The Story of the Forest
by Linda Grant
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Pub Date Nov 12 2024 | Archive Date Nov 19 2024
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Description
An “epic and marvelously entertaining” family saga by award-winning author Linda Grant about the European Jewish experience from WWI to the present day, that “constantly moves forward even as it looks sorrowfully back” (Financial Times).
It’s 1913 when Mina, the young and carefree daughter of a Jewish merchant, roams into a forest on the edge of the Baltic Sea looking for mushrooms. Instead, she encounters a gang of unruly, charismatic Bolsheviks—an adventure that will become the stuff of familial lore for generations to come. Intending to save her from further corruption, and in an act that forever changes the trajectory of their family’s life, Mina and her eldest brother, Jossel, board a ship to England.
There the threat of a different war looms large. When WWI hits, Jossel is sent to the front, where he keeps a severely wounded soldier in his unit alive ‘til morning by telling him tales—including that his sister Mina will marry him if he survives. The soldier lives and asks for Mina’s hand, their marriage uniting two growing trade dynasties. But over time Mina and Jossel will learn that not everyone in their family has survived the wars and pogroms, even as they and their offspring struggle to build new lives in Liverpool in the midst of ever-shifting discriminations.
Based on the author’s own family history and legends, The Story of the Forest is a remarkable record of family lore; a meditation on the power of stories to ground us, particularly in the face of life’s inevitable losses, told with a keen wit and a sharp eye to the charms and the foibles of family by masterful British novelist Linda Grant.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781638931683 |
| PRICE | $28.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 288 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Sophie A, Educator
The story begins at the turn of the 20th century in Riga, with Mina accidentally meeting the Bolsheviks in the forest and dancing with them until her cheeks are rosy and her heart full of adventure: 'The Story of the Forest' that changes everything. Her brother, fearing that their father will crush his sister's joy with an arranged marriage to an older man and, being a dreamy boy himself suggests leaving Riga for New York. So begins a tale of the Jewish diaspora, a family in different countries facing war, oppression, death, opportunity and community in very different ways. This is a story about expediency, survival, love and identity and it is also funny, surprising and warm. Mina and her brother only make it as far as Liverpool and the descriptions of the city and suburbs through two world wars and beyond through the eyes of the Jewish community provides a rich context to the telling of this story. Author Linda Grant has drawn on her own family history in writing this book and it shows in her description of the intergenerational experience of her characters. I loved the Yiddish and enjoyed this book very much.
Jessa F, Librarian
I appreciated the opportunity to read The Story of the Forest. Unfortunately, it just wasn't quite for me. There was a lot to like about it--the strong historical components, the vague sense of fairy tale about the narrative (particularly toward the start in Latvia). Unfortunately, it just didn't manage to grab my attention and I found myself pushing to get through it. I think there are readers for whom this will resonate deeply; I just wasn't one of them.
Susan B, Reviewer
This novel gave me a different view of WWI. I've never read a story by Linda Grant before. I will read some of her older novels now.
Christine B, Reviewer
A very entertaining tale of a Jewish family whose lives have been dictated by dreams, life hazards, lack of money and of course antisemitism. A powerful start got me hooked straight away reflecting what the later generations wonder about their earlier family. Yes, emigration whether to Russia, England, Israel or the USA has made it difficult to stay close to the acual events experienced by this family who didn't/couldn't contact each other. This is true for so many Jewish people spread all over the world!I found it very interesting to view the characters: all women are very strong headed while the male characters appear as rather dull, weak even absurd in some cases. I wonder why? Is it because they misled/led their female counterparts as to crucial life decisions? The writing style is very lively. It does give the feeling one actually hears the (fairy?) tale being told. That might be the moral of this story.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.
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