A Long Trip, 01 Jan 2007
A foreign worker is killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem and the personnel manager at her employer becomes responsible for organizing the internment, due largely to his boss's generosity, compassion, and public relations savvy.

In summary, this sounds like the story of an unusual corporate assignment. But this misses what is probably the leading quality of the narrative, at least through the first two-thirds of the book. This is the relentless and annoying effort of peripheral characters to influence the actions of the personnel manager--largely by making arguments, some cynical and some sincere, to define the personnel manager's responsibility to this victim of terrorism.

For me, the effect of their efforts was to shift the narrative from a story of obstacles overcome to a story replete with aggravating meddling. You know what it's like when your strong minded relatives tell you how to perform a task you can handle competently yourself? Testy is the mood I carried through much of this novel.

At the same time, I'd fault Yehoshua for failing to pull motivation and meaning out of the actions of the characters. Yes, there are numerous declarations about compassion. But, these do not seem to flow from character. Likewise, the final section of the book contains a heavy handed imposition of philosophy and myth, which, once again, is external to the characters. Finally, there's lots of overt button pushing that surely resonates with many readers, as Yehoshua condemns characters for not trying hard enough or not doing enough for their children. On Amazon.com, one reviewer faulted this book for lacking subtlety and I agree.

Nonetheless, this book does reward the persevering reader with a surprising and touching ending that also raises a valid question. Here comes a spoiler: But at the end of his novel, Yehoshua considers who rightfully belongs in Jerusalem.



"There was no choice. They had to see it through to the end.", 25 Aug 2006
A Jerusalem bombing results in the death of an unidentified woman, unvisited at the hospital during the last days of her life. Unmourned, she remains in the local morgue for more than a week, until she is finally traced to the bakery where she worked. An aggressive newspaper reporter breaks the story of the unmissed employee, and the bakery's eight-seven-year-old owner, furious at the story's accusations of callousness, assigns the human resources manager to learn about woman so that "a more tangible expression of regret from himself and his staff" can be made.The resources manager soon learns that Yulia Ragayev was a Russian engineer working on the bakery's night-time cleaning crew.

Creating empathy for Yulia, the author shows details about her life and those who have loved and abandoned her. He uses symbolic details to create parallels and contrasts--the warm, homey smell of the bakery contrasting with the horrors of the bombing, the abandoned doll of a barefoot monk in Yulia's shack providing a touching parallel to the cold poverty of her own life. Serious thematic questions arise: Who is responsible for Yulia in Jerusalem? And if she is not solely responsible for her own life, how much, if anything, does anyone else owe her?

Eventually, the bakery owner demands a dignified funeral for Yulia, and he assigns the resources manager to escort her body back to her Russian village so she can be buried there. The timid human resources manager soon learns more than he ever bargained for about Yulia, life, bureaucracy, and ultimately, about the human resources he himself possesses.

Wonderfully dark humor gradually emerges from the ironies that occur on the Russian journey, as Yehoshua emphasizes the continuing absurdity of life. The hostile newspaper reporter ("the weasel") and his photographer ("the snake") accompany the resources manager and the coffin to Russia. The manager is forced to pay bribes, both to the authorities and to Yulia's family, and as he travels farther into the bleak interior of the Russian steppes, a terrible winter storm approaches. While the manager stays underground, the coffin remains out in the open.

A full-scale slapstick comedy of noir elements results, with the manager announcing that "Atonement was turning into lunacy." Readers will celebrate the ending, as Yehoshua brings the action, themes, and characters full circle, showing the growth of the human resources manager, his pragmatism (learned on the trip), and his awareness of the larger mission with which he has been entrusted. This novel about "a dead temporary resident who believed in Jerusalem more than Jerusalem believes in itself" is one of the most satisfying novels I've read this year. Mary Whipple

A Long Trip, 01 Jan 2007
A foreign worker is killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem and the personnel manager at her employer becomes responsible for organizing the internment, due largely to his boss's generosity, compassion, and public relations savvy.

In summary, this sounds like the story of an unusual corporate assignment. But this misses what is probably the leading quality of the narrative, at least through the first two-thirds of the book. This is the relentless and annoying effort of peripheral characters to influence the actions of the personnel manager--largely by making arguments, some cynical and some sincere, to define the personnel manager's responsibility to this victim of terrorism.

For me, the effect of their efforts was to shift the narrative from a story of obstacles overcome to a story replete with aggravating meddling. You know what it's like when your strong minded relatives tell you how to perform a task you can handle competently yourself? Testy is the mood I carried through much of this novel.

At the same time, I'd fault Yehoshua for failing to pull motivation and meaning out of the actions of the characters. Yes, there are numerous declarations about compassion. But, these do not seem to flow from character. Likewise, the final section of the book contains a heavy handed imposition of philosophy and myth, which, once again, is external to the characters. Finally, there's lots of overt button pushing that surely resonates with many readers, as Yehoshua condemns characters for not trying hard enough or not doing enough for their children. On Amazon.com, one reviewer faulted this book for lacking subtlety and I agree.

Nonetheless, this book does reward the persevering reader with a surprising and touching ending that also raises a valid question. Here comes a spoiler: But at the end of his novel, Yehoshua considers who rightfully belongs in Jerusalem.



"There was no choice. They had to see it through to the end.", 25 Aug 2006
A Jerusalem bombing results in the death of an unidentified woman, unvisited at the hospital during the last days of her life. Unmourned, she remains in the local morgue for more than a week, until she is finally traced to the bakery where she worked. An aggressive newspaper reporter breaks the story of the unmissed employee, and the bakery's eight-seven-year-old owner, furious at the story's accusations of callousness, assigns the human resources manager to learn about woman so that "a more tangible expression of regret from himself and his staff" can be made.The resources manager soon learns that Yulia Ragayev was a Russian engineer working on the bakery's night-time cleaning crew.

Creating empathy for Yulia, the author shows details about her life and those who have loved and abandoned her. He uses symbolic details to create parallels and contrasts--the warm, homey smell of the bakery contrasting with the horrors of the bombing, the abandoned doll of a barefoot monk in Yulia's shack providing a touching parallel to the cold poverty of her own life. Serious thematic questions arise: Who is responsible for Yulia in Jerusalem? And if she is not solely responsible for her own life, how much, if anything, does anyone else owe her?

Eventually, the bakery owner demands a dignified funeral for Yulia, and he assigns the resources manager to escort her body back to her Russian village so she can be buried there. The timid human resources manager soon learns more than he ever bargained for about Yulia, life, bureaucracy, and ultimately, about the human resources he himself possesses.

