The Dovekeepers: A Novel

I have read many books by Alice Hoffman and this is probably the most beautifully written of all. She creates a world of the Roman times, not long after the crucification of Christ where Jews are hunted and life is hard. This book tells the intimate story of four women whose lives become entwined through fate and the need to survive. I actually cried at the end. It's hard to believe this is the same author who has written the fun to read fiction of Practical Magic.

For me this book was a page turner. Still it did not rise to the level of a 5 star book. The literary quality was just not there. There are no histories of woman on Masada, the settlement of 960 Jews who committed suicide rather than be captured alive by the brutal Roman soldiers. They killed themselves to escape horrible and torturous deaths at the hands of the Romans. When it was clear that the Romans would soon capture thier city, they set fire to all their stores, all their weapons and all their buildings to make sure the Romans did not benefit by their deaths. A similar theory was demonstrated in modern day Israel. When the Jews unilaterally abandoned Gaza and returned control to the Palestineans, they left their green houses so the Palestineans could earn a living. However, they bulldozed their houses. They did not want the Palestineans to benefit to that extent from their refusal to negotiate and their refusal to recognize the state of Israel. Still out of their intense hatred for the Israelis, the Palestineans shot themselves in the foot and destroyed the green houses themselves. This is not so different from the philosophy of the Jews on Masada. However, the Romans would have used whatever was left for them. Hoffman created the four characters of the women herself. Women were not mentioned in the ancient histories of Masada. Hoffman created them out of her imagination. She did use the only source created at the time of the massacre, Flavius Josephus account of the seige and battle. While some stories of the event claim that the inhabitants of Massada were religious Jews who died rather than be forced to violate the laws of their faith, this one did not. There was a group of relgious or fanatacal Jews called the Essenes who lived in the settlement but also apart. Like the ultra-orthodox Jews of today, they wore different garb and prayed several times daily. They were marked by their distinctive all white clothing. They wanted to pray and study all day. They did not believe in fighting even if attacked. Does this remind the reader of other cultish sects? When they sought refuge on Massada, the settlement leaders informed them that they would have to work as much as anyone and fight the soldiers along with the secular Jews who inhabited the settlement. They agreed to do so. Yet they left just before the Roman onslaught and were killed in their caves. They did not defend themselves so it was an all out slaughter. Hoffman's version depended heavily on Josephus history of the battle. He was a contemporary Jewish scholar who spoke Latin, Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and other languages. He saved his own life by offering to record the history of the event much as a modern day reporter might. He wrote a history in Latin to please the Roman generals. He wrote a slightly different one in Aramaic. Scholars choose to use the Aramaic version as a resource today. It is thought to be more accurate because it did not cater to the Roman generals as much. If Josephus had written an unflattering view of the Roman legions, he might have been executed. His account must be taken with a grain of salt. Still it is the only history we have even today. Hoffman also relied on the book, Masada by Yadin which had photographs of the archeological finds at the location. Hoffman wove these archeological finds into the story. This feature was especially admirable. Archeologists have found pieces of tartan plaid worn by Scottish mercenaries in the Roman army. The settlement coined its own money and some of the shekals have been found. They used a ceramic calling card in lieu of our paper business cards. Some of these were found. I agree with much of the critisizm that finds this book too long. It is too long for a book that does not rise to a certain level of excellence. The print is small too. If you have trouble reading small print, buy this on the kindle and increase the font. Magic and mysticism had a featured role in the story but I liked it. I also liked the character, Shira, who was a medicine woman. Other members of my book club did not care much for her. She believed in spells and amulets and she was trained in creating them. Of all the characters I found her the most interesting. I suspect that the people of the time also believed in magic, spells, and amulets. Life was very harsh and unpredictable. People living in such conditions try to gain control of their lives with magic and spells etc. It gives them comfort. As recent as the 1940's some Jews believed in the "evil eye." Others followed local suspicions in spitting or throwing salt over a shoulder to protect one from bad luck or evil. These were not neccessarily Jewish beliefs. More likely they were local or ethnic custtoms and superstitions. Even today "evil eye" jewelry is available and worn by some to ward off evil. Worn by others it is just a historical curiosity. Some of the medicinal herbs used in ritual magic became the basis of modern pharmeceuticals.The settlers also appeared to worship an idol from time to time though the idols were secondary to Adonai, the one true god. I found this a bit odd because the central theme of the Jewish faith is that there is but one God. Still it is possible that people hedged their bets in their attempts to control the outcome of their lives. Some of the characters like Yael were magical too. She could approach birds and they would not run from her. Rather they would alight on her arms. Some of the other characters had magical traits. Trained assasins had the ability to become "invisible" or hide in plain sight. These traits could have been explained with reality. The assasin could have been learned in the art of stealth. Instead there was a hint of magic created with a special cloak. An example of one of the book's weaknesses is Hoffman's use of the uncommon word"plait" or "plaited" rather than the more common word "braid." I think the best writers explain things simply. So Hoffman receives demerits for that. Still she has several quotable phrases of truism that I would repeat. For example, she explains why the female survivors codle their donkey." I make certain this creature is well cared for, ready if we should ever need to depart suddenly. Our people never know when we may have to flee..." also "Here is the riddle of love: Everything it gives to you, it takes away." These are true statements that are worth savoring and repeating. This book is worth reading if you have read most of the better literary efforts on your list. It is a good beach book, travel book or summer read. I liked the magic in the story, but it might be a bit heavy handed for some. The book was too long and the print was small. Many Jews will give this book a high rating becuase they believe it is a betrayl to offer critisizm of a Jewish author writing about a Jewish subject in a public forum. I do not. Had it been available I would have given theis book 3&1/2 stars.

