Bread Givers > Reviews

5 stars: Yezierska captures the struggle of an immigrant woman.

Bread Givers is an essential book for any student of 20th C American Literature. Yezierska poignantly captures the multitude of feelings an obstacles any immigrant must face in the struggle to find where he/she fits in: the old world or the new. The first time I read Bread Givers, there were many nights I lied in bed awake at night, angry at the father for being so dominearing, angry at the daughters for being submissive. But through all the struggle betwixt in the pages, Bread Givers is a story of hope, of love, and of triumphance. You will not be dissapointed.

5 stars: One Tasty Babka

I started this book with the mentality that this was just going to be another one of those immigrant accounts where the characters tell their rags to riches story. I wasn't wrong, but the book held so much more. I would probably categorize this more as a feminist book since gender is such an issue.

The main character, Sara Smolinsky, narrates the story of her family and their experience in living in perpetual poverty in early twentieth century New York. Her father, an Orthodox Russina/Polish Jew, spends his days studying the Torah so that he can bring 'light' to the world, while his daughters and wife take sole responsibility as being the burdern bearers. He adds further distress to their lives by arranging loveless and grim marriages for each of his daughters. Only his youngest, Sara, doesn't let him ruin her life, but rather sets out to make something of herself on her own terms. Also, the fact that both Sara and her father's lives are so intwined gives the lesson that no matter how far a person goes, they really can't escape thier past, as Sara tried to, but for her feelings of guilt could not.

Overall the book displays various insights to the condition of the 20th century immigrant and displays how far the Old World really is from the New World. Most importantly, it shows that with the proper dose of good sense and courage, one can truly transform their life.

5 stars: ImmigrantExperience

Often when in such a class, European immigrants are not thought of as having as much of a struggle. This book about an East. European family is very heart-wrenching and interesting.