Judy H. (Judyh) - , reviewed on 4/18/2012 + 227 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

This is an absolutely beautiful story from beginning to end. The prose is gorgeous and captivating, allowing the reader to thoroughly feel the setting and the emotions. The story takes place in two time periods, present day Israel and pre-1948 war Palestine. It isn't clear from the start how the two stories will come together, but I never found it confusing or difficult that two stories were being told. When it does all come together, it is in a very satisfying way. The more modern story involves Yair, a young-ish Israeli man. He tells the story of his childhood, his parents and brother, the small and big things that happen in their lives living in both Tel Aviv and then Jerusalem. The older story takes place mainly on a kibbutz, but also in a few other areas of the country as the young man in the story grows up. The stories involve love and loss, family relationships, and personal growth. It is not primarily a story of Jews and Arabs or of politics. Although in some ways the story could have been set in another country, in some ways it felt very Israeli (I could not describe why, maybe just the personalities), and it made me miss Israel and long to visit again. I highly recommend this book and will look for more books by Meir Shalev.

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