Book Blurbs
Michelle Cameron lets the reader experience first-hand the tragic end of hundreds of years of Jewish presence in medieval France through the voice of her passionate and learned heroine. The Fruit of Her Hands shows us that women too can bear witness to history. – Maggie Anton, Author of the Rashi’s Daughters trilogy: Jocheved, Miriam, and Rachel, and Rashi’s Daughter: Secret Scholar
Michelle Cameron deftly gives dramatic voice to the Jewish women of the Middle Ages and shines a searing light on that dark period of Christian-Jewish relations. The Fruit of Her Hands is suspenseful, soulful and plain wonderful. It takes us to the heights of scholarship and imagination. – Ruchama King Feuerman, Author of Seven Blessings
Michelle Cameron delves into one of the darkest eras of the Jewish past and brings forth a deeply compassionate and thoroughly gripping story of a woman whose fate is inextricably bound up with that of her people. The novel presents the tale of a scholarly yet worldly woman, in whose existence piousness and rebellion, passion and fear, happiness and grief, fulfillment and sorrow intermingle to form a totally absorbing whole. The book is meticulously researched and authentic, yet richly imaginative, skillfully weaving history and fiction into a gleaming colorful tapestry. It will keep you spellbound until the last, enthralling page. – Eva Etzioni-Halevy, Author of The Song of Hannah, The Garden of Ruth and The Triumph of Deborah
Reviews
A book as rich as the cover illustration, The Fruit of Her Hands is based on the life of Cameron’s 13th century ancestor, Meir Ben Baruch, a renowned Jewish scholar of medieval Europe. The Fruit of Her Hands is a dramatic fictional tale centered on the character of Meir Ben Baruch’s wife, Shira. The book paints a picture of the dawning of the renaissance; a society faced with prejudices and one woman’s fight for justice and equality. – Jewish Scene Magazine
The novel gives the reader a unique and personal view of Jewish life in the Middle Ages and the adversities Jews faced as the power of the Inquisition spread throughout the world. – Jewish Book World
With strong main characters, a myriad of important secondary players, The Fruit of Her Hands is a gripping, fascinating, and informative narrative of a tragic, yet important historical period. – Romance Reviews Today
The Fruit of Her Hands is equally rich as history and fiction. Most readers probably know that anti-Semitism was prevalent in Medieval Europe, but in Cameron’s skilled hands, the reader experiences with pounding heart how horrifying, brutal, and pervasive it was. . . . a book so rich with wonderful characters, vivid settings, and an absolutely lush and wonderful depiction of the strengths of the medieval Jewish home and community. This is a first-rate choice for Jewish book clubs. – The San Diego Jewish World
The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz is a meticulously researched and immensely readable saga that brings to life an often overlooked period in Jewish history. – Jewish Woman Magazine
Cameron’s debut is a story about the love of learning, the love of family, and the love of religious tradition. – Library Journal
With a powerful immediacy, Cameron’s meticulously researched historical is told by Shira, an anomalous 13th-century woman raised (and educated) like a son by her widowed father. After falling in love with and marrying the legendary Rabbi Meir ben Baruch, one of her father’s most promising students, Shira’s beauty and education attract the attention of a French scholar, Nicholas Donin, whose demented vendetta against Judaism threatens the lives of Jews across Europe. Shira and Meir must defend their faith and their marriage from Donin, and take a stand against the anti-Semitism choking Europe. – Publisher’s Weekly
Book Bloggers
Michelle Cameron has written a beautiful book about the Ashkenaz, the Jews in medieval France. She creates an evocative tapestry of a way of life that was constantly under threat from outside because of ignorance, superstition, and greed. Her characters are complex and sympathetic, and she has achieved a remarkable feat: a panoramic view of the time through the experiences of a single family. – Writing, Reading, Living: Susanne Dunlap
I simply could not put this book down and eagerly awaited the moments when I could pick it up again. Readers fascinated with the medieval period will appreciate Michelle Cameron’s attention to detail not only to the history but also in her incorporation of medieval literature into the plot. Most of all, Medieval enthusiasts will relish the opportunity to view medieval history through a new lens. As a modern reader, later history cannot help but inform one’s reading of The Fruit of Her Hands, giving it even more power and meaning. While clearly placing her story within a specific thoroughly researched historical moment of time, Michelle Cameron also captures timeless themes that makes The Fruit of Her Hands resonate with modern readers. Whether your interest is in the time period itself, Jewish history, or the spirituality of women, The Fruit of Her Hands is a treasure. – BOOK ILLUMINATIONS, Reviewed by Merrimon, Medieval Book Reviews
History comes vividly alive as Michelle Cameron weaves together historical events with a bit of fiction to craft a moving and very powerful portrayal of the life of a Jewish woman in the thirteenth century. The Fruit of Her Hands evokes a strong emotional response that lasts long after the last page has been turned. Bravo! – Debbie Wiley Book Reviews
I know nothing about Rabbi Meir ben Baruch and his life or his teachings. All I know is that after reading this book, I have now found myself a new favorite author in Michelle Cameron. The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz is one of the best books of 2009! I had mixed feelings about this book, even before I picked it up and started reading it. Instantly I was transported to another world. I lost myself in Shira and Meir’s story. . . . Michelle Cameron didn’t just tell a story, she painted a portrait. Don’t just take my word for how good this book is. Pick up a copy of The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz for yourself. – Cheryl’s Book Nook
Cameron’s writing shows the evidence of extensive historical research and considerable learning. . . . Many readers may be surprised at the depth of hatred and prejudice directed against the Jews. By bringing this to life, Cameron performs an important service. It seems almost miraculous that any people could have survived centuries of such treatment. . . . Shira is the daughter of a rabbi and marries a rabbi, Meir of Rothenberg. It is a true love match, and Cameron does full justice to their loving relationship. Her description of their wedding and first night together is truly lyrical and lovely. . . .this is a moving story, expertly told by a writer who has immersed herself in a past era and brought it brilliantly to life. – Curled Up with a Good Book
Cameron’s wonderfully fluid style carries the story forward. It’s simply a joy to read, and as we follow the characters’ lives, we get to see medieval Europe from a new and important perspective…. Despite the troubling times in which the characters live, The Fruit of Her Hands is ultimately a story about love, scholarship, resilience, and hope which allows for greater understanding of the Jewish faith. – Reading the Past