Wonderfully dark humor gradually emerges from the ironies that occur on the Russian journey, as Yehoshua emphasizes the continuing absurdity of life. The hostile newspaper reporter ("the weasel") and his photographer ("the snake") accompany the resources manager and the coffin to Russia. The manager is forced to pay bribes, both to the authorities and to Yulia's family, and as he travels farther into the bleak interior of the Russian steppes, a terrible winter storm approaches. While the manager stays underground, the coffin remains out in the open.

A full-scale slapstick comedy of noir elements results, with the manager announcing that "Atonement was turning into lunacy." Readers will celebrate the ending, as Yehoshua brings the action, themes, and characters full circle, showing the growth of the human resources manager, his pragmatism (learned on the trip), and his awareness of the larger mission with which he has been entrusted. This novel about "a dead temporary resident who believed in Jerusalem more than Jerusalem believes in itself" is one of the most satisfying novels I've read this year. Mary Whipple

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A Long Trip, 01 Jan 2007
A foreign worker is killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem and the personnel manager at her employer becomes responsible for organizing the internment, due largely to his boss's generosity, compassion, and public relations savvy.

In summary, this sounds like the story of an unusual corporate assignment. But this misses what is probably the leading quality of the narrative, at least through the first two-thirds of the book. This is the relentless and annoying effort of peripheral characters to influence the actions of the personnel manager--largely by making arguments, some cynical and some sincere, to define the personnel manager's responsibility to this victim of terrorism.

For me, the effect of their efforts was to shift the narrative from a story of obstacles overcome to a story replete with aggravating meddling. You know what it's like when your strong minded relatives tell you how to perform a task you can handle competently yourself? Testy is the mood I carried through much of this novel.

At the same time, I'd fault Yehoshua for failing to pull motivation and meaning out of the actions of the characters. Yes, there are numerous declarations about compassion. But, these do not seem to flow from character. Likewise, the final section of the book contains a heavy handed imposition of philosophy and myth, which, once again, is external to the characters. Finally, there's lots of overt button pushing that surely resonates with many readers, as Yehoshua condemns characters for not trying hard enough or not doing enough for their children. On Amazon.com, one reviewer faulted this book for lacking subtlety and I agree.

Nonetheless, this book does reward the persevering reader with a surprising and touching ending that also raises a valid question. Here comes a spoiler: But at the end of his novel, Yehoshua considers who rightfully belongs in Jerusalem.



"There was no choice. They had to see it through to the end.", 25 Aug 2006
A Jerusalem bombing results in the death of an unidentified woman, unvisited at the hospital during the last days of her life. Unmourned, she remains in the local morgue for more than a week, until she is finally traced to the bakery where she worked. An aggressive newspaper reporter breaks the story of the unmissed employee, and the bakery's eight-seven-year-old owner, furious at the story's accusations of callousness, assigns the human resources manager to learn about woman so that "a more tangible expression of regret from himself and his staff" can be made.The resources manager soon learns that Yulia Ragayev was a Russian engineer working on the bakery's night-time cleaning crew.

Creating empathy for Yulia, the author shows details about her life and those who have loved and abandoned her. He uses symbolic details to create parallels and contrasts--the warm, homey smell of the bakery contrasting with the horrors of the bombing, the abandoned doll of a barefoot monk in Yulia's shack providing a touching parallel to the cold poverty of her own life. Serious thematic questions arise: Who is responsible for Yulia in Jerusalem? And if she is not solely responsible for her own life, how much, if anything, does anyone else owe her?

Eventually, the bakery owner demands a dignified funeral for Yulia, and he assigns the resources manager to escort her body back to her Russian village so she can be buried there. The timid human resources manager soon learns more than he ever bargained for about Yulia, life, bureaucracy, and ultimately, about the human resources he himself possesses.

Wonderfully dark humor gradually emerges from the ironies that occur on the Russian journey, as Yehoshua emphasizes the continuing absurdity of life. The hostile newspaper reporter ("the weasel") and his photographer ("the snake") accompany the resources manager and the coffin to Russia. The manager is forced to pay bribes, both to the authorities and to Yulia's family, and as he travels farther into the bleak interior of the Russian steppes, a terrible winter storm approaches. While the manager stays underground, the coffin remains out in the open.

A full-scale slapstick comedy of noir elements results, with the manager announcing that "Atonement was turning into lunacy." Readers will celebrate the ending, as Yehoshua brings the action, themes, and characters full circle, showing the growth of the human resources manager, his pragmatism (learned on the trip), and his awareness of the larger mission with which he has been entrusted. This novel about "a dead temporary resident who believed in Jerusalem more than Jerusalem believes in itself" is one of the most satisfying novels I've read this year. Mary Whipple

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A Long Trip, 01 Jan 2007
A foreign worker is killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem and the personnel manager at her employer becomes responsible for organizing the internment, due largely to his boss's generosity, compassion, and public relations savvy.

In summary, this sounds like the story of an unusual corporate assignment. But this misses what is probably the leading quality of the narrative, at least through the first two-thirds of the book. This is the relentless and annoying effort of peripheral characters to influence the actions of the personnel manager--largely by making arguments, some cynical and some sincere, to define the personnel manager's responsibility to this victim of terrorism.

For me, the effect of their efforts was to shift the narrative from a story of obstacles overcome to a story replete with aggravating meddling. You know what it's like when your strong minded relatives tell you how to perform a task you can handle competently yourself? Testy is the mood I carried through much of this novel.

At the same time, I'd fault Yehoshua for failing to pull motivation and meaning out of the actions of the characters. Yes, there are numerous declarations about compassion. But, these do not seem to flow from character. Likewise, the final section of the book contains a heavy handed imposition of philosophy and myth, which, once again, is external to the characters. Finally, there's lots of overt button pushing that surely resonates with many readers, as Yehoshua condemns characters for not trying hard enough or not doing enough for their children. On Amazon.com, one reviewer faulted this book for lacking subtlety and I agree.

Nonetheless, this book does reward the persevering reader with a surprising and touching ending that also raises a valid question. Here comes a spoiler: But at the end of his novel, Yehoshua considers who rightfully belongs in Jerusalem.



"There was no choice. They had to see it through to the end.", 25 Aug 2006
A Jerusalem bombing results in the death of an unidentified woman, unvisited at the hospital during the last days of her life. Unmourned, she remains in the local morgue for more than a week, until she is finally traced to the bakery where she worked. An aggressive newspaper reporter breaks the story of the unmissed employee, and the bakery's eight-seven-year-old owner, furious at the story's accusations of callousness, assigns the human resources manager to learn about woman so that "a more tangible expression of regret from himself and his staff" can be made.The resources manager soon learns that Yulia Ragayev was a Russian engineer working on the bakery's night-time cleaning crew.

