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Guesthouse for Ganesha
In 1923, seventeen-year-old Esther Grünspan arrives in Köln "with a hardened heart as her sole luggage.” Thus begins a twenty-two-year journey, woven against the backdrops of the European Holocaust and the Hindu Kali Yuga (the “Age of Darkness” when human civilization degenerates spiritually), in search of a place of sanctuary. Throughout her travails, using cunning and shrewdness, Esther relies on her masterful tailoring skills to help mask her Jewish heritage, navigate war-torn Europe, and emigrate to India.
Esther’s traveling companion and the novel’s narrator is Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu God worshipped by millions for his abilities to destroy obstacles, bestow wishes, and avenge evils. Impressed by Esther’s fortitude and relentless determination, born of her deep―though unconscious―understanding of the meaning and purpose of love, Ganesha, with compassion, insight, and poetry, chooses to highlight her story because he recognizes it is all of our stories―for truth resides at the essence of its telling.
Weaving Eastern beliefs and perspectives with Western realities and pragmatism, Guesthouse for Ganesha is a tale of love, loss, and spirit reclaimed.
Esther’s traveling companion and the novel’s narrator is Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu God worshipped by millions for his abilities to destroy obstacles, bestow wishes, and avenge evils. Impressed by Esther’s fortitude and relentless determination, born of her deep―though unconscious―understanding of the meaning and purpose of love, Ganesha, with compassion, insight, and poetry, chooses to highlight her story because he recognizes it is all of our stories―for truth resides at the essence of its telling.
Weaving Eastern beliefs and perspectives with Western realities and pragmatism, Guesthouse for Ganesha is a tale of love, loss, and spirit reclaimed.
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2019
About the author
Judith Teitelman
1 book46 followersJudith Teitelman has straddled the worlds of art, literature, and business since she was a teenager and worked her first job as a salesperson at a B. Dalton / Pickwick Bookstore. Just three months after graduating from UCLA with a degree in Art History, she was hired by Ace Gallery to open and manage Art and Architecture Books of the Twentieth Century, at the time Los Angeles’ second bookstore devoted exclusively to the arts. She began her career in the nonprofit sector in 1983, and in 1990 launched her arts and business management consulting firm working nationally with grass roots and mid-sized organizations and large institutions. She is also a mentor, trainer, and professional advisor to artists working in all disciplines.
Judith is adjunct faculty in the Theater School at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) co-teaching Entrepreneurship. She is a regular trainer at the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), among others, and was a trainer for more than 20 years at Los Angeles’ Center for Nonprofit Management.
Always, Judith continued her pursuit of all things literary and over the years, her articles have been published in a variety of formats and publications nationally and internationally.
In 2008 Judith was a finalist for a PEN Emerging Voices Fellowship. And in 2016 her debut novel’s first chapter was published in the highly regarded literary journal “PoemMemoirStory.” GUESTHOUSE FOR GANESHA, a tale of love, loss, and spirit reclaimed, is this award-winning novel published in May 2019.
Judith is adjunct faculty in the Theater School at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) co-teaching Entrepreneurship. She is a regular trainer at the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), among others, and was a trainer for more than 20 years at Los Angeles’ Center for Nonprofit Management.
Always, Judith continued her pursuit of all things literary and over the years, her articles have been published in a variety of formats and publications nationally and internationally.
In 2008 Judith was a finalist for a PEN Emerging Voices Fellowship. And in 2016 her debut novel’s first chapter was published in the highly regarded literary journal “PoemMemoirStory.” GUESTHOUSE FOR GANESHA, a tale of love, loss, and spirit reclaimed, is this award-winning novel published in May 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
May 31, 2019
This book had a great unique premise. Esther, a young Jewish Polish woman, flees to Germany after being left at the alter. This novel follows her through the WWII era as she tries to survive. The unique and interesting part is that unbeknownst to Esther the Hindu god Ganesha is guiding her along. Unfortunately, Esther is not a particularly likable character and I never really bought into the reason that Ganesha singled her out.
October 27, 2019
Review to follow. Magic realism is possibly the most difficult balancing act a writer can attempt. If it works the effect is, well, magical. If it doesn't, as here, there is a curious disconnect with the characters, whose humanity is subsumed by symbolism.
January 19, 2022
Whether you’re struggling with the fear and isolation of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic or you’re just having one of those weeks where nothing seems to go right, relying on faith can help carry you through. Guesthouse for Ganesha: A Novel by Judith Teitelman took some time to reflect on how our faith guides us during our life so this book could definitely offer amazing guidance to you in very interesting ways.
This story share how the lead character endured pain and sorrow, the lessons they learned, and how they found the faith and courage to carry forth. Guesthouse for Ganesha: A Novel is designed to strengthen the resolve of those trying to cope with sadness, anger, loneliness, and confusion during times of grief and anguish.
This is a very valuable book about people who have gone through hard times ( losses of different kinds, depression, etc) and have survived, realizing that all things happen for a reason. We're so much stronger than we think we are, especially if we know the Source of our strength and healing. It provides encouragement and insight for everyone.
This is a very beautifully illustrated and very well written collection of spiritual help, love and encouragement. With every page turned, it truly and significantly lifted my heart and soul. Highly recommend!!
