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About the Night
On a hot summer day in 1947, on a grandstand overlooking Jerusalem, Elias and Lila fall deeply, irrevocably in love.
Tragically, they come from two different worlds. Elias is a Christian Arab living on the eastern side of the newly divided city, and Lila is a Jew living on the western side. A growing conflict between their cultures casts a heavy shadow over the region and their burgeoning relationship. Between them lie not only a wall of stone and barbed wire but also the bitter enmity of two nations at war.
Told in the voice of Elias as he looks back upon the long years of his life, About the Night is a timely story of how hope can nourish us, loss can devastate us, and love can carry us beyond the boundaries that hold human beings apart.
Tragically, they come from two different worlds. Elias is a Christian Arab living on the eastern side of the newly divided city, and Lila is a Jew living on the western side. A growing conflict between their cultures casts a heavy shadow over the region and their burgeoning relationship. Between them lie not only a wall of stone and barbed wire but also the bitter enmity of two nations at war.
Told in the voice of Elias as he looks back upon the long years of his life, About the Night is a timely story of how hope can nourish us, loss can devastate us, and love can carry us beyond the boundaries that hold human beings apart.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 544 reviews
May 21, 2016
I never need to read "sated" again.
June 10, 2019
This novel (translated from the original Hebrew) is a love story frustrated by the Palestinian/Israeli divide. In 1947 Elias Riani, a Christian Arab born in Jerusalem, and Lila a Turkish-born Israeli Jew fall in love. Any reader familiar with history knows they’re going to be separated by the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. And indeed they are separated for nineteen years unable to communicate with each other.
Then after the 1967 Six-Day War Jerusalem was reunited, and they were able to restart their relationship. Of course there are complications which I won’t take time to describe here. But it is a story filled with deep emotion and passion. The insightful and sensitive writing includes detailed descriptions of Jewish and Arabic life.
About the Night is a tale of love lost, found, and rebuilt against the odds. The narrative is romantic and unfolds slowly, pleasurably, evoking the beauty of the land of Israel. Of course this story is fictional, but I couldn’t help but wonder if similar stories actually happened. I found the following quotation of the author in an on-line interview:
Then after the 1967 Six-Day War Jerusalem was reunited, and they were able to restart their relationship. Of course there are complications which I won’t take time to describe here. But it is a story filled with deep emotion and passion. The insightful and sensitive writing includes detailed descriptions of Jewish and Arabic life.
About the Night is a tale of love lost, found, and rebuilt against the odds. The narrative is romantic and unfolds slowly, pleasurably, evoking the beauty of the land of Israel. Of course this story is fictional, but I couldn’t help but wonder if similar stories actually happened. I found the following quotation of the author in an on-line interview:
The story of Lila and Elias was embedded with me ever since I was a little girl. One of my mother’s friends regularly visited our house. She was beautiful and always on her own. Only when I grew up I realized that she’d been waiting for the man that she loved (an Arab) for 19 years. Only after I left Jerusalem as a grown up and moved to Tel-Aviv, I was able to write this story. It took 3 years, during which I sat in room in old Jaffa, a city where Jews and Arabs have always lived together.
May 16, 2016
I'm not entirely sure how to review About the Night by Anat Talshir. I felt that it was beautifully sensual and reminiscent of Jhumpa Lahiri, yet at the same time it often put me to sleep, thus taking me far too long to read it. I think part of it was just that this was a relaxing story that lulled me to sleep rather than having me obsessively turning pages, but the storyline was also a bit more lengthy than I felt was really necessary. It was just a little too easy to find myself disconnected from the story, whereas I'm usually completely consumed by books such as this one.
I really enjoyed the book's setting in war-torn Israel. I've always known that Israel has pretty well always been at war, but to be honest I had never really considered the details or thought about it on a personal level. About the Night changed that for me. Lila and Elias' love story brought Israel's tragic past to light, starting with the Arab-Israeli war of 1948. Lila's Jewish background and Elias' Arab culture doomed their love from the start, but their passion survived several wars in which they found themselves on different sides.
This was certainly a memorable love story and intimate glimpse into another culture.
☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed the book's setting in war-torn Israel. I've always known that Israel has pretty well always been at war, but to be honest I had never really considered the details or thought about it on a personal level. About the Night changed that for me. Lila and Elias' love story brought Israel's tragic past to light, starting with the Arab-Israeli war of 1948. Lila's Jewish background and Elias' Arab culture doomed their love from the start, but their passion survived several wars in which they found themselves on different sides.
