People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

After reading this I wondered if I have enough time left in my life to become a rare book conservator just so I could become Hanna Heath. She is called to Sarajevo after the war to determine the authenticity of a rare copy of the haggadah saved from the library in that city. As she examines the pages she finds bits of this and that left in the book by previous owners. At each discovery, we are treated to beautifully written historical fiction attached to that item all the way back to the 15th century. It is part mystery, part romance and all wonderful. It is one of my all time favorite books.