After her grandfather dies, Marjorie discovers a notebook he left behind filled with mythical stories that end up impacting the real lives of both her and her estranged sister.

The plot of The Angel of Losses is split in two; with cuts between actual pages from Marjorie’s grandfather’s notebook and the story of Marjorie’s struggle with her sister. While her grandfather’s tales directly tied into the plot of the rest of the novel, I found myself much more attracted to the modern-day sections over the myths, as they tended to feel repetitive and confusing. Although the shifting didn’t quite work for me, I think the book is very original and would appeal to readers who enjoy digging into the modern-day impact of ancient myths. ( )

Very interesting, evocative book, captivating. Judaism, some Christianity, are integral to the book, but the book is neither proselytizing or limited-interest. In "feel," it's a little like Helene Wecker's [The Golem and the Jinni], also a little like some of Michael Gruber's work. ( )

There is a genre of fiction--perhaps "subgenre" is more accurate--that might be termed "Jewish fantasy." Like the folktales on which they draw, entries in the genre hover between magical realism, the tragic, and the absurd. The Golem & the Jinni (2013) is a recent (and popular) example, as is Michael Chabon's alternate history, The Yiddish Policemen's Union (2007). Because Jewish fantasy imposes on readers certain special requirements, for instance, rudimentary knowledge of Judaism, the genre is not for everyone. At least one acquaintance of this reviewer couldn't finish The Yiddish Policemen's Union because it was "too Jewish," by which he meant it included too many things about which he knew too little, Yiddishisms, of course, but also obscure religious concepts likely only to be understood by Jews and those non-Jews with an interest in religion. This is a difficult hurdle to cross. Helene Wecker circumvented it by minimizing her novel's "Jewishness"; Chabon, macher that he is, went all in. Stephanie Feldman treads a careful middle ground in her debut novel, The Angel of Losses (2014, Deckle Edge).

When Marjorie and her sister, Holly, were children, their Grandpa Eli told them wondrous stories about the White Magician. Now an adult, studying for a PhD in literature, Marjorie misses the sweetness of that time in one's childhood when, in retrospect, things seem to have been perfect, just the way they were meant to be. Life has moved on in unexpected ways, as life often does. Eli turned mean in his old age, moved out of the family's house, died. Holly defied her family by converting to orthodox Judaism for love, and marrying Nathan, a member of the Berukhim (roughly, "blessed ones") sect.

Holly is pregnant, and she and Nathan need to move Eli's things to make room for the baby. With that in mind, Marjorie rushes to what once was her family's house--now alien, rearranged for Jewish needs, like keeping kosher--to rescue the notebooks in which Eli recorded his stories of the White Magician. Only something is wrong; the notebook she finds mentions not the White Magician, but the "White Rebbe." (The term "rebbe" is related to "rabbi." Its meaning is more general; rather than referring to a clerical office, which it can, it may also indicate a spiritual leader, and so on. Regardless, it is a honorific.) But Marjorie recalls her Grandpa dimly eyeing the orthodox Jews in town and complaining about "those people." Clearly, things weren't quite what they appeared.

That's a lot of exposition in order to review a book that isn't 300 pages long, but I think it demonstrates the quandary in which writers of Jewish fantasy find themselves. The size of their potential readership is inversely proportional to the degree of Jewish detail they incorporate into their story. Feldman is clever: She begins with a non-Jewish character, Marjorie, who is writing a dissertation on the trope of the "Wandering Jew," and whose sister is a convert to Judaism. Explication of potentially bewildering topics, then, is embedded in the nature of the story. In the opinion of this reader, Feldman deftly avoids "infodumps" by working details into the natural course of characters' conversations. There are, of course, some awkward moments. The descriptions of the database on which Simon, Marjorie's love interest, is working--an application that permits users to track worldwide Jewish "wandering--may cause some readers' eyes to glaze over. (But it was like candy to this graduate of history and library science programs.)

The story alternates between Eli's diaries and Marjorie's narration, a structure that should work, but which this reader found frustrating. Folktales are simplistic by nature, and, by mimicking that quality in the chapters devoted to Eli, the narrative, at times, becomes jumbled. It is difficult for the reader to differentiate from one another characters that are rendered in brief. Is this guy the one who...no, that's the other one. Later in the narrative, as the mystery of the White Rebbe is revealed, all becomes clear, and the identities of characters are sorted out. Readers should prepare themselves for some potential early confusion, though.

Feldman's real strength is her portrayals of her characters. Marjorie, the very definition of a "type A" personality, is a bit of a pill. Her resentment, distrusting relationship with Nathan is well-drawn. Likewise, Feldman masterfully draws Nathan as the stereotypical ultra-orthodox Jew, distant and studious, only to subvert that image as the story progresses. Holly is a particularly engaging character, an artist and free spirit who took upon herself a lifestyle that Marjorie perceives as constrictive. Indeed, female readers who have a sister will find in the dynamics of Marjorie's and Holly's relationship much with which to identify.

