I really enjoyed this book. I don't think it would be everyone's cup of tea but I breezed through this book in only 2 short days.

it's full of religion and what it means to different people in the story as well as quite a bit of anti-Semitism and the discussion of the Jewish people.

it basically told the tale of the family curse as the man travelled around Europe, who do not believe of the curse but did become cursed himself when he visited his mothers village in Greece where the curse originated.

the chapters alternated between the man (Isaac and his travelling; set in the present) and the mans mother (Reveka) and how the family curse came to be.

it did contain a number of graphic scenes, but I enjoy reading Tsiolkas' books as the way he uses language and words, the way that he can tell a story I find easy to absorb myself in. I feel a certain captivation by his storytelling.