This story share how the lead character endured pain and sorrow, the lessons they learned, and how they found the faith and courage to carry forth. Guesthouse for Ganesha: A Novel is designed to strengthen the resolve of those trying to cope with sadness, anger, loneliness, and confusion during times of grief and anguish.
This is a very valuable book about people who have gone through hard times ( losses of different kinds, depression, etc) and have survived, realizing that all things happen for a reason. We're so much stronger than we think we are, especially if we know the Source of our strength and healing. It provides encouragement and insight for everyone.
This is a very beautifully illustrated and very well written collection of spiritual help, love and encouragement. With every page turned, it truly and significantly lifted my heart and soul. Highly recommend!!
April 23, 2019
Guesthouse for Ganesha by Judith Teitelman is a unique novel telling the story of Esther and her struggles through life as narrated by Ganesha.
I was immediately drawn into wanting to learn more about Esther as she grows older from a young woman into a mother. I enjoy books that span a long time frame. I felt I could really learn about and connect with Esther.
Ganesha intersperses poetry throughout the book, and even though I’m not a huge fan of poetry, I didn’t find it detracted at all. I liked how lyrical the narration was in contrast to Esther’s circumstances and surroundings.
I was immediately drawn into wanting to learn more about Esther as she grows older from a young woman into a mother. I enjoy books that span a long time frame. I felt I could really learn about and connect with Esther.
Ganesha intersperses poetry throughout the book, and even though I’m not a huge fan of poetry, I didn’t find it detracted at all. I liked how lyrical the narration was in contrast to Esther’s circumstances and surroundings.
June 13, 2019
In Guesthouse for Ganesha, Judith Teitelman takes the reader on a deeply rich, moving, and poetic journey that weaves historical fiction with magical realism. I read it over the course of a few days when I was sick in bed, unable to eat, drink, or look at any kind of screen. It was my sustenance and my cure. I learned so much about how the atrocities of World War II affected specific countries and navigated all kinds of emotions as I followed Esther, an entirely unique and multi-faceted main character -- a heroine like no other. I was completely engrossed in this book, unhappy with any kind of interruption from the real world, and devastated when it ended. I whole heartedly recommend Guesthouse for Ganesha!
May 29, 2019
Guesthouse for Ganesha is an absolute page-turner. Set against the backdrop of rising fascism, Esther, already traumatized, must make hard choices as she finds herself pulled by a strong cosmic force to her destiny. I couldn't put it down!
June 1, 2019
As you'll discover on the first page of Judith Teitelman's novel, Guesthouse for Ganesha, the guesthouse in the title alludes to the lovely Rumi poem whose first line is "This being human is a guesthouse."
The poem is about our need to welcome all experience into our life, no matter whether good or bad, and to take what joy we can in the learning that it brings. Ganesha is, well... Ganesha, the every-popular Hindu god whose chief attribute--apart from a protruding belly--is his elephant nose. A protective deity of wisdom, success, and good luck, he is one of two narrator-protagonists of the novel, the other being Esther, a young Jewish woman surviving the Nazi years in Germany, who certainly needs all the good luck she can get.
Not hard to guess, then, that "Guesthouse" is part magical realism, part survival narrative. Our sympathy for Esther is hard-earned. Her heart is turned to stone while she is still virtually a girl by her abandonment, at the marriage chuppah, by the man to whom she has given her eternal love and trust, and she remains tormented by the memory of this indelible loss. She clings fiercely to her bitterness as she escapes her native Polish shtetl with nothing but her supernatural skill as a seamstress, which she parlays into a successful survival strategy. Teitelman allows this frozen woman a brief glimpse into her soul at an Indian food counter in Köln, where Ganesha appears to embrace her, unknowingly, in the warmth of his compassion.
Esther endures the early years of pre-war Nazi anti-Semitism in Köln, at first only vaguely, but increasingly aware of its poison spreading in the nation. Incapable of love, she enters into a loveless marriage. Has three children. Abandons them, dispatching two of them to safety via the well-known Kindertransport. Throughout, as war approaches and ensues, Teitelman compellingly evokes Esther's growing predicament, her isolation with a baby son, and her desperate, always quick-witted efforts to survive a hostile environment, where the slightest error means the certainty of arrest and dispatch to what she by now knows will be the death sentence in the camps. With help from a team of conscience-stricken Germans, she keeps managing to escape, moving to Wupperthal, to Paris... and finally to refuge in Switzerland. It's her grit and her impenetrable heart that save her. And Ganesha watches over constantly with concern, compassion, humor...
It's only after the war, alone in the world, that Esther's heart begins to melt. Drawn by the spiritual presence of what we know to be her protector, Ganesha, she heads for India and the possibility of redemption in a final scene where the tragedy of her compelling journey blossoms into full-blown magical realism. But this you'll need to read for yourself. No spoilers. Suffice it to say that Teitelman leads her character into the furthest depths of the heart and soul she never knew she had. In the end, it's all about being human.
Disclosure: I have known the author personally for some years.
