Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #965673 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

From Publishers Weekly
By collecting his impressions from the last decade (originally published in Britain's Guardian), noted Israeli novelist Grossman creates something astonishing-a moving tale of, and comment on, modern Israeli culture and politics. Though there are no surprises in the chain of events, to watch an articulate and nuanced man live through the demise of the peace process is to experience it anew, in all its grisly and idiosyncratic power. Grossman watches the tentative steps toward peace, beginning in 1993, and what he hopes are the attempts of both sides to break free from being "hostages of their history and psychology." Then he looks on with increasing anxiety as it all unravels. Throughout, Grossman combines the lyrical touches he brings to his novels (The Smile of the Lamb, etc.) with a remarkably clear eye. "So many cherished things and private moments are lost to fear and violence," he writes. "So much creative power, so much imagination and thought, are directed today at destruction and death." Indeed, he mourns for losses that are as much philosophical as political, another reason this book has more depth than the typically two-dimensional newspaper op-ed. Grossman holds out for peace even when events suggest otherwise, maintaining criticism of both Israeli civilians and leaders for not trying to understand the Palestinian heart and mind. But these aren't simply the untempered cries of a dove. The author writes convincingly of the inner torment he feels after several attacks on innocent Israelis and candidly engages in self-questioning when dreams of peace start to float away. That gives him credibility, which, mixed with a heartfelt love of Israel and a courtly tone, lend the book an uncommon force.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Israel's celebrated novelist/activist considers why Israelis and Palestinians can't make peace.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Grossman, the author of six novels and two other nonfiction works, has written 33 essays--"articles and responses to particularly turbulent moments in the years since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993." A peace activist, he is intensely discouraged by the actions of both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Israeli reality, he writes, is "more than anything else, a depressing sequence of compromises and anxieties, apathy and fatalism." Writing about the Holocaust and Germany, he says that 50 years is too short a period for the wound to heal and there is no urgent need to speak about reconciliation. Grossman urges both Israel and the Palestinians to end their uncompromising rhetoric and reduce their violent actions to the bare minimum. There is much more here that is required reading for anyone hoping to get a basic knowledge of what the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is about and what it's like to live in a nation under fire. George Cohen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Everyone Should Read before forming an Opinion
I had to read this book for a college class, but ended up enjoying it anyway. While he does not reach any conclusions, I do not think that is his intention. Rather, he offers an emotional first-hand look at the complex situation that has developed in the Middle East. The reader experiances the highs and lows of the recent peace efforts, from the hope of Oslo to the tragedy of assassination. There is also an excellent essay on the Holocaust and the effects on Germany and Israel. No matter one's views on the Middle East conflict, this is a book worth reading. Grossman is moderate and rational, a viewpoint that is too often lost in the emotion and horror of the violent cycle that has taken hold in the region.

Compassionate, yet frustrating & incomplete.
The very real suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians permeate the pages of this book and for that it is to be commended. Comprising some 34 articles surrounding the ongoing conflict, this study approaches the issue from a left-wing and a solely, secular stance which clearly hopes for a man-made, peaceful co-existence between the two sides.

However, I found the book to be considerably frustrating at times as I discovered an extremely inaccurate perception of both "Palestinian" and Israeli history where little relevance or importance is placed upon the Jewish heritage to the Land as outlined in the Hebrew-Christian Scriptures, as well as what fundamental Islam has declared in relation to the conflict and the land concerned. Others might disagree.

Without such an understanding & appreciation I personally find that this study is incomplete, despite the noteworthy references to the political process and the failings of those involved amidst the mistrust and despair of the ordinary people on the ground.

The book, whilst recognising the minuscule size of Israel and it's surrounding by numerous, larger, hostile countries drenched in a wave of fundamentalist Islamism, I can but feel uncomfortable with how the source has "legitimatised" the "Palestinian" claim to the disputed territories amidst such a distorted perception of history.

The book correctly describes the conflict as extremely complex and places blame on both sides for the present situation on the ground. This whilst recognising what is depicted as the dread and despair upon the Israeli side where the fingers of an "outstretched hand" of friendship as having been transformed through such anguish into a clenched fist. Indeed, the detail attached to the political aspects of this issue is noteworthy on it's own merits.

Many controversial opinions are outlined in this work and they are recognised by the source as being just that. One opinion is that the Palestinian side has brought about an "intolerable escalation" through the weapon of suicide bombings against Israeli civilians which is cited as "irrational, insane and inhuman" from any perspective.

Would I recommend this book ? - As a complete study on this particular issue...definitely not! For a secular, compassionate reference to the suffering and complexity of the conflict and it's affect upon both sides ...yes it is worthy of that.

However, for a necessary secular grounding in this subject I would highly recommend Joan Peter's epic work entitled "From Time Immemorial; The Origins Of The Arab-Jewish Conflict Over Palestine" as well as Samuel Katz's work entitled "Battleground; Fact & Fantasy In Palestine".

I would also recommend two books which approach the issue from the perspective outlined in the Hebrew-Christian Scriptures, (without which, in my opinion, any context surrounding this matter is incomplete) - Randall Price's "Unholy War; America, Israel and Radical Islam" and Hal Lindsey's "The Everlasting Hatred; The Roots Of Jihad". Thank you for your time.

Blessed Are The Peacemakers
Perhaps the greatest insight I got from this collection of essays from David Grossman is that the peacemakers and people who strive for a peaceful solution are truly the greatest heros. It takes courage to overcome base human instincts and seek a fair peace. Mr Grossman does an admirable job of conveying this. This is not so much a book for the Mideast history scholar as it is for the person who wants to get a feel for what it's like to be caught in the maelstrom that envelops Israel and the Palestinian lands today.