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Revenge: A Story of Hope
The "Washington Post" reporter who went undercover to seek out the Palestinian terrorist who had shot her father travels the globe collecting tales of personal vengeance while probing the psychology of this primal emotion.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 10, 2018
Overall the book was okay but my feelings about it are mixed; mostly negative. This is a 2.5 star book rounded up to 3 stars.
The general concept of revenge is interesting and some of the anecdotes presented by the author were thought provoking. However her approach to the subject of revenge felt slapdash. The Middle Eastern customs were appropriate to the story but the tales of the Sicilian mafia and many of the others (that I frankly don't recall) felt like extraneous filler.
The writing is fine but it doesn't stand out in any particular way. The author's travels were presented as if they were impromptu but I had the sense they were carefully orchestrated.
The author's depictions of her personal relationships were uniformly annoying. And in case you couldn't figure that out for yourself she periodically informed the reader that she or the other person was annoying. That was true but not endearing. The relationship between the author's parents had the charm of a dripping faucet.
I didn't intend to dwell on the negatives but when I look at the goodreads question - What did you think? - I guess I think I've read many better books and lots of worse books. I have other negative thoughts about the book but I don't need to go on to make it any clearer that I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
The general concept of revenge is interesting and some of the anecdotes presented by the author were thought provoking. However her approach to the subject of revenge felt slapdash. The Middle Eastern customs were appropriate to the story but the tales of the Sicilian mafia and many of the others (that I frankly don't recall) felt like extraneous filler.
The writing is fine but it doesn't stand out in any particular way. The author's travels were presented as if they were impromptu but I had the sense they were carefully orchestrated.
The author's depictions of her personal relationships were uniformly annoying. And in case you couldn't figure that out for yourself she periodically informed the reader that she or the other person was annoying. That was true but not endearing. The relationship between the author's parents had the charm of a dripping faucet.
I didn't intend to dwell on the negatives but when I look at the goodreads question - What did you think? - I guess I think I've read many better books and lots of worse books. I have other negative thoughts about the book but I don't need to go on to make it any clearer that I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
August 8, 2007
The premise was really interesting. Our book club thought this was probably a graduate paper that got expanded a little too much.
February 7, 2018
Started out great but as it went on the book kind of dragged for me.I am sure other historical types might find it interesting but I found it a bit too muddled in unneeded descriptions. Hopefully other readers might find it to suit their tastes.
November 27, 2023
I really was impressed with this one. It was honestly so interesting; I obviously expected the memoir aspect of it, the personal journey into what revenge means to the author, and of course the weight of what happened to her family and the effects that had. But I didn't expect all the insight and research into the different kinds of revenge, how it's seen across various cultures, the way other individuals view it or come to terms with it… it was just really interesting.
The author's story makes an excellent backbone for the subject, because with something as huge as revenge, it needs an anchor. Revenge is always a deeply personal thing, so such a book would have to be written by somebody who desires it – I don't think you can really get into it if you've never really desired revenge for yourself. As somebody who very much has desired revenge – and in fact spent years concocting ways I could have revenge against the people who hurt me terribly – and then ultimately decided that it wasn't the path for me, I found pretty much everything in this book shone a new light on a different aspect of it. There's a lot here I had never thought about, other things that I worked out for myself and that were interesting or relieving to see them written down; it’s neither an argument for or against but I think it's a good place to look if you're wondering.
My one and only complaint was that the scene towards the end, in the court, was a little melodramatic for me. The rest of the writing was incredible, but this one scene faltered and ended up sounding like it was right out of a Jodi Picoult novel. It wasn't the right tone for the book and I think it was an unfortunate case of some authors simply struggling to write such incredible emotions. The journalistic tone of the rest of the book would have been better, because sometimes less is more – say the facts and let them speak. I think perhaps the author worried this style would not do it justice, though there was absolutely no problem in the rest of the book. The drama of that end scene, the obviously paraphrased quotes, the timing, how perfectly it all went… I know it's all based in fact, but the way it was written had me waiting for Albert Einstein to come out and hand the author $100. It doesn't ruin the book in the slightest, and it's well worth a read, but it did stand out and not in a good way.
