Ioana's Reviews > The Weight of Ink

Unlimited stars!!! WOW. SWOON. Fanning self. Holy Mother of Books. Absolutely awestruck by the pure MAGNIFICENCE of this BRILLIANT mellifluous poetic historically rich masterpiece... Unadulterated GENIUS. Whoa. AAA! I'm sure I could not string enough accolades together to do justice to Kadish's work.

I had such a hard time thinking of where to begin this review because Weight of Ink is too incredible, really, to describe, at least by a non-poet like myself. Nothing I could say could ever do justice to this work and I feel like even trying to talk about it in mere-human language is doing it a disservice. But I'll try something, because in the very least, I hope to convince you to make some time for this book in your life.

First off, The Weight of Ink is, quite literally, weighty. At over 550 dense, long pages, it takes Herculean effort, attention and dedication to get through. I know many of us like to read widely and don't always appreciate savoring a book for months, but my recommendation would be, if you're not ready to spend weeks on end reading nothing but this book, to set aside some time each week while also continuing your regular reading. I took an extended vacation this summer (to Israel, where this book is partially set) - and was happy to bask in these glorious pages without other distractions, but I rarely have that leisure or patience at hand on my regular days. Whatever you do, my recommendation is to please be patient with this book. The pleasures it offers forth are profound, but not if you approach it as a "book to finish". This novel is an experience that is best imbibed to the core.

A very quick synopsis: the story alternates timelines between modern day England (and the story of academic historian Helen), Helen's coming-of-age in Israel some decades ago, and the 1660s Portugal/England Jewish community.

But really, this is a story about BOOKS, reading, knowledge, and the passion that each of us, as readers, holds for these intangible but empowering and delectable pleasures. (This is why it's so important to let it seep through your entire being while reading, and not to rush). Helen is a historian who has come across a newly discovered genizah, a trove of Hebrew/Jewish writings from a 1660s Jewish-English household, and The Weight of Ink details her journey into the life of the scribe who has set down these words - a woman who may have had previously undisclosed links to Spinoza, a Jew excommunicated from his community for his 'heretical' beliefs. Helen's world, the scribe's world, Spinoza's world - all revolve around books/reading/documents. And that's just the beginning - again, I have no words really to adequately describe the poetic nature of Kadish's words, but her language is divinely inspired and does full justice to her themes.

There may be other books that I consider just as brilliant but right now they've all been eclipsed from memory - The Weight of Ink is not just by far my most favorite book of the year, it may be the favorite for a lifetime. No other has ever paid such reverent homage to the art of books, knowledge, and reading.