eSefarad Noticias del Mundo Sefaradi
Sunday 13 November 2016 3:00 PM – Sunday 13 November 2016 4:30 PM
American Sephardi Federation
15 W 16th St, New York, NY, 10011, United States
THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF JERUSALEM
A Novel
Sarit Yishai-Levi, Translated by Anthony Berris
Thomas Dunne Books
Join the American Sephardi Federation and author Sarit Yishai-Levi for a reading and discussion of her award-winning book, The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem. Described by a reviewer as a “romantic and engaging novel which has been an Israeli bestseller for more than two years” and which is now available in English translation from Thomas Dunne Books, Yishai-Levi explores the lives of four generations of Sephardi women who come together and apart in the vibrant city of Jerusalem from the Golden Age of Hollywood to the 1970s.
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«A wonderful read—full of fascinating characters and spanning four generations of Israeli women.» —B.A. Shapiro, New York Timesbestselling author of The Muralist and The Art Forger
The #1 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.
