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Mercy: A Saga Of Love And Loss
#1 Bestseller in Israel - Michele Shalev's "Mercy" is a captivating saga that transcends time, culture, and geography.
Zakynthos, Greece, 1891. In the shadow of a violent pogrom by Christians against Jews, Zaki Milanos is born into a world marred by conflict and division. Defying expectations, the adult Zaki steps away from the tight-knit Jewish community of his childhood, venturing to a northern village on the island. Amid skepticism, he finds acceptance, friendship, and success, breathing life into a popular café that becomes a local haven.
Zaki's defiance of tradition strains family bonds, but even in estrangement, love finds a way. His mother and aunt, determined to see him settled, orchestrate a union with Allegrina, a Jewish woman from Corfu.
The story takes a dark turn with the onset of World War II. In this time of peril, an extraordinary act of resistance and unity unfolds.
Upper Egypt, early 20th century. In the dusty lanes of a rural village, Badriya, the daughter of the impoverished Jumaa family, watches as her world unravels. Her older sister Rawhiya, is forced to give up all her hopes and aspirations and marry a wealthy widower forty years her senior. Her beloved brother Faris, once a beacon of hope, spirals into extremism, his soul captured by the fervor of the Muslim Brotherhood.
As Badriya dares to dream beyond the confines of her upbringing, aspiring to be a doctor, she finds herself alienated from her family. Her path crosses with Kasim, linked to her sister's past, who becomes an unexpected ally in her pursuit of education. But on a fateful night, a knock at her door reopens old wounds. It's Faris, with a cryptic message and a demeanor that spells foreboding. As he disappears into the night, Badriya's intuition compels her to follow. What she discovers in the shadowy streets of Cairo's old Jewish quarter, Hart al Yahud, could change everything.
Cairo, mid-20th century. The bustling streets and the whispers of political change form the backdrop of Rahamim's life. Within the walls of his middle-class Jewish home, tensions simmer. His mother's illness casts a shadow, while his strict father's decisions threaten to tear the family fabric apart. Sensitive Rahamim tries to find comfort and happiness within the family circle, especially his eccentric grandmother and his horse-racing gambler cousin, Sami, whom he adores. But eventually he is forced to face the menace and cruelty of events beyond his control until one night the ground underneath his feet trembles and his whole world is shattered to pieces.
* * *
"Mercy" interweaves the lives of three enthralling families - the Milanos in Greece, the Jumaas in Upper Egypt, and the Moyals in Cairo - painting a vivid tapestry of love, faith, and destiny.
From the tranquil shores of Zakynthos to the bustling streets of Cairo, each family navigates the turbulent waters of history, marked by World War II's shadow and the cultural upheavals of the mid-20th century. Their tales, rich in emotional and historical detail, reveal personal struggles, political intrigue, and the enduring power of human connection.
*
Shalev's masterful storytelling spans three religions, three continents, and seven centuries, creating an exotic and colorful human mosaic. As the characters confront dramatic personal and societal changes, their choices resound through generations, echoing the universal quest for compassion and understanding.
In "Mercy," Michele Shalev has woven a complex web of relationships, imbued with passion, pain, and the relentless pursuit of redemption.
Zakynthos, Greece, 1891. In the shadow of a violent pogrom by Christians against Jews, Zaki Milanos is born into a world marred by conflict and division. Defying expectations, the adult Zaki steps away from the tight-knit Jewish community of his childhood, venturing to a northern village on the island. Amid skepticism, he finds acceptance, friendship, and success, breathing life into a popular café that becomes a local haven.
Zaki's defiance of tradition strains family bonds, but even in estrangement, love finds a way. His mother and aunt, determined to see him settled, orchestrate a union with Allegrina, a Jewish woman from Corfu.
The story takes a dark turn with the onset of World War II. In this time of peril, an extraordinary act of resistance and unity unfolds.
Upper Egypt, early 20th century. In the dusty lanes of a rural village, Badriya, the daughter of the impoverished Jumaa family, watches as her world unravels. Her older sister Rawhiya, is forced to give up all her hopes and aspirations and marry a wealthy widower forty years her senior. Her beloved brother Faris, once a beacon of hope, spirals into extremism, his soul captured by the fervor of the Muslim Brotherhood.
As Badriya dares to dream beyond the confines of her upbringing, aspiring to be a doctor, she finds herself alienated from her family. Her path crosses with Kasim, linked to her sister's past, who becomes an unexpected ally in her pursuit of education. But on a fateful night, a knock at her door reopens old wounds. It's Faris, with a cryptic message and a demeanor that spells foreboding. As he disappears into the night, Badriya's intuition compels her to follow. What she discovers in the shadowy streets of Cairo's old Jewish quarter, Hart al Yahud, could change everything.
Cairo, mid-20th century. The bustling streets and the whispers of political change form the backdrop of Rahamim's life. Within the walls of his middle-class Jewish home, tensions simmer. His mother's illness casts a shadow, while his strict father's decisions threaten to tear the family fabric apart. Sensitive Rahamim tries to find comfort and happiness within the family circle, especially his eccentric grandmother and his horse-racing gambler cousin, Sami, whom he adores. But eventually he is forced to face the menace and cruelty of events beyond his control until one night the ground underneath his feet trembles and his whole world is shattered to pieces.
* * *
"Mercy" interweaves the lives of three enthralling families - the Milanos in Greece, the Jumaas in Upper Egypt, and the Moyals in Cairo - painting a vivid tapestry of love, faith, and destiny.
From the tranquil shores of Zakynthos to the bustling streets of Cairo, each family navigates the turbulent waters of history, marked by World War II's shadow and the cultural upheavals of the mid-20th century. Their tales, rich in emotional and historical detail, reveal personal struggles, political intrigue, and the enduring power of human connection.
*
Shalev's masterful storytelling spans three religions, three continents, and seven centuries, creating an exotic and colorful human mosaic. As the characters confront dramatic personal and societal changes, their choices resound through generations, echoing the universal quest for compassion and understanding.
In "Mercy," Michele Shalev has woven a complex web of relationships, imbued with passion, pain, and the relentless pursuit of redemption.
528 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2024
48 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 24, 2024
wow, amazing!
It’s a long book, complicated, 3 different stories which entwine in the last part to a perfect end. Beautiful and enchanting. A masterpiece. I learned so much from this book about the Jewish -Islamic life together. Also about the Greek Jews. There’s also an extraordinary story in the end about the prophet Mohammad and his Jewish wife. It’s not an easy book to read but I loved it.
It’s a long book, complicated, 3 different stories which entwine in the last part to a perfect end. Beautiful and enchanting. A masterpiece. I learned so much from this book about the Jewish -Islamic life together. Also about the Greek Jews. There’s also an extraordinary story in the end about the prophet Mohammad and his Jewish wife. It’s not an easy book to read but I loved it.
April 19, 2024
loved it
Great view on history, religion and human nature in its best and worst.
Very well written.
Wonderful storytelling; highly recommended!
Great view on history, religion and human nature in its best and worst.
Very well written.
Wonderful storytelling; highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews