The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem

A Novel

De: Sarit Yishai-Levi, Anthony Berris - translator

Narrado por: Barrie Kreinik

Finalist for the Book Club category of the 2016 National Jewish Book Awards.

The number one international best seller The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem is a dazzling novel of mothers and daughters, stories told and untold, and the ties that bind four generations of women.

Gabriela's mother, Luna, is the most beautiful woman in all of Jerusalem, though her famed beauty and charm seem to be reserved for everyone but her daughter. Ever since Gabriela can remember, she and Luna have struggled to connect. But when tragedy strikes, Gabriela senses there's more to her mother than painted nails and lips.

Desperate to understand their relationship, Gabriela pieces together the stories of her family's previous generations - from Great-Grandmother Mercada the renowned healer, to Grandma Rosa who cleaned houses for the English, to Luna who had the nicest legs in Jerusalem. But as she uncovers shocking secrets, forbidden romances, and the family curse that links the women together, Gabriela must face a past and present far more complex than she ever imagined.

Set against the Golden Age of Hollywood, the dark days of World War II, and the swinging '70s, The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem follows generations of unforgettable women as they forge their own paths through times of dramatic change. With great humor and heart, Sarit Yishai-Levi has given us a powerful story of love and forgiveness - and the unexpected and enchanting places we find each.

A Macmillan Audio production from Thomas Dunne Books

©2022 Sarit Yishai-Levi and Anthony Berris (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Highly recommended for those who are fascinated by the history of Jerusalem and the Jews that lived and stayed there, as well as for those looking to learn more about the Spaniol community." (Booklist, starred review)

"Fans of Gabriel Garcia Marquez will find much to love in The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem. The narrative is lush and rife with scandalous secrets of a passionately opinionated family." (Jewish Journal)

"The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem is a wonderful read - full of fascinating characters and spanning four generations of Israeli women. As their country struggles through its birth pangs, they struggle through wars, economic and social upheavals, and many losses - both physical and emotional. Compelling and satisfying." (B.A. Shapiro, New York Times best-selling author of The Muralist and The Art Forger)

I loved it!

What a great story! I love the Netflix series and binged watched both seasons. When I learned there was a book, I had to listen. Awesome!!

so much history! love it

I love the history and drama of this book, really well researched. great listen.

Trite ending

Interesting history that was good to learn about. However, the stereotyped characters took away from enjoyment of the story. I especially disliked the trite resolution of the daughter’s unhappiness.

Good listen but lacking depth

The story was interesting to listen to, but it lacked the depth. I was hoping it would come and never did and even down to the last 20 minutes I was optimistic but shouldn’t have been. So many missed opportunities for the characters to grow and change. They all seemed emotionally stunted and spent more time not living their lives or confronting issues than you’d expect in a novel. Instead it was more of a straight retelling of their lives without any curveballs at all. Luna, the main character, was unlikeable from start to finish, even after Rachelika’s “big” reveal at the end. The show on Netflix barely follows the novel at all, and it is the one time I’d say a tv adaptation is far better than the book.

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Amazing storytelling! Loved this read very much. Can’t wait to watch on Netflix to compare.

Amazing!

This is a wonderful woman-based Jewish family saga...Kinda like a Jewish Thornbirds. Do yourself a favor and listen to this amazing story.

A generational saga

A wonderful story following three generations of the Armosa family in Jerusalem. Each thread weaving an intricate part of the family’s history. I was so sorry when the book ended.

Superb narration

Fantastic storyline beautifully narrated
Loved listening to this epic story. Unforgettable characters: so human and so flawed

Great story

Great story. Love it. The book covers the history of the spaniol jews in Israel

It was even better than the movie series

I like that this was written from the point of view of the daughter Gavriella, and that lots of lives were different than the movie. I always like hearing the thoughts of each character.