The Dovekeepers: A Novel | 
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#BookedInTime -Ancient Roman civilization August 2023 @Cuilin
Beautifully written, it was a hard read at times, with a brutal ending. 😭 I enjoyed learning more about the the siege of Masada in ancient Israel 70 to 73 AD.
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song, sounds like she's singing🎶
A hauntingly beautiful tale about the mysterious women dovekeepers who survived the Romans‘ siege of armies on the Jews in the Judean desert 2000 years ago. 🕊️
#EdgeOfSeventeen #VolumesAndVocals
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
pickIt‘s taken me around 4 months to finish this as I was fully immersed and wanted to savour every minute of it. The writing is exceptional while the story weaves facts with fiction all centered around 4 remarkable women
One of the most exquisite books I‘ve ever read
Another $2 find at Goodwill. Good condition, just a little worn on the edges. They‘d just put out books (this one from Jan 14) because they had a very good selection. We got lucky today.
1. I don't think that old. Every day, we are making history. Someone now might be writing a novel about what it's like in Ukraine. People have been writing about the 80's as historical fiction, or closer yet 9/11.
2. Well, not overtly creepy, in The Dovekeepers, you have 900 Jews holding off the Roman armies for months. You know they can't keep this up forever, but you keep reading to see their fates.
#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView
#AlphabetGame Another all time favorite 💕 Have you played @TrishB @AllDebooks @Chrissyreadit @AnneCecilie
"Our rest is formed by our waking life and our waking life is formed by our sorrows"
The Dovekeepers, Alice Hoffman
April was a great reading month for me, but I decided on The Dovekeepers for #12Booksof2021 @Andrew65
#My5Stars2021 @Tove_Reads
The Henna Artist
Carry On, Jeeves
Cutting for Stone
Spinning Silver
Rachel thank you so much for the books and the goodies! The books are great. I can't wait to try the chocolate. It's finally cool here and the apple cider is going to work with me. Thanks again and Happy Fall!
@rsteve388 @Avanders #fallingforfallswap
pickThis book is excellent even if it is a little long for an #audiobook. If you're looking for something more complex from this author, I definitely recommend this one.
#AuthorAMonth with @Soubhiville
#BookSpinBingo square 8
@TheAromaofBooks
pickNearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred Jews held out for months against armies of Romans on Masada, a mountain in the Judean desert. According to the ancient historian Josephus, two women and five children survived. This is HF based on Josephus‘ story. Lyrical, biblical, dramatic and heartbreaking - however it‘s a little too long. I did audiobook. #authoramonth2021 @Soubhiville #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks
pickI love what Hoffman has done here, weaving true events into a gripping and devastating historical fiction from the perspective of 4 women at Masada in 70 CE, as the fortification of Jewish rebels is surrounded by a Roman legion, not long after the Second Temple is destroyed in Jerusalem.
Jewish fiction that is not set during the Holocaust is SO rare, and I am here for it. Although some Jewish romance or contemporary fare would be nice too!
Felt like reading by 🕯 tonight. 📖
This section is about the arrival of a small group of Essenes to the Masada fortification. I‘m reading the circled paragraph as an allusion to what we know as the Dead Sea Scrolls, since they were found in a cave in the Judaean desert in this area, and are believed to be written by the Essenes. Anyone know if I‘m way off base, or if that is what Hoffman was subtly referring to? @Cinfhen any thoughts?
The month of Av in the Hebrew calendar starts tomorrow, so reading this chapter now seems quite fortuitous. This is my selection for #booked2021 #jewishauthor. I just saw your older excellent review on GR @Cinfhen which really has me looking forward to this read, and possibly learning a bit more about a historical event I only have very superficial knowledge of.
pickYOU MUST READ!!! A powerful book about 4 very strong women who are equal to any man. The mystical side of the Hebrew faith is explored in this thoroughly researched book. And Hoffman did such a great job with the setting. You could feel the dry heat of the desert and smell the vegetation/potions she described.This book will forever stay with me. I still must credit Weight of Ink for introducing me to Masada. And am very appreciative of this book.
#funfridaywith451
Some of my fave covers (today!)