This was certainly a memorable love story and intimate glimpse into another culture.
☆☆☆☆
August 2, 2019
A forbidden love affair develops between a Christian Arab and a Jewess. Poignant and romantic and full of historical info about war and division in Jerusalem between 1947 and 1967. The story is told by Elias (the Arab) remembering his life from his sickbed in 2006.
Very well written and a compelling story.
4 stars
Very well written and a compelling story.
4 stars
August 23, 2019
Maybe I'm being too hard on this book, but Elias as a character just ruined it for me. So tired of "romances" where you're supposed to just forgive the male lead for everything because if you don't, you don't have a romance.
I actually liked Lila a lot, but so much of the focus was on Elias and I really didn't like him, at all.
I actually liked Lila a lot, but so much of the focus was on Elias and I really didn't like him, at all.
June 18, 2019
This book was beautifully written and translated. It is the forbidden love story of Elias and Lila. They tragically come two different cultures. Elias is a Christain Arab and Lila if of the Jewish faith. It is 1947 They both feel that they have found the love of their lives, but they must separate do to the Arab/Israeli War. Israel is split into two sections one side Arab and one side Jewish. No one can cross the border. Lila never gives up hope that one day they will be reunited. They try to plan to meet in secret whenever they can, but tragically that comes to an end. They are separated for 19 years. Can their love survive? Read this book to find out. It is a sad story but worth it. There is much history and research that went into this book. It is an excellent read.
January 13, 2018
I’ve fallen in love with her, he thought. My molecules love hers and connect one to the other in physical perfection.
The above is an example of what the language is like throughout the entirety of About the Night, a beautifully written, nauseating love story that moves slowly and lost focus halfway through. Keeping in mind that this is a review of an English translation, I thought the translator did a remarkable job of keeping the language fluid and romantic.
It was the romance itself that I found to be problematic. The author works so hard to convince the readers that this is the ultimate romance, the joining of two souls in perfect harmony or whatever - and I am a contrary person who will subconsciously revolt whenever I feel like the author is trying to convince me of something rather than letting me make those conclusions myself. They meet, there is some sort of physical chemistry, they have a nice little day trip - and boom, they are soulmates.
Even the tension in their romance - she is a Jew, he is an Arab; - left little to no impression on me. I found the overall history to be more interesting, as well as the family dynamic with Margo, Menash, and Nomi. Even the character's individual struggles unrelated to the romance were more interesting, such as Lila's efforts to enjoy singledom and Elias's sudden downfall from financial Prince to lowly middle-class peon.
The only thing that kept me slogging through in the latter half of the book was my own brand of tenacity. I did initially love the author's lyrical writing style, which I admit, similar to sparkles and glitter, will hook my attention, at least temporarily. However, without strong and interesting characters and some semblance of a plot, that sparkling facade will eventually become burnished.
The above is an example of what the language is like throughout the entirety of About the Night, a beautifully written, nauseating love story that moves slowly and lost focus halfway through. Keeping in mind that this is a review of an English translation, I thought the translator did a remarkable job of keeping the language fluid and romantic.
It was the romance itself that I found to be problematic. The author works so hard to convince the readers that this is the ultimate romance, the joining of two souls in perfect harmony or whatever - and I am a contrary person who will subconsciously revolt whenever I feel like the author is trying to convince me of something rather than letting me make those conclusions myself. They meet, there is some sort of physical chemistry, they have a nice little day trip - and boom, they are soulmates.
Even the tension in their romance - she is a Jew, he is an Arab; - left little to no impression on me. I found the overall history to be more interesting, as well as the family dynamic with Margo, Menash, and Nomi. Even the character's individual struggles unrelated to the romance were more interesting, such as Lila's efforts to enjoy singledom and Elias's sudden downfall from financial Prince to lowly middle-class peon.
The only thing that kept me slogging through in the latter half of the book was my own brand of tenacity. I did initially love the author's lyrical writing style, which I admit, similar to sparkles and glitter, will hook my attention, at least temporarily. However, without strong and interesting characters and some semblance of a plot, that sparkling facade will eventually become burnished.
July 4, 2021
3.5/5
“How can you miss someone you’re with?” she asked. “That you’re beside me,” he said, “merely heightens the longing.
