‘The World That We Knew: A Novel’ by Alice Hoffman

Alice Hoffman brings us on a journey of exploration in the life of a girl, her friend’s father – a rabbi– and others, as the girl is sent out of Nazi territory by her mother in an ultimate sacrifice to save her.

In true Hoffman fashion, we learn about magic – not magic tricks or hoodoo – but the magic that this rabbi, The Magician, and his family teach, using the tools and signs provided by the heavens to navigate difficult, even treacherous terrain. Not only a tale of good versus evil, but of recognizing which is which, and Hoffman sets out early in the novel to highlight what becomes the lesson.

“That was how evil spoke. It made its own corrupt sense; it swore that good were evil, and that evil had come to save mankind. It brought up ancient fears and scattered them on the street like pearls. To fight what was wicked, magic and faith were needed. This was what one must turn to when there was no other option.”

This beautiful novel embodies purity, love, loss and faith, and concurrently demonstrates that G-d cannot prevent all loss. Deep lessons are learned, soulmates are found, and destiny unfolds. This stunning novel tears at the heart and brings forth the depth of human empathy, emotion and compassion in its readers.

The book will be featured at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 10 in conversation with Greg Changnon, playwright and former columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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