Creating empathy for Yulia, the author shows details about her life and those who have loved and abandoned her. He uses symbolic details to create parallels and contrasts--the warm, homey smell of the bakery contrasting with the horrors of the bombing, the abandoned doll of a barefoot monk in Yulia's shack providing a touching parallel to the cold poverty of her own life. Serious thematic questions arise: Who is responsible for Yulia in Jerusalem? And if she is not solely responsible for her own life, how much, if anything, does anyone else owe her?

Eventually, the bakery owner demands a dignified funeral for Yulia, and he assigns the resources manager to escort her body back to her Russian village so she can be buried there. The timid human resources manager soon learns more than he ever bargained for about Yulia, life, bureaucracy, and ultimately, about the human resources he himself possesses.

Wonderfully dark humor gradually emerges from the ironies that occur on the Russian journey, as Yehoshua emphasizes the continuing absurdity of life. The hostile newspaper reporter ("the weasel") and his photographer ("the snake") accompany the resources manager and the coffin to Russia. The manager is forced to pay bribes, both to the authorities and to Yulia's family, and as he travels farther into the bleak interior of the Russian steppes, a terrible winter storm approaches. While the manager stays underground, the coffin remains out in the open.

A full-scale slapstick comedy of noir elements results, with the manager announcing that "Atonement was turning into lunacy." Readers will celebrate the ending, as Yehoshua brings the action, themes, and characters full circle, showing the growth of the human resources manager, his pragmatism (learned on the trip), and his awareness of the larger mission with which he has been entrusted. This novel about "a dead temporary resident who believed in Jerusalem more than Jerusalem believes in itself" is one of the most satisfying novels I've read this year. Mary Whipple

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A Long Trip, 01 Jan 2007
A foreign worker is killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem and the personnel manager at her employer becomes responsible for organizing the internment, due largely to his boss's generosity, compassion, and public relations savvy.

In summary, this sounds like the story of an unusual corporate assignment. But this misses what is probably the leading quality of the narrative, at least through the first two-thirds of the book. This is the relentless and annoying effort of peripheral characters to influence the actions of the personnel manager--largely by making arguments, some cynical and some sincere, to define the personnel manager's responsibility to this victim of terrorism.

For me, the effect of their efforts was to shift the narrative from a story of obstacles overcome to a story replete with aggravating meddling. You know what it's like when your strong minded relatives tell you how to perform a task you can handle competently yourself? Testy is the mood I carried through much of this novel.

At the same time, I'd fault Yehoshua for failing to pull motivation and meaning out of the actions of the characters. Yes, there are numerous declarations about compassion. But, these do not seem to flow from character. Likewise, the final section of the book contains a heavy handed imposition of philosophy and myth, which, once again, is external to the characters. Finally, there's lots of overt button pushing that surely resonates with many readers, as Yehoshua condemns characters for not trying hard enough or not doing enough for their children. On Amazon.com, one reviewer faulted this book for lacking subtlety and I agree.

Nonetheless, this book does reward the persevering reader with a surprising and touching ending that also raises a valid question. Here comes a spoiler: But at the end of his novel, Yehoshua considers who rightfully belongs in Jerusalem.



"There was no choice. They had to see it through to the end.", 25 Aug 2006
A Jerusalem bombing results in the death of an unidentified woman, unvisited at the hospital during the last days of her life. Unmourned, she remains in the local morgue for more than a week, until she is finally traced to the bakery where she worked. An aggressive newspaper reporter breaks the story of the unmissed employee, and the bakery's eight-seven-year-old owner, furious at the story's accusations of callousness, assigns the human resources manager to learn about woman so that "a more tangible expression of regret from himself and his staff" can be made.The resources manager soon learns that Yulia Ragayev was a Russian engineer working on the bakery's night-time cleaning crew.

Creating empathy for Yulia, the author shows details about her life and those who have loved and abandoned her. He uses symbolic details to create parallels and contrasts--the warm, homey smell of the bakery contrasting with the horrors of the bombing, the abandoned doll of a barefoot monk in Yulia's shack providing a touching parallel to the cold poverty of her own life. Serious thematic questions arise: Who is responsible for Yulia in Jerusalem? And if she is not solely responsible for her own life, how much, if anything, does anyone else owe her?

Eventually, the bakery owner demands a dignified funeral for Yulia, and he assigns the resources manager to escort her body back to her Russian village so she can be buried there. The timid human resources manager soon learns more than he ever bargained for about Yulia, life, bureaucracy, and ultimately, about the human resources he himself possesses.

Wonderfully dark humor gradually emerges from the ironies that occur on the Russian journey, as Yehoshua emphasizes the continuing absurdity of life. The hostile newspaper reporter ("the weasel") and his photographer ("the snake") accompany the resources manager and the coffin to Russia. The manager is forced to pay bribes, both to the authorities and to Yulia's family, and as he travels farther into the bleak interior of the Russian steppes, a terrible winter storm approaches. While the manager stays underground, the coffin remains out in the open.

A full-scale slapstick comedy of noir elements results, with the manager announcing that "Atonement was turning into lunacy." Readers will celebrate the ending, as Yehoshua brings the action, themes, and characters full circle, showing the growth of the human resources manager, his pragmatism (learned on the trip), and his awareness of the larger mission with which he has been entrusted. This novel about "a dead temporary resident who believed in Jerusalem more than Jerusalem believes in itself" is one of the most satisfying novels I've read this year. Mary Whipple

A Long Trip, 01 Jan 2007
A foreign worker is killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem and the personnel manager at her employer becomes responsible for organizing the internment, due largely to his boss's generosity, compassion, and public relations savvy.

In summary, this sounds like the story of an unusual corporate assignment. But this misses what is probably the leading quality of the narrative, at least through the first two-thirds of the book. This is the relentless and annoying effort of peripheral characters to influence the actions of the personnel manager--largely by making arguments, some cynical and some sincere, to define the personnel manager's responsibility to this victim of terrorism.

For me, the effect of their efforts was to shift the narrative from a story of obstacles overcome to a story replete with aggravating meddling. You know what it's like when your strong minded relatives tell you how to perform a task you can handle competently yourself? Testy is the mood I carried through much of this novel.