The Angel of Losses is well told and engaging, and compensates for its early structural weaknesses with gorgeous prose and identifiable characters. For those readers sensitive to it, religion is present, although it is treated either, in folktale form, as "magic," or as a source of family contention. Marjorie, for instance, perceives Holly to be subservient to her "patriarch," Nathan. Ultimately, it is family, and family drama, that is the driver of Feldman's narrative, and that's something to which every reader can relate. A promising debut, The Angel of Losses is especially recommended to readers who love folktales and strong female characters. ( )

The Angel of Losses is a creative mix of fantasy, Jewish folklore, and history blended together and secretly embedded into the ancestry of one modern-day family. The plot explores the significance of family bonds, love, sacrifice, and the need for redemption. Feldman packs a lot of subject matter into this book, so it is not a light, easy read.

In a nutshell, it’s a multi-layered novel that begins in the present with Marjorie’s quest to uncover the truth about her grandfather Eli’s past and the mystery behind their family’s legacy. Nestled within this overarching plot are four inter-related folktales about a fictitious White Rebbe (a Jewish Rabbi/guru) and the Angel of Losses who shadows him through life. The folktales are based on the various myths about the Wandering Jew found throughout history. Other aspects of Jewish folklore are woven into the novel as well, such as mysticism and the lost tribes of Israel. Overall, Feldman does a good job in alternating between Marjorie’s story and the folktales about the White Rebbe. There were some places where I wasn’t clear about the shift in time from present to past events, and this occurred primarily when Marjorie reminisces about the close relationship she once had with Holly and their grandfather.

I really had to concentrate when I read this book, and sometimes I even had to back track and re-read scenes to try to understand the relevance of Eli’s secret folktales and their impact on Marjorie and Holly’s family. In the latter part of the book, the connections become clearer to me, but I’m still left with some questions and fuzziness about the long-term effects of Marjorie’s and Nathan’s decisions in their efforts to save the baby. The author gives just enough background about the myths and legends to motivate me to continue reading, but I always felt I was just on the edge of understanding, always wondering if I missed a clue or overlooked an important detail.

Once I finished the book, I did do some research into various interpretations of the Wandering Jew and was surprised by how many stories, poems, and ballads have been written about this legendary figure. I think I could read this book multiple times and continue to find new aspects to consider. The novel would make for a great discussion because of its ambiguity in some areas, but it may not be a book that would appeal to everyone.

What I enjoyed most about the book are the White Rebbie folktales in and of themselves. They are lively, engrossing, and, at times, heartbreaking. Feldman’s gift for storytelling is at its strongest in these supernatural tales about a young Solomon trying to outrun his destiny to become a White Rebbe and the toll it takes on his mind body, and family. Through these tales, Feldman raises an important question: Can we ever fully escape our past?

A second aspect that made the book so enjoyable is the struggle Marjorie and Holly have to try and regain the emotional distance that now separates them. It’s hard to accept that people grow and change no matter how hard we may want them to stay just as they are, and I can empathize with the frustration Marjorie feels whenever she tries to have a conversation with Holly. Feldman does a very good job in depicting their struggles to accept and forgive each other.

If you like adult fantasy and want a story full of magic and mystery, consider reading this imaginative retelling of the Wandering Jew.

Source: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author to provide an honest review.

Link to Review
http://sunmountainreviews.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/review-of-the-angel-of-losses... ( )

Both family and Jewish folklore are at the core of this story. As children, Marjorie and her younger sister, Holly, would listen intently to their grandfather’s stories of the White Magician. Once Eli passes and the girls are grown, Marjorie discovers his notebook full of Jewish folklore. The White Magician was actually the White Rebbe (Rabbi). All together, the stories are about The White Rebbe; The Sabbath Light; and The Angel of Losses. By this time, Marjorie’s relationship had become estranged with Holly due to Holly’s conversion to Orthodox Judaism and her marriage to Nathan. The novel is from Marjorie’s perspective. She is researching The Wandering Jew for her doctoral dissertation to earn her PhD. She begins to find links between her research material and the old stories of Eli. She meets Simon, a computer genius, in the library who begins to help her with her research. Eventually, they form a bond. With Simon’s calm demeanor, he provides assistance to both Marjorie and her brother-in-law, Nathan. Marjorie and Nathan begin to put their differences behind them.

The Angel of Losses is Stephanie Feldman’s debut novel. There are many side trips to this story as characters thoughts and remembrances are woven in with current happenings making the writing a bit difficult to follow. Most readers would not have the familiarity of Jewish traditions necessary to understand some of the folklore implied. Still, the story shows family struggles that are familiar to all of us. It is the struggle between Marjorie and Holly which speaks to the reader’s heart. I rated The Angel of Losses at 3 out of 5.

http://www.fictionzeal.com/angel-losses-stephanie-feldman/ ( )