I was initially going to review a later work by this Author (Olivia, Mourning), but decided against that in favour of a review of their debut novel; a review of Olivia, Mourning will now appear later in the year. Given the current climate between Israel and Palestine, this is a book that anyone who is not familiar with Israel and its turbulent history should read.

Through the lives and words of the two main protagonists, this Author brings to life the history of Israel/British Palestine dating from the 1930’s up to the Six Day War in 1967. With great care the Author uses their characters to describe the impact historical events had on both fictional and actual people. The female protagonist was portrayed as being unhappy with her lot in life and wanting out, going to any means to achieve her dream. While I did not agree with a lot of the decisions this character made, it did not make me like her any less as it brought into the light the hardships and uncertainty that she and those around her were feeling in this time of change. This character is nothing if not determined but, as the novel progresses she develops a better understanding of the pitfalls this determination can bring, and also the power it can instil in a person. The male protagonist is a complete opposite to the female lead; he comes from a totally different background and has a belief structure that is at total odds to hers. However, despite this and the carnage of war that is exploding around them they develop a relationship. To say more about this would spoil their part in the story, and to find out how this progresses this book has to be read.

The Author’s writing style throughout this novel is excellent, they are eloquent without being boorish and this leads to a story that flows well and pulls the reader in from the very first page. Pulling on their links with Israel the Author adds an authenticity to their book that would otherwise have been missing if it had been based on purely research. If you have never been to Israel, this book will take you there and, if you have been as I have back in the late 1970’s, reading it will bring to mind all the places seen right down to the rusted military vehicles at the side of the road. As I read this book I was made to think of works by Leon Uris several times, as this Author captures the region with just as much clarity.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good well-paced and well written book, who also enjoys an historical novel based on fact and experience that shows through on every page. Surprisingly for me, as I’m not a lover of the romance genre, I did enjoy this part of the book too and was not the reason I rated this as 4 thumbs; that was because I did not want it to end.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/07/30/review-the-lonely-tree-yael-politis/





This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
( )

I was initially going to review a later work by this Author (Olivia, Mourning), but decided against that in favour of a review of their debut novel; a review of Olivia, Mourning will now appear later in the year. Given the current climate between Israel and Palestine, this is a book that anyone who is not familiar with Israel and its turbulent history should read.

Through the lives and words of the two main protagonists, this Author brings to life the history of Israel/British Palestine dating from the 1930’s up to the Six Day War in 1967. With great care the Author uses their characters to describe the impact historical events had on both fictional and actual people. The female protagonist was portrayed as being unhappy with her lot in life and wanting out, going to any means to achieve her dream. While I did not agree with a lot of the decisions this character made, it did not make me like her any less as it brought into the light the hardships and uncertainty that she and those around her were feeling in this time of change. This character is nothing if not determined but, as the novel progresses she develops a better understanding of the pitfalls this determination can bring, and also the power it can instil in a person. The male protagonist is a complete opposite to the female lead; he comes from a totally different background and has a belief structure that is at total odds to hers. However, despite this and the carnage of war that is exploding around them they develop a relationship. To say more about this would spoil their part in the story, and to find out how this progresses this book has to be read.

The Author’s writing style throughout this novel is excellent, they are eloquent without being boorish and this leads to a story that flows well and pulls the reader in from the very first page. Pulling on their links with Israel the Author adds an authenticity to their book that would otherwise have been missing if it had been based on purely research. If you have never been to Israel, this book will take you there and, if you have been as I have back in the late 1970’s, reading it will bring to mind all the places seen right down to the rusted military vehicles at the side of the road. As I read this book I was made to think of works by Leon Uris several times, as this Author captures the region with just as much clarity.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good well-paced and well written book, who also enjoys an historical novel based on fact and experience that shows through on every page. Surprisingly for me, as I’m not a lover of the romance genre, I did enjoy this part of the book too and was not the reason I rated this as 4 thumbs; that was because I did not want it to end.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/07/30/review-the-lonely-tree-yael-politis/





This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
( )

This was a well researched historical fiction novel about creating a Jewish State out of the chaos of British Mandate Palestine after WWII. Not only did the Jewish people have to deal with poor land for farming and lack of water for crops, they had to deal with the Arabs who didn't want them there and they had little help from the English government who controlled the area. There was frequent bloodshed and war during the time period of this book from 1946 until the 6 Day War in 1967.

