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This masterwork of American immigrant literature is set in the 1920s on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and tells the story of Sara Smolinsky, the youngest daughter of an Orthodox rabbi, who rebels against her father's rigid conception of Jewish womanhood. Sarah's struggle towards independence and self-fulfillment resonates with a passion all can share. Beautifully redesigned page for page with the previous editions, Bread Givers is an essential historical work with enduring relevance.
Author Biography: Anzia Yezierska (1882-1970) emigrated from Poland to the United States in 1890. How I Found America: Collected Stories, The Open Cage, and Red Ribbon on a White Horse: My Story are all available from Persea.
Anonymous
Posted August 20, 2006
Since I had to read this book for a summer reading assignment I thought it would be boring, but I loved it. It is very easy to follow and understand. Not once did I find it complicated to read.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 13, 2003
I began reading this book and i just couldn't let it down. Its a very touching story. The way she explains herself makes me understand her feelings completely. Throughout the novel, i cried, i got really angry with the dad, but the ending really pleased me.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 7, 2001
My younger sister was assigned this book as part of a school assignment. She handed it to me and told me to read it. I started and couldn't put down until I finished it. To read Anzia Yezierska's remarkable story of growing up under the circumstances that she did, getting out from under her father's thumb and achieving her goals was inspiring. This book shed a new light on the life of immigrants.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 10, 2000
Most of us regard the jews as an alienated group of people. By reading this book, I get to understand that being raised in a jewish family has nothing unfamiliar comparing to others families. This is a very good book my friends, read it. I can't wait for my two months old gaughter to grow up so that I can pass her my copy.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 9, 2011
It was rather slow and had an abrupt ending. It had many acts of sexism and this was rather annyoing but historically accurate. Overall, 10 being the best and 1 being the worst. It was probably a 51/2. I rate it this because even though it was historically accurate, I was looking for a book that might be able to get me out of my romance stage. It failed to do so and it wasn't one of my favorites. Not only was it slow, the ending was so abrubt and sudden, you did not even know what happened and it left me with many questions. Overall, if you have nothing else to read, look at it. But until then, find something else.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 27, 2011
I was assigned this book for a college class last semester and ended up keeping it on my little bookshelf. It centers around a young woman and her jewish family's struggles to assimilate (or not) into American culture. There's countless other stories similar to it, but Yezierska's writing style is very easy to follow. The father is one of the most infuriating characters I've come across in my recent readings. Overall, good book and not so bad as an assignment. Similar plot line as Jade Snow Womg's 'Fifth Chinese Daughter'.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 11, 2009
I imagine it will be hard for young people to believe families actually lived like this, back when children were seen but not heard. Interesting look into the real past.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 6, 2007
I had to read this book as a reading assignment for a class.I enjoyed this book very much, eveyone should read this book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 5, 2003
This is a fun story that is an easy, quick read. I recommend it for teenagers and adults alike. It tells the story of the independant and stubborn Sara as she grows up in the Jewish ghetto of New York. She is forced to close herself against her immigrant family, especially her chauvenistic, tyrranical father. The story can be a little sad and even at times melodramatic, but it is for the most part an engrossing, colorful, and heart-warming tale of survival and perseverance.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 2, 2002
This young girl grew up watching her father marry all her sisters to someone they didn't love. Seeing this she decided to run away from her father's old world and escape to the new world where she can marry someone she love.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Kev1
Posted November 14, 2012
This book is a very touching story of a Jewish girl overcoming her struggles and succeeding in life. Her resilence and perseverance resonates throhgout the story and touches everyone who reads it. Her father is not the most likeable of characters that I have read and comes across as selfish. Overall it is a good read, touching and inspirational. It is a little hard to read because it is slow developing, but give it time, you will enjoy it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 15, 2001
As I read this book I saw the differences in cultures and how difficult it must be to have to change your whole life when you move from one place to another. I also see the fathers unwillingness to change. I think it takes a very ignorant man to live off of his daughters, and refuse her marraige when she is finally truly happy. When I decided not to like the fathers character, I understood that my opinion would not give me a very wide view on other happenings in the book, but I find it difficult to enjoy a story about such horrible struggles when life can be so rewarding. The story is easy reading and a good one at that. If you enjoy stories about the strength of women and the way they handle the men in thier lives..this is definately a perfect book for you!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 23, 2001
I enjoyed Anzia Kiersky's The Bread Givers because it changes your perception on a person. Though parts were unrealistic, you learned to view America through the eyes of a strong feminist and a male chauveonist. Follow Sara Smolisnsky into her own powerful world when you can do anything you apply yourself to.
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Posted November 25, 2000
I think that this book was great in many ways, it shows how different generations lirn to get along over time and it shows a lot of cultural diferances. i would recomend this book to anyone who likes to read about life experiances and more. i would recomend this book to anyone.I myself am 16, and i read this book for a class and i enjoyed it so much that I'm giving it as a gift to one of my friends. It has tought me that we all need to get along with our parents, inlaws and everyone around us.
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Posted September 20, 2000
This was a very entertaining book that showed the struggles of early immigrants in America. This was a very inspirational book. I highly recomend it!
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Posted May 10, 2000
I just finished studying this book for the third time, having read it once in high school and twice in college. This book is a great reference for people interested in immigrant America and the question/process of Americanization.
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Posted February 24, 2000
In Bread Givers, by Anzia Yezierska, a young immigrant girl struggles from rags to riches in the tenements of New York's Lower East Side. This book took into account many themes, including the woman's role in the Old World and America, traditional Jewish practices and beliefs, and overcoming adversity to achieve your goal. These issues are all addressed and interwoven as Sara grows up and breaks away from her family and reaches her goal. As Sara struggles, she meets hardships not only from her Old World Father, but from the New America that is supposed to welcome her. Sara climbs from poverty to a schoolteacher in a matter of years. This goal is incredible and should be applauded, especially for a woman in this time period. The book deals with everything at once, even though there are many separate issues. The message overall is a positive one, and the end allows the reader to draw their own conclusions. From my personal perspective, I related to this book in many ways. Her growing up and coming of age is similiar to mine, as I am preparing also to go to college and enter the workforce. So, personally, I drew many conclusions of my own as I applied them to my own life. The story is altogether inspirational, as the author portrays the life and experiences of a female in the early twentieth century. The writing style is very straightforward and includes many descriptive comparisions, especially to nature. This book provides a historical and feminist perspective on determination and reaching your goals.
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Posted January 21, 2010
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Anonymous
Posted May 23, 2011
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Anonymous
Posted October 17, 2011
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Overview
This masterwork of American immigrant literature is set in the 1920s on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and tells the story of Sara Smolinsky, the youngest daughter of an Orthodox rabbi, who rebels against her father's rigid conception of Jewish womanhood. Sarah's struggle towards independence and self-fulfillment resonates with a passion all can share. Beautifully ...