Reviews
Mixing profound reflections on Jewish mysticism with scenes of elemental yet always tender sensuality, Zimler captures the Nazi era in the most human of terms, devoid of sentimentality but throbbing with life lived passionately in the midst of horror., Zimler ( The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon ) surpasses himself with this coming-of-age epic set in Berlin at the start of the Nazi era . . . the whodunit is captivating enough, but the book's power lies in its stark and unflinching portrayal of the impact of Hitler's eugenic policies on the infirm and disabled., Adding a touch of Jewish mysticism to his historical thriller, Zimler ( The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon ) excellently captures the gamut of tumultuous emotions in his intense and detailed portrait of a city destined for war, and his exceptionally drawn characters struggling to survive in a world gone mad make for an unforgettable story., Zimler, a seasoned American writer living in Portugal, combines sexy coming-of-age adventures with coming-of-Hitler terrors in this powerfully understated saga . . . Adult fiction that counts on readers' ability to draw meaning from cultural signposts such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari , Greta Garbo and The Magic Mountain . But its plucky heroine gives it young adult appeal as well., The Seventh Gate is not only a superb thriller but an intelligent and moving novel about the heartbreaking human condition.
