Tranlated from the Hebrew, Arba Imahot, by Dalya Bilu. Shifra Horn lives in Jerusalem

Set in Jerusalem, four generations of women were beset by a curse of failed marriages and absent fathers. Beginning with the orphan Mazal, her daughter and golden-haired Sarah, passed through to cat-loving grand-daughter Pnina-Mazal, then to rebellious spikey red-headed great-granddaughter Geula. The curse was set to end with the birth of a healthy baby boy to Mazal's great-great grandaughter Amal.. An especially interesting character was Sarah's son Yitzchak, who although reatarded and mute (except for the word "food") had a continuing role throughout the book.

Rich in detail and with a perfect use of magical realism, I found this story delightful. The writing is delectable. Some parts were quite funny in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way. It was like reading a cross between Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Amoz Oz. There is so much in this story that by the time I reached the end, I forgot what happened in the beginning. No problem. That was just an invitation to reread this book! You'll savor every sentence for the feeling and humor with which Amal's story is told.