The Dovekeepers

A Novel

By: Alice Hoffman, Heather Lind

Narrated by: Aya Cash, Jessica Hecht, Tovah Feldshuh

Length: 19 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Over five years in the writing, Alice Hoffman’s most ambitious and mesmerizing work ever, a triumph of imagination and research set in ancient Israel.

The author of such iconic bestsellers as Illumination Night, Practical Magic, Fortune’s Daughter, and Oprah’s Book Club selection Here on Earth, Alice Hoffman is one of the most popular and memorable writers of her generation. Now, in The Dovekeepers, Hoffman delivers her most masterful work yet - one that draws on her passion for mythology, magic, and archaeology and her inimitable understanding of women.

In 70 C.D., nine hundred Jews held out for months against armies of Romans on a mountain in the Judean desert, Masada. According to the ancient historian Josephus, two women and five children survived. Based on this tragic historical event, Hoffman weaves a spellbinding tale of four extraordinary, bold, resourceful, and sensuous women, each of whom comes to Masada by a different path. Yael’s mother died in childbirth, and her father never forgave her for that death. Revka, a village baker’s wife, watched the horrifically brutal murder of her daughter by Roman soldiers; she brings to Masada her twin grandsons, rendered mute by their own witness. Aziza is a warrior’s daughter, raised as a boy, a fearless rider and expert marksman, who finds passion with another soldier. Shirah is wise in the ways of ancient magic and medicine, a woman with uncanny insight and power. The lives of these four complex and fiercely independent women intersect in the desperate days of the siege, as the Romans draw near. All are dovekeepers, and all are also keeping secrets - about who they are, where they come from, who fathered them, and whom they love.

This novel is Alice Hoffman’s masterpiece.

©2011 Alice Hoffman (P)2011 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Beautiful, harrowing, a major contribution to twenty-first century literature." (Toni Morrison, Nobel Laureate in Literature)

"I am still reeling from The Dovekeepers - from the history Alice Hoffman illuminates, from the language she uses to bring these women to life. This novel is a testament to the human spirit and to love rising from the ashes of war. But most of all, this novel is one that will never be forgotten by a reader." (Jodi Picoult, author of Sing You Home)

“In her remarkable new novel, Alice Hoffman holds a mirror to our ancient past as she explores the contemporary themes of sexual desire, women's solidarity in the face of strife, and the magic that's quietly present in our day-to-day living. Put The Dovekeepers at the pinnacle of Hoffman's extraordinary body of work. I was blown away.” (Wally Lamb, author of The Hour I First Believed)

Not quite what I was hoping

What did you like best about The Dovekeepers? What did you like least?

Intriguing idea and inventive story telling, but the first story was too detailed and other stories left too much out. The pacing was off. Having a different reader for each character was terrific, but the first reader did not pronounce the Hebrew words correctly and it was terribly distracting.

If you’ve listened to books by Alice Hoffman and Heather Lind before, how does this one compare?

I listened to The Red Garden, which was also good but not great, though the reader, Nancy Travis, was excellent.

Did the narrators do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes. Each had their own style, but they couldn't overcome some weaknesses in character development and pacing.

Could you see The Dovekeepers being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Definitely. Not sure of actresses.

Any additional comments?

I really wanted to love this book, but I didn't. There was enough that was interesting to keep me going, but it always felt a little bit like work. I was very much looking forward to the Big Speech by the group's leader (history tells that he was very eloquent), but it wasn't especially inspiring, and the female reader did a terrible job trying to sound like a man's voice. Disappointing. Not a bad book, but not as good as it could and should have been.

I loved this book!

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the weaving of history and the very well-drawn characters in this book. I did not know much at all about what had actually happened at Masada (I'd heard of the term, but did not know what had taken place there), and this totally brought that story to life and I learned so much about it. It's such a beautiful piece of literature, I loved everything about this book. The narration was absolutely superb. A definite must to read!

A Page Turner!

It???s a page-turner, so I liked it! Yes, it was over written (full of hyperboles?) and long. BUT it was a page-turner, so ??? I liked it. Also, it shed light on an interesting and tragic historical event, the siege at Masada, and I love historical fiction when it can bring an event alive for me. It was a very powerful evocation of the whole Masada story for the Jews.

