Arieh Larkey

Grandpa's Mountain: Letters from a Border Kibbutz, by Arieh Larkey, opens in 1996 with a letter written by twelve year old Steven Friedman to his grandfather, Yoram, whom he has never met. Yoram is Steven's father's father and has been estranged from his son for years. Steven lives in New Jersey and his grandfather lives on a kibbutz in Israel. Steven makes the reason for his letter clear: he asks why his own father does not want to talk about Yoram. Also, he wants Yoram to help convince his parents to give permission for him to go on a hike in order to complete an Eagle Scout requirement. And so begins a relationship between two kindred souls. The story is told in letter form, for the most part. With each of their touching letters, we watch an incredible relationship develop. The tone of the letters is conversational and the dialogue is natural. Grandfather and grandson discover they are very much alike. There is not anything they can not discuss.
This book is beautifully written and it is emotionally stirring. It is filled with credible characters that readers can care about. I highly recommend reading this book.

I received this book through LibraryThing and I give this review of my own free will.… (mehr)

GRANDPA’S MOUNTAIN: LETTERS FROM A BORDER KIBBUTZ IN ISRAEL written by Arieh Larkey and published by Gefen Publishing House in Jerusalem was sent to me in exchange for an unbiased review.
GRANDPA’S MOUNTAIN is a lovely narrative which spans many years, consisting of a series of letters exchanged between a young Steve Friedman (in Livingston, New Jersey) and his grandfather, Yoram Friedman (at Kibbutz Misgav-Am in Israel).
Steve finds his grandfather’s address on an old envelope which Yoram wrote earlier to Steve’s father, Michael. Yoram is never spoken of and we learn that he is estranged from his former wife and son (Michael). While Steve loves his parents and seems to be a very obedient son, there is a missing connection - an emotional abyss - which Steve can’t quite articulate but hopes by writing to his grandfather (whom he has never met) to find a sympathetic ear. He writes of his love of the outdoors, camping, hiking, a closeness to nature. He is an eager boy scout and writes to his grandfather of upcoming camping and hiking expeditions. The grandfather was an eager, young boy scout, also, and their pen pal relationship becomes a very close, personal one.
Yoram attempts to explain his family’s estrangement and the events and feelings that led him to emigrate to Israel and becoming part of a Jewish renaissance.
The letters are very touching, very personal, and by the end of the book, we feel that we know these two very special people personally.
If this is not an ‘official’ autobiography by Mr. Larkey, the narrative certainly mirrors his own life. His biography information tells us that he was born in Newark, New Jersey. He did serve in the U.S. Army and was sent to occupied Germany as part of the NATO forces. His experience there made a profound impression on Mr. Larkey and intensified his Jewish identity. He made his aliyah (or move to Israel) in 1971. He was an architect and spent time at the Kibbutz Misgav-Am. Mr. Larkey is the author of several other books.
As a side note, I feel that I became better acquainted with Israel, the kibbutz system and the Jewish religion. I didn’t realize it was happening - Mr. Larkey’s writing is very quiet, subtle and deliberate.
I am very glad to have read this book. I cried at the end and the ending is still with me - I care about these ‘people’. I would heartily recommend this title.… (mehr)