The Ghost of Hannah Mendes

This winter I had the chance to discover a new writer, Naomi Ragen, and I am hooked. We were house sitting for a dear friend and I happened to pick up Ms. Ragen's book, The Ghost of Hannah Mendes, while we were there one day. At first it was the title that caught my eye - thinking it was a good old fashioned mystery - and I found while it was a mystery in one sense, I couldn't have been more wrong in my first characterization of it.

The Ghost of Hannah Mendes is an intriguing tale. It begins with the haunting memoirs of Dona Gracia Mendes (who I believe is a true historical figure)which were written around 1568 A.D. That memoir sets the stage for the rest of the story. For it is really the story of millionaire Catherine De Costa, a Manhattanite who has suddenly learned that she only has a short time to live. Catherine at first rails against her fate, but finally comes to terms with it. She decides that she must be sure that her legacy will continue, and so she begins her attempts to bring her two beautiful but headstrong granddaughters into her world, and to encourage them to accept and embrace their Jewish heritage.

To read the rest of this review, please visit my other topic, Great Books, and look for the review of The Ghost of Hannah Mendes.

Copyright 2003 Irene Taylor All Rights Reserved

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