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From my understanding of literature, the elements of a good book include setting, theme, plot, point of view, character and conflict. Of these, Kantika receives high marks for the first two components. The plight of Turkish Jews at the turn of the twentieth century is an often-overlooked subject in contemporary literature and the author had covered this topic well. She was engaging when describing both Jewish life in Constantinople/Istanbul, Barcelona and Cuba and the complex relationship Jews had with their respective countries. In addition, the themes of familial relationships, second chances in romantic love, migration, and maintaining a Jewish identity were identifiable and carried throughout the book.

However, Kantika was plot-driven and at times, read like a dull narrative. In my humble opinion, that was one of the book’s biggest downfalls. The novel is written in the third person with events and actions taking a primary focus. Resultantly, this approach led to a somewhat antiseptic story with bland and distant characters. A first-person narration with an exploration of emotions, feelings and mindset would have taken this story to a much-needed next level.

I considered Kantika more of a heartfelt tribute to the author’s grandmother, her Sephardic roots and her Jewish heritage than a work of historical fiction. Recognizing this perspective may assist you in determining whether Kantika aligns with your literary preferences.