I spent quite a while waiting for this title to release in paperback, and I was not disappointed with what I read. I've never read anything written by Geraldine Brooks - I heard great things about March but was not terribly interested in the story so I passed on reading it. I was first intrigued by this book, however, because the story reminded me of The Red Violin which is one of my favorite movies. I heavily favor stories told in reverse as a literary device, particularly when they revolve around objects as characters. A well written slow reveal is a very gratifying type of fiction. I like to know roughly where the story is going from the beginning because for me, the joy in reading is how the author brings you there. And in this case, it's a journey surrounding an object and historical timeframe that I find interesting as well.The strength of these types of narratives lies in the ability of the storyteller to tell a multiplicity of stories, and People of the Book does not disappoint. Even one poorly developed or disingenuous segment can ruin the story as a whole. Brooks balances each historical segment expertly, and I felt that each historical snapshot of the book's creation and preservation was compelling and engrossing. The human characters were not distracting and at times interesting, but the manuscript itself was the clear and intentional star of the story. I found myself wanting to know what each clue meant, and this desire grew with each chapter.
I often find it difficult to finish books quickly and tend to move from one partially finished book to another. People of the Book held my attention well though, and I found the final reveal surrounding the book's creation to be very gratifying. The book itself is a companion to many people throughout its history, and though many of them suffer great pains and tragedies the book's survival is uplifting.
The historical sweep of the novel was what drew me in, but I was surprised to find that I enjoyed the characters as well. I tend to find that "good" characters are often boring, but Brooks manages to make her heroine Hanna believable and sympathetic without distracting from the flow of the story. She begins the story as a bit of a tool - the device by which Brooks is able to dissect the manuscript and set up the acts that are to follow. The characters in each historical setting are strong, brave, and faced with some of the most difficult times in the last few centuries. In comparison, Hanna seems mild and dull. As the story progresses, however, she finds her legs and her own adventure surrounding the manuscript becomes worthy of its predecessors.
All in all, I found this a very enjoyable read. I enjoyed it especially because each section was very manageable in length. I was able to sit down and read it section by section, setting it down for weeks at a time in between, and resuming without any loss. It wasn't overly simplistic, but it was easy to follow and a pleasure to read - a great balance of substance and style.
