What do you think?
Rate this book
Running Home
Why did her mother die?
When Denise was six-monthsold, her mother was killed by a terrorist bomb.For years Denise was told half-truths and lies about her mother's death.At sixteen she makes a startling discovery which affects the course of her life.
Denise was brought up inLondon by her father and step-mother in an observant Jewish household. Sinceshe was a red headed obstinate toddler, she has held her own views oneverything, including religion. By the time she is a teenager her family lifehas become unbearably miserable. Her grandmother Vera who came to England as arefugee helps her to get away from the tensions of home and to appreciate lifeoutside London. Her sense of freedom at a Sixth Form College is soiled when sheencounters antisemitism and racism for the first time. Is it self-protection orself-deception to hide her Jewish identity when she goes to university? Herskin tones, hair and facial features allow her to be seen as white English. Butshe drops her mask when she witnesses antisemitic, anti-Israel violence oncampus. Her arrogant English lover's fury when he finds out that she is Jewishhurts and confuses her. Questions whirl in her mind. What does it mean to herto be an English Jew? What compelled her mother to leave her baby in London andtravel to Israel where her life was cut short? It is time for Denise to findout for herself why Jews and Israel arouse such strong feelings.
Against her father's wishes,she visits the Jewish State. A sense ofcoming home overwhelms her. The mystery of her mother's death becomes clear. Shebegins to understand Israel's complex problems more deeply. When another warbreaks out and she knows that some will pay the ultimate price for the countryto exist, her sense of belonging is shaken. She returns to England.
Although the novel is set inthe context of contemporary Jewish issues, her story will echo for many whobelong to ethnic minorities.
When Denise was six-monthsold, her mother was killed by a terrorist bomb.For years Denise was told half-truths and lies about her mother's death.At sixteen she makes a startling discovery which affects the course of her life.
Denise was brought up inLondon by her father and step-mother in an observant Jewish household. Sinceshe was a red headed obstinate toddler, she has held her own views oneverything, including religion. By the time she is a teenager her family lifehas become unbearably miserable. Her grandmother Vera who came to England as arefugee helps her to get away from the tensions of home and to appreciate lifeoutside London. Her sense of freedom at a Sixth Form College is soiled when sheencounters antisemitism and racism for the first time. Is it self-protection orself-deception to hide her Jewish identity when she goes to university? Herskin tones, hair and facial features allow her to be seen as white English. Butshe drops her mask when she witnesses antisemitic, anti-Israel violence oncampus. Her arrogant English lover's fury when he finds out that she is Jewishhurts and confuses her. Questions whirl in her mind. What does it mean to herto be an English Jew? What compelled her mother to leave her baby in London andtravel to Israel where her life was cut short? It is time for Denise to findout for herself why Jews and Israel arouse such strong feelings.
Against her father's wishes,she visits the Jewish State. A sense ofcoming home overwhelms her. The mystery of her mother's death becomes clear. Shebegins to understand Israel's complex problems more deeply. When another warbreaks out and she knows that some will pay the ultimate price for the countryto exist, her sense of belonging is shaken. She returns to England.
Although the novel is set inthe context of contemporary Jewish issues, her story will echo for many whobelong to ethnic minorities.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2019
2 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
No one has reviewed this book yet.