Never before has a book entranced me the way The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman has. I've literally just finished reading this book and I can't get my mind to settle down. It's almost as if I've ran a race, my adrenaline is pumping and my heart beating a mile a minute, scenes from the book keep going around and around in my head. My urgent need to tell everyone about this beautifully haunting book is taking over all other thoughts, so I need to get this review out before I explode!Alice Hoffman is the author of Practical Magic and The Red Garden, plus many, many other novels but The Dovekeepers is her first historical fiction work. Hoffman was inspired by a trip to Jerusalem, when she visited a place called Masada, a fortress built by Herod the Great that is situated on top of a large mountain, where a group of nine hundred Jews in the first century CE, who had fled their homelands from the invading Romans converged together to escape the slaughter of their people.The Dovekeepers is the story of four women - Aziza, the girl-warrior; Shirah, the Witch of Moab; Yael, the lioness; and Revka, the revenging mother - who came to Masada after their homes and towns were destroyed, each arriving a completely different woman than who they had been before the invasion. They tell the stories of their own life, prior to and including their time in Masada, up to that fateful day and each story is more haunting and profound than the next.Hoffman's writing is among the most exquisite I have ever read! She has expertly woven a tale of tragedy and hope, hate and love, magic and human nature and I was mesmerized by every word. This book should come with a warning as it has the power to thoroughly enthrall a reader, causing them to block out the world around them completely. My household chores were abandoned, husband and child ignored, I was just absorbed into the pages of this novel that everything else took a backseat to the fascinating story enfolding in front of me.I cried when I finished the novel, not only because of the sad fate of the people of Masada, but because I will miss these four bold and unyielding women. I will carry their story in my heart forever.

Alice Hoffman is an amazing writer. This is an older book, one that I never read. It’s heavy but was wonderful. Written beautifully, the characters become a part of you as you read about their lives. Four women - war - magic, of course - motherhood - Judaism - faith - violence - loyalty - sex - adultery - childbirth - doves and lions - deceit - defeat. All stemming from the historically true story of Masada. I am Jewish but was not aware of this story, the Romans who tried to conquer Masada. So much history, hatred and violence. Fascinating and educational. If you want a serious, well written, well researched book, I highly recommend this one. CH

Arrived on time, as promised, bought as a gift for a book lover as it is an amazing historical novel

What can I say to give this book the credit it is due? A a wonderful mesmerising story of the strength, courage and endurance of women written in a captivating, brilliant way.The beauty of some of the sentences and phrases took my breath away, words I will reread and saviour for a long time to come.My first Alice Hoffman book, but definately not my last.

This book was strange and depressing. I only read half of it. Alice Hoffman writes beautifully, but the content is from her mind, and whether the story is worth reading or not depends whether her imagination is going to enhance the reader’s life, or just make it feel more disturbing.

Wow. What a book ! After reading this I spent hours poring over the internet reading about the Jews and the siege of Masada. The historical details are spot on and the author succeeds immensely in recreating the age and the ambience in the reader's mind. The stories are touching and heart wrenching. This is a book that will stay with me for a very very long time !

Alice Hoffman describe un episodio historico poco conocido, a través de unos personajes que enganchan desde el principio y que mantienen el interés hasta el final. Muy recomendable.