Claudia Hagadus Long

This book is such a delightful surprise! It is a story shared by bi-coastal sisters as different as can be. It includes just-enough historical fiction as to learn and be interested without feeling like you reading a textbook. There is some lovely play with languages as well as intrigue, mysterious thefts, and break-ins. This book moves quickly and keeps the reader interested, page after page. I am not sure I think the title is a perfect fit, but if you like mysteries, the book will fit you just fine. Art, law, history, NYC flavor, mystery, and good food. What more do you need?… (plus d'informations)

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Nine Tenth of the Law by Claudia Hagadus Long follows two sisters, reformed Jews, hunting down an artifact stolen by the Nazis during World War II. Ms. Long is a writer and lawyer from California, this is her fifth novel.

During World War II, 1939, a young woman, Aurora, has been deemed too pretty to kill by the Nazis. Furthermore the Nazis rob the family of their prized possessions, including a beautiful Hanukkiah.

Decades later, Aurora’s daughters, Zara and Lilly, see the Hanukkiah in a New York Museum. In their attempt to investigate it, they discover a nefarious art theft ring.

This book takes a modern approach to tell a historical story. I enjoyed Nine Tenth of the Law by Claudia Hagadus Long very much. It was a fast read, interesting subject, as well as a unique, creative way for flashbacks.

The book juggles the narrative between a historical mystery, murder, art theft, coupled with sibling rivalry. One of the most interesting aspects, for me, was the topic of inherited trauma. I haven’t read much about the topic, and the bit I did was disappointing. However, I think the author did a good job presenting the subject.

The book shows the struggle of getting stolen family heirlooms back. There are many issues, of course, from provenance, to identification, to proof, and many more. Not to mention that the more valuable the artifact is, it certainly changes the equation, indeed not always for the better. There are mentions of The Monuments Men, which many are familiar with.

The author does a fine job telling two parallel stories. One of Aurora escaping from the Nazis, the other of her daughters attempting to get the Hanukkiah back.

I also enjoyed the first-person narration, which gives the story a sense of energy and emergency. The book, while certainly dealing with serious issues, comes across as light hearted, with poignant and clever observations.

One of the aspects I enjoyed, is that food has a starring role in the book, as it does at the home of any Jewish family. There are many aspects which one can enjoy while reading this book, humor, a bit of mystery, and family relationships.… (plus d'informations)

Thank you to the author for this book which I won on a FB page.

Have your tissues ready! I was laughing at the antics of Zara and Lilly who are sisters on one page and crying on the next of the horrible life of their late mom Aurora who survived The Holocaust and was present in Zara's voice on some pages. Mixed in was the missing unusual looking menorah which was stolen from her mom when it was looted by the Nazis when she was a young girl. Zara remembers seeing this unusual menorah in the museum growing up and then 40 years later when she moves there with her husband Sam when he is on sabbatical. She also has a ring with the same pattern so she knows it's her mother's menorah.

It turns into a murder mystery with the museum's director also and the involvement of Lev Zimmerman who Zara reaches out to trying to find the supposed donor of the menorah.

I loved Zara and Lilly and their bantering back and forth and the love they have for each other and their mother growing up.… (plus d'informations)