Kantika by Elizabeth Graver

Although at a different level compared to Yiddish, which is very much alive and very much kicking, Ladino is making a timid yet steady comeback, at a personal and scientific level. There are classes - online and in person - books and scientific articles, audio and video recordings of linguistic variations. Few days ago I´ve met someone whose grandparents are still active Ladino speakers, which is a surprise because we´ve been mostly told that Ladino is actually dying. Hopefully not.

Part of this revival is the emergence of a cultural wave of literary, visual - films and photography - as well as music renditions of Ladino identity. I am slowly going throuogh it myself - learning bits of language, reading studies and listening to experts - but literature is always for me the easiest door to a culture. Hence, my curiosity to read Kantika by Elizabeth Graver, a book I´ve heard about for a long time. Another pleasant revelation was The Wold and All That It Holds, also warmy recommended. 

Partly inspired by her own family experience - but unable to fully document it and turn into a memoir, hence the fictional choice - Kantika is a multi-generational account that starts in Constantinoble - soon to be Istanbul - in 1907. Through the jouorney of Rebecca Cohen - character inspired by the author´s grandmother - from modern Turkey to America, via Barcelona, there is a long episode of Jewish history revealed, although it gives place to relate to individual stories to unfold. 

Each chapter is illustrated with family photos and do contain a generous amount of expressions and words in Ladino - an useful tool for anyone trying to learn the language as well. What is remarkably from the point of view of the narrative construction, is the multiplicity of voices heard within the story, allowing almost all characters to have a say, to tell their own version of the story.

Kantika will make you curious to find out more about Ladino culture and individuals, to hear more stories. It adds more depth into an important episode of world Jewish history that needs a lot of more emphasis nowadays.

Rating: 5 stars