About the Night is written with such dreamy and poetic prose, and the romance between Elias and Lila is shown so beautifully that it seems almost fluid in transition. Throughout the book, we see instances of how they understand each other really well, and remain connected not only in body, but spirit and mind too. The effects on the people of the war in Israel are displayed well, although I do wish there was more of that.
But at the same time, we have phrases like "My molecules love hers and connect one to the other in physical perfection" which seem less romantic, and more...strange. The writing gets a little monotonous in parts, and it took me a few pushes to keep going till the end. Additionally, I am not a fan of cheating and abandonment of family being condoned in the name of true love, which is something this book tries to do multiple times. For me, it took away some of the happiness that I felt while reading Elias and Lila's love story, and ended with me giving it a simple 3 stars.
“How can you miss someone you’re with?” she asked. “That you’re beside me,” he said, “merely heightens the longing.
About the Night is written with such dreamy and poetic prose, and the romance between Elias and Lila is shown so beautifully that it seems almost fluid in transition. Throughout the book, we see instances of how they understand each other really well, and remain connected not only in body, but spirit and mind too. The effects on the people of the war in Israel are displayed well, although I do wish there was more of that.
But at the same time, we have phrases like "My molecules love hers and connect one to the other in physical perfection" which seem less romantic, and more...strange. The writing gets a little monotonous in parts, and it took me a few pushes to keep going till the end. Additionally, I am not a fan of cheating and abandonment of family being condoned in the name of true love, which is something this book tries to do multiple times. For me, it took away some of the happiness that I felt while reading Elias and Lila's love story, and ended with me giving it a simple 3 stars.
May 10, 2016
It was just good enough to keep me reading. Not usually what I read, but the story was interesting. Too many sad people in this story. Typical why I stay away from this genera. I like to escape reality when I read, this was just to much like a bio, the story and the life of this individual and why he did the things he did. A little slow in the beginning but it picks up towards the end.
June 24, 2016
"When both partners give, there is no limit. It is a religious experience, an uplifting of the soul."
"He whispered into her hair, "A person should ask himself every day, Am I alive? Do I love? Most people at the end of their lives could claim to have lived: until they died, they lived. But how many could say they'd really loved? Really and truly loved? "Very few," he said, answering himself. "And what about me? I lived and loved. And even if this was my last day on earth, I would know that I lived and loved."
What you just read are a couple of quotes from the book, with which such words abound! The author was able to weave these words into phrases and sentences that lure the readers to experience love such as that of Elias and Lila's. Romantic, but not mushy nor cheesy. They are words describing love of a higher level, it would start one thinking and believing in "forever".
Elias and Lila's story of love spans decades. A Jewish woman and an Arab man, falling in love; very much unimaginable in their opposing cultures and governments. Because of the war, they got separated for nineteen years! Still, with all that fate has thrown unto them, they both remained in love. I'll stop here...you'd have to read the book to know what happened, immerse yourself into it, to be able to experience even a semblance of this true love.
"He whispered into her hair, "A person should ask himself every day, Am I alive? Do I love? Most people at the end of their lives could claim to have lived: until they died, they lived. But how many could say they'd really loved? Really and truly loved? "Very few," he said, answering himself. "And what about me? I lived and loved. And even if this was my last day on earth, I would know that I lived and loved."
What you just read are a couple of quotes from the book, with which such words abound! The author was able to weave these words into phrases and sentences that lure the readers to experience love such as that of Elias and Lila's. Romantic, but not mushy nor cheesy. They are words describing love of a higher level, it would start one thinking and believing in "forever".
Elias and Lila's story of love spans decades. A Jewish woman and an Arab man, falling in love; very much unimaginable in their opposing cultures and governments. Because of the war, they got separated for nineteen years! Still, with all that fate has thrown unto them, they both remained in love. I'll stop here...you'd have to read the book to know what happened, immerse yourself into it, to be able to experience even a semblance of this true love.
March 8, 2020
A touching story about a doomed love between a Jewish woman and a Palestinian man in Jerusalem during the latter half of the 20th Century. War, social pressure, family issues and economic woes keep this couple separated, nothing stops their devotion to each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2017
Life is too short for me to finish this book.
