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| Plot Summary of Repentances |
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"
Five Star, Mar 2004, 25.95, 298 pp.
ISBN: 1410401871
In 1936 many Europeans flee to America where they hope to make money to bring loved ones over. In New York City, former Polish medical student Nathan Ebanholz left behind his wife and baby in the old country so that he could earn money for their passage. He accepted an orderly job at Willard Parker Hospital where he met Nurse Stella Zweikel. Though he feels guilty, he has sex with Stella, who informs Nathan that her spouse Martin brings over Jews for a fee. Nathan hires him.
Martin learns that anti-Semitic Poles killed his client's wife and daughter. Apparently Stella knew but collected the final fee anyway. When Nathan learns the truth especially that Stella knew, he kills her. He leaves the hospital taking a sick infant with him and heads to his sister Anna in Jersey claiming the child is his. Anna learns the truth about her in-law and niece, Nathan's “child” and her abusive father Topinski and her brother's probable murder of Stella, but decides Rosa (as they call her) is better off with them. A half crazed Martin believes Nathan killed Stella and stole their child; Topinksi seeks his child to inflict more pain on his daughter.
REPENTANCES is an intriguing historical crime thriller that hooks the audience with the insight to the Jewish plight. The events seem like dominoes as hitting one topples the next one and so forth. Though the murder and abduction appears oddly correct reactions for an insane person, making Topinksi so vile allows easy rationalization for the kidnapping. Fans will appreciate this deep look at an era when the American government and charities ignored the plight of immigrants leaving behind family in unsafe conditions.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Repentances |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- thoughtful
Time/era of story
- 1930's-1950's
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians
Yes
Conflict:
- Holocaust
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Jewish
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Style
Unusual Style:
- a lot of stream of consciousness
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
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Click here for more information about this book
Annette Meyers Resident Scholar Profiles
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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