The poem is about our need to welcome all experience into our life, no matter whether good or bad, and to take what joy we can in the learning that it brings. Ganesha is, well... Ganesha, the every-popular Hindu god whose chief attribute--apart from a protruding belly--is his elephant nose. A protective deity of wisdom, success, and good luck, he is one of two narrator-protagonists of the novel, the other being Esther, a young Jewish woman surviving the Nazi years in Germany, who certainly needs all the good luck she can get.
Not hard to guess, then, that "Guesthouse" is part magical realism, part survival narrative. Our sympathy for Esther is hard-earned. Her heart is turned to stone while she is still virtually a girl by her abandonment, at the marriage chuppah, by the man to whom she has given her eternal love and trust, and she remains tormented by the memory of this indelible loss. She clings fiercely to her bitterness as she escapes her native Polish shtetl with nothing but her supernatural skill as a seamstress, which she parlays into a successful survival strategy. Teitelman allows this frozen woman a brief glimpse into her soul at an Indian food counter in Köln, where Ganesha appears to embrace her, unknowingly, in the warmth of his compassion.
Esther endures the early years of pre-war Nazi anti-Semitism in Köln, at first only vaguely, but increasingly aware of its poison spreading in the nation. Incapable of love, she enters into a loveless marriage. Has three children. Abandons them, dispatching two of them to safety via the well-known Kindertransport. Throughout, as war approaches and ensues, Teitelman compellingly evokes Esther's growing predicament, her isolation with a baby son, and her desperate, always quick-witted efforts to survive a hostile environment, where the slightest error means the certainty of arrest and dispatch to what she by now knows will be the death sentence in the camps. With help from a team of conscience-stricken Germans, she keeps managing to escape, moving to Wupperthal, to Paris... and finally to refuge in Switzerland. It's her grit and her impenetrable heart that save her. And Ganesha watches over constantly with concern, compassion, humor...
It's only after the war, alone in the world, that Esther's heart begins to melt. Drawn by the spiritual presence of what we know to be her protector, Ganesha, she heads for India and the possibility of redemption in a final scene where the tragedy of her compelling journey blossoms into full-blown magical realism. But this you'll need to read for yourself. No spoilers. Suffice it to say that Teitelman leads her character into the furthest depths of the heart and soul she never knew she had. In the end, it's all about being human.
Disclosure: I have known the author personally for some years.
April 30, 2019
This is a beautiful book that leaves the reader much to think about long after the last word has been read. It is a mystical and magical book and despite one that covers such horrific times as World War II and the Holocaust, it is a book of hope. At its simplest “Guesthouse for Ganesha” tells the story of Esther, a young Jewish woman from a small village in Poland. The story begins in the early 1920s after the devastating loss she experienced when her fiancé abandons her at the alter. It ends well after World War II. After being left at the alter Esther is determined to survive on her own and moves away from all family and friends to Germany. Esther meets the challenges and tragedy of the times with an almost fearless practicality and steely determination. As she works to protect her children and herself she approaches each new trial with an unusual detachment that allows her to proceed almost without fear or regret. What Esther is not aware of but the reader knows is that her life is being touched by the grace and guidance of the Hindu God Ganesha. Throughout the novel the author weaves Ganesha’s gentle kindness and gifts to the horrors Esther is determined to survive. While this intersection of the Hindu God Ganesha and this strong, determined Jewish women seems perplexing by the end of the novel the author has made not only Esther but also the reader understand how that throughout the darkness of her life there was always a unifying light and the significance of that light. It is an ending that invites the reader to spend time pondering not only the book but the light and guidance that is woven throughout the story of the book and possibly even the reader's own life! It truly is a beautiful book that I recommend without hesitation! I was honored to receive a free advanced copy of this book from Edelweiss and the Publisher, She Writes Press in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2022
My wonderful wife gave me this book for Christmas, knowing my interest in Ganesha. We have a number of images of him around the house and grounds. As the removed of obstacles, lord of beginnings, guardian of the portal and the god of writing, he has a special place in my heart -- and hers, as we are both writers.
I had not heard of this book, which is Ms. Teitelman's debut novel, but I'm glad I read it. The premise is simple: Esther Grünspan, a 17-year-old Jewish girl in 1921, is left at the altar by the man she was to marry. This throws her out of her life, and she abandons her family to embarks on a long journey to another city, where she changes her name and begins a life marked, in the main, by poverty and narrow escapes. By various means she navigates war-torn Europe, changing her identity several times -- all the while watched over by the elephant-headed Hindu god, who protects and guide her, unbeknownst, at several critical junctures. In the city of Köln, her first stop after leaving her family, she had blundered into a food stall presided over by an Indian man. There she saw an image of Ganesha, and this memory stuck with her for the rest of her life. Nominally magical realism, there is very little magic in this harrowing novel until the last few pages, when Ganesha reveals himself.
Esther is a survivor, but in many ways she is not a likable person. Never violent or confrontational, she nevertheless makes cruel decisions and never hesitates to abandon those closest to her in order t escape persecution. The end of the novel holds out hope for her future, but little in her life has pointed to happiness. Still, it's an unforgettable book, and a masterful debut for Ms. Teitelman. I'll be looking for more of her work in the future.