I promised myself that I'd read 'The Silent Patient' as soon as my fiction slump was over. Guess who's not reading 'The Silent Patient?' 😂
I got a sweet bookmail package today! Thank you dear @AmyG ! I‘ve always wanted to read The Dovekeepers, and actually I don‘t think I‘ve ever read Alice Hoffman. I‘m looking forward to American Dirt as well, out of curiosity as well as that cover. You brought me a big smile today, thank you! 😁
#BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks #12
Finished my Feb book. The story of the 2 women and children who survived the Roman attack on Masada. Wonderful story of their lives and survival. But...a bit long.
@TheBookHippie Mrs Maisel is in the cover!!!
#toptenofthedecade #fictionedition
I think they were all published in the last decade!
I found this really hard (as we all did!)
Honorable mentions to Assassins Fate - Robin Hobb, end of an era and sobbed through the last quarter. Fitz will always have my heart ❤️
And for poetry Rapture by Carol Ann Duffy is amazing.
#day1 #7days7covers #covercrush
7 covers you love, with no explanation.
Thanks to @jenniferw88 and @Cinfhen for nominating.
Anyone else that would like to play who isn‘t- please join in.
Reading day
Feeling much better thank you all for the kind comments
pickThis is Alice Hoffman at her sumptuous best! Great story, strong relationships, and powerful women. What more could I ask for?
pickIt took me a while to get invested in this book—really, until I got to the second characters POV, but I‘m glad that I stuck with it. This is ostensibly the story of the Siege of Masada in 73 CE, but really it‘s the story of four women, and the Siege happens around them. I really loved the main characters, the magical touches, and the lyrical, lovely writing...those elements make up for the slow-burn plot.
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
One of my fav covers❤️
Going out for meal with hubby tomorrow as no way I‘ll be up to it on a school night, but we will do presents on Thursday, he‘s a massive romantic ! I‘ll be running out tomorrow...
Orange, just reminds me of the 70s, orange and brown everything!
No idea and no one here to tell me! If my kids were the opposite they‘d have been Poppy and Scott 😱
Will do ❤️ have a good Friday/weekend all.
#friyayintro
pickJanuary reading summary!
The Hearts Invisible Furies-5🌟
Maybe in Another Life- a sweet read 🧁
An American Marriage-💔💔
The Dovekeepers-magical, could not stop listening 👍
Livia Lone- Love girl heroes! 💥
Eileen- overrated! (what was all the fuss!?)👎
The Radium Girls-tragic😿
Dog Songs- pure joy! 🐾
#januaryreads #booknerd #nextchapter #newyear #booksofinstagram #litsy #read2019 @youneverarrived @monalyisha #newyearwhodis was so much fun!
pickThis was my first Alice Hoffman book. She wove a brilliant tale. Historical fiction isn‘t usually my jam but this one (passed on to me from my mother who loves historical fiction) is quite good.
In the aftermath of two chaotic days, I finally get a moment to be alone and read
"The stars are reflected in the black water of the cistern. I find comfort in the omen I glean from this: light in the darkness, truth where there seems to be none."
My September wrap up - 5 books - all good. Slight reading slump in September. I hope to overcome that in October.
#24B4Monday #ATB - is anyone interested?
I‘m in @TheReadingMermaid - I‘ve been in a bit of a slump these past two weeks and need to push through. I‘ll be starting after my minor hospital procedure on Friday. I want to finish The Dovekeepers and maybe even make a dent in Bel Canto. Thanks for the push!
pickThis might be my favorite of the year so far. It was so beautiful, harrowing and heart wrenching.
#backpackEurope @JenP @bookwormM @kristelh Masada is a rugged natural fortress of majestic beauty, built by King Herod in the Judean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea. I am reading the Dovekeepers and enjoying it. Not much time to read on this vacation.
Current cantputitdown read. I don't usually like Alice Hoffman, however the premise to the book and the fact that the cover girl has my hair, sold me💜I received this in a book & blanket swap! I've read part one and it's so heartbreakingly good and interesting. 🕊📖
Well, I almost got this today at the library, in order to give Alice Hoffman another chance. So why not use it for my challenge, at least? #WhenDovesCry #PrinceofJuly
#bookhaul from my favorite local bookstore this week. all are #used except one. sometimes I go there and find a goldmine like this, other times I don‘t see much that I want. after a difficult day, this was the perfect pick me up. #happiness #booklover #TBRadditions
Holy cow. This book is brutalizing my heart.
#7FavesIn7Days @lauren.lerner