Tonia, the main character is a young girl of 15 when the novel begins. Her father is determined to move the family to a kibbutz near Jerusalem and make farm land out of desert. Life on the kibbutz is very difficult and Tonia is not happy with the move - she wants to go to school and have an easier life and is not as idealistic about creating a Jewish nation as the rest of her family. Her dream is to go to America where she knows that life will be easier. At the kibbutz, she meets Amos and though she is attracted to him she knows that they don't have a future together because she will not give up her dream of going to America.

This is a wonderful well written novel that will teach readers about the beginning of the current problems in the middle east. It's a novel about war and peace, family and friends but mostly it's about love - love of family, love of friends and love of country.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own. ( )

Imagine Barbara Taylor Bradford’s breakout novel, A Woman of Substance, set in the Middle East as Jews carve out a homeland from Palestine’s dry soil, and those they’ve left behind in Poland disappear into the Holocaust. Tonia resents the life her father has forced on the family, but joining him in the founding of a kibbutz doesn’t help. She dreams of America, white-walled mansions, luxury and ease. And she plants trees.

Wars both far and near threaten the family, and author Yael Politis does an excellent job of bringing readers into the mind of a child, resenting English unfairness in matters of State, while others acknowledge the breadth of a bigger picture. Israel’s promise is earned through death and destruction. Love hurts. And Tonia still dreams.

The building of a kibbutz contrasts with the horrors of war. Visions of America contrast with hardscrabble life and home-made tanks. Kfar Etzion becomes vividly real. Politics is cruel. And safe havens may never be as safe or comforting as we imagine. In the end, Tonia must decide which dream will fuel her future; is comfort worth more than duty? Is love worth more than ease? And can buried feelings, like buried treasure, ever truly be recovered?

I really enjoyed this novel, for its well-researched depiction of recent history, its starkly honest view of Israel’s birth, and its characters, wisdom and plot. Like a Woman of Substance, it tells a sprawling tale with wide scopse, centered on a strong woman’s dreams. The flavor changes as Tonia build a smaller future than her father's. But the novel's conclusions are anchored in powerfully wise advice, hard lessons, and enduring love.

Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and I offer my honest review. ( )

This is an intricate tale of a Jewish family living in Palestine during the British Mandate and the horrors of war. It is a story rich in drama and one that will not soon leave your mind with its strong cast of multi-layered characters. And the story unfolds from 1946 - 1967 with many historical facts revealed throughout.

Fifteen year old Tonia Shulman definitely has a mind of her own and is rather hard to like early on in the story. She and her family move from Poland to Palestine, first to Tel Aviv and later to a religious kibbutz, Kfar Etzion, that her father helped to establish.

There are extreme hardships living here at the kibbutz, and Tonia felt trapped with no way out, and a father who was so stubborn. Josef was obsessed with the creation of an independent Jewish state. Everyone knew that five Arab armies would invade as soon as the British pulled out and it was a war they'd never win. The Jews had problems - no money, no weapons, and little experience in fighting, surrounded by a sea of Arabs. This was not the life Tonia wanted. She longed for a life of comfort and security. Her dream is to escape Palestine and make her home in America.

Tonia felt ashamed of Abba, who would not provide for her education. He only cared about his kibbutz and Tonia had to beg from strangers. Ilana Rozman and her wealthy family provided Tonia's way to a prestigious Hebrew school in Jerusalem, a school that was occupied by kids of doctors, professors and government officials. They were spoiled, rich kids and this annoyed Tonia, but she realizes she is dependent on the Rozman family's good will to make her dreams come true. She was hoping to earn her diploma and apply for a student visa to the United States and admittance to an American University.

Tonia meets Amos Amrani, a handsome Yemenite, who fights in the Jewish underground. Amos was bright, proud, and ambitious. A love blossoms between Amos and Tonia and Josef is strongly opposed to their relationship. Tonia would need to relinquish her dreams if she allowed herself to fall in love with Amos. He would constantly be called to arms, and she would live in dread.

There are many struggles and surprises along the way as Tonia fights to overcome a myriad of obstacles and finally finds her way to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The book goes through stages of terror, sorrows, and joys - a very emotional read. There is a large cast of characters with complex issues and a storyline that builds to a stunning conclusion. Just extraordinary! Definitely a 5 star rating for this incredible novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ( )