The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem by Sarit Yishai-LeviMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book took me by surprise. I had read other reviews about it, and they mostly agreed on how good it was, but it was even better.
This is the story of the Ermosa family, Sephardic Jews that live in Jerusalem. Four generations described from the 1930's to the 1970's.
Narrated by Gabriela, Luna's daughter, from the fourth generation, it's a fascinating trip into a culture and lifestyle broken by war and emigration. It's also the story of how the women in the family are cursed by loving men who don't love them.
The book is full of superstitions, traditions words in ladino that make up their culture.
Though Luna, as the beauty queen would seem to be the main character, her sisters are equally if not more interesting. Rachelika and Becky live in her shadow but have their own stories. And Gabriela, Luna's daughter is a beautiful and angry woman. And the elders! Mercada and Nona Rosa are completely opposite. You love them and you hate them. This is a family that clings together at all times. It can be oppressive, but it is also endearing. There's so much love you feel it in each page.
I highly recommend this book. It taught me not only about a culture so very different than mine, but about families, love and tradition.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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