The novel is much too long and, for most of its 500. I received a warm welcome as the newcomer in a well established book club. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred jews held out for months against armies of romans on masada, a mountain in the judean desert. The story of life in this last stronghold in the war between the jews and the romans is told in the novel the dovekeepers by alice hoffman. Why is the roman legion preparing to attack the jews at masada. Alice hoffman booklist alice hoffman message board. Four strong women are brought together at the mountain of masada and fight for their lives against the romans. Cbs limited historical series the dovekeepers may not take on the entire story, but that doesnt mean its not an ambitious adaptation. The keepers series premiere discussion premiere premise. This novel is a sprawling tale based on another event in history. There are intriguing stories of survival, perseverance, love, revenge, loss, faith and so much more throughout the book, but the book is. The group will meet this week on tues, april 24th at 1 pm in the library meeting room come in for some great discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.
Alice hoffmans the dovekeepers shows us a world where doves, in addition to serving daytoday purposes, represent so much more. The dovekeepers alice hoffman, 2011 scribner 512 pp. Did the author do a good job in differentiating the women. Alice hoffman may be the most uneven writer in america. In 1992, one survivor finds the strength to face the abuse she suffered and to disclose an appalling threat that frightened her into silence. Book discussion has been postponed a week so there is still time to pick up a copy of the dove keepers by alice hoffman. An ambitious and mesmerizing novel from the bestselling author of rules of magic. Rather than surrender to or be captured by roman forces the sicarii, a group of religious zealots who took refuge at masada in first century judea, chose to sacrifice themselves. As in that miniseries, the version of the ancient world they give us. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. This reading group guide for the dovekeepers includes discussion questions and a letter from author, alice hoffman.
Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. The dovekeepers is our next discussion book april 5th. Thomas is a seventeenyearold who doesnt want to grow up and has. The novel, is a awesome book to discuss with book clubs, especially women. Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred jews held out for months against armies of romans on masada, a mountain in. Both new and experienced keepers alike will find great value in the over 100 fullcolor photographs including photos and descriptions of over 30 different color varieties. From historical references in the book, as well as your own knowledge of history, explain the roots of the conflict. At 500 pages, the dovekeepers is a relatively long novel, and the need to start again with each new narrator, with her own exposition, taxes the storys momentum until the various threads. The dovekeepers was published by simon and schuster on 4 october 2011. The novel is alice hoffmans latest book, the dovekeepers, which attempts to retell the story of the jewish resistance during the roman siege of masada in the first century. Over five years in the writing, alice hoffmans most ambitious and mesmerizing work ever, a triumph of imagination and research set in ancient israel. The dovekeepers by alice hoffman book expectations.
On the east the rock falls in a sheer drop of about 450 meters to the dead sea the lowest point on earth, some 400 m. To obtain a copy of the book please call the ocean city branch at 4105241818. Also included is an indepth discussion of ringneck dove genetics by john fowler. Ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. It was our largest book to date at 500 pages but almost every member managed to finish it in time for our meeting. And while theyre often thought of as bright white birds, with over 300 species, they actually come in all shapes and sizes. The novel dramatizes the siege of masada 7374 ce by troops of the roman empire. Any page references refer to a usa edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions. Join us each month for a lively book discussion facilitated by cher grazier. The dovekeepers by alice hoffman book club discussion.
The book ties in with the history of the jerusalem revolt, and the last stand of the jewish people before 900 people were killed by their own hands, by suicide. The dovekeepers is a 2011 historical novel by american writer alice hoffman. Hoffmans 1997 novel here on earth was selected as an oprah book club pick, but even without winfreys powerful endorsement, her books have become huge bestsellers including three that have been adapted for the movies. Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of scribner. Southfield public library the dovekeepers by alice hoffman discussion questions used at spl january 20 1. Praise for the dovekeepers hoffman is a writer of great perception and she captures with precision the complexity of the relationships between the women, their fear and guilt, their courage, their hunger for consolation and companionship guardian. Masada hebrew for fortress, is situated atop an isolated rock cliff at the western end of the judean desert, overlooking the dead sea. Over five years in the writing, the dovekeepers is alice hoffman. The discussion was lively and made me think about events in the story in a different light, one that i wouldnt have thought of on my own. The dovekeepers on its surface sounds like it has the potential to be incredibly moving, and i had high hopes.
The dovekeepers is a novel by alice hoffman, published in 2011. Hoffman grounds her expansive, intricately woven, and deepest new novel in biblical history, with a devotion and seriousness of purpose entertainment weekly. Yet i found the reading to be more of an exercise in frustration and perseverance. The dovekeepers is alice hoffmans most ambitious and mesmerizing novel. Alice hoffmans judean rebels head for their desert fortress. The menfolk probably wont like it but you might win some points by recommending it to your wife. The difficulty with the dovekeepers is that these moments of hope are too few and far between. In that moment, the dovekeepers came to life as well. Along with their close cousin, the pigeon, doves make up the bird family columbidae. Poll ballot the dovekeepers by alice hoffman 4 stars. Did you like the way the story was told in 4 voices. Continuing with a theme of reading historical fiction the book group read the dovekeepers by alice hoffman. The frustration is largely the result of the books lack of development, which might sound weird to. Perhaps this is a testament to hoffmans storytelling.
Alice hoffman goodreads author topics about this book topics that mention this book. The book covers a period of four years as the romans waged war against the jewish stronghold of masada, claimed by a group 900 rebels and their families. This study guide consists of approximately 1 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the dovekeepers. The novel is alice hoffmans latest book, the dovekeepers, which attempts to retell the story of the jewish resistance during the roman siege. The novel is split into four principal parts, with each of the main characters yael, revka, aziza, and shirah narrating one section. Do you feel the lives of the women in the dovekeepers echo the lives of women in the modern world who are experiencing war and political unrest. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the dovekeepers by alice hoffman. What did you know about the siege of masada before you read this book. A novel by alice hoffman for this weeks reading wednesday. Ryan whites sevenpart true crime documentary focuses on the investigations by abbie schaub and gemma hoskins into the 1969 murder of sister cathy cesnik, a young english teacher at a catholic high school in baltimore. The dovekeepers is strikinghoffman grounds her expansive, intricately woven, and deepest new novel in biblical history, with a devotion and seriousness of purpose entertainment weekly. The dovekeepers is a novel set during and after the fall of jerusalem 70 c.
The story of the last zealot stronghold in judea is told from the point of view of four fictional women in the. The author of such iconic bestsellers as illumination night, practical magic, fortunes daughter, and oprahs book club selection. According to the ancient historian josephus, two women and five children survived. Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred jews held out for months against armies of romans on masada, a mountain. The dovekeepers follows the arrival of all four to the fortress and the runup to the massacre, thus prolonging the coming horror. A trip through her enormous body of work for adults and young people is a. A tale inspired by the tragic firstcentury massacre of hundreds of jewish people at masada presents the stories of a hated daughter, a bakers wife, a girl disguised as a warrior, and a medicine woman who keep doves and. The readers forum is the lively, long running book discussion group of the cranford public library.
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