Staircase of a Thousand Steps

by Masha Hamilton

Book Overview

Set in Transjordan just before the 1967 war with Israel, Staircase of a Thousand Steps is a "remarkably well-written...thoroughly absorbing novel" (Arizona Daily Sun) that takes us to a place where... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 039914725X
• ISBN13: 9780399147258
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Blue Hen Books
• Length: 273 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8

Customer Reviews

Great depth of characters!

I read somewhere that this book was a bit slow in the beginning, but I have to disagree; I did not find it slow at all. It laid the framework for a wonderfully woven story by allowing the reader to get to know the characters deeply. That is what makes a great novel leave its imprint! The story is great, the descriptions are vivid, but to me the most important part is getting to know the characters whom I can remember in the future as if I had met them. Not since Memoirs of a Geisha had I been so sad to finish a book.

Best book I've read in a long time...

I picked this book up on a whim, thinking I would learn something more about the region that's been so much in the news lately. It isn't really that kind of book; after all, the Middle East conflict is thousands of years old. Instead, I found a jewel of a novel. In some ways it reminds me of Demetria Martinez's MotherTongue, the poetry in the language -- it's also better, with a strong story line, characters that won't let you go, that are as real as your next door neighbor, even though they're not of my culture. I think I do understand Palestinians better, and it's hard to believe the author isn't Palestinian herself. Whether you pick it up on a whim, or on purpose, you won't put Staircase of a Thousand Steps down.

Achingly beautiful

In Staircase of a Thousand Steps, author Masha Hamilton illuminates the lives of the small village of Ein Fadr, in what will become the West Bank. Although it is set just before the 1967 Israeli War, it isn't really a political novel. A reporter for many years in the region, Hamilton gets under the skin of her characters, from 11 year old Jammana, her Grandfather Harif, with whom she shares the gift (and sometimes curse) of seeing visions, to the rebellious midwife Faridah. This is a novel that will stay with you -- that will haunt you. Masha Hamilton is destined to be a major talent. It is a truly amazing novel.

All The Reviewers Are Right!!

I had "Staircase of a Thousand Steps" on my night table, about three books down. Seeing the great editorial and customer reviews here, I was skeptical. Could a book be That Good? Yes, I just finished it (in a marathon reading session). It is: That Good. I agree with what all the reviewers, both professional and customers, have said. It has been one of the great reading experiences this year. I teach Middle East Studies here in Vermont and so must read a great deal about the area. But this transcends anything I've read to date because it is true fiction that also gives readers a window onto a distant time and place. Ms. Hamilton is, without question, a superior novelist. Her characters are perfectly created--they come fully alive on the page. Her book is: fascinating, captivating and most of all, intensely moving.

A Work of Genius

Rarely have I have read a novel as compelling as "Staircase of a Thousand Steps." The writing is as good as writing gets. The plot draws us into the magical life of a Primordial Village (a fictional Palestinian/Islamic town) during the years 1929-1967, a place revealed through three protagonists, & a handful of other figures, each unique. Here: past, present and future intersect through fine imagery and almost perfect prose. "Staircase" is rich with visual, emotional and sensuous details, reveals how complex ancestral relationships explode in surprising ways. I strongly suggest that you do Not miss this powerful reading experience, a book that reminds us why we read. A first novel? Truly Hard to Believe!!!