At the same time, I'd fault Yehoshua for failing to pull motivation and meaning out of the actions of the characters. Yes, there are numerous declarations about compassion. But, these do not seem to flow from character. Likewise, the final section of the book contains a heavy handed imposition of philosophy and myth, which, once again, is external to the characters. Finally, there's lots of overt button pushing that surely resonates with many readers, as Yehoshua condemns characters for not trying hard enough or not doing enough for their children. On Amazon.com, one reviewer faulted this book for lacking subtlety and I agree.

Nonetheless, this book does reward the persevering reader with a surprising and touching ending that also raises a valid question. Here comes a spoiler: But at the end of his novel, Yehoshua considers who rightfully belongs in Jerusalem.



"There was no choice. They had to see it through to the end.", 25 Aug 2006
A Jerusalem bombing results in the death of an unidentified woman, unvisited at the hospital during the last days of her life. Unmourned, she remains in the local morgue for more than a week, until she is finally traced to the bakery where she worked. An aggressive newspaper reporter breaks the story of the unmissed employee, and the bakery's eight-seven-year-old owner, furious at the story's accusations of callousness, assigns the human resources manager to learn about woman so that "a more tangible expression of regret from himself and his staff" can be made.The resources manager soon learns that Yulia Ragayev was a Russian engineer working on the bakery's night-time cleaning crew.

Creating empathy for Yulia, the author shows details about her life and those who have loved and abandoned her. He uses symbolic details to create parallels and contrasts--the warm, homey smell of the bakery contrasting with the horrors of the bombing, the abandoned doll of a barefoot monk in Yulia's shack providing a touching parallel to the cold poverty of her own life. Serious thematic questions arise: Who is responsible for Yulia in Jerusalem? And if she is not solely responsible for her own life, how much, if anything, does anyone else owe her?

Eventually, the bakery owner demands a dignified funeral for Yulia, and he assigns the resources manager to escort her body back to her Russian village so she can be buried there. The timid human resources manager soon learns more than he ever bargained for about Yulia, life, bureaucracy, and ultimately, about the human resources he himself possesses.

Wonderfully dark humor gradually emerges from the ironies that occur on the Russian journey, as Yehoshua emphasizes the continuing absurdity of life. The hostile newspaper reporter ("the weasel") and his photographer ("the snake") accompany the resources manager and the coffin to Russia. The manager is forced to pay bribes, both to the authorities and to Yulia's family, and as he travels farther into the bleak interior of the Russian steppes, a terrible winter storm approaches. While the manager stays underground, the coffin remains out in the open.

A full-scale slapstick comedy of noir elements results, with the manager announcing that "Atonement was turning into lunacy." Readers will celebrate the ending, as Yehoshua brings the action, themes, and characters full circle, showing the growth of the human resources manager, his pragmatism (learned on the trip), and his awareness of the larger mission with which he has been entrusted. This novel about "a dead temporary resident who believed in Jerusalem more than Jerusalem believes in itself" is one of the most satisfying novels I've read this year. Mary Whipple

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A Long Trip, 01 Jan 2007
A foreign worker is killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem and the personnel manager at her employer becomes responsible for organizing the internment, due largely to his boss's generosity, compassion, and public relations savvy.

In summary, this sounds like the story of an unusual corporate assignment. But this misses what is probably the leading quality of the narrative, at least through the first two-thirds of the book. This is the relentless and annoying effort of peripheral characters to influence the actions of the personnel manager--largely by making arguments, some cynical and some sincere, to define the personnel manager's responsibility to this victim of terrorism.

For me, the effect of their efforts was to shift the narrative from a story of obstacles overcome to a story replete with aggravating meddling. You know what it's like when your strong minded relatives tell you how to perform a task you can handle competently yourself? Testy is the mood I carried through much of this novel.

At the same time, I'd fault Yehoshua for failing to pull motivation and meaning out of the actions of the characters. Yes, there are numerous declarations about compassion. But, these do not seem to flow from character. Likewise, the final section of the book contains a heavy handed imposition of philosophy and myth, which, once again, is external to the characters. Finally, there's lots of overt button pushing that surely resonates with many readers, as Yehoshua condemns characters for not trying hard enough or not doing enough for their children. On Amazon.com, one reviewer faulted this book for lacking subtlety and I agree.

Nonetheless, this book does reward the persevering reader with a surprising and touching ending that also raises a valid question. Here comes a spoiler: But at the end of his novel, Yehoshua considers who rightfully belongs in Jerusalem.



"There was no choice. They had to see it through to the end.", 25 Aug 2006
A Jerusalem bombing results in the death of an unidentified woman, unvisited at the hospital during the last days of her life. Unmourned, she remains in the local morgue for more than a week, until she is finally traced to the bakery where she worked. An aggressive newspaper reporter breaks the story of the unmissed employee, and the bakery's eight-seven-year-old owner, furious at the story's accusations of callousness, assigns the human resources manager to learn about woman so that "a more tangible expression of regret from himself and his staff" can be made.The resources manager soon learns that Yulia Ragayev was a Russian engineer working on the bakery's night-time cleaning crew.

Creating empathy for Yulia, the author shows details about her life and those who have loved and abandoned her. He uses symbolic details to create parallels and contrasts--the warm, homey smell of the bakery contrasting with the horrors of the bombing, the abandoned doll of a barefoot monk in Yulia's shack providing a touching parallel to the cold poverty of her own life. Serious thematic questions arise: Who is responsible for Yulia in Jerusalem? And if she is not solely responsible for her own life, how much, if anything, does anyone else owe her?

Eventually, the bakery owner demands a dignified funeral for Yulia, and he assigns the resources manager to escort her body back to her Russian village so she can be buried there. The timid human resources manager soon learns more than he ever bargained for about Yulia, life, bureaucracy, and ultimately, about the human resources he himself possesses.

Wonderfully dark humor gradually emerges from the ironies that occur on the Russian journey, as Yehoshua emphasizes the continuing absurdity of life. The hostile newspaper reporter ("the weasel") and his photographer ("the snake") accompany the resources manager and the coffin to Russia. The manager is forced to pay bribes, both to the authorities and to Yulia's family, and as he travels farther into the bleak interior of the Russian steppes, a terrible winter storm approaches. While the manager stays underground, the coffin remains out in the open.

A full-scale slapstick comedy of noir elements results, with the manager announcing that "Atonement was turning into lunacy." Readers will celebrate the ending, as Yehoshua brings the action, themes, and characters full circle, showing the growth of the human resources manager, his pragmatism (learned on the trip), and his awareness of the larger mission with which he has been entrusted. This novel about "a dead temporary resident who believed in Jerusalem more than Jerusalem believes in itself" is one of the most satisfying novels I've read this year. Mary Whipple

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A Long Trip, 01 Jan 2007
A foreign worker is killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem and the personnel manager at her employer becomes responsible for organizing the internment, due largely to his boss's generosity, compassion, and public relations savvy.