August 6, 2016
ok, you know what: no. this book is just not for me and i wont continue to force myself to read this. DNF at 76%.
this book is basically about an old man, elias, who is in hospital and tells the story of his life. he lived in jerusalem, is arab, and falls for a jewish woman, lila. the two get separated due to the war for a long time.
so... this sounded like a beautiful and tragic war-lovestory. it probably is, but it was just not for me. it was too cheesy, the way elias talks about how much he loves/misses lila and his view on basically everything was so over the top it made me cringe basically all the time. maybe i would have enjoyed this more if i was in the mood for something philosophical but i wasnt.
another thing that i did not like about this book was that if you dont exactly know about what happened in jerusalem during the war - you wont really understand the things going on in the book. i know this isnt a history book but i had ro read the full wikipedia article to understand what was going on.
so summing up: i couldnt connect to the characters, the story was top slow and the historical background wasnt introduced good enough for people who dont know much about the topic. meh read for me.
this book is basically about an old man, elias, who is in hospital and tells the story of his life. he lived in jerusalem, is arab, and falls for a jewish woman, lila. the two get separated due to the war for a long time.
so... this sounded like a beautiful and tragic war-lovestory. it probably is, but it was just not for me. it was too cheesy, the way elias talks about how much he loves/misses lila and his view on basically everything was so over the top it made me cringe basically all the time. maybe i would have enjoyed this more if i was in the mood for something philosophical but i wasnt.
another thing that i did not like about this book was that if you dont exactly know about what happened in jerusalem during the war - you wont really understand the things going on in the book. i know this isnt a history book but i had ro read the full wikipedia article to understand what was going on.
so summing up: i couldnt connect to the characters, the story was top slow and the historical background wasnt introduced good enough for people who dont know much about the topic. meh read for me.
May 25, 2016
This was another Amazon Prime first book, and I'd say it was probably the best I've received. Not bad for a free book. It's a love story, gently and delicately told with breathtaking sensuality. And I mean that in the broadest sense--smell, touch, taste, sight and sound are all accessed. This book is in translation so I can only assume that the original was just as poetic.
The love story begins in 1947, just before the UN voted to accept Israel as its own state. Jerusalem is a hodgepodge of ruling Brits, Europeans, Jews, Arabs, and all sorts of others. Elias is a tea merchant and he charms the people at a party, including Lila, a Jewish beautician, with his tea stories. Elias is an Arab. Their love hits them both hard, but it is doomed in this divided country. Once Israel becomes a state, Jerusalem is split in two and our couple can no longer see each other, even though they live in the same city.
This is, actually, what makes the book so interesting. Love stories set in Israel (mostly Jerusalem) in the second half of the 20th century are a rarity. And the sensual writing puts the reader right there. The food, the scent of tea brewing, the weather, the sun and the moon all play a role. In fact, these elements are more important than the political considerations happening all around Lila and Elias. I very much enjoyed reading about this time and place.
Three stars because the jumping around from present day (2006) to the past seemed a little stilted. And to be honest, the descriptions got to be somewhat repetitive. Then there's Nomi, her mom Margo and their family who seem to appear out of nowhere and suddenly blossom into Lila's extended family. While I understand the construct, as Nomi is our witness throughout much of the story, the characters were not so likable (especially the adults) and it was jarring to have them appear in the middle of the book and take up a good chunk of the narrative. Another reason for the three stars is that Elias and Lila, pleasant as they may be, played more like fairy tale characters, rather than real life ones. I wonder if anyone else got that impression?
Still, it was a fairly enjoyable read.
The love story begins in 1947, just before the UN voted to accept Israel as its own state. Jerusalem is a hodgepodge of ruling Brits, Europeans, Jews, Arabs, and all sorts of others. Elias is a tea merchant and he charms the people at a party, including Lila, a Jewish beautician, with his tea stories. Elias is an Arab. Their love hits them both hard, but it is doomed in this divided country. Once Israel becomes a state, Jerusalem is split in two and our couple can no longer see each other, even though they live in the same city.
This is, actually, what makes the book so interesting. Love stories set in Israel (mostly Jerusalem) in the second half of the 20th century are a rarity. And the sensual writing puts the reader right there. The food, the scent of tea brewing, the weather, the sun and the moon all play a role. In fact, these elements are more important than the political considerations happening all around Lila and Elias. I very much enjoyed reading about this time and place.
