People of the BookPeople of the Book
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1996, Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, is asked to conserve the Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the earliest illuminated Jewish books, rescued from the shelling of Sarajevo. In its binding she finds tiny clues, an insect wing, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair, and the novel traces each back through the centuries.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 33 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's a gripping journey through history, inspired by a real book.
You'll love it if you liked
March
The Shadow of the Wind
The Name of the RoseGood to know
It alternates between Hanna's story and the book's history.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller50 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #94 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #214 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #965 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1783 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
More by Geraldine Brooks
Memorial Days: A MemoirMarch
Caleb's CrossingIf you like this, read next
All the Light We Cannot See
The Underground Railroad
A Gentleman in Moscow
My Brilliant Friend
A Fine Balance
Memoirs of a GeishaExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is People of the Book worth reading?
Yes. It spent 33 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #1,783 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is People of the Book about?
In 1996, Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, is asked to conserve the Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the earliest illuminated Jewish books, rescued from the shelling of Sarajevo. In its binding she finds tiny clues, an insect wing, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair, and the novel traces each back through the centuries.
How long does it take to read People of the Book?
About 10 hours (396 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after People of the Book?
If you liked it, try March by Geraldine Brooks, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón or The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco.