The Blind Eye,  by Marcia Fine
- Chapter One

 “Hermando, no. Please. Hanna’s still a girl. She made a mistake.” My mother appealed to my father even as she, too, made preparations for our long journey. The air in the front room of our home that served as our place of trade reeked with anger and frustration. Despair replaced hope. Three months had passed since the Edict of Expulsion on the thirty-first of Adar. Originally we were to leave on the first day of Ab but the monarchs in their cruel contempt gave us one more day.

“No!” my father shouted, gathering stacks of Byzantine silks and flax linen. Furious, he stuffed them into large hemp bags. A swath of crimson tapestry fell to the floor.

“But Hanna’s only fourteen.”

“Old enough not to be a fool. Pregnant by a common Marrano who believes in their Holy Ghost? What kind of a Jew is that?”

More....

What people are saying about Paper Children

Submit Your Own Review

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"I read Paper Children cover to cover. , It is a gripping trilogy! Thank you so much for sending it; an epic work — All the best of luck with it, I am sure the book will be widely read and appreciated." Kathleen Spivak

"A few chapters into Marcia Fine's novel "Paper Children", and you will feel like a part of her family....." Jenna Lee Dillon, Trends Magazine  Read the Full Review

"I had no idea how wonderful this book was going to be! The compelling story progressed so quickly, I couldn't put it down." Pat Ternes

"I loved the characters very much. I was enthralled with what the outcome was going to be." JoAnne Beacom

"I love the way Paper Children is written with the grandmother's life, the daughter and granddaughter's. I would recommend this to others."  Marcia Cohen-Robins

"I could hardly put it down. The history was quite a reminder."  Marianne Mitchell

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What people are saying about The Blind Eye

Submit Your Own Review

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"I would finish a chapter with tears in my eyes for the suffering of Grazia and bellina and the next chapter would have me laughing with Alegra." Janet Welk-Forsch

"From one who never reads historical novels -- I loved this book! It was riveting and very easy to read; the story flowed, educating, while never getting bogged down in excessive historical details. Totally enjoyable!"  Roxanne Henderson

"A mesmerizing account of the Jews in Spain and Portugal during the Inquisition, the "Blind Eye" is important reading for everyone, Jews and non-Jews alike. I couldn't put it down, and finished it in two days. I've recommended it to several people, and it will make wonderful gifts for family and friends."  Ellen De Domenico

"Remarkable story of the survival of the Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal. Compelling and heart-breaking."  Marcia Roth

"The historical information was fascinating and powerfully woven through the plot. I loved the flawed yet likeable characters."  Kate Timmerman

"I finished reading your book, The Blind Eye. I was crying at the end----really! It is a very moving story and how you created it, I'll never know. Very very insightful time of history. Now, I want to learn more about that time in history."  Susan Bulfinch

"This was a fascinating, fast-paced story of a remarkable and horrific time in world history. The characters and their connections were well conceived, and the author did a brilliant job of research. I will recommend it to all my friends." Gloria Robinson

"I LOVED the book...it was so riveting. It's amazing you told this story. Wow. Very
impressive!" Tracey Cuervals

"Fascinating! The research was phenomenal. I have already recommended this book." Kathie Kelly

"As an expert on Judaic history I was very impressed with the accuracy of the story. Loved the settings and even the humor! The whole family is reading it!" Shai Shalom

"The Blind Eye is an absorbing dramatization of the horrors Jewish people endured during the expulsions from Spain and Portugal at the end of the fifteenth century. Marcia Fine has created a cast of characters readers can identify with, both in the past and in the present. She shows the family and cultural links that bind us all to the history of our people, no matter what our ethnic origins. This is a fast and moving read. I highly recommend it."  Toby Fesler Heathcotte, President, Arizona Authors Association

"Charming. Poignantly describes the twists and turns of life." Ariadne Voulgaris

"Wonderfully written and engaging." Richard Sutz

"This book is a gem. Your characters spring to life and I felt I knew them intimately.", Wink Blair

"Thought if I put it down the action would go on without me." Alvin Dattner

"Characters remained with me a long time. Only book I passed along to both my mother and daughter." Dorothy Bron

"My Book Club will love this!", Rachel Thomas

"I was emotionally pulled into the lives of Paulina, Sarah and Mimi." Kim Hollenback

"I would definitely recommend this to others." Susan Brooks

"My heart strings were pulled to the breaking point." Daras Kirsh

"Loved these women!" Janet Welk

"Weaves history, romance and adventure into a tapestry of family. Magnificent creative piece." Lee Robert

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What people are saying about Boomerang

Submit Your Own Review

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

First-rate humor!, May 8, 2003
Jessica Leigh Lebos from Fairfax, CA United States, Amazon.com

The beautiful, shiny people of Scottsdale receive another hilarious send-up by Marcia Fine (her first book, GOSSIP.COM, infiltrated the world of the fashionistas with a deft hand.) Jeanne, a part-time English professor, lives just on the outskirts of fabulous wealth, over-the-top parties and the right zip code. Fortunately, she has generous friends who invite her into the intrigue of nudist colonies and posh Sedona getaways while she and her hard-working doctor husband live in the real world of snotty bosses and grown children living at home -- in this case, a slacker son and his pregnant girlfriend. Fraught with one-liners that will give you the giggles for days, BOOMERANG sluices through the phony-baloney silliness of Scottsdale society to reveal what's true. Excellent poolside reading, goes great with margaritas!