(Having recently read Anthony Doerr's amazing novel, ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE, which also recounts the story of several people in Europe during World War II and which I also recommend strongly, this novel could form an interesting "double feature" with it.)
I had not heard of this book, which is Ms. Teitelman's debut novel, but I'm glad I read it. The premise is simple: Esther Grünspan, a 17-year-old Jewish girl in 1921, is left at the altar by the man she was to marry. This throws her out of her life, and she abandons her family to embarks on a long journey to another city, where she changes her name and begins a life marked, in the main, by poverty and narrow escapes. By various means she navigates war-torn Europe, changing her identity several times -- all the while watched over by the elephant-headed Hindu god, who protects and guide her, unbeknownst, at several critical junctures. In the city of Köln, her first stop after leaving her family, she had blundered into a food stall presided over by an Indian man. There she saw an image of Ganesha, and this memory stuck with her for the rest of her life. Nominally magical realism, there is very little magic in this harrowing novel until the last few pages, when Ganesha reveals himself.
Esther is a survivor, but in many ways she is not a likable person. Never violent or confrontational, she nevertheless makes cruel decisions and never hesitates to abandon those closest to her in order t escape persecution. The end of the novel holds out hope for her future, but little in her life has pointed to happiness. Still, it's an unforgettable book, and a masterful debut for Ms. Teitelman. I'll be looking for more of her work in the future.
(Having recently read Anthony Doerr's amazing novel, ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE, which also recounts the story of several people in Europe during World War II and which I also recommend strongly, this novel could form an interesting "double feature" with it.)
May 5, 2019
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I was really excited when this book turned out to be one of my blind book dates for the #booksparks #swiperightonreading campaign because it was already on my TBR list!
After heartbreak causes Esther to leave her family in Poland to build a solitary life for herself, a chance encounter with a mysterious image of a many-armed elephant connects her with the Hindu deity Ganesha who, unbeknownst to Esther, becomes a constant presence in her life; helping to guide and protect her as Europe becomes an unrecognizable landscape for Jews like Esther as Hitler comes into power.
For me, this premise was really exciting because it puts such a different spin on WWII historical fiction. I especially loved the juxtaposition and common threads of Esther and Ganesha’s cultures as Ganesha’s “voice” was interspersed throughout Esther’s story. What I had trouble connecting with was Esther’s cold detachment from the people and world around her; there was no joy there. I understand that detachment was her defense mechanism, and her eventual circumstances were horrifying, but in the in-between moments, nothing got through to her and the way she treated others was calculated and totally disengaged, which made it hard for me to connect with her as the main driver of the story. I also thought we were going to get to spend more time with her in India, and was really looking forward to that environment hopefully coaxing her out of her detachment.
The concept and story were really fresh and creative, I just wish that I had been able to connect more fully with it.
I was really excited when this book turned out to be one of my blind book dates for the #booksparks #swiperightonreading campaign because it was already on my TBR list!
After heartbreak causes Esther to leave her family in Poland to build a solitary life for herself, a chance encounter with a mysterious image of a many-armed elephant connects her with the Hindu deity Ganesha who, unbeknownst to Esther, becomes a constant presence in her life; helping to guide and protect her as Europe becomes an unrecognizable landscape for Jews like Esther as Hitler comes into power.
For me, this premise was really exciting because it puts such a different spin on WWII historical fiction. I especially loved the juxtaposition and common threads of Esther and Ganesha’s cultures as Ganesha’s “voice” was interspersed throughout Esther’s story. What I had trouble connecting with was Esther’s cold detachment from the people and world around her; there was no joy there. I understand that detachment was her defense mechanism, and her eventual circumstances were horrifying, but in the in-between moments, nothing got through to her and the way she treated others was calculated and totally disengaged, which made it hard for me to connect with her as the main driver of the story. I also thought we were going to get to spend more time with her in India, and was really looking forward to that environment hopefully coaxing her out of her detachment.
The concept and story were really fresh and creative, I just wish that I had been able to connect more fully with it.
April 2, 2021
Stoic and at times thrilling, GFG tells the story of a jilted Polish woman subsequently crushed in pre-war Germany where the people of her faith (she is Jewish unorthodox) are violently harassed and blamed for the country's plight. She's plucky, expertly-skilled with needle and thread, and as emotionally detached as a person can get.
I'm not a sadist, but I love literature that places resourceful people in the most horrendous circumstances and turns them loose. We get to observe the human mind working at its most furious pace as they keep one step ahead of their hunters. Esther is like Houdini.
That's the main thread and to which I assign the rating. A secondary literary thread which I had little interest lived in Esther's alter ego or narrator. Through it the reader learns of the philosophical aspects of her condition through some very creative writing.
Going back to the first chapter, with her skills, I can imagine a follow up to GFG in which Esther is a Nazi hunter in Mossad.
Update. I found this quote that I think helps ground the philosophy in GFG: "It is important to understand we are all on the same course heading in the same direction doing things a little differently or very differently from one another."
I'm not a sadist, but I love literature that places resourceful people in the most horrendous circumstances and turns them loose. We get to observe the human mind working at its most furious pace as they keep one step ahead of their hunters. Esther is like Houdini.