In summary, this sounds like the story of an unusual corporate assignment. But this misses what is probably the leading quality of the narrative, at least through the first two-thirds of the book. This is the relentless and annoying effort of peripheral characters to influence the actions of the personnel manager--largely by making arguments, some cynical and some sincere, to define the personnel manager's responsibility to this victim of terrorism.

For me, the effect of their efforts was to shift the narrative from a story of obstacles overcome to a story replete with aggravating meddling. You know what it's like when your strong minded relatives tell you how to perform a task you can handle competently yourself? Testy is the mood I carried through much of this novel.

At the same time, I'd fault Yehoshua for failing to pull motivation and meaning out of the actions of the characters. Yes, there are numerous declarations about compassion. But, these do not seem to flow from character. Likewise, the final section of the book contains a heavy handed imposition of philosophy and myth, which, once again, is external to the characters. Finally, there's lots of overt button pushing that surely resonates with many readers, as Yehoshua condemns characters for not trying hard enough or not doing enough for their children. On Amazon.com, one reviewer faulted this book for lacking subtlety and I agree.

Nonetheless, this book does reward the persevering reader with a surprising and touching ending that also raises a valid question. Here comes a spoiler: But at the end of his novel, Yehoshua considers who rightfully belongs in Jerusalem.



"There was no choice. They had to see it through to the end.", 25 Aug 2006
A Jerusalem bombing results in the death of an unidentified woman, unvisited at the hospital during the last days of her life. Unmourned, she remains in the local morgue for more than a week, until she is finally traced to the bakery where she worked. An aggressive newspaper reporter breaks the story of the unmissed employee, and the bakery's eight-seven-year-old owner, furious at the story's accusations of callousness, assigns the human resources manager to learn about woman so that "a more tangible expression of regret from himself and his staff" can be made.The resources manager soon learns that Yulia Ragayev was a Russian engineer working on the bakery's night-time cleaning crew.

Creating empathy for Yulia, the author shows details about her life and those who have loved and abandoned her. He uses symbolic details to create parallels and contrasts--the warm, homey smell of the bakery contrasting with the horrors of the bombing, the abandoned doll of a barefoot monk in Yulia's shack providing a touching parallel to the cold poverty of her own life. Serious thematic questions arise: Who is responsible for Yulia in Jerusalem? And if she is not solely responsible for her own life, how much, if anything, does anyone else owe her?

Eventually, the bakery owner demands a dignified funeral for Yulia, and he assigns the resources manager to escort her body back to her Russian village so she can be buried there. The timid human resources manager soon learns more than he ever bargained for about Yulia, life, bureaucracy, and ultimately, about the human resources he himself possesses.

Wonderfully dark humor gradually emerges from the ironies that occur on the Russian journey, as Yehoshua emphasizes the continuing absurdity of life. The hostile newspaper reporter ("the weasel") and his photographer ("the snake") accompany the resources manager and the coffin to Russia. The manager is forced to pay bribes, both to the authorities and to Yulia's family, and as he travels farther into the bleak interior of the Russian steppes, a terrible winter storm approaches. While the manager stays underground, the coffin remains out in the open.

A full-scale slapstick comedy of noir elements results, with the manager announcing that "Atonement was turning into lunacy." Readers will celebrate the ending, as Yehoshua brings the action, themes, and characters full circle, showing the growth of the human resources manager, his pragmatism (learned on the trip), and his awareness of the larger mission with which he has been entrusted. This novel about "a dead temporary resident who believed in Jerusalem more than Jerusalem believes in itself" is one of the most satisfying novels I've read this year. Mary Whipple

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A Long Trip, 01 Jan 2007
A foreign worker is killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem and the personnel manager at her employer becomes responsible for organizing the internment, due largely to his boss's generosity, compassion, and public relations savvy.

In summary, this sounds like the story of an unusual corporate assignment. But this misses what is probably the leading quality of the narrative, at least through the first two-thirds of the book. This is the relentless and annoying effort of peripheral characters to influence the actions of the personnel manager--largely by making arguments, some cynical and some sincere, to define the personnel manager's responsibility to this victim of terrorism.

For me, the effect of their efforts was to shift the narrative from a story of obstacles overcome to a story replete with aggravating meddling. You know what it's like when your strong minded relatives tell you how to perform a task you can handle competently yourself? Testy is the mood I carried through much of this novel.

At the same time, I'd fault Yehoshua for failing to pull motivation and meaning out of the actions of the characters. Yes, there are numerous declarations about compassion. But, these do not seem to flow from character. Likewise, the final section of the book contains a heavy handed imposition of philosophy and myth, which, once again, is external to the characters. Finally, there's lots of overt button pushing that surely resonates with many readers, as Yehoshua condemns characters for not trying hard enough or not doing enough for their children. On Amazon.com, one reviewer faulted this book for lacking subtlety and I agree.

Nonetheless, this book does reward the persevering reader with a surprising and touching ending that also raises a valid question. Here comes a spoiler: But at the end of his novel, Yehoshua considers who rightfully belongs in Jerusalem.



"There was no choice. They had to see it through to the end.", 25 Aug 2006
A Jerusalem bombing results in the death of an unidentified woman, unvisited at the hospital during the last days of her life. Unmourned, she remains in the local morgue for more than a week, until she is finally traced to the bakery where she worked. An aggressive newspaper reporter breaks the story of the unmissed employee, and the bakery's eight-seven-year-old owner, furious at the story's accusations of callousness, assigns the human resources manager to learn about woman so that "a more tangible expression of regret from himself and his staff" can be made.The resources manager soon learns that Yulia Ragayev was a Russian engineer working on the bakery's night-time cleaning crew.

Creating empathy for Yulia, the author shows details about her life and those who have loved and abandoned her. He uses symbolic details to create parallels and contrasts--the warm, homey smell of the bakery contrasting with the horrors of the bombing, the abandoned doll of a barefoot monk in Yulia's shack providing a touching parallel to the cold poverty of her own life. Serious thematic questions arise: Who is responsible for Yulia in Jerusalem? And if she is not solely responsible for her own life, how much, if anything, does anyone else owe her?

Eventually, the bakery owner demands a dignified funeral for Yulia, and he assigns the resources manager to escort her body back to her Russian village so she can be buried there. The timid human resources manager soon learns more than he ever bargained for about Yulia, life, bureaucracy, and ultimately, about the human resources he himself possesses.