Three stars because the jumping around from present day (2006) to the past seemed a little stilted. And to be honest, the descriptions got to be somewhat repetitive. Then there's Nomi, her mom Margo and their family who seem to appear out of nowhere and suddenly blossom into Lila's extended family. While I understand the construct, as Nomi is our witness throughout much of the story, the characters were not so likable (especially the adults) and it was jarring to have them appear in the middle of the book and take up a good chunk of the narrative. Another reason for the three stars is that Elias and Lila, pleasant as they may be, played more like fairy tale characters, rather than real life ones. I wonder if anyone else got that impression?
Still, it was a fairly enjoyable read.
July 29, 2022
The runaways always did it again. Something about running away was painful to the point of clarity and clarifying to the point of pain.
2.5 stars. And that does seem like a kinda harsh rating for what it is, because I didn't dislike this book? But I'd be lying if I said it didn't bore me sometimes. It's historical fiction about a Turkish-Jewish woman and a Christian-Arab man who fall in love in 1947 Jerusalem, not long before the city is divided. It spans years and wars, and we also have a future timeline with Elias as a much older man in hospital care. I didn't run into the problem that I sometimes have with translated fiction, where the translation doesn't seem natural sounding or apt in English. I thought the writing was pretty good; beautiful, if somewhat overwrought at times. But some things about how the story was told really didn't appeal to me. Several times, we'd get pivotal moments between the couple from outsider POVs, and I really didn't understand that choice. Maybe the author had a reason for wanting to create that distance, but it didn't work for me. Or sometimes, even when we were still in the main characters' points of view, the narration just seemed so far removed. I just really couldn't connect with these characters as much as I would have wanted to; especially Elias, who was incredibly annoying and I don't know what Lila saw in him. It was interesting from a historical point of view, as I've never read fiction about this region in this time, and I think it did a good job of telling the story of the various wars from both sides of the divide? I'm not the best judge. Ultimately, as I said before, this was just kinda boring. I normally don't complain about slow books, but this one... oooof. And a lot of things in the last quarter just kinda annoyed me.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Mel Foster, which was fine. It's the kind of book that I think would have benefitted from dual narration, but the POVs very often weren't cleanly split (another pet peeve of mine) so I don't know how that would have been done. Overall, it was fine, just not really for me. It had all the good bones and makings of a moving story, but the end result was somewhat artificial and not all that well-realised.
Content warnings:
November 2, 2020
I would only recommend this to people who really love romance novels.
The second half of the book was far more interesting than the first half, but since we didn't meet some major characters and get more action until halfway through, the first half was rather boring. The only thing that kept me reading was the interesting setting, since I have never read a novel that takes place in modern Jerusalem and I did learn some history.
I didn't like Elias and Lila as characters - they are portrayed as perfect for the entire story (and Elias especially is not perfect in the second half, but the author makes excuses for every one of his actions). Their feelings for each other are described in countless cringeworthy cliches that would feel inauthentic for a real person to say.
There are also numerous superfluous descriptions that didn't add to the story or the setting. There is a passage that describes in detail how Munir shaves Elias's beard, and another that describes Lila doing a client's nails. The symbolism of these activities is predictable and the language just isn't exciting - great books make me think about ordinary things in new ways, but this book did not. Also, the descriptions are filled with tautologies.
Overall the writing and the plot are mediocre. Still, you might love this if you're an idealist who loves romance novels and aren't critical of writing style. I'm happy I got through it, but will never take the time to re-read this.
The second half of the book was far more interesting than the first half, but since we didn't meet some major characters and get more action until halfway through, the first half was rather boring. The only thing that kept me reading was the interesting setting, since I have never read a novel that takes place in modern Jerusalem and I did learn some history.
I didn't like Elias and Lila as characters - they are portrayed as perfect for the entire story (and Elias especially is not perfect in the second half, but the author makes excuses for every one of his actions). Their feelings for each other are described in countless cringeworthy cliches that would feel inauthentic for a real person to say.
There are also numerous superfluous descriptions that didn't add to the story or the setting. There is a passage that describes in detail how Munir shaves Elias's beard, and another that describes Lila doing a client's nails. The symbolism of these activities is predictable and the language just isn't exciting - great books make me think about ordinary things in new ways, but this book did not. Also, the descriptions are filled with tautologies.
Overall the writing and the plot are mediocre. Still, you might love this if you're an idealist who loves romance novels and aren't critical of writing style. I'm happy I got through it, but will never take the time to re-read this.
May 6, 2019
I’m afraid I couldn’t finish this book. It began with a very interesting time in a war torn area with a love story. The story was dragging on with little story content. I usually always will finish reading a story once I start but this one I gave up.
