The buzz…on Book Buzz — November 2010
November Read
The Knife Sharpener's Bell by Rhea Tregebov
Ten year old Annette Gershon is content with her life which revolves around the Winnipeg delicatessen run by her father. However, the prairies are suffering through the Great Depression and the family situation is far more tenuous than the child realizes. Her immigrant paren'ts, homesick and frustrated with the collapsing capitalist system make the decision to return to Russia, their country of origin.
The Knife Sharpener's Bell follows the Gershon family as they resettle in Europe. Although expecting to find a Workers' Paradise, the family is instead confronted by war, anti-Semitism and the relentless horror of the Stalin era. Annette must first adjust to her new life in Odessa, later fleeing to Moscow ahead of the Nazi occupation, and eventually returning to Canada. Throughout, Annette struggles to establish her identity and maintain her sense of self while the world erodes around her.
This unforgettable novel about human survival and resilience was inspired by the author's own family history. Tregebov's grandfather, like the fictional Avram Gershon, became disillusioned with capitalism and applied for repatriation to Russia. Unlike the family in the book, however, permission to return was not granted. In her novel, Tregebov has imagined what might have happened, filling her story with lyrical prose and haunting images that will resonate with readers everywhere.
The novel received the 2010 Shulamis Yelin English Fiction and Poetry Award on a Jewish Theme, one of the J.I. Segal Literary Awards.
Special Author Event
Rhea Tregebov will be our special guest throughout November. Visit Book Buzz and join the discussion.
Upcoming Discussions
December: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
January: Effigy by Alissa York
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