Wonderfully dark humor gradually emerges from the ironies that occur on the Russian journey, as Yehoshua emphasizes the continuing absurdity of life. The hostile newspaper reporter ("the weasel") and his photographer ("the snake") accompany the resources manager and the coffin to Russia. The manager is forced to pay bribes, both to the authorities and to Yulia's family, and as he travels farther into the bleak interior of the Russian steppes, a terrible winter storm approaches. While the manager stays underground, the coffin remains out in the open.

A full-scale slapstick comedy of noir elements results, with the manager announcing that "Atonement was turning into lunacy." Readers will celebrate the ending, as Yehoshua brings the action, themes, and characters full circle, showing the growth of the human resources manager, his pragmatism (learned on the trip), and his awareness of the larger mission with which he has been entrusted. This novel about "a dead temporary resident who believed in Jerusalem more than Jerusalem believes in itself" is one of the most satisfying novels I've read this year. Mary Whipple

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A fascinating beginning but runs out of steam...., 05 Dec 2001
A.B.Yehoshua is one of the leading writers in Israel. 'Open Heart' tells the story of a young medical student in Israel who accompanies a senior colleague and his wife on a rescue mission to India. The trip marks the beginning of a complex emotional journey that will profoundly change his life, on a personal and professional level.
The opening section of the book provides a captivating and sensual description of contemporary India from the perspective of a young Israeli. However, from the point that the central character returns to Israel and embarks on a clandestine relationship with his patient's mother (the wife of his colleague), the plot becomes more mundane. His obsession with this Mrs. Robinson-type figure was hard to fathom and by the end of the book, I had lost interest in the outcome.

A Long Trip, 01 Jan 2007
A foreign worker is killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem and the personnel manager at her employer becomes responsible for organizing the internment, due largely to his boss's generosity, compassion, and public relations savvy.

In summary, this sounds like the story of an unusual corporate assignment. But this misses what is probably the leading quality of the narrative, at least through the first two-thirds of the book. This is the relentless and annoying effort of peripheral characters to influence the actions of the personnel manager--largely by making arguments, some cynical and some sincere, to define the personnel manager's responsibility to this victim of terrorism.

For me, the effect of their efforts was to shift the narrative from a story of obstacles overcome to a story replete with aggravating meddling. You know what it's like when your strong minded relatives tell you how to perform a task you can handle competently yourself? Testy is the mood I carried through much of this novel.

At the same time, I'd fault Yehoshua for failing to pull motivation and meaning out of the actions of the characters. Yes, there are numerous declarations about compassion. But, these do not seem to flow from character. Likewise, the final section of the book contains a heavy handed imposition of philosophy and myth, which, once again, is external to the characters. Finally, there's lots of overt button pushing that surely resonates with many readers, as Yehoshua condemns characters for not trying hard enough or not doing enough for their children. On Amazon.com, one reviewer faulted this book for lacking subtlety and I agree.

Nonetheless, this book does reward the persevering reader with a surprising and touching ending that also raises a valid question. Here comes a spoiler: But at the end of his novel, Yehoshua considers who rightfully belongs in Jerusalem.



"There was no choice. They had to see it through to the end.", 25 Aug 2006
A Jerusalem bombing results in the death of an unidentified woman, unvisited at the hospital during the last days of her life. Unmourned, she remains in the local morgue for more than a week, until she is finally traced to the bakery where she worked. An aggressive newspaper reporter breaks the story of the unmissed employee, and the bakery's eight-seven-year-old owner, furious at the story's accusations of callousness, assigns the human resources manager to learn about woman so that "a more tangible expression of regret from himself and his staff" can be made.The resources manager soon learns that Yulia Ragayev was a Russian engineer working on the bakery's night-time cleaning crew.

Creating empathy for Yulia, the author shows details about her life and those who have loved and abandoned her. He uses symbolic details to create parallels and contrasts--the warm, homey smell of the bakery contrasting with the horrors of the bombing, the abandoned doll of a barefoot monk in Yulia's shack providing a touching parallel to the cold poverty of her own life. Serious thematic questions arise: Who is responsible for Yulia in Jerusalem? And if she is not solely responsible for her own life, how much, if anything, does anyone else owe her?

Eventually, the bakery owner demands a dignified funeral for Yulia, and he assigns the resources manager to escort her body back to her Russian village so she can be buried there. The timid human resources manager soon learns more than he ever bargained for about Yulia, life, bureaucracy, and ultimately, about the human resources he himself possesses.

Wonderfully dark humor gradually emerges from the ironies that occur on the Russian journey, as Yehoshua emphasizes the continuing absurdity of life. The hostile newspaper reporter ("the weasel") and his photographer ("the snake") accompany the resources manager and the coffin to Russia. The manager is forced to pay bribes, both to the authorities and to Yulia's family, and as he travels farther into the bleak interior of the Russian steppes, a terrible winter storm approaches. While the manager stays underground, the coffin remains out in the open.

A full-scale slapstick comedy of noir elements results, with the manager announcing that "Atonement was turning into lunacy." Readers will celebrate the ending, as Yehoshua brings the action, themes, and characters full circle, showing the growth of the human resources manager, his pragmatism (learned on the trip), and his awareness of the larger mission with which he has been entrusted. This novel about "a dead temporary resident who believed in Jerusalem more than Jerusalem believes in itself" is one of the most satisfying novels I've read this year. Mary Whipple

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A Long Trip, 01 Jan 2007
A foreign worker is killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem and the personnel manager at her employer becomes responsible for organizing the internment, due largely to his boss's generosity, compassion, and public relations savvy.

In summary, this sounds like the story of an unusual corporate assignment. But this misses what is probably the leading quality of the narrative, at least through the first two-thirds of the book. This is the relentless and annoying effort of peripheral characters to influence the actions of the personnel manager--largely by making arguments, some cynical and some sincere, to define the personnel manager's responsibility to this victim of terrorism.

For me, the effect of their efforts was to shift the narrative from a story of obstacles overcome to a story replete with aggravating meddling. You know what it's like when your strong minded relatives tell you how to perform a task you can handle competently yourself? Testy is the mood I carried through much of this novel.

At the same time, I'd fault Yehoshua for failing to pull motivation and meaning out of the actions of the characters. Yes, there are numerous declarations about compassion. But, these do not seem to flow from character. Likewise, the final section of the book contains a heavy handed imposition of philosophy and myth, which, once again, is external to the characters. Finally, there's lots of overt button pushing that surely resonates with many readers, as Yehoshua condemns characters for not trying hard enough or not doing enough for their children. On Amazon.com, one reviewer faulted this book for lacking subtlety and I agree.

