Book review by Pearl Adler Saban

Last week Pearl Adler Saban, book editor and avid reader and book reviewer, wrote the following review of The Resurrector on Facebook. With here permission I am bringing the review here. See a link to the Facebook post below.

No book is written overnight. Most books take years to write, rewrite and rewrite again before even attempting to get them published. Good luck to getting your book published!

Case in point: Moshe Mikanovsky decided that he had a story to tell, and started to write that story back in November 2013. So many years later, he published his book, and a copy of that book found its way into my hands….

…and not only my hands, but my mind as well!

Many of you might know that my book of choice tends to be Holocaust fiction or memoirs, so this novel of his, which I’d heard about, didn’t fit my regular reading choice. But I have learned that variety is the spice of life — and I’m so glad I had the chance to read this well-written and very interesting book.

“The Resurrector” is a novel that examines what it means to make different choices than the rest of your family; it examines what it means to live with loss; it examines what it means to live with secrets; it explores family dynamics; it probes into guilt, and longing, and forgiveness.

On another level, the story delves into the supernatural, mystical, fantastical world as it explores life beyond death and the capacity in both worlds to find some meaning and hope, and the possibility of asking for — or making — amends.

I have worked for decades in the romance fiction arena, and yes, that is a form of make-believe. “The Resurrector” can be considered make-believe too, but it truly makes one think about “life beyond” and how one’s actions impact others’ lives.

For those who aren’t so familiar with aspects of Judaism pertaining to shiva or Kabbala, this book offers a bit of an education that you can take away.

A father longs for his departed son. A son longs for his departed brother. A sister longs for her departed brother. A father longs for his departed wife. How do these people deal with their feelings? How are these feelings manifested in the story?

I never like to give away too much info about a book, so I write more about its skeletal framework than about the detailed specifics. I think I’ve given you all enough info to garner interest about “The Resurrector.”

Moshe Mikanovsky is a very artistic man. His talent for visual art translates well to the written word and he creates word pictures throughout. His descriptions are colourful and clear — and as I read the book, I could see the scenes in front of my eyes. His characters are typical people one might meet from all walks of life, yet some hold an air of mystery around themselves. It’s these mysterious ones who lead you through the pages of the book and have you keep on reading to unravel the mysterious goings-on. Reading the book is like walking through tunnels — you wonder where they will lead with every turn you take. That is why I was so reluctant to put the book down — I simply had to know the how/why of the storyline.

“The Resurrector” has been well received by other authors and readers alike — including this one. I’m hoping that Moshe has another book or two in him just waiting to get written.