That's the main thread and to which I assign the rating. A secondary literary thread which I had little interest lived in Esther's alter ego or narrator. Through it the reader learns of the philosophical aspects of her condition through some very creative writing.
Going back to the first chapter, with her skills, I can imagine a follow up to GFG in which Esther is a Nazi hunter in Mossad.
Update. I found this quote that I think helps ground the philosophy in GFG: "It is important to understand we are all on the same course heading in the same direction doing things a little differently or very differently from one another."
July 4, 2019
Judith Teitelman’s debut novel, Guesthouse for Ganesha, weaves elements of Jewish and Hindu culture into a timeless story of love, loss, and survival. Her protagonist’s tailoring skills not only cloak her Jewish identity and provide livelihood during the Holocaust, but also serve as metaphor for the thread that binds one generation to another. Heartbroken Esther, reluctant mother of three, journeys across war-torn Europe, accompanied by Ganesha, master of obstacles and fortune. From the first page of the prologue, when the reader meets Esther engaged in a fever-induced dance on the deck of a ship with her protector god, we want to know how she got there and what happens next. There begins a wild ride through the realms of the physical to the divine, with Esther’s perfect stitches, patiently rendered, serving as lifeline to liberation and love.
June 10, 2019
Thank you to She Writes Press. I received Guesthouse for Ganesha in a Goodreads giveaway.
This is a unique novel telling the story of Esther and her struggles through life in Nazi Germany as narrated by Ganesha. I enjoyed the different spin on WWII historical fiction. Guesthouse is part magical realism, part survival narrative.
This is a unique novel telling the story of Esther and her struggles through life in Nazi Germany as narrated by Ganesha. I enjoyed the different spin on WWII historical fiction. Guesthouse is part magical realism, part survival narrative.
June 22, 2019
This is an incredible story of one woman's powerful will to survive, the sacrifices she makes to do so, and the support she receives along the way from unexpected sources. The author takes you on a journey that ignites all your senses and opens up your heart. I highly recommend this book!!
August 10, 2019
Absolutely fantastic. Such progression and growth for one single character, and what a wonderful conclusion to it all. No spoilers here, just happy thoughts ... and cookies 😉
May 20, 2019
Esther is a Polish girl, determined to make more of her life than just be ‘the one left at the altar’, as her fiancé failed to show for their wedding. A bit hurt, plenty angry and certain that the changes she wants are not available in her hometown, she leaves for Germany and the city of Köln. Not without skills: she’s a seamstress of some talent, but not speaking the language, despite her skills, makes building a business and a life in a new place, away from family and all that is familiar isn’t easy. And while this may be a hugely daunting idea to contemplate, fraught with fears and worries of loneliness, Esther does never actually connect to the people she meets. Her relatives in the city, who all speak German and would be, in other circumstances, the logical people to help her improve her skills and offer her some sense of the familiar all find her removed and cold – not quite their cup of tea.
But, Esther is often in her own head, thinking about the next design, her hopes for a ‘place’ that feels like home, and wondering about the purpose of it all. A chance encounter in the park brings her face-to-face with the image of Ganesha – the elephant-headed man and god - an image she can’t forget, yet soon is wondering if her encounter was even real, or simply a dream. Strangely enough (and unaccountably magical) Ganesha also notices Esther, one who is searching for her place and trying to start a new beginning. For this is his métier – remover of obstacles, and provider of good fortune. But, this is Germany in the grip of the anti-Semitic, isolationist, post-war- angry regime, and increasingly the city is becoming less welcoming to Esther – simply because of her heritage. Soon, India becomes the focus of her obsessions – and off she travels to make yet another new start, in relative safety away from the Nazis.
Change, growth, hope for more and different, and many surprising revelations and a growing acceptance of who she is and her place in the world all come here. As does the gentle influence and loving ‘direction’ provided by Ganesha – as he also tells and shows us as his perspective appears throughout the book, from the first encounter onward. There is a sense of wonder, hope and survivor in this story, as the ‘righness’ of the connection between the Jewish woman and the Indian God becomes simply a story of friendship and reliance, each providing comfort, perspective, and a sense of security to the other in the challenges that occur. A wonderfully unique story that is wholly fresh and engaging, this debut novel provides everything I could want: entertainment, enlightenment, memorable characters and the clear descriptions that show we are far more alike than different, no matter where we come from.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
But, Esther is often in her own head, thinking about the next design, her hopes for a ‘place’ that feels like home, and wondering about the purpose of it all. A chance encounter in the park brings her face-to-face with the image of Ganesha – the elephant-headed man and god - an image she can’t forget, yet soon is wondering if her encounter was even real, or simply a dream. Strangely enough (and unaccountably magical) Ganesha also notices Esther, one who is searching for her place and trying to start a new beginning. For this is his métier – remover of obstacles, and provider of good fortune. But, this is Germany in the grip of the anti-Semitic, isolationist, post-war- angry regime, and increasingly the city is becoming less welcoming to Esther – simply because of her heritage. Soon, India becomes the focus of her obsessions – and off she travels to make yet another new start, in relative safety away from the Nazis.
