The Bones of the World

I truly enjoyed this tale.. Just the right amount of magical realism, the characters really stick with you, and what they endured. This was a great novel and I hope to read more by Ross

This blurb from the author adds even more depth to the beauty and emotional connection this reader experienced while reading The Bones of the World - "(It) was written as I pursued answers to the age-old question of why suffering exists in the world. Having lost my son three short days after his 30th birthday to an opioid overdose, I could no longer avert my eyes to suffering--my own and others. As the character Inés says to Rachel, "In this life of inevitable pain, each loss allows us to make a choice--to hide from the pain, adopting mask on top of mask so that we can no longer recognize ourselves, or stand with dignity and open hearts and go where the pain leads." Each of the three tales is set in a different time period, from the Inquisition to the Holocaust to the near future where antisemitism is boiling up yet again. Each section could have been it's own book but together that supercharge the impact. Highly recommended!

Overall, I loved the concept of this. It provides a broad historical focus of Jewish suffering while narrowing in on the core feelings/thoughts/questions that have been collectively shared by those in suffering. One such question is <i>why</i> do <i>we</i> suffer? The broad focus is explored by following the paths of three Jewish people: one during the Spanish Inquisition Time Period, the second during the Holocaust, and the third in a modern day, alternate reality.

I was very glad that there was a historical focus on the Spanish Inquisition. I personally work in a school which has a large population of Sephardic Jews and I find that many people are not aware of the suffering that Jewish people experience during this time as they were exiled from Spain and its colonies and/or forced to convert to Christianity.

Additionally, I appreciate the magical realism elements, especially as they brought focus to the voices of children. However, I wish the magical connection was explored deeper throughout the text. Rather than connecting the various stories in the novel, it felt like it existed separately from the stories of the past which detracts from its significance. Also, the story itself felt stronger than the writing.

I do want to add some TWs for violence and sexual abuse/assault. The descriptions in this are often raw, sudden, and graphic.

Thank youuuu to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!