September 21, 2017
Too slow moving. Made it to 45%
January 31, 2018
This wonderfully immersive and compelling novel begins in Jerusalem in 1947 in the last days of the British Mandate of Palestine. Lila, a Jewish woman, and Elias, a Christian Arab meet and fall in love, but the conflict that is soon to emerge in the new state of Israel means that their relationship is doomed from the start. A story of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events, the book gives a vivid and atmospheric portrait of Jerusalem almost up to the present day and shows how war and politics impacted, and still impacts on the whole population, putting a human face onto political conflict. At times the writing is far too embarrassingly saccharine for its own good when it comes to describing the love affair between Lila and Elias, particularly when describing their more intimate moments, but overall I found the novel an engaging read which illuminated the fraught relationship between Jews and Arabs over these last tumultuous decades.
November 8, 2024
I really liked the story and the formatting of the past & present viewpoints, but the ending felt abrupt and I think it could’ve been done better to wrap things up
June 22, 2016
There is a beautiful, true story in this book. Of the things real people suffered during the Israeli War for Independence, in 1967, and all throughout Israel's short history, on both sides of the conflict.
It is buried in a cliche whirlwind romance between two characters who we are not given enough time to care about as real people before they are flung together in an impossible love that is poetic but entirely too hard to believe. We are then supposed to believe that they love each other after nineteen years of being apart, after completely changed political situations, after everything that has happened. There are numerous flowery descriptions of Jerusalem which are beautiful at first but only make you want to scream.
Oh, and the cliches! The lovers, torn apart by war, a food that must be described in exquisite detail (in this case, tea), secondary characters who mean nothing, the passing of the years....
A writer should set the scene and then start some action. There is certainly plenty of history for the author to draw from, but she buries all of this in a flowery depiction of Lila and Elias's relationship. There is atmosphere, but no spark, no flavor of real life.
Talshir definitely paints the scenery, but never introduces anything live to the set, and makes the reader work even harder by offering choppy flashbacks.
It is buried in a cliche whirlwind romance between two characters who we are not given enough time to care about as real people before they are flung together in an impossible love that is poetic but entirely too hard to believe. We are then supposed to believe that they love each other after nineteen years of being apart, after completely changed political situations, after everything that has happened. There are numerous flowery descriptions of Jerusalem which are beautiful at first but only make you want to scream.
Oh, and the cliches! The lovers, torn apart by war, a food that must be described in exquisite detail (in this case, tea), secondary characters who mean nothing, the passing of the years....
A writer should set the scene and then start some action. There is certainly plenty of history for the author to draw from, but she buries all of this in a flowery depiction of Lila and Elias's relationship. There is atmosphere, but no spark, no flavor of real life.
Talshir definitely paints the scenery, but never introduces anything live to the set, and makes the reader work even harder by offering choppy flashbacks.
January 16, 2021
This is one of the most beautiful and most sad love stories I've ever read. It begins in 1947 with the chance meeting of Lila and Elias in Jerusalem, before Israeli independence is declared. All hell breaks loose, of course, soon after, and the east and west sides of the city are pulled apart.
Unfortunately, Elias is a Christian Arab living in the east side, and Lila is a Jew living in the west. Their love is a casualty of geography as well as the socially-imposed separation of cultures and religions. Jews and Arabs did not love or marry back then, and there was no chance that they could live even on the same side of the barbed wire. Lila and Elias continue to love each other passionately in their hearts and minds from afar.
This lovely story has stayed with me as many stories do not. The author brings the characters to life in such a way that they feel so real. I am also very familiar with the city and the inhabitants and much of what they have experienced historically. Christians, Muslims, Jews -- they have seen too much tragedy all around. Their story continues through decades of Israeli life almost until present day, so we experience the long term effects of love from a distance, hope and despair. And yet, some happiness and some fulfillment. Highly recommended.
Unfortunately, Elias is a Christian Arab living in the east side, and Lila is a Jew living in the west. Their love is a casualty of geography as well as the socially-imposed separation of cultures and religions. Jews and Arabs did not love or marry back then, and there was no chance that they could live even on the same side of the barbed wire. Lila and Elias continue to love each other passionately in their hearts and minds from afar.
