The Lover
by A. B. Yehoshua
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Book Summary Information
Author: A. B. YehoshuaEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1993-05-07
ISBN: 0156539128
Number of pages: 368
Publisher: Mariner Books
Book Reviews of The Lover
Book Review: Dickensian view of life in 1970s Israel . . .
Summary: 5 Stars
Written 30 years ago, shortly after the Yom Kippur War, this novel opens a window on a cross section of Israeli society at a point where the future of Israel seemed momentarily less uncertain and the current stand-off between Israelis and Palestinians was still far in the future. All the same, the novel is not dated but almost prophetic in its portrayal of a handful of characters who struggle with identity and relationships, amidst uncertainties and ambiguities. The "lover" of the title is a character who has disappeared during the war. As the novel develops, however, other "lovers" emerge in the narrative, and the play of carnal desire against a backdrop of social uncertainty makes for a fascinating contrast of personal and political.
The shifting points of view and multiple characters offer a Dickensian worldview within the confines of the handful of square miles traversed by its characters - who are often on the road going somewhere. This aspect of life in Israel is captured nicely by the nighttime road service operated by one of the characters, coming to the rescue of people in car wrecks and having breakdowns. On one level, as we read, we are drawn along by the attempt to solve the mystery of a missing person. On another level, we watch as love distracts, blinds, entraps, confuses, and torments whomever it touches. Finally, the playing out of these themes takes place against a social fabric that links together people of many different kinds, including Arab Israelis, Zionists, religious Jews, secular Jews, the military, recent immigrants, long-time residents, and so on. This is a novel by one of Israel's foremost writers of modern fiction. I highly recommend it.
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