Back to the positives, though: most importantly, it's not preachy or condescending, it isn't trying to be a warning or a fable. It doesn't look down on anyone for the choices they've made and at root remembers that revenge is always a personal thing that nobody else can speak for – even if you've been through it yourself. It is what it is, and even though the heart of the story focuses on a daughter's love for her father, the focus remains on revenge through the lens of this. It's deeply intimate and an impressive confession – the author does not shy away from the fact that wanting revenge to that degree often makes you an uncharitable and sometimes cruel person, as well as corrupts your morals unavoidably.
The author's story makes an excellent backbone for the subject, because with something as huge as revenge, it needs an anchor. Revenge is always a deeply personal thing, so such a book would have to be written by somebody who desires it – I don't think you can really get into it if you've never really desired revenge for yourself. As somebody who very much has desired revenge – and in fact spent years concocting ways I could have revenge against the people who hurt me terribly – and then ultimately decided that it wasn't the path for me, I found pretty much everything in this book shone a new light on a different aspect of it. There's a lot here I had never thought about, other things that I worked out for myself and that were interesting or relieving to see them written down; it’s neither an argument for or against but I think it's a good place to look if you're wondering.
My one and only complaint was that the scene towards the end, in the court, was a little melodramatic for me. The rest of the writing was incredible, but this one scene faltered and ended up sounding like it was right out of a Jodi Picoult novel. It wasn't the right tone for the book and I think it was an unfortunate case of some authors simply struggling to write such incredible emotions. The journalistic tone of the rest of the book would have been better, because sometimes less is more – say the facts and let them speak. I think perhaps the author worried this style would not do it justice, though there was absolutely no problem in the rest of the book. The drama of that end scene, the obviously paraphrased quotes, the timing, how perfectly it all went… I know it's all based in fact, but the way it was written had me waiting for Albert Einstein to come out and hand the author $100. It doesn't ruin the book in the slightest, and it's well worth a read, but it did stand out and not in a good way.
Back to the positives, though: most importantly, it's not preachy or condescending, it isn't trying to be a warning or a fable. It doesn't look down on anyone for the choices they've made and at root remembers that revenge is always a personal thing that nobody else can speak for – even if you've been through it yourself. It is what it is, and even though the heart of the story focuses on a daughter's love for her father, the focus remains on revenge through the lens of this. It's deeply intimate and an impressive confession – the author does not shy away from the fact that wanting revenge to that degree often makes you an uncharitable and sometimes cruel person, as well as corrupts your morals unavoidably.
September 8, 2012
I remember reading about David Blumenfeld's shooting when it happened, and was both horrified by the shooting of an innocent tourist, and thankful he survived. His daughter's story of her quest for revenge, and the interesting twists and turns it takes, is an outstanding tale of love, family dynamics, and the challenge of determining what it terrorism and what is the protection of one's homeland. I highly recommend this book for anyone even remotely interested in the Arab-Israeli conflict, or any conflict over land.
July 14, 2020
I genuinely thought this book was excellent. Loved the mix between intellectual and personal reflections. Loved the relationships developing and informing her thought process. The end hit me like a ton of bricks. Superb.
March 8, 2011
Best book I have read to date - includes some interesting information about the psychology of revenge.
May 1, 2019
Read about 4 chapters, and just couldn't get into it, but not my kind of book.
September 2, 2010
Okay, so this book was without a doubt the hardest to get through I have ever read. Problems I had with this book, 1) Her father didn't die, so why are we avenging him?, 2) It appears that the author's real problem is that she is hurt by her parent's' divorce and her mother's lack of caring after her father's injury, 3) She is certifiably and mildly frighteningly CRAZY!!! It is amazing to me that she did not get nearly killed or worse in some of the experiences that she put herself in. Why the heck was she searching for the guy who tried to kill her father??? For some reason, I feel like that's something that a crazy person would do. And she did. So there you go.
This book was summer reading so I really had no choice in reading it. I wish that my first impression from the back of the book had been better... because I might have actually had a chance of liking it. For though I disagreed with the overall premise, and found the writing disorganized and largely self-centered (especially in regard to the author's husband, who she (and I) expresses great surprise at having scored throughout the book... I mean, WHO DOES THAT!?!?), the book was still filled with all sorts of interesting information regarding Middle Eastern conflict, which (I think) was the point of having us read this book. The last two chapters were actually very good and suspenseful, so I'll give her that, but otherwise, I'd say DON'T READ THIS BOOK!!!
