THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

Marjorie and Holly grow up in a closely knit family in New Jersey.  The two girls are the closest of sisters, sharing a room, their dreams, and secrets throughout the years, even when in college.  The girls also share the love of their grandfather, Eli Burke, who lived with them, and told them countless nighttime stories over the years.

When Holly marries Nathan, the sisters’ relationship changes drastically.  Marjorie cannot understand why her younger sister married Nathan, an Orthodox Jew of the mysterious, Berukhim Penitents sect who follow a Rabbi who died centuries before and among other oddities, believe in reincarnation and perform midnight rituals. 

Marjorie, working on her PhD in literary mysticism, minimizes Nathan who studies in the Yeshiva.  However, Marjorie, fascinated by tales from her grandfather of the White Magician, studies Jewish mysticism and Jewish folklore, writing her dissertation on “the Wandering Jew”.   Nathan’s study of the teachings in mysticism of the Berukhim Sect which originated in the 1600’s, correlates with Marjorie’s pursuit in learning of Jewish Mysticism as she pursues her grandfather’s tales of the White Magician. 

After her grandfather’s death, Marjorie discovers his hidden notebook which opens a challenging door in Marjorie’s life.  As she learns of Jewish folklore, Marjorie realizes the White Magician is the White Rebbe and begins the search for the Lost Tribes, The River of Stones, and The Angel of Losses.

Holly gives birth to a baby boy who is born ill.  Nathan determines to save his son.

Caught between her jealousy of Nathan, the loss of her relationship with Holly and the love of her nephew, Eli, whose illness, she learns, is related to her grandfather’s past, Marjorie makes a decision to try and help her sister and save the baby.

The author instills the novel with interesting folklore, lovely, descriptive passages and the message of the return of a Jewish soul to the fold.