were meant to be. Life has moved on in unexpected ways, as life often does. Eli turned mean in his old age, moved out of the family's house, died. Holly defied her family by converting to orthodox Judaism for love, and marrying Nathan, a member of the Berukhim (roughly, "blessed ones") sect.
Holly is pregnant, and she and Nathan need to move Eli's things to make room for the baby. With that in mind, Marjorie rushes to what once was her family's house--now alien, rearranged for Jewish needs, like keeping kosher--to rescue the notebooks in which Eli recorded his stories of the White Magician. Only something is wrong; the notebook she finds mentions not the White Magician, but the "White Rebbe." (The term "rebbe" is related to "rabbi." Its meaning is more general; rather than referring to a clerical office, which it can, it may also indicate a spiritual leader, and so on. Regardless, it is a honorific.) But Marjorie recalls her Grandpa dimly eyeing the orthodox Jews in town and complaining about "those people." Clearly, things weren't quite what they appeared.
That's a lot of exposition in order to review a book that isn't 300 pages long, but I think it demonstrates the quandary in which writers of Jewish fantasy find themselves. The size of their potential readership is inversely proportional to the degree of Jewish detail they incorporate into their story. Feldman is clever: She begins with a non-Jewish character, Marjorie, who is writing a dissertation on the trope of the "Wandering Jew," and whose sister is a convert to Judaism. Explication of potentially bewildering topics, then, is embedded in the nature of the story. In the opinion of this reader, Feldman deftly avoids "infodumps" by working details into the natural course of characters' conversations. There are, of course, some awkward moments. The descriptions of the database on which Simon, Marjorie's love interest, is working--an application that permits users to track worldwide Jewish "wandering--may cause some readers' eyes to glaze over. (But it was like candy to this graduate of history and library science programs.)
The story alternates between Eli's diaries and Marjorie's narration, a structure that should work, but which this reader found frustrating. Folktales are simplistic by nature, and, by mimicking that quality in the chapters devoted to Eli, the narrative, at times, becomes jumbled. It is difficult for the reader to differentiate from one another characters that are rendered in brief. Is this guy the one who...no, that's the other one. Later in the narrative, as the mystery of the White Rebbe is revealed, all becomes clear, and the identities of characters are sorted out. Readers should prepare themselves for some potential early confusion, though.
Feldman's real strength is her portrayals of her characters. Marjorie, the very definition of a "type A" personality, is a bit of a pill. Her resentment, distrusting relationship with Nathan is well-drawn. Likewise, Feldman masterfully draws Nathan as the stereotypical ultra-orthodox Jew, distant and studious, only to subvert that image as the story progresses. Holly is a particularly engaging character, an artist and free spirit who took upon herself a lifestyle that Marjorie perceives as constrictive. Indeed, female readers who have a sister will find in the dynamics of Marjorie's and Holly's relationship much with which to identify.
The Angel of Losses is well told and engaging, and compensates for its early structural weaknesses with gorgeous prose and identifiable characters. For those readers sensitive to it, religion is present, although it is treated either, in folktale form, as "magic," or as a source of family contention. Marjorie, for instance, perceives Holly to be subservient to her "patriarch," Nathan. Ultimately, it is family, and family drama, that is the driver of Feldman's narrative, and that's something to which every reader can relate. A promising debut, The Angel of Losses is especially recommended to readers who love folktales and strong female characters.
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LibraryThing member linda.marsheells
Angel of Losses is one of those books you need to enter into with no expectations of a category to fit it into... It fits into no one slot. It's a fine blend of folklore, family, magic AND history. Simply read the pages and let IT absorb YOU , if you know what i mean, go with the flow and you'll
ps- when i have a tough time with names i give characters nicknames, shortened versions...works for me!
Feldman has written a home-run of a book, she hit it right outta the park!
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thoroughly enjoy it.ps- when i have a tough time with names i give characters nicknames, shortened versions...works for me!
Feldman has written a home-run of a book, she hit it right outta the park!
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LibraryThing member Mishker
The Angel of Losses is a beautiful and unique mix of history, Jewish folklore and family. I was originally interested in this book because I am familiar with the story of the Wandering Jew. This story ended up being so much more. Right from the beginning Grandfather Eli tells his young
Years later, Eli has passed on, but his stories about the mysterious White Rebbe have stuck with Marjorie. She knows there is more to learn from him, if only she could find all the notebooks that his stories were written down in. Along with her grandfather's stories, Marjorie is hard at work on a thesis project that might be connected. Holly, the younger sister is married to Nathan, pregnant and converted to his religion, Judaism. Marjorie and Nathan have never gotten along, causing a fallout between the sisters. Once Holly's baby is born with a rare genetic disorder, Marjorie must find out what her grandfather had hidden for so long in order to save the baby and bring her family back together.
