Bloodknots

Susan Merskey is freelance writer in London, Ontario.

The stories in this collection are about family, both present and
absent, and marginalized members of society who struggle to free
themselves from lives spent hiding in the shadows. “The Jewish
Giant” describes the experiences of a boy born with a pituitary tumour
that causes him to grow exceptionally tall. “Soul Name” is a
powerful survivor story, which Malka shares with her daughter—as she
herself nears death—about the fate of her sister Devorah in Terezin
years earlier. “What Remains” centres on the relationship between a
son and the father he never met until after the latter died. The title
story, “Bloodknots,” describes the relationship between two
children, one of whom is adopted.

Each of the collection’s 12 previously published stories is tightly
crafted, with memorable characters and situations, all reminding readers
that the world around them is complex. The author has drawn heavily on
her Jewish heritage, but readers from a variety of backgrounds will find
something to identify with and appreciate.