Brooks’ Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “March”, had gravitas and intrigue. “People of the Book” has the latter, but lacks the former, despite what I imagine to be best effort on Brooks’ part. Whereas “March” feels almost of a different era, “People of the Book” feels starkly modern, even though a hefty chunk of the action takes place centuries ago.

It’s sort of what you’d expect when a serious novelist goes from centering on a character to centering on a plot. And it does have plot. Plot that feels at times like a mass-market detective novel, but with glimpses of the subtlety Brooks is capable of.

The story jumps back and forth, occasionally with a loud clunking sound, spanning between the quasi-present (1996) –the sterilized but somewhat compelling modern protagonist (beleaguered by her completely unbelievable mother, but that’s another story)–and various snippets in the past, meant to illustrate the progression of history for the story’s core element–an illuminated haggadah from the late 15th century.

I couldn’t seem to get enveloped by this book–it was all story to me, no emotional swell. Perhaps I was just looking forward to it too much, to spoiled by “March.”

***1/2 (of *****)