Home So Far Away by Judith Berlowitz
Publisher: She Writes Press (June 21, 2022)
Category: Historical Fiction; Jewish Identity, Wartime Diary, Spanish Civil War
Tour dates: June 14-June 30, 2022
ISBN: 978-1647423759
Available in Print and ebook, 345 pages
Description Home So Far Away by Judith Berlowitz
A fictional diary set in interwar Germany and Spain allows us to peek into the life of Klara Philipsborn, the only Communist in her merchant-class, German-Jewish family.
Klara’s first visit to Seville in 1925 opens her eyes and her spirit to an era in which Spain’s major religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, shared deep cultural connections. At the same time, she is made aware of the harsh injustices that persist in Spanish society. By 1930, she has landed a position with the medical school in Madrid. Though she feels compelled to hide her Jewish identity in her predominantly Christian new home, she finds that she feels less “different” in Spain than she did in Germany, especially as she learns new ways of expressing her opinions and desires. And when the Spanish Civil War erupts in 1936, Klara (now “Clara”) enlists in the Fifth Regiment, a step that transports her across the geography of the embattled peninsula and ultimately endangers a promising relationship and even Clara’s life itself.
A blending of thoroughly researched history and engrossing fiction, Home So Far Away is an epic tale that will sweep readers away.
My Thoughts Home So Far Away by Judith Berlowitz
Klara (Clara) Philipsborn is a German of Jewish decent. It is 1925 and she travels to Seville, Spain with her two sisters and mother. They are going to stay with her Onkel (Uncle) Julius and her mother informs her and her sister that his family does not know that he or his family are Jewish. It’s a bit strange, hiding her faith but she loves living in Spain and all of it’s history and culture. So much so that sometime after returning to Germany, she decides to go back.
She lands a job in a medical school in Madrid. As much as she loves Spain, she has become well aware of the severe injustices in the country, not so different from the ones she has witnessed in Germany. Once civil war breaks out, she provides medical aide to the injured. She shares all in her diary.
The book is written in the form of Clara’s diary. It is fiction but based on a forgotten relative of Berlowitz that she discovered in some documents. She writes a compelling narrative that whisks the reader away to 1920’s-30’s Germany and Spain. I felt like I was there with Clara. It is very clear to this history lover that Berlowitz did a very through job in her research for the book. Spain, Germany, and the well-crafted characters come to life, thanks to a very creative author! ‘Home So Far Away’ is historical fiction at it’s finest!
About Judith Berlowitz
Los Angeles-born Judith Berlowitz holds a PhD in Romance Languages and Literatures and is a federally-certified translator. She is a former professor of Spanish and Cultural Studies and has published works in ethnomusicology, oral history, and Jewish identity.
Judith has played classical guitar and oboe and has sung with the Stanford Early Music Singers and the Oakland Symphony Chorus. She currently is a volunteer Curator with the genealogical website, Geni.com, and sings with the San Francisco Bach Choir. She lives in San Francisco with her husband, not far from her three daughters and three grandsons.
Website: https://judithberlowitzauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jberlowitzauthor
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Giveaway Home So Far Away by Judith Berlowitz
This giveaway is for 3 print copies and is open to Canada and the U.S. only. This giveaway ends on July 1, 2022 midnight, pacific time. Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only.
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This sounds like it would be really insightful about the Spanish Civil War and the people who fought in it!
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