Review of By The Rivers of Babylon
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Chidinma Dijeh
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Review of By The Rivers of Babylon
[Following is a volunteer review of "By The Rivers of Babylon" by Mary Glickman.]
By the Rivers of Babylon by Mary Glickman is a story about a Jewish couple, Joe and Abigail, who had just moved into a small town, as Abigail had inherited her grandmother's house in the town. Abigail is quickly noticed by the town's most popular man, Billy. Billy started making moves to get close to the family, from bringing them briskets to taking them on shooting lessons, all to get Abigail's attention. He believed women weren't hard to please; you just had to stick around for a bit. Abigail noticed and told Joe all about it, as they had a good level of trust between them both. About two months later, they started settling in well. Joe bonded with a few people, and Abigail started teaching as a substitute teacher at the local school. One day, Billy invited them to a labour party dinner. They were excited to go, as they considered it a bonding activity. This pivotal event throws their lives into turmoil, leaving them grappling with grief and suspicion. The second half of the novel talks about the aftermath, where Joe, consumed by a need for answers, teams up with an unlikely ally to investigate a potential murder. Their search for the truth leads them down a dangerous path, uncovering more lies and deceit.
The book has an engrossing plot. The plot combines themes of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of secrets. I like the perspective from which the story was told. One of the strengths of this book is its well-developed characters, even minor ones. The author's writing is passionate and engaging, making it easy to become invested in the story. The book also explores complex themes and relationships in a thought-provoking way. The story discusses the complexities of human relationships, particularly the dynamics between spouses, friends, and lovers. It explores issues of trust, forgiveness, and the consequences of choices made. The author's use of descriptive language paints a vivid picture of the setting and characters, making it easy to visualise the story.
However, the book has a drawback. One of the main issues is its handling of race and racism. The book dismisses the issues of race in a way that feels insensitive and dismissive of other people's feelings and safety. This can be hurtful and alienating for some readers. Aside from this drawback, which doesn't affect my rating, I still rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. The book is exceptionally well edited. I will recommend this book to readers who enjoy character-driven fiction, family drama, and romance novels.
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By The Rivers of Babylon
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
By the Rivers of Babylon by Mary Glickman is a story about a Jewish couple, Joe and Abigail, who had just moved into a small town, as Abigail had inherited her grandmother's house in the town. Abigail is quickly noticed by the town's most popular man, Billy. Billy started making moves to get close to the family, from bringing them briskets to taking them on shooting lessons, all to get Abigail's attention. He believed women weren't hard to please; you just had to stick around for a bit. Abigail noticed and told Joe all about it, as they had a good level of trust between them both. About two months later, they started settling in well. Joe bonded with a few people, and Abigail started teaching as a substitute teacher at the local school. One day, Billy invited them to a labour party dinner. They were excited to go, as they considered it a bonding activity. This pivotal event throws their lives into turmoil, leaving them grappling with grief and suspicion. The second half of the novel talks about the aftermath, where Joe, consumed by a need for answers, teams up with an unlikely ally to investigate a potential murder. Their search for the truth leads them down a dangerous path, uncovering more lies and deceit.
The book has an engrossing plot. The plot combines themes of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of secrets. I like the perspective from which the story was told. One of the strengths of this book is its well-developed characters, even minor ones. The author's writing is passionate and engaging, making it easy to become invested in the story. The book also explores complex themes and relationships in a thought-provoking way. The story discusses the complexities of human relationships, particularly the dynamics between spouses, friends, and lovers. It explores issues of trust, forgiveness, and the consequences of choices made. The author's use of descriptive language paints a vivid picture of the setting and characters, making it easy to visualise the story.
However, the book has a drawback. One of the main issues is its handling of race and racism. The book dismisses the issues of race in a way that feels insensitive and dismissive of other people's feelings and safety. This can be hurtful and alienating for some readers. Aside from this drawback, which doesn't affect my rating, I still rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. The book is exceptionally well edited. I will recommend this book to readers who enjoy character-driven fiction, family drama, and romance novels.
******
By The Rivers of Babylon
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Totem by Charlie Sheldon
