BKMT READING GUIDES
Odessa, Odessa: A Novel
by Barbara Artson
Published: 2018-09-11
Paperback : 264 pages
Paperback : 264 pages
1 member reading this now
1 club reading this now
0 members have read this book
1 club reading this now
0 members have read this book
Odessa, Odessa follows the fates of two sons from a proud lineage of rabbis and cantors in a shtetl near the Black Sea in western Russia.
As two brothers emigrate out of Russia to escape anti-Semitism, one chooses America and the other Israel/Palestine. The generations move forward in the ...
As two brothers emigrate out of Russia to escape anti-Semitism, one chooses America and the other Israel/Palestine. The generations move forward in the ...
No other editions available.
Jump to
Introduction
Odessa, Odessa follows the fates of two sons from a proud lineage of rabbis and cantors in a shtetl near the Black Sea in western Russia.
As two brothers emigrate out of Russia to escape anti-Semitism, one chooses America and the other Israel/Palestine. The generations move forward in the twentieth century, from New York to Brighton Beach and Los Angeles, as children and gandchildren assimilate into a new culture. A sweeping tale of love, faith and tradition, Odessa, Odessa reveals how the mysterious ties that hold a family together can help them survive the heartache of separation and loss, and how secrets about heritage can finally be uncovered.
A multigenerational immigrant story of a family, joined by tradition and parted during persecution, that remain bound by a fateful decision to leave Odessa.
Excerpt
Chapter 1: Henya Chanah: Kill the YidsOctober 1908/1909
Henya is forty-two in May, when Maryusa Freide is born. They fall into calling her Marya shortly after her birth to go with her diminutive size. The midwife who had delivered all of Henya and Mendel’s children, even Yonkel, the boy who died, calls Marya a change-of-life baby. ... view entire excerpt...
Discussion Questions
1. Prior to reading Odessa, Odessa, had you heard of the Pale of Jewish Settlement in the Russian Empire and the violent Cossack attacks and Pogroms that went on there?2. What do the women in the novel, Henya in the first generation, Dora in the second, and Roberta in the third, have in common, if anything?
3. How do the issues confronting women of today replicate the issues that Henya or Dora confronted?
4. Why do you think Dora refused to speak to Roberta of her life in Odessa? Was it the trauma of her childhood, or did she just not want to relive it?
5. Roberta and Hannah diverge in their political beliefs? Do you have siblings, or other family members with different viewpoints? How do you handle differences that arise?
6. The novel culminates with Mendel’s long lost brother’s journal. What were your feelings after reading his journal at the end of the book?
7. How did the chapter in the Palestinian Refugee Camp affect you?
8. Has the reading of this book about the difficulties immigrants must confront affected your perspective of what is going on in today’s world?
Book Club Recommendations
Recommended to book clubs by 0 of 0 members.
MEMBER LOGIN
BECOME A MEMBER it's free
Now serving over 80,000 book clubs & ready to welcome yours. Join us and get the Top Book Club Picks of 2022 (so far).
SEARCH OUR READING GUIDES
Search
FEATURED EVENTS
PAST AUTHOR CHATS
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more
Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more
Please wait...