""Enjoy it while you still can," Mamma Violet says. "Eventually, the only tastes left in your life are memories"".

Cover me with my Izar is a gorgeous multi-generational biography which spans between several generations to share the history of the author, Nora's, various older Jewish relatives, weaving the intricate tale of their connections and their personal stories. Starting in Baghdad, the collection shares the well-documented but lesser discussed migration of Iraqi Jews around the region following the persecution that eventually led to mass fleeing.

"Anyone who thinks backgammon is just a game of luck is plain wrong. This game forces your brain to do a lot of exercise, sweat to see the larger picture instead of just one small corner. Which is a mistake people always make - not checking things through before they rush headlong in".

With family wisdom and pearls of knowledge laced in between the stories, we follow the character development of several entirely different paths which surprisingly all end up back together, just before the near present. Traditional Jewish traditions, combined with female independence, entrepreneurial spirit and outright survival tactics always makes for a great tale. However, Nora's ability to leave no stone unturned, and really provide context to both the setting and the rationale behind actions taken, provided a rich read which encouraged the reader to consider the history of the Jewish population outside of more commonly considered lenses. I greatly enjoyed the fresh approach and the sometimes outright mundane information being shared - such as the impatience of husbands or the lengthy bus journeys between countries.

There were so many cultural references I simply didn't understand due to the assimilation of the religion into various different countries and this book provided an opportunity to learn more about both the religion and the history of the people who - by choice and by force - continue to carry the history of existence with them.

Variety is the spice of life and to call the family central to this book 'varied' would be an understatement. There is a lot in this for everyone. Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc.

Very interesting book to read. Lots of information I wasn’t aware of. Lots of points made to give you things to find about. The research into the book shows. Nice characters that emerge you in there culture and lives. Very well written