One Bear's Opinion -- Book Review

Raisins and Almonds by Kerry Greenwood

This is the ninth book in author Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series.  I was very excited to read this book, and not only because the title made it sound like it might be full of yummy treats.  I was disappointed on that front, for while there were some treats mentioned, the title actually refers to a traditional Jewish lullaby that features prominently in the story.

On the surface, the story appeared to be a simple murder mystery, but as with the best mystery novels, digging deeper the plot became much more complicated.  The book is set between the wars, when the Zionist Movement (campaign for an independent Jewish State) was gaining much support.  The Zionist Movement is a complicated issue, that to this day, some 90 years after the time of the story, has not been satisfactorily settled.  To no-one's surprise, Raisins and Almonds does not propose a solution to the issue, but the Movement, like the title song is central to the mystery.

The book mystery centers around a group of Jews in post-WWI Melbourne, and that is quite interesting to me.  Before moving to Melbourne, I lived in New Orleans, a city known for its acceptance and absorption of immigrant cultures.  Basically, New Orleans takes any and all reasons for celebration and opens and expands them to everyone in the city at the moment.  Jewish celebrations are woven into the fabric of the city as much as Christian and pagan celebrations.  New Orleans is not multi-cultural, it is pan-cultural.  If you have a reason to celebrate, the city will celebrate with you.  I knew the High Holy Days and understand the traditions almost as well as I understood the Christian ones that were celebrated in my own household.

Because I lived in an area that exposed me to so many cultures, I am interested in how those same cultures and traditions translated and are celebrated in other places.  As far as I can tell, Melbourne embraces many cultures, but the celebrations tend to be more isolated, kept to areas specific for the culture in question.  New Orleans does not have a Chinatown or a Greektown, everyone and every culture is everywhere.  I miss that feeling of a true melting pot.  I was very interested to discover, even by means of a fictional glimpse, the Jewish experience in Melbourne.  I was not disappointed, and Phryne being a Gentile, provided a perfect excuse for the explanatory discussions and history lesson.

The mystery itself was quite well crafted.  I was on the wrong track for much of the book.  But the bigger story for me was the history lesson.  The book was an entertaining look at the history, as well as including a quick lesson in alchemy and chemistry.  Information-wise, it's a busy book.  If you are not as interested in the history as I am, it may be a dry and slogging read.  Even if you skim those bits, the book is an entertaining story.  It's the kind of book that is perfect for a long plane ride, or any time you may find yourself waiting.  It is very easy to pick up and put down again without needing to re-read any of the story.

I strongly encourage everyone I meet to check out the Phryne Fisher series.  They are the perfect mix of history and fun.

One Bear's Opinion:  Four Cups of Tea with Kosher Treats

Happy Reading Everyone, 
Oliver