Review by ShwetaDandy -- Hidden: Nistar by Batya Casper
Posted: 10 Sep 2019, 22:54
[Following is a volunteer review of "Hidden: Nistar" by Batya Casper.]
4 out of 4 stars
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When old Mr. L falls down to his death in his home and the mysterious Hannah continues to lock herself up in the upstairs room, readers fall into the lives of the Lazamof family and learn how war and conflict can impact both young and old. Hidden: Nistar by Batya Casper is a composite of two beautifully written novellas that introduces readers to two ordinary families, leading ordinary lives who suddenly find themselves living under the threat of bombings and losing loved ones in battle.
Batya dives into the first novella with what life looked like just before Mr. L's death. We are introduced to innocent little Tikvah, her grandparents Mr. and Mrs. L, their step-children, and the "ghost" of Hannah. Where Mrs. L seems to have given up on life, her doting husband Mr. L wants to make sure they live life to the fullest. Little Tikvah, their 10-year-old orphan granddaughter, knows something is amiss but is told not to ask questions she'll never get answers to. With so many questions in my mind as well, I was pleased when the story went back a few decades to unfold the events that led to such different perspectives on life within the same family.
Hanover Gardens, Batya's second novella, follows a British family that takes in Jewish immigrants during the Second World War. The story is told through the eyes of the lady of the house Inda, her children Billy and Claire, and an array of immigrants who managed to get away from a life of suffering, only to find themselves in a life of uncertainty. It was fascinating to witness all of them come together despite challenges and form an unlikely family.
What stood out to me in both novellas was Batya's ability to capture and express the characters' emotions of anguish and hope. At one point I found myself sobbing while reading a character's breakdown; at another, I couldn't help but mourn the loss of a simpler past. Batya was also able to transition effectively between complex adult reasoning and the simpler, childlike viewpoint of the kids in the stories.
The only negative aspect I can point out isn't even within the story. The summary given on Amazon threw me off completely, so much so that I couldn't make sense of the book and the characters at first. I decided to re-read, this time without thinking about the summary, and it all made sense. I would recommend the same to other potential readers of the book. I also wish the first novella hadn't ended so soon. I would have loved to learn more about the Lazamofs - an epilogue of sorts. But I am being greedy.
I give this book 4 out of 4 stars and recommend it highly to readers who enjoy books that are emotionally driven. There were some errors in the book, but nothing that was too jarring. There were also no expletives.
Hidden: Nistar made me think of families who live in conflict areas across the world today. I can only hope that peace comes to their region soon so that they can finally move forward.
******
Hidden: Nistar
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
4 out of 4 stars
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When old Mr. L falls down to his death in his home and the mysterious Hannah continues to lock herself up in the upstairs room, readers fall into the lives of the Lazamof family and learn how war and conflict can impact both young and old. Hidden: Nistar by Batya Casper is a composite of two beautifully written novellas that introduces readers to two ordinary families, leading ordinary lives who suddenly find themselves living under the threat of bombings and losing loved ones in battle.
Batya dives into the first novella with what life looked like just before Mr. L's death. We are introduced to innocent little Tikvah, her grandparents Mr. and Mrs. L, their step-children, and the "ghost" of Hannah. Where Mrs. L seems to have given up on life, her doting husband Mr. L wants to make sure they live life to the fullest. Little Tikvah, their 10-year-old orphan granddaughter, knows something is amiss but is told not to ask questions she'll never get answers to. With so many questions in my mind as well, I was pleased when the story went back a few decades to unfold the events that led to such different perspectives on life within the same family.
Hanover Gardens, Batya's second novella, follows a British family that takes in Jewish immigrants during the Second World War. The story is told through the eyes of the lady of the house Inda, her children Billy and Claire, and an array of immigrants who managed to get away from a life of suffering, only to find themselves in a life of uncertainty. It was fascinating to witness all of them come together despite challenges and form an unlikely family.
What stood out to me in both novellas was Batya's ability to capture and express the characters' emotions of anguish and hope. At one point I found myself sobbing while reading a character's breakdown; at another, I couldn't help but mourn the loss of a simpler past. Batya was also able to transition effectively between complex adult reasoning and the simpler, childlike viewpoint of the kids in the stories.
The only negative aspect I can point out isn't even within the story. The summary given on Amazon threw me off completely, so much so that I couldn't make sense of the book and the characters at first. I decided to re-read, this time without thinking about the summary, and it all made sense. I would recommend the same to other potential readers of the book. I also wish the first novella hadn't ended so soon. I would have loved to learn more about the Lazamofs - an epilogue of sorts. But I am being greedy.
I give this book 4 out of 4 stars and recommend it highly to readers who enjoy books that are emotionally driven. There were some errors in the book, but nothing that was too jarring. There were also no expletives.
Hidden: Nistar made me think of families who live in conflict areas across the world today. I can only hope that peace comes to their region soon so that they can finally move forward.
******
Hidden: Nistar
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
