Ever since I was a kid, I've always enjoyed reading about the 60s and 70s, especially stories regarding those who protest and advocate for change. Overall, this book checked a lot of boxes for me in that regard. I did think that there were sections that were a bit repetitive and the transitions were sometimes abrupt. Still, I enjoyed this novel and can recommend it with a minor caveat.

This wasn’t a bad book by any means but much of it I found repetitive and too detailed, and my attention flagged on occasion. The protagonist is Jacobo, a young man from a remote community who arrives at the (fictional) University of Taos in 1963 where he is immediately swept up in the Free Speech Movement and the campus student protests, emblematic of so many turbulent student protests during that era. We learn early on that his involvement results in him being arrested and jailed, but he is released on the condition that he is drafted to Vietnam. It’s a coming-of-age story with some power to it, not least because Jacobo is very much an outsider and has to come to terms with all the new experiences he is presented with. It’s an interesting enough story but it didn’t really grip me as it didn’t seem to offer any new insights, and overall both style and content felt pretty bland and occasionally tedious.

Overall, I felt kinda meh about this book. Not necessarily bad, but not particularly memorable either. Giving it 2.5/5 Stars.

JACOBO’S RAINBOW by David Hirshberg is a wonderful literary historical fiction novel that reads as a historical memoir set primarily during the tumultuous nineteen sixties.

Jacobo Toledano is the protagonist and the unique main character who chronicles his life in this memoir style tale. Jacobo comes from an isolated small community in New Mexico which leaves him with an unbiased view of the world and as an outsider he is the perfect storyteller for this tale.

On the fifteenth anniversary of the day Jacobo is sent to jail, he begins to write his story. He arrives at university only to be swept up by a charismatic leader of the Free Speech Movement and the protests of the Vietnam war. All the characters he writes about comes to life on the page with perceptive insights and sensitivity. His recording of these events is the cause of his being arrested.

Jacobo is given a choice, stay in jail or be drafted to fight in Vietnam. The gruesome fighting comes alive on the page and I remember watching it nightly on the news. (This was the first war to come into American homes nightly on the national news programs.) When he returns, he continues to chronicle a changing America.
This is a coming-of-age story set against the social upheaval of the nineteen sixties. It is also a tale of triumph over adversity, prejudice, lies and loss. This story and the past few years demonstrate that history can and will repeat itself if we are not ever observant and caretakers of everyone’s rights and freedom.

I highly recommend this novel and author!

Jacobo"s Rainbow
By David Hirshberg

Jacobo’s Rainbow is a book set in the 60’s surrounding Vietnam War and the Free Speech Movement which provides the backdrop of this immersive and thought provoking story.

Though set in the past, the universal themes of this book is relevant to today’s issues.

I found the writing to be insightful and observations deeply moving.

This book is written from the American Jewish perspective and evokes a captivating narrative inclusive of our universal voice that address races, genders, ethnicity and really embracing humanity.

What a poignant and powerful read I enjoyed

It always surprises me to see a book about the 1960s listed as historical fiction. In some ways, it doesn't seem that long ago -- those were the years that I grew up - from 12 to 21! Jacobo's Rainbow looks at those years - at the free-speech movement, the Vietnam protests and the anger that the college students had against the government. It also shows the racism and sexism that existed even among the same college students who wanted free speech. Unfortunately we still see a lot of this in America today.

Jacobo grew up in a small town and went to college at University of Taos in 1963. The students on campus believed that he was Indian because of his name and where he grew up. He was quickly caught up in the free speech movement on campus led by a charismatic man who seemed to have all the answers. Instead of being a real part of the action when the group takes over an administration building, he is handed a notebook and told to keep track of everything that is said during the protest because he's still considered an outsider. When things go terribly wrong with the building takeover, Jacobo is blamed and he sneaks out of town and heads home. When he's arrested he's given two choices - either jail or joining the military and going to Vietnam. He continues to chronicle his life and fifteen years after the original free speech protest, he looks back on his life and all of the changes that he's been through.

This book is about the protests of the 60s but, to me, more importantly it's about prejudice - against Jewish people, against women and against everyone who thinks differently than the leadership of the protest. This was a well written introspective book about what was going on in the 60s and how we see some of the same attitudes today. It gives the reader a lot to think about. I look forward to reading future books from this author.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Linda Zagon of Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Jacobo’s Rainbow” by David Hirshberg, May 4, 2021

David Hirshberg, the author of “Jacobo’s Rainbow” has written an intriguing, intense, captivating, and thought-provoking historical literary novel. The timeline for this novel is mostly the 1960’s and goes to the past and future when it pertains to the characters and events. This is the time of “free speech” on campus, and Vietnam protests. This is also the time when people who are different are considered outsiders and treated differently. The author describes his characters as complex and complicated. There are betrayals and secrets.

Jacobo is the protagonist in this story and offers the reader a front-row seat to the happenings of the time. Most of the people who meet Jacobo think that he is of Hispanic origin, not realizing that he is Jewish. Nevertheless, Jacobo is considered an outsider. When there are meetings of free speech, he joins a group and is put in charge of documenting everything in a notebook. The Leader of this Free Speech Movement makes a point by doing some illegal and dangerous things. Mostly, Jacobo finds himself accepted by other “outsiders”.

When things go wrong, Jacobo is blamed and accused and finds himself in prison. His choice seems to be prison or going to Vietnam. Jacobo constantly documents many things in Vietnam. The author discusses prejudice and antisemitism. Also mentioned is there ate other”outsiders” that show bravery and courage.

The author discusses the importance of fairness, honesty, family, friends, and hope. I would highly recommend this thought-provoking book.

Jacobo’s Rainbow was an interesting delve into the history of the turbulent 60’s. The book includes so many of the kinds of events from that time period, including the Vietnam war, free speech and equal rights.
I really enjoyed the beginning of Jacobo’s story set in a remote area of New Mexico. Then it seemed to jump into college life too quickly and with some confusion on my part. I felt that there were scenes that had no relevance to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author in providing this ARC for an honest review.

An interesting read. The setting is the 60s-70s- the radical free speech movement, the Vietnam war, the freedom riders , and the college protests. For those of us who lived through that period, the story certainly resonates- and for many who served in Vietnam, will be all to vivid and painful.
On a somewhat “ simpler” and personal level, it is the story of the main character-Jacobo-raised in a town that doesn’t exist on a map, in a culture far removed from the modern world. He attends UT
(University of Taos) and Gets involved , almost unintentionally , in a campus anti-war protest, and encounters hypocrisy, misogyny, and perhaps most painfully a deceptive protest leader initially idolized by all.
The book also delves in detail-into anti-semitism, jewish identity and comradeship through a series of surprising developments , friendships, and ultimately love.
I have mixed feelings about recommending this book . The topics mentioned and the era covered are fascinating,but I personally found the writing too confusing, at times too detailed and repetitive,thus detracting from the key and important elements of the book. Would be anxious to hear / read what others think..