Nonetheless, this book does reward the persevering reader with a surprising and touching ending that also raises a valid question. Here comes a spoiler: But at the end of his novel, Yehoshua considers who rightfully belongs in Jerusalem.



"There was no choice. They had to see it through to the end.", 25 Aug 2006
A Jerusalem bombing results in the death of an unidentified woman, unvisited at the hospital during the last days of her life. Unmourned, she remains in the local morgue for more than a week, until she is finally traced to the bakery where she worked. An aggressive newspaper reporter breaks the story of the unmissed employee, and the bakery's eight-seven-year-old owner, furious at the story's accusations of callousness, assigns the human resources manager to learn about woman so that "a more tangible expression of regret from himself and his staff" can be made.The resources manager soon learns that Yulia Ragayev was a Russian engineer working on the bakery's night-time cleaning crew.

Creating empathy for Yulia, the author shows details about her life and those who have loved and abandoned her. He uses symbolic details to create parallels and contrasts--the warm, homey smell of the bakery contrasting with the horrors of the bombing, the abandoned doll of a barefoot monk in Yulia's shack providing a touching parallel to the cold poverty of her own life. Serious thematic questions arise: Who is responsible for Yulia in Jerusalem? And if she is not solely responsible for her own life, how much, if anything, does anyone else owe her?

Eventually, the bakery owner demands a dignified funeral for Yulia, and he assigns the resources manager to escort her body back to her Russian village so she can be buried there. The timid human resources manager soon learns more than he ever bargained for about Yulia, life, bureaucracy, and ultimately, about the human resources he himself possesses.

Wonderfully dark humor gradually emerges from the ironies that occur on the Russian journey, as Yehoshua emphasizes the continuing absurdity of life. The hostile newspaper reporter ("the weasel") and his photographer ("the snake") accompany the resources manager and the coffin to Russia. The manager is forced to pay bribes, both to the authorities and to Yulia's family, and as he travels farther into the bleak interior of the Russian steppes, a terrible winter storm approaches. While the manager stays underground, the coffin remains out in the open.

A full-scale slapstick comedy of noir elements results, with the manager announcing that "Atonement was turning into lunacy." Readers will celebrate the ending, as Yehoshua brings the action, themes, and characters full circle, showing the growth of the human resources manager, his pragmatism (learned on the trip), and his awareness of the larger mission with which he has been entrusted. This novel about "a dead temporary resident who believed in Jerusalem more than Jerusalem believes in itself" is one of the most satisfying novels I've read this year. Mary Whipple

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A fascinating beginning but runs out of steam...., 05 Dec 2001
A.B.Yehoshua is one of the leading writers in Israel. 'Open Heart' tells the story of a young medical student in Israel who accompanies a senior colleague and his wife on a rescue mission to India. The trip marks the beginning of a complex emotional journey that will profoundly change his life, on a personal and professional level.
The opening section of the book provides a captivating and sensual description of contemporary India from the perspective of a young Israeli. However, from the point that the central character returns to Israel and embarks on a clandestine relationship with his patient's mother (the wife of his colleague), the plot becomes more mundane. His obsession with this Mrs. Robinson-type figure was hard to fathom and by the end of the book, I had lost interest in the outcome.

A fascinating beginning but runs out of steam...., 05 Dec 2001
A.B.Yehoshua is one of the leading writers in Israel. 'Open Heart' tells the story of a young medical student in Israel who accompanies a senior colleague and his wife on a rescue mission to India. The trip marks the beginning of a complex emotional journey that will profoundly change his life, on a personal and professional level.
The opening section of the book provides a captivating and sensual description of contemporary India from the perspective of a young Israeli. However, from the point that the central character returns to Israel and embarks on a clandestine relationship with his patient's mother (the wife of his colleague), the plot becomes more mundane. His obsession with this Mrs. Robinson-type figure was hard to fathom and by the end of the book, I had lost interest in the outcome.

A Long Trip, 01 Jan 2007
A foreign worker is killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem and the personnel manager at her employer becomes responsible for organizing the internment, due largely to his boss's generosity, compassion, and public relations savvy.

In summary, this sounds like the story of an unusual corporate assignment. But this misses what is probably the leading quality of the narrative, at least through the first two-thirds of the book. This is the relentless and annoying effort of peripheral characters to influence the actions of the personnel manager--largely by making arguments, some cynical and some sincere, to define the personnel manager's responsibility to this victim of terrorism.

For me, the effect of their efforts was to shift the narrative from a story of obstacles overcome to a story replete with aggravating meddling. You know what it's like when your strong minded relatives tell you how to perform a task you can handle competently yourself? Testy is the mood I carried through much of this novel.

At the same time, I'd fault Yehoshua for failing to pull motivation and meaning out of the actions of the characters. Yes, there are numerous declarations about compassion. But, these do not seem to flow from character. Likewise, the final section of the book contains a heavy handed imposition of philosophy and myth, which, once again, is external to the characters. Finally, there's lots of overt button pushing that surely resonates with many readers, as Yehoshua condemns characters for not trying hard enough or not doing enough for their children. On Amazon.com, one reviewer faulted this book for lacking subtlety and I agree.

Nonetheless, this book does reward the persevering reader with a surprising and touching ending that also raises a valid question. Here comes a spoiler: But at the end of his novel, Yehoshua considers who rightfully belongs in Jerusalem.



"There was no choice. They had to see it through to the end.", 25 Aug 2006
A Jerusalem bombing results in the death of an unidentified woman, unvisited at the hospital during the last days of her life. Unmourned, she remains in the local morgue for more than a week, until she is finally traced to the bakery where she worked. An aggressive newspaper reporter breaks the story of the unmissed employee, and the bakery's eight-seven-year-old owner, furious at the story's accusations of callousness, assigns the human resources manager to learn about woman so that "a more tangible expression of regret from himself and his staff" can be made.The resources manager soon learns that Yulia Ragayev was a Russian engineer working on the bakery's night-time cleaning crew.

Creating empathy for Yulia, the author shows details about her life and those who have loved and abandoned her. He uses symbolic details to create parallels and contrasts--the warm, homey smell of the bakery contrasting with the horrors of the bombing, the abandoned doll of a barefoot monk in Yulia's shack providing a touching parallel to the cold poverty of her own life. Serious thematic questions arise: Who is responsible for Yulia in Jerusalem? And if she is not solely responsible for her own life, how much, if anything, does anyone else owe her?