Change, growth, hope for more and different, and many surprising revelations and a growing acceptance of who she is and her place in the world all come here. As does the gentle influence and loving ‘direction’ provided by Ganesha – as he also tells and shows us as his perspective appears throughout the book, from the first encounter onward. There is a sense of wonder, hope and survivor in this story, as the ‘righness’ of the connection between the Jewish woman and the Indian God becomes simply a story of friendship and reliance, each providing comfort, perspective, and a sense of security to the other in the challenges that occur. A wonderfully unique story that is wholly fresh and engaging, this debut novel provides everything I could want: entertainment, enlightenment, memorable characters and the clear descriptions that show we are far more alike than different, no matter where we come from.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
May 15, 2021
A beautiful, mesmerizing, and uniquely creative novel. What a clever approach to a story about a shrewdly resilient young woman who manages to hide her Jewish heritage as the Nazis advance throughout Europe. While the opening chapter tells us of Esther’s hardened heart, and though we witness countless examples of her unyielding emotions, any harshness is lightened by the delightful voice of cookie-craving Hindu God, Ganesha, who narrates the novel as he lovingly and protectively follows Esther on her journey. A story of heartbreak, struggle, and survival, Guesthouse for Ganesha’s ending is an utter triumph of spirit on many levels. Definitely on my top ten list of best books I’ve read over the past year.
January 20, 2023
I wanted to like this book much more than I did. The premise is indisputably original: a Jewish woman navigating the complexities of WWII while the Hindu god Ganesha guides her path. Yet, the protagonist is terribly difficult to like as she quite cruelly abandons her family, husband, and children and turns her back on her Jewish heritage. The result is a somewhat disconnected head-scratcher with a surreal but unsatisfactory ending.
November 12, 2021
I stayed up all night to finish Guesthouse for Ganesha by Judith Teitelman. It’s a story of one Jewish woman’s journey toward attaining a spiritual whole as she goes through betrayal, enduring love, Nazi oppression, and resilience. She is guided and protected by the Hindu god Ganesha throughout her journey.
I once heard it said that when your sleeve touches a stranger’s on a busy street, it’s not a coincidence that you were there at that moment and at that place.
Think about that a moment.
Throughout the book, my mind tried to mirror the protagonist’s journey with Buddha’s journey toward enlightenment. In both cases, letting go of your attachments was the way to achieve the state of freedom.
I am glad I read this book. I hope you enjoy it as well.
I once heard it said that when your sleeve touches a stranger’s on a busy street, it’s not a coincidence that you were there at that moment and at that place.
Think about that a moment.
Throughout the book, my mind tried to mirror the protagonist’s journey with Buddha’s journey toward enlightenment. In both cases, letting go of your attachments was the way to achieve the state of freedom.
I am glad I read this book. I hope you enjoy it as well.
November 3, 2019
This is a novel that confounds, mystifies, demands and engages, with a story so imaginative and out of the ordinary that, to take the ride as a reader, you must be willing to walk between the mystical and mundane, the grounded and the intangible. If you do, you will be rewarded with a fully unique and mesmerizing reading experience.
The title alone, Guesthouse for Ganesha, alerts us that the many-armed elephant-headed Hindu deity will play a role, but what is unexpected is how and when this beloved god shows up: in a shabby Indian booth in a Jewish quarter of Germany shortly after WWI and in the prelude of WWII. You might ask: how does this Hindu god factor into one of the most ignoble moments in the history of humanity? That is just one of the compelling questions of the story.
Esther is our protagonist, though a challenging one. When she is left at the altar by the man she believes was her destiny, we feel for her devastated heart. But as her burden of pain drives her from her family with nary a look back, as it hardens her heart and turns her into a woman bereft of compassion and empathy, incapable of normal, expected emotions – like the love of a mother for a child, a wife for a husband – we are asked to continue to follow her journey, continue to see her as good, despite the pain and anguish she not only experiences herself, but inflicts on others, particular those children and that husband. She is, at many times, very difficult to like, much less cheer for, yet Teitelman has written her story with such sharp creativity and propulsive plotting that it is impossible to let go of Esther, even when she enrages and confounds. It is, in fact, that very iron will and unbending strength that determines her survival.
And weaving and wafting around her from the moment they meet in that booth are the words, thoughts, guidances, and tender observations of Ganesha, the god in her corner. I felt somewhat baffled as to why this god chose this woman to mentor, to save, to accompany throughout her life, but decided to simply let myself be swept up in the notion. It is certainly an intriguing one!
Teitelman’s gift is that she is able to take this fantastical premise, this odd fusion of religions, histories, times and places, and fashion a story that is poetic and painful, often mystifying and maddening, but one that makes us care, makes us want to know how this god informs and transforms the life of one heartbroken, battered woman living at this excruciating time. It is beautiful and utterly unique storytelling.
The title alone, Guesthouse for Ganesha, alerts us that the many-armed elephant-headed Hindu deity will play a role, but what is unexpected is how and when this beloved god shows up: in a shabby Indian booth in a Jewish quarter of Germany shortly after WWI and in the prelude of WWII. You might ask: how does this Hindu god factor into one of the most ignoble moments in the history of humanity? That is just one of the compelling questions of the story.