So there you go. My least favorite book ever gets my longest review ever. Go figure.
This book was summer reading so I really had no choice in reading it. I wish that my first impression from the back of the book had been better... because I might have actually had a chance of liking it. For though I disagreed with the overall premise, and found the writing disorganized and largely self-centered (especially in regard to the author's husband, who she (and I) expresses great surprise at having scored throughout the book... I mean, WHO DOES THAT!?!?), the book was still filled with all sorts of interesting information regarding Middle Eastern conflict, which (I think) was the point of having us read this book. The last two chapters were actually very good and suspenseful, so I'll give her that, but otherwise, I'd say DON'T READ THIS BOOK!!!
So there you go. My least favorite book ever gets my longest review ever. Go figure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2012
A friend passed this title along. While it's not one I'd choose on my own, I stuck with it in the spirit of finishing what I had started. Once I got through it, I debated whether to award it two or three stars. I opted for the latter because the story opened my eyes to the concept of revenge as it is held elsewhere in the world. Coming from a Christian background, revenge isn't a concept I dwell on, but Blumenfeld's exploration of recent stories of revenge and the tradition of revenge in the Arab world, for example, opened my eyes, especially the story of a brother who strangled his beloved sister after she ran away from an unkind stepmother. Her action brought shame on the family and he felt he had no other choice.
Having read this book it's easier for me to comprehend a current news story in which parents and a sibling murdered two teenage daughters/sisters because of what was perceived as the girls' loose and undignified behavior. While my tradition says the murder is immoral, theirs dictates that it is necessary.
Revenge and honor are integral lenses through which much of the world sees. It's helpful to understand that, even though I consider revenge a waste of effort.
Having read this book it's easier for me to comprehend a current news story in which parents and a sibling murdered two teenage daughters/sisters because of what was perceived as the girls' loose and undignified behavior. While my tradition says the murder is immoral, theirs dictates that it is necessary.
Revenge and honor are integral lenses through which much of the world sees. It's helpful to understand that, even though I consider revenge a waste of effort.
October 21, 2016
After a man shoots and grazes the scalp of her father, Laura Blumenfeld travels on a journey to find how she can get revenge on the shooter. She treks through different parts of the Middle-East to attain the facts she is looking for. This book focuses on one woman's determination in procuring the useful information to bring justice to her father's shooter. Reading this book, I found that it was quite interesting at first, but became hard to follow after a while and became more like an informative book. With the different sections of pure information, it was hard for me to stay engaged with the plot and purpose of the book. There are parts of the book where it begins talking about the current life of Laura and transcends into pages of information on laws of Middle-Eastern countries. While there were hard-to-read sections, there were also parts that were very useful and interesting. For me, this book was informational and slightly boring. This type of book would be for an audience looking for information on Middle-Eastern countries, their laws, and how revenge is played in different cultures.
October 26, 2014
I reread this book as part of my project on 40 Days of Peace. I reread this book in one of the worst summers for Israeli-Palestinian relations. It was eerie. It was haunting. It was personal. It was researched before 9/11. It was researched during the time when Laura and her dad watched the aftermath of the terrorist bombings on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. When Osama bin Laden was an unknown name. When her father had been a tourist in Jerusalem and had been shot in retaliation (or not) for the US bombing of Libya. It is depressing that some of these stories continue to be real, current and intractable. And then…there is a twist at the end. Read it. It provides hope. Even today. Especially today.
December 1, 2018
This book taught me some things about Israel and the cultures and religions at odds there. The author was very brave to search out her father's shooter, and the ending of the story is quite remarkable and satisfying. (I met Laura when our sons were assigned as freshman roommates in college.)
September 10, 2018
I found this book so fascinating and well written. It was hard to read though, at times, because there are a lot of harsh things in it to process. But it was both challenging and eye-opening for me.
