"The Shawl" is an unneeded new entry into the recreation of the Holocaust. Nothing new was said and the short length doesn't allow for any meaningful introspection. Its power instead comes from the image it conceives, one based on real events apparently, around which the rest of the tale is built. So why do I say it's unnecessary? Because it's shocking and poetic, and we've been here before, a thousand times already. This is closer to poetry, and I've read better poetry.

It didn't move me. It saddened me, horrified me even. I cannot even process something of this level of brutality happening in real life. But it doesn't leave a mark. Not necessarily distasteful, but not exactly of good taste either.

As for Rosa... well. There's not much to say. I get where it's going for, but it's clear that what made Ozick a sensation was The Shawl, and not Rosa. Rosa is an overwritten study of character that dives too deeply into someone projecting too little, which is something I didn't believe I could say about a victim of the Holocaust. I'm not a fan of the structure and the concept of recapturing one's life only through the power of "love". We've also been here before, and I'm sadly not impressed. There's not much too like, sadly.

Now, one star is harsh given the intention behind the work, but it utterly fails in my eyes in too many ways, and doesn't have the benefit of being of my taste either. Not the worst pack of short stories, just sadly not my jam at all.

Watch the Son of Saul instead...