Esther is our protagonist, though a challenging one. When she is left at the altar by the man she believes was her destiny, we feel for her devastated heart. But as her burden of pain drives her from her family with nary a look back, as it hardens her heart and turns her into a woman bereft of compassion and empathy, incapable of normal, expected emotions – like the love of a mother for a child, a wife for a husband – we are asked to continue to follow her journey, continue to see her as good, despite the pain and anguish she not only experiences herself, but inflicts on others, particular those children and that husband. She is, at many times, very difficult to like, much less cheer for, yet Teitelman has written her story with such sharp creativity and propulsive plotting that it is impossible to let go of Esther, even when she enrages and confounds. It is, in fact, that very iron will and unbending strength that determines her survival.
And weaving and wafting around her from the moment they meet in that booth are the words, thoughts, guidances, and tender observations of Ganesha, the god in her corner. I felt somewhat baffled as to why this god chose this woman to mentor, to save, to accompany throughout her life, but decided to simply let myself be swept up in the notion. It is certainly an intriguing one!
Teitelman’s gift is that she is able to take this fantastical premise, this odd fusion of religions, histories, times and places, and fashion a story that is poetic and painful, often mystifying and maddening, but one that makes us care, makes us want to know how this god informs and transforms the life of one heartbroken, battered woman living at this excruciating time. It is beautiful and utterly unique storytelling.
September 26, 2019
It gives me great pleasure to write a review for Guesthouse for Genesha. Author Judith Teitelman has crafted a truly unique story centered on one of the most fiercely original heroines I have encountered in recent years.
Set against the backdrop of the Second World War, Guesthouse for Genesha tells the story of Esther, a young Polish woman, who flees her small village after a humiliating heartbreak and seeks a new life in Germany. Armed only with her wits, her tenacity and her unparalleled talents as a master seamstress, Esther must plumb the depth of love and faith itself to survive both the horrors of war and the complex paradoxes of her life as a woman, wife and mother. She is a completely modern and often a provocative protagonist who never shies away from the difficult choices she needs to make so she and her family can survive.
In order to evade the atrocities of the Nazis, Esther must hide her Jewish identity, immerse herself into a world of other faiths and open her mind to the expansive spirituality that she finds along the way. Her journey leads to the Hindu god Ganesh and in a refreshingly charming and candid counterpoint, Genesh himself, stands by her through her travails and co-narrates the story. This juxtaposition of faiths truly elevates the narrative and imbues Esther’s struggles with universally human profundity. I absolutely devoured this book and was moved and uplifted by the incredible story. These characters and images will stay with me for a long time.
Set against the backdrop of the Second World War, Guesthouse for Genesha tells the story of Esther, a young Polish woman, who flees her small village after a humiliating heartbreak and seeks a new life in Germany. Armed only with her wits, her tenacity and her unparalleled talents as a master seamstress, Esther must plumb the depth of love and faith itself to survive both the horrors of war and the complex paradoxes of her life as a woman, wife and mother. She is a completely modern and often a provocative protagonist who never shies away from the difficult choices she needs to make so she and her family can survive.
In order to evade the atrocities of the Nazis, Esther must hide her Jewish identity, immerse herself into a world of other faiths and open her mind to the expansive spirituality that she finds along the way. Her journey leads to the Hindu god Ganesh and in a refreshingly charming and candid counterpoint, Genesh himself, stands by her through her travails and co-narrates the story. This juxtaposition of faiths truly elevates the narrative and imbues Esther’s struggles with universally human profundity. I absolutely devoured this book and was moved and uplifted by the incredible story. These characters and images will stay with me for a long time.
June 7, 2021
I enjoyed this novel as it is well-written and has a compelling plot and protagonist. I don’t have a problem with unlikable characters; in fact, I find they make a story interesting by challenging a reader to refrain from harsh judgment too quickly. I think this is a tale which is open to interpretation. Be openminded as you’re reading this book and understand that it is reality blended with mysticism and spirituality, which means you will need to suspend disbelief. Through the novel I enjoyed the interweaving of Ganesha’s commentary with the main narrative, as it kept me wondering how and when he might show himself to Esther and what role he fills in the story. It lent some mystery and edginess to the plotline.
I loved the meticulous descriptions of stitches and materials and the process of sewing, all of which were artfully written and provide insight into Esther’s character and values. Teitelman does a fantastic job setting up her protagonist’s fastidious dedication to quality and perfection, which play into the character’s survival instinct.
One distraction was the ongoing injection of other languages. While sprinkling Yiddish, German and Dutch between their English translations is a lovely touch and helps the reader keep track of the language shifts with Esther’s various relocations, the inclusion of the other languages throughout the story was, for me, overkill. I eventually just skipped past the foreign languages to continue with the story and it did not affect my enjoyment of the book.
I loved the meticulous descriptions of stitches and materials and the process of sewing, all of which were artfully written and provide insight into Esther’s character and values. Teitelman does a fantastic job setting up her protagonist’s fastidious dedication to quality and perfection, which play into the character’s survival instinct.