Eventually, the bakery owner demands a dignified funeral for Yulia, and he assigns the resources manager to escort her body back to her Russian village so she can be buried there. The timid human resources manager soon learns more than he ever bargained for about Yulia, life, bureaucracy, and ultimately, about the human resources he himself possesses.

Wonderfully dark humor gradually emerges from the ironies that occur on the Russian journey, as Yehoshua emphasizes the continuing absurdity of life. The hostile newspaper reporter ("the weasel") and his photographer ("the snake") accompany the resources manager and the coffin to Russia. The manager is forced to pay bribes, both to the authorities and to Yulia's family, and as he travels farther into the bleak interior of the Russian steppes, a terrible winter storm approaches. While the manager stays underground, the coffin remains out in the open.

A full-scale slapstick comedy of noir elements results, with the manager announcing that "Atonement was turning into lunacy." Readers will celebrate the ending, as Yehoshua brings the action, themes, and characters full circle, showing the growth of the human resources manager, his pragmatism (learned on the trip), and his awareness of the larger mission with which he has been entrusted. This novel about "a dead temporary resident who believed in Jerusalem more than Jerusalem believes in itself" is one of the most satisfying novels I've read this year. Mary Whipple

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A Long Trip, 01 Jan 2007
A foreign worker is killed in a terrorist bombing in Jerusalem and the personnel manager at her employer becomes responsible for organizing the internment, due largely to his boss's generosity, compassion, and public relations savvy.

In summary, this sounds like the story of an unusual corporate assignment. But this misses what is probably the leading quality of the narrative, at least through the first two-thirds of the book. This is the relentless and annoying effort of peripheral characters to influence the actions of the personnel manager--largely by making arguments, some cynical and some sincere, to define the personnel manager's responsibility to this victim of terrorism.

For me, the effect of their efforts was to shift the narrative from a story of obstacles overcome to a story replete with aggravating meddling. You know what it's like when your strong minded relatives tell you how to perform a task you can handle competently yourself? Testy is the mood I carried through much of this novel.

At the same time, I'd fault Yehoshua for failing to pull motivation and meaning out of the actions of the characters. Yes, there are numerous declarations about compassion. But, these do not seem to flow from character. Likewise, the final section of the book contains a heavy handed imposition of philosophy and myth, which, once again, is external to the characters. Finally, there's lots of overt button pushing that surely resonates with many readers, as Yehoshua condemns characters for not trying hard enough or not doing enough for their children. On Amazon.com, one reviewer faulted this book for lacking subtlety and I agree.

Nonetheless, this book does reward the persevering reader with a surprising and touching ending that also raises a valid question. Here comes a spoiler: But at the end of his novel, Yehoshua considers who rightfully belongs in Jerusalem.



"There was no choice. They had to see it through to the end.", 25 Aug 2006
A Jerusalem bombing results in the death of an unidentified woman, unvisited at the hospital during the last days of her life. Unmourned, she remains in the local morgue for more than a week, until she is finally traced to the bakery where she worked. An aggressive newspaper reporter breaks the story of the unmissed employee, and the bakery's eight-seven-year-old owner, furious at the story's accusations of callousness, assigns the human resources manager to learn about woman so that "a more tangible expression of regret from himself and his staff" can be made.The resources manager soon learns that Yulia Ragayev was a Russian engineer working on the bakery's night-time cleaning crew.

Creating empathy for Yulia, the author shows details about her life and those who have loved and abandoned her. He uses symbolic details to create parallels and contrasts--the warm, homey smell of the bakery contrasting with the horrors of the bombing, the abandoned doll of a barefoot monk in Yulia's shack providing a touching parallel to the cold poverty of her own life. Serious thematic questions arise: Who is responsible for Yulia in Jerusalem? And if she is not solely responsible for her own life, how much, if anything, does anyone else owe her?

Eventually, the bakery owner demands a dignified funeral for Yulia, and he assigns the resources manager to escort her body back to her Russian village so she can be buried there. The timid human resources manager soon learns more than he ever bargained for about Yulia, life, bureaucracy, and ultimately, about the human resources he himself possesses.

Wonderfully dark humor gradually emerges from the ironies that occur on the Russian journey, as Yehoshua emphasizes the continuing absurdity of life. The hostile newspaper reporter ("the weasel") and his photographer ("the snake") accompany the resources manager and the coffin to Russia. The manager is forced to pay bribes, both to the authorities and to Yulia's family, and as he travels farther into the bleak interior of the Russian steppes, a terrible winter storm approaches. While the manager stays underground, the coffin remains out in the open.

A full-scale slapstick comedy of noir elements results, with the manager announcing that "Atonement was turning into lunacy." Readers will celebrate the ending, as Yehoshua brings the action, themes, and characters full circle, showing the growth of the human resources manager, his pragmatism (learned on the trip), and his awareness of the larger mission with which he has been entrusted. This novel about "a dead temporary resident who believed in Jerusalem more than Jerusalem believes in itself" is one of the most satisfying novels I've read this year. Mary Whipple

A deeply moving story, 04 Apr 2005
Yehoshua's "The Liberated Bride" is an insightful story of the lives of a modern Israeli family in the North of the country. By exploring a new dimension involving the intertwined lives of Israel's Jews and its Arab citizens or Palestinians/Arabs, Yehoshua created a wonderful plot, amazing characters and fantastic setting that left me awed. He successful penetrated the soul of the political and social issues of the Middle East through characters with motivations that are so simple. The unique writing style by the author made this fast paced novel a first rate page-turner. I recommend this book to readers who might want to learn or know about those Jews and Arabs who are living amicably with one another.

Also recommended: DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, THE MITLA PASS

A fascinating beginning but runs out of steam...., 05 Dec 2001
A.B.Yehoshua is one of the leading writers in Israel. 'Open Heart' tells the story of a young medical student in Israel who accompanies a senior colleague and his wife on a rescue mission to India. The trip marks the beginning of a complex emotional journey that will profoundly change his life, on a personal and professional level.
The opening section of the book provides a captivating and sensual description of contemporary India from the perspective of a young Israeli. However, from the point that the central character returns to Israel and embarks on a clandestine relationship with his patient's mother (the wife of his colleague), the plot becomes more mundane. His obsession with this Mrs. Robinson-type figure was hard to fathom and by the end of the book, I had lost interest in the outcome.

A fascinating beginning but runs out of steam...., 05 Dec 2001
A.B.Yehoshua is one of the leading writers in Israel. 'Open Heart' tells the story of a young medical student in Israel who accompanies a senior colleague and his wife on a rescu