"Safekeeping" by Jessamyn Hope is a poignant debut novel that weaves together themes of love, loss, and the courage required to start anew. Set in 1994, the story follows Adam, a New York City drug addict who arrives at a kibbutz in Israel, carrying a medieval sapphire brooch. This brooch, a family heirloom, symbolizes a crime he committed, and Adam feels compelled to return it to a woman his grandfather loved during his time as a Holocaust refugee on the kibbutz decades earlier.

As Adam searches for this mysterious woman, he encounters a diverse cast of characters, each grappling with their own struggles and aspirations. Ulya, a driven Soviet émigrée; Farid, a lovesick Palestinian farmhand; Claudette, a French Canadian battling OCD; Ofir, a teenager scarred by violence; and Ziva, the founding socialist firebrand of the kibbutz, all become part of Adam's journey. Their lives intersect in complex ways, driven by love, conflict, and the search for redemption.

The brooch, with its rich history spanning continents and centuries, serves as a powerful symbol throughout the narrative. Hope’s novel deftly explores the fleeting nature of happiness and meaning, posing profound questions about how we navigate our past while seeking a future. Through its beautifully crafted characters and insightful storytelling, "Safekeeping" invites readers to reflect on the resilience of the human spirit in the face of impermanence.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Fig Tree Books LLC (June 9, 2015)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 371 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1941493068
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1941493069
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 9 inches
• Condition: Used-Very Good

 Cultural Heritage Fiction, Family Saga Fiction, Literary Fiction, Jewish Historical Fiction,