One distraction was the ongoing injection of other languages. While sprinkling Yiddish, German and Dutch between their English translations is a lovely touch and helps the reader keep track of the language shifts with Esther’s various relocations, the inclusion of the other languages throughout the story was, for me, overkill. I eventually just skipped past the foreign languages to continue with the story and it did not affect my enjoyment of the book.
September 12, 2022
The novel delves into universalities as it explores Esther's journey, a 17-yr Jewish girl from Poland, who initially flees to Koln, Germany following a personal tragedy, and from there to various parts of Europe, as she tries to flee the Nazi occupation. She makes some hard choices as she plans her departure, all alone, though somewhere in her subconscious mind, she feels the mysterious presence of Lord Ganesha. She had chanced upon his poster in a makeshift shop in Koln once, and had not been able to forget him, especially when she struggles to maintain faith.
A personal story, the novel offers us Esther’s experience of the war which in turn affords her unusual opportunities. The story highlights Esther’s resilience and determination, and finally this magical realist novel brings Esther to the very cradle where she fully realises her deep bonding with the Hindu God Ganesha.
Brilliantly written.
A personal story, the novel offers us Esther’s experience of the war which in turn affords her unusual opportunities. The story highlights Esther’s resilience and determination, and finally this magical realist novel brings Esther to the very cradle where she fully realises her deep bonding with the Hindu God Ganesha.
Brilliantly written.
June 19, 2019
I had heard the category, "magic realism", for this book and magic realism not being my favorite genre, I started the book with some wariness.
But surprise!
I was engaged by the story and the main character, Esther, within the first few pages. Ms Teitleman is masterful at storytelling. She weaves a big story of Europe during the war into a small, personal story of a woman's journey through those times. Teitleman writes Esther as a complex, hardened woman with unrelenting focus, and yet, she is multi-layered and worthy of our concern and affection.
The gravitational pull to India, the sense memories that guide Esther to her destiny are subtly written in such a way that we are brought along in real time every step of the way.
But surprise!
I was engaged by the story and the main character, Esther, within the first few pages. Ms Teitleman is masterful at storytelling. She weaves a big story of Europe during the war into a small, personal story of a woman's journey through those times. Teitleman writes Esther as a complex, hardened woman with unrelenting focus, and yet, she is multi-layered and worthy of our concern and affection.
The gravitational pull to India, the sense memories that guide Esther to her destiny are subtly written in such a way that we are brought along in real time every step of the way.
July 30, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Guesthouse for Ganesha", found it hard to put down, and was drawn in to the characters' journeys. Esther's journey takes us through the Holocaust where Esther's survival instincts dictate her actions for self and family. Her heartbreak at being left at the alter as a teenage bride provide the undercurrent that explains her hardened heart. As in all journeys, a guide is needed and Esther's is Ganesha who protects her and leads her ultimately back to herself. Teitelman treats the reader to beautifully poetic writing and deep insight into how individuals make their way through the harshness of life's obstacles.
July 24, 2019
Judith Teitelman writes with the eyes of an artist, the soul of a poet, and the wisdom of a philosopher. A consummate story teller, she leads you into the psyche of Esther Grunspan and her hard hearted coping mechanism for her personal pain amidst an encroaching world filled with political terror, one that threatens her very existence. Unbeknownst to her, Ganesha guides her, his soothing words weave in and out of these chapters to lead her to a transformative journey, one filled with magic and awe. What a magnificent first novel for a truly talented writer!
June 8, 2019
I was immediately drawn in by the unusual heroine. Esther's reaction to heartache and threat was surprising and original especially juxtaposed with the mystical narrator Ganesha. The language is beautiful and I so appreciate that issues of tolerance, spirituality and self-discovery were woven into the narrative. This novel takes you on a journey that stays with you long after you've read the last page.
July 28, 2019
A beautifully-written and captivating must-read!
Judith Teitelman’s mind-opening novel weaves together the fabrics of historical tragedy, the will and skill of survival, the multiple facets of communication, and the richness of spirituality in its many forms. This cleverly-crafted story transcends time, elevating the reader to a platform of deep reflection on the humanity of hope, belief, and unification.
Judith Teitelman’s mind-opening novel weaves together the fabrics of historical tragedy, the will and skill of survival, the multiple facets of communication, and the richness of spirituality in its many forms. This cleverly-crafted story transcends time, elevating the reader to a platform of deep reflection on the humanity of hope, belief, and unification.
August 4, 2019
When you see the cover of "Guesthouse for Ganesha"by Judith Teitleman, with the beautifully decorated elephant Ganesha dancing on a spool of thread, please accept those enticing arms and fall into this story offering hope and comfort. No matter how hard your heart or how terrible the crises of life are, the lovely prose and poetry will send you on a journey to the "Guesthouse" that you will never want to leave. You will be protected and loved.
August 19, 2019
Judith Teitelman's blend of history, imagination, and strength against impossible odds- took a hold of my heart. Guesthouse for Ganesha was hard to put down, had me taking notes on the empty pages in the back of the book. Esther's vulnerability is what it is to be human, the foundation of her strength - her momentum and in the end her transcenDANCE. The attention to historical detail and accuracy add chilling layers of authenticity. BRAVO Judith Teitelman!
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