Review of At Vitoria

[christopher_robin]

[Following is a volunteer review of "At Vitoria" by Marcia Riman Selz.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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⁤At Vitoria: A City's Medieval Promise between Christians and Sephardic Jews by Marcia Riman Selz provides a compelling journey into the entwined lives of two religious communities within medieval times. Inspired by events of realism, this book truly brings into life the cultural, social, and religious dynamics of a city on the edge of change, therefore being both informative and emotionally captivating. ⁤

But one of the points that would make this novel strong is the aspect of setting. The author here develops a continuum of vision concerning Vitoria, sucking the reader deep inside the complex lives of Jews and Christians, residing together, side by side, in a culture of delicate balance. The dialogue is steeped in the beliefs and idioms of the time and gives credence to a well-told tale. The attention to detail by Selz buries you deep in the daily struggles and rituals of the Sephardic Jews and in the manner their customs were both treasured and threatened.

The pacing of the book does stumble at times. Some of the chapters tend to get bogged down in places with minor details that detract from the overall tension of the novel. It's good to really focus on the relationships of the characters, but some of these sections could have been tightened up a bit more, which didn't take away that much from it, but at times transitions felt a little disjointed.

Despite these minor issues, At Vitoria manages to bring into the daylight a very darkly understood period, therefore educating and offering a survival story. A last point that is worth noticing is how the political, religious, and cultural landscape intermingles perfectly with the characters in order to make the narration full of meaning and insight. I highly recommend this book for anybody who loves historical fiction with richness and depth in culture. Probably, for readers who like fast dynamics, this book might feel a bit sluggish because it is written in a more introspective way.

All in all, At Vitoria is worth reading if one is interested in history and Sephardic Jews. While pacing is an area that might be improved upon, the research and telling here are so careful and heartfelt it's more than worth a read. I would give this book a 5 out of 5.

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At Vitoria
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