This lovely story has stayed with me as many stories do not. The author brings the characters to life in such a way that they feel so real. I am also very familiar with the city and the inhabitants and much of what they have experienced historically. Christians, Muslims, Jews -- they have seen too much tragedy all around. Their story continues through decades of Israeli life almost until present day, so we experience the long term effects of love from a distance, hope and despair. And yet, some happiness and some fulfillment. Highly recommended.
April 20, 2020
It's been a long time since I found a book this off-putting. Neither of the main characters were in any way interesting to me. They were cardboard cutouts of THEIR LOVE. THEIR GREAT LOVE. THEIR UNENDING LOVE.
The book takes delight in trying to paint everyone except Elias, Lila, and Nomi in this light of... I can't even articulate it but I guess "less-ness" would be the closest thing. No one had E&L's PASSIONATE LOVE. No other two people in Earth have ever been so in love. Nevermind the fact that they never really explain anything about either character that doesn't revolve around LOVE. It's exhausting. Elias is a coward. Lila never loses an opportunity to make the most scene possible. Of course they both had different expectations of what would happen after the war because they never discussed these matters like two people in a relationship actually would.
The book takes delight in trying to paint everyone except Elias, Lila, and Nomi in this light of... I can't even articulate it but I guess "less-ness" would be the closest thing. No one had E&L's PASSIONATE LOVE. No other two people in Earth have ever been so in love. Nevermind the fact that they never really explain anything about either character that doesn't revolve around LOVE. It's exhausting. Elias is a coward. Lila never loses an opportunity to make the most scene possible. Of course they both had different expectations of what would happen after the war because they never discussed these matters like two people in a relationship actually would.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2016
This is an impressive book about love, resignation, perseverance, hope and softenss. The story is set in Jeruzalem and very relevant. Even today things are not easy with Christians, Jews and Muslims living in one city or country.
'From up high, it was nearly impossible to differentiate between the Christian, Jewish and Muslim graves scattered like dominoes around the same holy valley. Elias took consolation in the fact that all the dead basked in the same sun and were drenched by the same rains and buffeted by the same winter winds and exposed to the same birdsong.'
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.
'From up high, it was nearly impossible to differentiate between the Christian, Jewish and Muslim graves scattered like dominoes around the same holy valley. Elias took consolation in the fact that all the dead basked in the same sun and were drenched by the same rains and buffeted by the same winter winds and exposed to the same birdsong.'
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.
May 10, 2016
The love of a lifetime
A beautiful sad story of love thorn apart and love renewed. Also of the strength and resilience and endurance of people.
The heartbreak of a war thorn world and still love and kindness is there.
Finally, a great history lesson is given in such a way that the reader understands and must emphasize with the people in Israel and the other middle eastern countries. This book is a historical document on the war and way of life of Arabs and Jews that should never take for granted. A fantastic book to read. I would recommend it
A beautiful sad story of love thorn apart and love renewed. Also of the strength and resilience and endurance of people.
The heartbreak of a war thorn world and still love and kindness is there.
Finally, a great history lesson is given in such a way that the reader understands and must emphasize with the people in Israel and the other middle eastern countries. This book is a historical document on the war and way of life of Arabs and Jews that should never take for granted. A fantastic book to read. I would recommend it
January 4, 2025
This was a beautiful book. A bit slow at times and maybe a little too long. But still beautiful. It tells of a love that almost everyone searches for but not everyone finds - in more ways than one might initially think.
September 6, 2016
Delightful Novel!
An excellent novel written with deep feelings about true love. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommended it.
An excellent novel written with deep feelings about true love. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommended it.
February 18, 2017
Disappointing
Mediocre writing, maudlin, simple.
Sweet story without the proper structure or writing acumen.
Laborious and dragging instead of compelling and heart-grabbing.
Mediocre writing, maudlin, simple.
Sweet story without the proper structure or writing acumen.
Laborious and dragging instead of compelling and heart-grabbing.
December 29, 2021
This is a book about love, it's also a story about war, heartache, and endurance. It's a book that will break your heart, but restore your faith that love is forever.
Jerusalem, in 1947. Lila, an attractive young single woman living in the Jewish section of Jerusalem, has a chance encounter with Elias, a suave, successful tea merchant, dazzlingly handsome, and equally charming. The attraction is instant, and magnetic, and at the time, his being an Arab and a Christian seems like a mere bump in the road. Arabs, Jews and Christians interact peacefully in the Jerusalem of that time, and though they usually reside in their own neighborhoods, commerce and interaction between all factions is unhampered.
