Israela


Fiction - Cultural
380 Pages
Reviewed on 10/30/2013
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Israela by Batya Casper is the story of an Israeli journalist, Ratiba, who marries her childhood love, an Israeli Arab who is not aware that she is Jewish. Ratiba has no contact with her family. Her sisters, Elisheva and Orit, miss her a lot. The story takes us from 1955 to 1983 and spans several generations.

The story is very interesting. It takes readers to the world of Arabs and Jews and gives an overview of their cultures and lifestyles. The passion, complexities, and intermingling of two different cultures is handled well by the author. The characters, Ratiba, her Arab husband, two sisters, and two sons, have been developed well. All the characters are unusual and the book immerses readers deeply in the history of Israel and the Arabs. Readers can learn about different cultures and history and experience something unique and new.

The backdrop of Israel makes the story heart wrenching. The book speaks about the loyalty, different cultures, love, and pain that exist in a family. The relationship between Arabs and Jews also forms an integral part of the story. Ratiba's sisters and children also add to the interesting tapestry. The characters and narration are colorful and descriptive. You feel for the people suffering in the war-torn country. The agonies, the joys, and the sufferings they go through living in a war zone is captured well. It is a very original and honest story that should be read by all.