Reviews

Bread Givers by Anzia Yezierska

caitlin_89's review

Go to review page

5.0

This one was a fast read. I appreciate its heroine for her tender heart, especially in contrast to the heroine of Song of the Lark. There are similarities between Sara Smolinsky and Thea Kronborg, for sure, but Thea seems to lose her personhood as she seeks her dream, while Sara grows into her personhood as she seeks her dream. Bread Givers contained the feeling that, for me, was missing in Song of the Lark, as well as the more complex (and less perfectly nice) characters that make for more engaging reading.

As a sidenote, this edition has like 3 typos in it, which surprised and annoyed me.

brenlibros's review

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad

5.0

kmatthe2's review

Go to review page

4.0

An important voice for immigrant fiction, Jewish American fiction, and women's lit of the early twentieth century.

fluffernutter's review

Go to review page

Toward the end of this book I understood how people could view these immigrants as dumb animals. They were starved for everything, especially love, and continually tore at each other in their overriding hunger.

mjb312's review

Go to review page

emotional hopeful

5.0

cveeders's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

moseslh's review

Go to review page

4.0

Bread Givers, the story of a young Jewish woman growing up in a turn-of-the-century New York immigrant family, really spoke to me. Yezierska packs her novel full of life's difficulties and frustrations, particularly those of poor women. Her writing style is simple, but packs a punch. I really enjoyed Bread Givers and read the last 150 pages in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.

domproc's review

Go to review page

inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

deborahjillz's review

Go to review page

informative reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

cam_cates's review

Go to review page

hopeful sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0