My favorite parts of the book were Eli's stories. These folktales were intriguing and elegantly written combining known folklore with Eli's character's own history and a bit of magical realism. The way the stories were revealed throughout the book, slowly and not in order, made the reveal and their meaning all the more interesting. Marjorie's character was the best for me. She is by no means perfect in the beginning, but extremely easy to relate to. It is her journey to discovery that enables her to grow and eventually bring her family together.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
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granddaughters, Marjorie and Holly a beautiful but dark tale with no ending; I was hooked after that. Years later, Eli has passed on, but his stories about the mysterious White Rebbe have stuck with Marjorie. She knows there is more to learn from him, if only she could find all the notebooks that his stories were written down in. Along with her grandfather's stories, Marjorie is hard at work on a thesis project that might be connected. Holly, the younger sister is married to Nathan, pregnant and converted to his religion, Judaism. Marjorie and Nathan have never gotten along, causing a fallout between the sisters. Once Holly's baby is born with a rare genetic disorder, Marjorie must find out what her grandfather had hidden for so long in order to save the baby and bring her family back together.
My favorite parts of the book were Eli's stories. These folktales were intriguing and elegantly written combining known folklore with Eli's character's own history and a bit of magical realism. The way the stories were revealed throughout the book, slowly and not in order, made the reveal and their meaning all the more interesting. Marjorie's character was the best for me. She is by no means perfect in the beginning, but extremely easy to relate to. It is her journey to discovery that enables her to grow and eventually bring her family together.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member BooksCooksLooks
I really don't know what to write about this book. I was intrigued with the synopsis; the study of religion and religious history fascinates me and I enjoy a departure from my normal reading now and again. As I mentioned in my last book review it's funny how my books fall in a row even though I
It is as its heart a tale of family and the love that is inherent within a family unit. It is full of Jewish folktales so it was very unfamiliar to me and perhaps had I been more versed in this history I might have had a better understanding of these elements of the story.
Holly and Marjorie were very close sisters until Marjorie went off to school and Holly married an ultra orthodox Jewish man and suddenly they can't seem to communicate. Their lives have just taken opposite paths. But the birth of Holly's baby and a health crisis with him manages to precipitate a possible reconciliation. There are other plots swirling around this story of two sisters and at times I must admit to not understanding what was going on.
The book is well written and I enjoyed parts of it but too much of it happened over my head for me to truly appreciate the story. The ending somewhat flummoxed me. I think I know what happened but it's going to take another reading for me to be sure and I just don't have the time for it right now. This is a book to be read slowly and I think a knowledge of Jewish history and folklore would be very beneficial.
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take them at odd times. This novel has elements of folk tale and that catchall magical realism that is so popular lately.It is as its heart a tale of family and the love that is inherent within a family unit. It is full of Jewish folktales so it was very unfamiliar to me and perhaps had I been more versed in this history I might have had a better understanding of these elements of the story.
Holly and Marjorie were very close sisters until Marjorie went off to school and Holly married an ultra orthodox Jewish man and suddenly they can't seem to communicate. Their lives have just taken opposite paths. But the birth of Holly's baby and a health crisis with him manages to precipitate a possible reconciliation. There are other plots swirling around this story of two sisters and at times I must admit to not understanding what was going on.
The book is well written and I enjoyed parts of it but too much of it happened over my head for me to truly appreciate the story. The ending somewhat flummoxed me. I think I know what happened but it's going to take another reading for me to be sure and I just don't have the time for it right now. This is a book to be read slowly and I think a knowledge of Jewish history and folklore would be very beneficial.
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LibraryThing member NatalieSW
Very interesting, evocative book, captivating. Judaism, some Christianity, are integral to the book, but the book is neither proselytizing or limited-interest. In "feel," it's a little like Helene Wecker's [The Golem and the Jinni], also a little like some of Michael Gruber's work.
LibraryThing member rivercityreading
After her grandfather dies, Marjorie discovers a notebook he left behind filled with mythical stories that end up impacting the real lives of both her and her estranged sister.
The plot of The Angel of Losses is split in two; with cuts between actual pages from Marjorie’s grandfather’s notebook
The plot of The Angel of Losses is split in two; with cuts between actual pages from Marjorie’s grandfather’s notebook
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and the story of Marjorie’s struggle with her sister. While her grandfather’s tales directly tied into the plot of the rest of the novel, I found myself much more attracted to the modern-day sections over the myths, as they tended to feel repetitive and confusing. Although the shifting didn’t quite work for me, I think the book is very original and would appeal to readers who enjoy digging into the modern-day impact of ancient myths. Show Less
ISBN
0062228927 / 9780062228925