Elias asks Lila to dinner, and she accepts. Their evening is wonderful. She's dazzled by his sophistication and suave manners, his beautiful expensive car, and his bespoke suit. He's mesmerized by her beauty and intelligence, and her confidence as a single woman making her own way in the city.
Soon, business requires Elias to meet with a prospective tea supplier in a beautiful, exotic region and the time seems right-he asks Lila to accompany him. The trip is magical, the setting romantic, and the two fall deeply in love. They can't believe their happiness and the depth their love has reached, and they know it's forever. They return home, full of dreams for the future.
All too soon those dreams are shattered, when an announcement comes from the United Nations on the question of the Middle East. Palestine is to be divided into separate states-a Jewish state, and an Arab state. Their city of Jerusalem is forcibly divided-A Jewish half and an Arab half. War ensues almost immediately. The lovers find themselves forbidden to cross to each other's neighborhoods, or even to communicate. Bombings begin on both sides.
Through carefully arranged plans secretly devised by friends on both sides, the two finally manage to meet at a ball for United Nations Representatives and their guests. But Elias suffers dire consequences after being spotted in attendance. Lila too is questioned and threatened. There can be no further meetings. There can no longer even be letters passed by trusted friends. Lila can only live in the hope that they'll be together again one day, and she never allows that hope to fade though time drags on and brings changes.
This heart-rending story shows that true love never dies, not even after being dealt deadly blows, not even after crushing disappointment and less-than-storybook endings. It always lives on.
Jerusalem, in 1947. Lila, an attractive young single woman living in the Jewish section of Jerusalem, has a chance encounter with Elias, a suave, successful tea merchant, dazzlingly handsome, and equally charming. The attraction is instant, and magnetic, and at the time, his being an Arab and a Christian seems like a mere bump in the road. Arabs, Jews and Christians interact peacefully in the Jerusalem of that time, and though they usually reside in their own neighborhoods, commerce and interaction between all factions is unhampered.
Elias asks Lila to dinner, and she accepts. Their evening is wonderful. She's dazzled by his sophistication and suave manners, his beautiful expensive car, and his bespoke suit. He's mesmerized by her beauty and intelligence, and her confidence as a single woman making her own way in the city.
Soon, business requires Elias to meet with a prospective tea supplier in a beautiful, exotic region and the time seems right-he asks Lila to accompany him. The trip is magical, the setting romantic, and the two fall deeply in love. They can't believe their happiness and the depth their love has reached, and they know it's forever. They return home, full of dreams for the future.
All too soon those dreams are shattered, when an announcement comes from the United Nations on the question of the Middle East. Palestine is to be divided into separate states-a Jewish state, and an Arab state. Their city of Jerusalem is forcibly divided-A Jewish half and an Arab half. War ensues almost immediately. The lovers find themselves forbidden to cross to each other's neighborhoods, or even to communicate. Bombings begin on both sides.
Through carefully arranged plans secretly devised by friends on both sides, the two finally manage to meet at a ball for United Nations Representatives and their guests. But Elias suffers dire consequences after being spotted in attendance. Lila too is questioned and threatened. There can be no further meetings. There can no longer even be letters passed by trusted friends. Lila can only live in the hope that they'll be together again one day, and she never allows that hope to fade though time drags on and brings changes.
This heart-rending story shows that true love never dies, not even after being dealt deadly blows, not even after crushing disappointment and less-than-storybook endings. It always lives on.
September 22, 2020
I listened to this one of Audible.
I don't know if it was the narrator or maybe it was not translated well but this story was all over the place. It had a great story line of a romance between an Arab and Jew at a volatile time in Israel's history during the 1940's. The description was over the top and the characters themselves weren't fleshed out enough for me as well as the story line sounded like a list of events.. If there was a character that I liked it was the main male character.
Anyway, this one didn't do it for me and I really tried to find something to rate it higher than I did.
:( sorry!
I don't know if it was the narrator or maybe it was not translated well but this story was all over the place. It had a great story line of a romance between an Arab and Jew at a volatile time in Israel's history during the 1940's. The description was over the top and the characters themselves weren't fleshed out enough for me as well as the story line sounded like a list of events.. If there was a character that I liked it was the main male character.
Anyway, this one didn't do it for me and I really tried to find something to rate it higher than I did.
:( sorry!
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