October 24, 2025
Laura Blumenfeld's father was wounded in a terrorist attack in the old city in Jerusalem 1986. This event haunts Laura. She writes a poem in college about it, wanting to seek revenge. Some 10+ years later, during her first year of marriage, Laura spends a year in Jerusalem looking for the shooter and trying to understand revenge; revenge as a concept and what does revenge mean for her.
The book reads like a memoir. It has many personal episodes in her search and research. She tries to understand revenge from many different societies. As a journalist, she is fearless in her search for information. She travels to Iran to interview the Grand Ayatollah on how revenge is interpreted in Islam. She travels to Albani to learn how revenge is treated in that culture. She travels to Sicily. She travels to the west bank, Ramallah, and befriends the family of the shooter.
But the book is personal. She is gripped by fear which she shares with the reader and haunted by her lack of ethical behavior by not always sharing her truth in why she is looking for all this information.
She interviews other victims of terrorist attacks to hear their feelings about revenge. She processes all this ingathering of information and how she relates to it.
In some aspects, the story is very dated. She includes small excerpts from different interviews she had with well known Israeli figures who today are no longer alive; Amnon Lipkin Shachat, Rafi Eitan. Eliyakim Rubenstein who was an active figure in Israeli life is now retired and not on the scene. Also her descriptions of the physical scenery in Jerusalem outside the old city has changed drastically.
She finds the shooter who is serving his sentence in jail and starts a correspondence with him. Although inundated with the political, the journey for Laura remains personal. Her parents were getting divorced when this attack happened and we finally understand that Laura was traumatized by the divorce as much as she was by the terrorist attack.
For me the best line in the book was when Laura's mom said to her "You look at the divorce as failure and punishment, but your child is going to think of it as 'Yay! I have six grandparents and they have treats in their pockets for me.' "
I totally enjoyed this book. The writing style was flowing and held me. I didn't fall asleep at any part and actually had a hard time putting it down. The information she gathered about revenge and all its consequences was enlightening. Her personal involvement made it read like a story and not a newspaper article but the writing style was clear, concise and flowing. Although the book was written in 2002 and includes many current events from that period, the overall exploration into revenge is relevant still today.
The book reads like a memoir. It has many personal episodes in her search and research. She tries to understand revenge from many different societies. As a journalist, she is fearless in her search for information. She travels to Iran to interview the Grand Ayatollah on how revenge is interpreted in Islam. She travels to Albani to learn how revenge is treated in that culture. She travels to Sicily. She travels to the west bank, Ramallah, and befriends the family of the shooter.
But the book is personal. She is gripped by fear which she shares with the reader and haunted by her lack of ethical behavior by not always sharing her truth in why she is looking for all this information.
She interviews other victims of terrorist attacks to hear their feelings about revenge. She processes all this ingathering of information and how she relates to it.
In some aspects, the story is very dated. She includes small excerpts from different interviews she had with well known Israeli figures who today are no longer alive; Amnon Lipkin Shachat, Rafi Eitan. Eliyakim Rubenstein who was an active figure in Israeli life is now retired and not on the scene. Also her descriptions of the physical scenery in Jerusalem outside the old city has changed drastically.
She finds the shooter who is serving his sentence in jail and starts a correspondence with him. Although inundated with the political, the journey for Laura remains personal. Her parents were getting divorced when this attack happened and we finally understand that Laura was traumatized by the divorce as much as she was by the terrorist attack.
For me the best line in the book was when Laura's mom said to her "You look at the divorce as failure and punishment, but your child is going to think of it as 'Yay! I have six grandparents and they have treats in their pockets for me.' "
I totally enjoyed this book. The writing style was flowing and held me. I didn't fall asleep at any part and actually had a hard time putting it down. The information she gathered about revenge and all its consequences was enlightening. Her personal involvement made it read like a story and not a newspaper article but the writing style was clear, concise and flowing. Although the book was written in 2002 and includes many current events from that period, the overall exploration into revenge is relevant still today.
October 24, 2017
Revenge is a book about a Laura Blumenfeld father getting shot in Jerusalem. She just feels so much anger inside her that she decides to go all around the middle-east to learn about revenge.then she found her father's murderer and interviews him she didn’t really tell the man that she was her father's daughter. She saw that this man was happy, proud, or satisfied about shooting her father in the head. But she sees that this man is still a human being and that we all make mistakes.she sees that revenge is not the answer to her pain and anger. If for every single time that we did something bad to a person someone would come and avenge them, it would just be a cycle that never died down.
This book shows me the way that other people think about revenge.as a teen that has gone to church since I was born, it is a concept that you probably know quite well you know in the bible it says if someone does something to you turn the other cheek. Yet I have struggled to turn the other cheek when someone insults me or hurts me. I could say that I feel her pain but I can't because I don't know how it feels to have my father almost dead even though I haven't lived with my father for my whole life. Sometimes I feel like Laura and I want to get revenge but will get revenge take my pain away or just give me another burden to carry?
This book is a book that teens and adults should read because of its message everybody at one point wants to get revenge. But what will the outcome be? Children should also know that revenge is never good.
This book shows me the way that other people think about revenge.as a teen that has gone to church since I was born, it is a concept that you probably know quite well you know in the bible it says if someone does something to you turn the other cheek. Yet I have struggled to turn the other cheek when someone insults me or hurts me. I could say that I feel her pain but I can't because I don't know how it feels to have my father almost dead even though I haven't lived with my father for my whole life. Sometimes I feel like Laura and I want to get revenge but will get revenge take my pain away or just give me another burden to carry?
This book is a book that teens and adults should read because of its message everybody at one point wants to get revenge. But what will the outcome be? Children should also know that revenge is never good.
January 9, 2020
I read this book as the US killed a senior Iranian military officer, while he was in Iraq, and Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at US military forces in Iraq. The book provided an interesting array of ways to think about "retaliation" in different cultural, national, and religious traditions. It was a good reminder that we Americans do not hold a monopoly on cultural norms, and if we wish to survive in the pool of international politics, we need to understand more about our differences. Some of the reviews I've read about this book are critical when the time comes to consider Christian teachings on the matter of revenge... But I think, if the reader approaches the book honestly, it is not a cop-out to end the book there.
July 8, 2025
This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I kind of expected the author to explore revenge more, but she only goes to Albania to do actual research and just mentions a few other cultures. The main story is about coming to grips with her family's story, while also navigating a treacherous relationship with the family of the man who shot her father. There is a lot to unpack and at times I felt I was trapped in a room with this family, watching them sort out their issues. It felt voyeuristic.
The relationship with the attacker's family also raises some questions which kind of get some answers at the end. But people are messy, this book is messy and in the end there are no clear answers. A pretty unique book overall with a fascinating premise. Was lost a bit by the execution.
The relationship with the attacker's family also raises some questions which kind of get some answers at the end. But people are messy, this book is messy and in the end there are no clear answers. A pretty unique book overall with a fascinating premise. Was lost a bit by the execution.
May 15, 2024
It was certainly surreal listening to this audiobook in light of recent events. This book gives hope that human connection can build invisible bridges, but also how little has changed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The author does not shy away from her obsession, and it was interesting to learn how revenge manifests on different cultures. The author does not villanize nor infantilizes Palestinians. She instead shows this population as they are: complex human beings. With the current war, this is an essential read.
March 23, 2018
Over a year, Laura Blumenfeld presented herself to the family of the person who aimed a gun at her father and pulled the trigger because he was wearing a yarmulke in Jerusalem. While he was only grazed at the top of his head, his daughter went looking for revenge.
Throughout her quest, she learns what revenge is, and was able to put a human face on the ages old conflict. Each side should be constructive, and to be hopeful for living together in peace.
Throughout her quest, she learns what revenge is, and was able to put a human face on the ages old conflict. Each side should be constructive, and to be hopeful for living together in peace.
December 13, 2025
Hmm - interesting facts about revenge culture, but the way it was written (or maybe the way it really was) I found Laura unlikeable. She was very much naval gazing, putting people at risk, and not listening to the needs of others. You could say the ends justify the means by the way it turned out, but I really wanted her to stop her self-centeredness that she presented in both a proud and embarrassed way (yet she persisted . . .).
November 19, 2021
Emocionante y llena de esperanza, un libro que te invita a reflexionar sobre la sed de venganza del ser humano y la posibilidad de perdonar y sanar. Una lectura muy entretenida, no se me hizo pesada en ningún momento y disfruté mucho de él.
