Publication Date: 4th February 2013
Pages: 332
Book Source: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Synopsis: During the second
half of the 16th century, a wealthy widow by the name of Doña Antonia Nissim is
arrested and charged with being a secret Jew. The punishment? Death by burning.
Enter Suleiman the Magnificent, an Ottoman "Schindler," and the most
celebrated sultan in all of Turkish history. With the help of the Sultan, the
widow and her children manage their escape to Istanbul. Life is seemingly
idyllic for the family in their new home, that is, until the Sultan's son meets
and falls in love with Tamar, Doña Antonia's beautiful and free-spirited
granddaughter. A quiet love affair ensues until one day, the girl
vanishes.
Over four centuries later, thirty-two
year old Selim Osman, a playboy prince with a thriving real estate empire, is
suddenly diagnosed with a life-theatening condition. Abandoning the mother of
his unborn child, he vanishes from Istanbul without an explanation. In a
Manhattan hospital, he meets Hannah, a talented artist and the daughter of a
French Holocaust survivor. As their story intertwines with that of their
ancestors, readers are taken back to Nazi-occupied Paris, and to a seaside
village in the Holy Land where a world of secrets is illuminated.
Theirs
is a love that has been dormant for centuries, spanning continents,
generations, oceans, and religions. Bound by a debt that has lingered through
time, they must right the wrongs of the past if they're ever to break the
shackles of their future.
My Thoughts:
It was the cover of The Debt of Tamar
that caught my attention. Isn't it beautiful? Thankfully it doesn't end with
the cover, this debut novel is also beautifully written. It's a story of love and loss, redemption, culture and faith.
Spanning
centuries; from 16th century Portugal and the Ottoman Empire, to Nazi occupied
Paris in the 1940's and present day Turkey and US. I've read quite a bit about
The Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain and Portugal and find this period in
history both horrifying and fascinating.
Beginning
with the execution by burning of unrepentant Jews, Doña Antonia Nissim her
daughter Reyna and nephew Jose escape to Turkey with the help of Sultan
Sulieman the Magnificent. When Reyna and Jose's daughter Tamar falls in love
with the sultan's son, Murat, a decision by Jose sparks the debt, and
so begins The Sultan's Curse. This part of the story I was most captivated by,
I didn't want to leave.
Fast
forward to present day and we follow Selim Osman, last living descendant of the
Ottoman Sultans, then to Paris 1941 and the Herzikovas ... sounds confusing but
as the story progresses common threads are slowly revealed and the tapestry is
pieced together.
The
Debt of Tamar has a haunting beauty, it's quite outside the realm of
traditional, continuing the central love story of Tamar and Murat through other
characters ... thwarted love, eternal love, beautifully entwined.
I
understand why Nicole Dweck presented Debt of Tamar in such a way, but it
didn't stop me wanting more. The characters felt elusive, fleeting, just a
sense of them before they slip into the shadows. It's a story you need to be
fully present for as confusion can easily override pleasure ... but maybe that was just me.
All
up, a story I'm glad I had the opportunity to read and I look forward to more
from Nicole Dweck.
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Giveaway:
I'm thrilled to offer readers the chance to win a paperback copy of THE DEBT OF TAMAR. Just leave a relevant comment or question along with your email address. US only sorry
Extra Entries:
+ 2 tweet giveaway and leave a link
Giveaway ends 25th March and winner will be announced on my blog. Good luck everyone!
I've enjoyed reading about this novel. Your review intrigues me. I love stories that span centuries. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI ain't gonna lie -- I was taken aback by the synopsis that stated he flees the mother of his unborn child ... do they touch on that again ... or at least resolve it?? That would bother me I believe ...
ReplyDeletetakes a little time Julie, but it is resolved :)
DeleteI am captivated with this wonderful novel. Being Jewish and knowing about the historical background interests me greatly. Many thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeletethanks for this memorable feature. What a fascinating and unforgettable story. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI love historical fiction. This novel has intrigued me.
ReplyDeletelag110 at mchsi dot com
Tweeted: https://mobile.twitter.com/lag32583/status/443439731393572864?screen_name=lag32583
ReplyDeleteIt sounds pretty fascinating :)
ReplyDeleteYour review is indeed intriguing…not sure if this is one I want to read or not, I love historical novels but it sounds like something I might get lost in. Yet your review leads me to believe the story flows beautifully.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review.
I've been hearing a lot about this book and its story that reaches across centuries. It sounds like one that my wife and I would both enjoy. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
ReplyDeleteI also tweeted a link to this post: https://twitter.com/carlrscott/status/443610777627283456 Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read this!! Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI also tweeted about the giveaway.
kim_cree@yahoo.com
I fell in love with the cover as well...your review has me wanting more. I love historical novels that span through time and intertwine relationships.
ReplyDeleteI tweeted:
https://twitter.com/Lisamarie5825/status/445730596556259328
The cover totally caught my eye too. Love it! With your warning about being totally present when reading I thin kI could handle this :) I know little to nothing about the Spain and Portugal stance on Jews as well as the Turkey link.
ReplyDeletestacybooks at yahoo
Sounds like a great Historical read! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletesandy.mccarthy@yahoo.com
Phoenix, AZ USA
The cover caught my eye but the description makes this even more intriguing. Thanks for sharing review and the givewaway.
ReplyDeletemesreads AT gmail.com