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One Moroccan Woman: Inspired by True Events
The year is 1951, and just as the recently born State of Israel takes its first toddling steps toward the future, a young Jewish woman in Morocco watches as her mother’s last breath reduces her into a thing of the past. Amid her sorrow and mourning, Tamar Ben Zaken must now sacrifice her goals and ambitions in order to care for her father and siblings. To make matters worse, their secure and privileged life may be coming to an end at the hands of political and social changes that threaten the peaceful coexistence between Moroccan Jews and Muslims, who are outraged by Israel’s establishment. But when Tamar’s father marries a superficial woman, Tamar flees to live with her cousin in the big city of Marrakesh. While there, she studies at a prestigious French school for women, and meets Daniel, the love of her life. But Daniel harbors a secret that threatens their hopes and dreams of building a family. Inspired by actual events, One Moroccan Woman sets interpersonal drama against the backdrop of political, social, and religious volatility. Experience tragedies, challenges, and triumphs of the human spirit, as Tamar discovers that fate has a plan she could’ve never written for herself.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2014
9 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 24, 2014
One Moroccan Woman is a compelling, haunting, beautiful historical fiction. Yamit Armbrister, whose grandparents were Moroccan Jews, used those stories to weave a fantastic story.
We follow the life of Tamar from her childhood, her move to Marrakesh, marriage, widowhood and remarriage and her flight to Israel. I was pulled into the story and couldn't stop reading it. As with any good historical fiction, One Moroccan Woman gives us insight into the plight of the Moroccan Jews as it gained it independence and the rise of anti-Semitism. The journey to Israel was dangerous. The promised land wasn't quite what they expected it to be. We see the struggle as the newly arrived Jewish settlers as they attempt to help actually build the new Jewish state. The fear of the attacks by the Arab nations on the small newly established state helps to bring attention to the plight of these setters and the State of Israel.
I read One Moroccan Woman is one setting. It is one of those stories that hooks the reader and doesn't allow you to come up for air until you finish.
The story really seemed fitting with the current events in Israel today. The fear of terrorist attacts then and now in Israel remains the same. It reminds the reader, whether the are Jewish or Gentile, that Israel has the right to exist and the right to defend herself.
Love, love, love One Moroccan Woman.
We follow the life of Tamar from her childhood, her move to Marrakesh, marriage, widowhood and remarriage and her flight to Israel. I was pulled into the story and couldn't stop reading it. As with any good historical fiction, One Moroccan Woman gives us insight into the plight of the Moroccan Jews as it gained it independence and the rise of anti-Semitism. The journey to Israel was dangerous. The promised land wasn't quite what they expected it to be. We see the struggle as the newly arrived Jewish settlers as they attempt to help actually build the new Jewish state. The fear of the attacks by the Arab nations on the small newly established state helps to bring attention to the plight of these setters and the State of Israel.
I read One Moroccan Woman is one setting. It is one of those stories that hooks the reader and doesn't allow you to come up for air until you finish.
The story really seemed fitting with the current events in Israel today. The fear of terrorist attacts then and now in Israel remains the same. It reminds the reader, whether the are Jewish or Gentile, that Israel has the right to exist and the right to defend herself.
Love, love, love One Moroccan Woman.
August 1, 2014
A wonderful read
I highly recommend this book. The only reason for the 4 rather than five stars is that there are many spots that seem like they're not connected. It's as if someone typed certain segments in the wrong order. But I was still able to make sense of it. Just seems like more proofreading and editing is needed. Otherwise, it was a wonderful read.
I highly recommend this book. The only reason for the 4 rather than five stars is that there are many spots that seem like they're not connected. It's as if someone typed certain segments in the wrong order. But I was still able to make sense of it. Just seems like more proofreading and editing is needed. Otherwise, it was a wonderful read.
December 17, 2014
I loved that story! It was very well written. I learned a lot about the Jewish History of Morocco, in the way I love to learn: Historical fiction books! It is a must read!
March 14, 2018
it was ok--what life is like in a foreign place
October 25, 2014
One Moroccan Woman is not only a great read, it is one which should be classed required reading. The story is a journey of a young girl filled with a plethora of feelings; love, hate, fear, resentment, strength, weakness, anger, et al. It is captivating, encompassing, a page turner which makes wanting to know the ending agonizing, yet not wanting it to end. In reading it, I gained insight into my own life, though everyone has their own unique life struggles, one's attitude towards those struggles can emanate whether the outcome will be positive or negative. For me, it was a story of awakening how love and betrayal can intertwine so easily with life; of shock and the horror of evil and how it lives, then and today. I look forward to reading more from Yamit Armbrister in the future.
September 19, 2015
Fantastic historical fiction about one young woman's migration from Morocco to Israel in the 1950s
Having visited Morocco fairly recently I was fascinated by the closeup I had of the turmoil surrounding Morocco's independence from France and the prejudice against Jews shown at that time
Having visited Morocco fairly recently I was fascinated by the closeup I had of the turmoil surrounding Morocco's independence from France and the prejudice against Jews shown at that time
October 12, 2015
It was so good I couldn't put it down. I finished it in 2 days.
March 14, 2016
Wonderful, really moving story. The only reason why it didn't get a higher rating was because the translation is sub-par and it needs editing as there are many typos
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews