The Shawl

by Cynthia Ozick
The Shawl cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Historical Fiction
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Paperback • £9.99
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Technical
  • ID: 7984
  • Added: 2025-12-19
  • Updated: 2025-12-31
  • ISBN: 9781780224800
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2012-07-05
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

The Shawl is a powerful collection of two interconnected stories that delve into the profound and lasting impact of the Holocaust. The first story, 'The Shawl', is set in a concentration camp where a woman named Rosa Lublin watches in horror as her young child is murdered by a guard. The shawl, a symbol of comfort and security for the child, becomes a poignant reminder of the loss and trauma that Rosa endures. The second story, 'Rosa', follows Rosa thirty years later, now living in a Miami hotel, haunted by the memories of her past and the emptiness that has pursued her ever since. The narrative explores the lifelong struggle of a survivor, the hollowness of loss, and the societal treatment of those who have endured unimaginable suffering. /n/n The Shawl is considered a modern classic, praised for its piercing imagery and emotional depth. It offers a chilling insight into the empty suffering of a survivor, making it a must-read for those interested in historical fiction and the human condition.

Reviews
Complete Review · 2025-12-20
brilliant 4.75

The Shawl is brilliant, moving, and chilling, attempting to convey a terror so immense that it overwhelms the characters. It is a masterful piece of writing.

The reviewer praises The Shawl as a brilliant and moving piece of literature, highlighting its chilling portrayal of terror. They note that the story's power lies in its ability to convey a sense of overwhelming terror that affects the characters deeply. The reviewer also appreciates the masterful writing, which makes the story both compelling and unforgettable. They mention that the story's brevity is part of its strength, as it packs a tremendous emotional punch in just a few pages.

Quick quotes

    Cynthia Ozick's The Shawl is brilliant, moving, and chilling as it attempts to convey a terror so immense that it overwhelms the characters and renders them speechless.

    It is a masterful piece of writing that leaves a lasting impact on the reader.

    The story's power lies in its ability to convey a sense of overwhelming terror that affects the characters deeply.

By Arcadia · 2023-02-05
simplistic 3.50

The Shawl thoroughly exposes the tragic story of a woman, her daughter, and her niece in a concentration camp, but it does so in a simplistic manner.

This review provides a critical perspective on The Shawl, noting that while it thoroughly exposes the tragic story of a woman and her family in a concentration camp, it does so in a simplistic manner. The reviewer acknowledges the story's emotional impact but feels that it could have delved deeper into the characters and their experiences. They appreciate the story's honesty and authenticity but find it lacking in complexity. Overall, they see it as a powerful but somewhat simplistic portrayal of loss and motherhood in the context of the Holocaust.

Quick quotes

    On the whole, The Shawl thoroughly but simplistically exposes the tragic story of a woman, her daughter, and her niece in a concentration camp.

    It is a powerful story that packs an emotional punch, but it could have delved deeper into the characters and their experiences.

    The story's honesty and authenticity are commendable, but it lacks the complexity that would have made it truly exceptional.

The Asylum - WordPress · 2008-04-02
brutal 4.50

The story is vivid and brutal, capturing the horrors of the Holocaust with an almost impressionistic portrayal of events. It leaves a lasting impact on the reader.

This review highlights the raw and unflinching nature of the story, which is only eight pages long but packed with intense emotions. The reviewer appreciates the almost impressionistic portrayal of events, thoughts, and feelings, which makes the story both vivid and brutal. They mention that the story's brevity is crucial, as a longer narrative might numb the reader's senses. The reviewer finds the story to be quite breathtaking in its depiction of the horrors of the Holocaust and the long-term consequences on the characters.

Quick quotes

    It is a vivid, brutal story, quite breathtaking in its almost impressionistic portrayal of events, thoughts, and feelings.

    The sights and sounds are so vivid that they stay with the reader long after the story is finished.

    The story is only eight pages long, but dense with emotion.

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