I'm usually not a fan of novels that go back and forth to different time periods, but I really liked this one. The reader discovers the path that a sacred Jewish book has traveled throughout the centuries, starting with a present day, Australian book conservationist who uses bits of debris found in the old book to trace its journey back as far as the fifteenth century. The reader not only experiences historical references but also details of cities around the world including Sarajevo, Vienna, Venus, and Seville. While not action-packed, the book held my attention with its rich characters and beautiful description. I plan to read more by this author.