Jonathan Cape Pub 02.09.10
£18.99
3 stars
This is the story of friendships that have survived the passage of time: the breakdown of a marriage and the love of a mother for her son. All this is set against the back drop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The war is represented by the relationship between our protagonist Ora and the Palestinian Sami, He attempts to open her eyes to what is happening outside her front door but she is consumed by the fear of discovering her son Ofra may be dead.
She runs away from her son’s decision to rejoin the Israeli army and her naivety of the struggles of her countrymen against the Palestinian forces.
Ora hikes through the Gallilee accompanied by Ofra’s true father – the mutual childhood friend of both hers and her husband, Avram. Although he did not want any part in Ofra’s upbringing, Ora uses this opportunity to recount stories about Ofra and his journey to adulthood. Her words keep Ofra alive, not just for her, but also his estranged father.
Although the book is a little long-winded and occasionally becomes tiresome there is a fluidity to Grossman’s writing that takes you back and forth through time. He shares with his audience the day to day events of his characters juxtaposed with the earth shattering: the trials and tribulations of maintain intimate relationships.
In the end, this is a story of how life continues in a country in turmoil who is taking part in a war that is slowly engulfing the entire world.
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