Kantika

 By   Elizabeth Graver 

Kantika ( « song » in Ladino), is a multigenerational portrait of a Sephardic family moving across four countries : from Istanbul to Barcelona, Havana and New York.

The Cohen family, of the Sephardic elite of early 20th century  Istanbul, lose their wealth an status ( end of the Ottoman Empire , transfer of populations), are forced to move to Barcelona. The place is unknown to them, although the Sephardic Jews have a deep knowledge of their Iberian origins – before 1492- !

The family has to start anew.

The main character REBECCA, mother of two boys,  after a failed mariage, has to reinvent herself from what comes her way.

 Self reliant , she finds a new job she enjoys  and relishes the pleasure of motherhood. «  I took a chance, I made a life »

Moving from Spain to Cuba and then to New York for an arranged 2d marriage, she faces her greatest challenge : her disabled stepdaughter LUNA.

Rebecca had decided right from the beginning to make Luna transcent her disability, both physically ( with exhausting exercises)  and mentally :

 «  love yourself Luna , you can be like the other girls. It’s your life, you only get one » 

This book explores the themes of exile, displacement and belonging.

It celebrates the resilience of women and the importance of seizing beauty and grabbing hold of one’s one and only life .

Our group  ( but for one lady ) really  enjoyed reading this book for its humanity, Rebecca’s strength  of character  and new positive approach to disability.

                                                                            Anne Van Calster

                                                                                              November 2024