Brothers

This was the first Beatrice Rubens book that I have read and I could not put it down! I found it on a "take one, leave one" shelf in a hostel and I'm glad I took it - spent a lovely week on the beach reading it nonstop. I was sorry when it ended. She creates characters with depth and humanity and it almost too easy to identify with their sorrows, internal struggles, and external stressors. But it's not all sad- there are certainly moments of joy, as well. If you are a fan of Jewish literature and studies of family bonds, loyalty and relationships, then you will enjoy this book even more! I am looking forward to reading more of her novels. Enjoy!

This is the third time I'm reading this book. My mother-in-law first gave it to me over 20 years ago. Over the years I re-read it and while on a cruise I wondered what to take for pleasure reading and this book came to mind. You get deeply involved in the character's lives and you get an honest feeling for what life must have been like for the Jewish people who migrated across Europe and to the U.S. If you like historical fiction this is a great book. And if you like stories about Jewish history, The Source by James Michener would be another great read. Book arrived in great condition and was as described by seller. Can highly recommend this seller also.

Luke's brother Marius died a year ago, his mother is going to burn all his belongings in a ceremonial bonfire, but Luke finds Marius' diary and in an attempt to secure it from the fire he starts writing his own thoughts in it. As he discovers Marius' own words he begins a dialogue with his lost brother, and uncovers a few surprises, including a secret each harboured, his brother was gay, and so is he. Brothers is an imaginative and very moving story, a story of love, of hidden truths and of discovery. Luke's words to his brother vary from reproachful to witty, from questioning to understanding, but ultimately to an expression of great brotherly love. A most beautiful story; on more than one accession as I read I felt tears welling up, and when I reached the final pages I had to fight all the harder to keep the tears back.

It's been six months since Luke's younger brother passed away due to a genetic illness unknown to the family at the time. Their mother has made the decision to burn Marius's things on what would've been his 15th birthday, as a way of saying goodbye. But Luke isn't ready to let go, he finds Marius's diary and starts writing down his thoughts where his brother left off. Everything he's kept inside for six months comes flooding out. Through writing he's finally able to say the things he couldn't admit to his brother when Marius was still alive. He discovers that they've both been hiding secrets, from their parents and each other. Set in The Netherlands in the early 1970s, Brothers is a beautifully written coming-of-age story. It's not fast paced or action packed, but it's one of those novels you could read again and again. I would recommend this book for teens and grownups alike.