Zahara and the Lost Books of Light (Paperback)

Book Title: Zahara And The Lost Books Of Light ( Book %231 ) (The Zahara Series) Author: Joyce Yarrow Genre: Women”s Fiction/Mystery Pub Date: February 14, 2023 Print Length: 295 pages Book Reviewed By Sylvia J. This book tries to show us that even though they are different religions, we all share some common ground. She tries to tell us that it is possible to get along with each other. What a perfect world that would be if we all did that one day! That is if we were all kind to each other and just helped one another and didn't cause any pain to each other. On that note I gave the book five stars just for that. This book would definitely be a book for people who adore Spanish history. One will go way back in time in this book as the Prologue starts off in Spain in the year 1499. The Plaza de Bib-Arrambla had numerous books with ripped or loose pages together with Pavestones piled on top of them. These books were handwritten in numerous languages like Aramaic, Hebrew and etc.. They were illuminated with gold leaf, or inscribed with exquisite calligraphy. But they were thrown together in one messy pile. Some works were poetry by Moses Maimonides, commentaries on Aristotle and etc.. These books were set to be burned during the inquisition. Will the books be saved? A book is found with the word Zahara engraved on the cover. Upon opening the book, one saw that it consisted of thick pages, and it was written in the language, called Aramaic and in another language which was not recognizable to one. Now in chapter 1, we are transported to February 2019. It speaks about a reporter out on assignment at the University of Washington updating a story that the person wrote about Judith Talavera. Judith was the first Sephardic woman from Seattle to apply for a Spanish citizenship. Jews were expelled from Spain a long time ago and we're now presently being allowed back in to Spain. The reporter's mother passes away and her grandmother Nona moves into her house in Seattle and tells her some stories from the past about their ancestors who lived in Spain. She tells her how the Jewish people had to hide their religion, but they never really gave up their faith. Some lit Shabbos candles in secret. They actually hid the Shabbos candles in Clay pots. To sum it up this book was very action packed as there was a murder in the book as well. The murderer was arrested so that solved that case. Lastly, this book was fast- paced, loaded with suspense and very bookish. The author began her writing life scribbling poems on the subway and observing human behavior from each and everyone. The author who is named Joyce Yarrow is the award-winning author of the Zahara series and according to library journal, her literary novels of suspense appeal to readers who enjoy unusual mysteries with an international setting.