The book deals a LOT with the feminine aspect of God or the Goddess and magic. The women characters are strong! It reminded me of The Mists of Avalon as I was reading. Now I looked at a book review online and the reviewer called it ???the Mists of Avalon for Jews???! So I???m not alone in my comparison. Shira, the Witch of Moab, is like Morgaine, and Eleazar ben Ya'ir would be Uther Pendragon. Perhaps if you liked Mists of Avalon like I did, you???ll like this book. It???s been a long time since I read Mists??? BUT I think I like MZBradley???s writing better than this, too. BUT this is still a page turner ???

It was interesting to me how this feminine aspect of God and the practices it inspired were outlawed by the Jews. The women who practiced it were persecuted, like one of the main characters, Shira. (Keshaphim: Forbidden magic and witchcraft said to be practiced by women, believed to be pervasivise during the Second Temple period due to found artfacts including amulets, incantation bowls, and written spells??? To me it showed that the chain of persecution continues??? the hunter becomes the hunted, etc. Will there ever really be true religious tolerance?

There were a lot of references to silence in the book. There were the 2 boys who were mute. Yael was always described as being pretty quiet and loving silence. And here???s a good quote: ???Although words were God???s first creation, silence was closer to his divine spirit. And that prayers given in silence were infinitely greater than the thousands of words men might offer up to heaven.??? It???s interesting trying to figure out what that all means. I don???t think I???ve got it yet??? any ideas?

A lovely story of life in the time of the Bible

Usually, I like to listen to action-packed thrillers while I exercise. But every once in a while, I download a book that’s a total departure one of my usual selections. The Dovekeepers, by Alice Hoffman was such a fortunate choice.
I found the performance to be poetic and stirring. It is the story of the Zealots, who died by their own hands on Masada after being besieged by the Tenth Roman Legion in the early part of the Common Era. I enjoyed the author’s description of ordinary life in biblical times, as told from the viewpoint of a young woman. The most interesting thing about The Dovekeepers is its use of the Bible as a guide book and a history book.
I have stood atop Masada. The ramp that was built by the Romans still stands. Herod’s castle has been restored. So, I was able to see myself taking part in page after page of this lovely book.
For me The Dovekeepers was a meaningful, carefully crafted voyage into the violent history of civilization’s earliest days.

It's Alice Hoffman, says it all!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - don't ever miss out one of Alice Hoffmans books. It's even better as audiobook!!

Amazing historically -based fiction

Would you listen to The Dovekeepers again? Why?

Yes ! actually that is what I am doing now..so many historical gems of the harsh life in the life of this young girl, I am finding new ones that I missed with the first time I listened to it.

What did you like best about this story?

The infusion of evidence- based history in this story, gives the listener a view of what it might have been like living in the fortress of Masada before and during its siege.The strength of those 4 women as their separate lives began to intertwine each other in their sufferings and joys...they became stronger as the men seem to remain stagnant in the face of such adversity and cruelty..

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Yael helped the slave- man from the North to escape and actually gave him her talisman of protection.: I believed they grew to love each other for a time. Also, the supernatural, releasing of the lion kept by the Roman

Any additional comments?

I would even recommend this book to high school students, male and female. Otherwise, this book can be enjoyed by an adult that loves biblical history.

Spellbinding

Hoffman took 5 years to write this hauntingly beautiful, heart wrenching masterpiece based around actual events in 70C.E. The Dovekeepers tells the stories of 4 strong, unyielding, loving and flawed women, each with their own wounds and dark secrets, who face the end of their lives together. This emotional and beautiful story plays on themes of friendship, love, war, faith, magic, forgiveness and female empowerment. It was a truely spellbinding read that I couldn’t put down. I have recommended it to all of my friends, both male and female.

#tagsgiving #sweepstakes #FemaleProtagonist #VoicesFromTheGrave #AncientIsrael

I loved this story

When I bought this book I could not bring myself to listen for the longest time, reading the story outline and thinking 'I am not ready to be sad yet! However, when I did, I found I loved this story, it drew me in and embraced me. I had a hard time saying goodbye at the end and replayed the last scenes over several times until I could finally bit them farewell and move on. They still 'haunt' me as I go about my days and provoke thought and contemplation. Truly a exceptionally well written book and great narration.

Beautiful. Historically accurate.

I didn't find this depressing. Instead, I have gained knowledge and appreciation for do many years ago and strifes and troubles that we no longer have to worry with. This is an amazing read/listen.

Beautiful Journey

Well written, very different from other Hoffman books I’ve read and enjoyed. With that being said, It was a beautiful journey that kept me enthralled until the end.