February 10, 2024
I enjoyed the author's research and commentary on revenge, but was not so interested in her family drama. Furthermore, I found myself wholeheartedly disagreeing with some of her later conclusions.
March 23, 2024
Storyline worthy of a movie. Could have done with more editing in my opinion but, on the whole, an interesting and wide-ranging look at revenge across cultures.
June 29, 2024
Woman works through her revenge obsession by trying to understand her father's assailant. Some thoughtful ruminations on the topic.
October 25, 2024
Contrived
January 11, 2025
So glad that I found this book. It is a must read for anyone in a similar situation.
October 18, 2011
I'm not sure what I thought I was picking up when I requested Laura Blumenfeld's book Revenge from the library. If I'd considered more carefully, I might have thought that Ms. Blumenfeld would define revenge and then show how it's practiced across cultures before sharing numerous stories from various countries and from across history.
That's not exactly what Revenge is about, although it does include some objective discussion of what revenge is and how some people undertake it.
Revenge is Blumenfeld's memoir based on her father's shooting during her freshman year of college. Her father, a rabbi, had been visiting Jerusalem's Western Wall when a young Palestinian student randomly chose to shoot him. As a journalist later working for The Washington Post, Blumenfeld's background and experience allowed her to explore her own feelings and pursue her own motives under the guise of writing about revenge. (Actually, it's unclear to me whether her book was intended from its inception to be a memoir based on her need for revenge or whether her pursuit of the personal during her research caused her to turn what had been intended as something more objective into a memoir.)
What results is a highly readable story in which Blumenfeld manages to portray herself as naive and irrational, yet sympathetic. (I marveled at her skill in doing so because throughout I was also aware of her talent and intelligence as a writer.) Even though I sympathized with her patient and long-suffering husband, Baruch, I nevertheless wanted Blumenfeld to find a way to get past her desire for some kind of recognition or restitution for her father.
Throughout the year that she researched her book, Blumenfeld daydreamed about meeting the man who shot her father ("the shooter" is how she refers to him) and shaking him to make him respond to her anger and frustration about the event. To make him see her father and herself as people who matter. Yet she also wanted to reconcile her visceral urge with her more rational sense of justice, the need for due process, and the fair application of law. Her quest to understand her own drive for revenge drives her story.
I found the end of her tale rather satisfying, especially the lead-up to the climactic moment when she meets the shooter. In many ways, I found Blumenfeld's quest admirable and thought-provoking. What would I do if someone had shot my father, unprovoked, and for ideological reasons that didn't involve him? What would you do?
That's not exactly what Revenge is about, although it does include some objective discussion of what revenge is and how some people undertake it.
Revenge is Blumenfeld's memoir based on her father's shooting during her freshman year of college. Her father, a rabbi, had been visiting Jerusalem's Western Wall when a young Palestinian student randomly chose to shoot him. As a journalist later working for The Washington Post, Blumenfeld's background and experience allowed her to explore her own feelings and pursue her own motives under the guise of writing about revenge. (Actually, it's unclear to me whether her book was intended from its inception to be a memoir based on her need for revenge or whether her pursuit of the personal during her research caused her to turn what had been intended as something more objective into a memoir.)
What results is a highly readable story in which Blumenfeld manages to portray herself as naive and irrational, yet sympathetic. (I marveled at her skill in doing so because throughout I was also aware of her talent and intelligence as a writer.) Even though I sympathized with her patient and long-suffering husband, Baruch, I nevertheless wanted Blumenfeld to find a way to get past her desire for some kind of recognition or restitution for her father.
Throughout the year that she researched her book, Blumenfeld daydreamed about meeting the man who shot her father ("the shooter" is how she refers to him) and shaking him to make him respond to her anger and frustration about the event. To make him see her father and herself as people who matter. Yet she also wanted to reconcile her visceral urge with her more rational sense of justice, the need for due process, and the fair application of law. Her quest to understand her own drive for revenge drives her story.
I found the end of her tale rather satisfying, especially the lead-up to the climactic moment when she meets the shooter. In many ways, I found Blumenfeld's quest admirable and thought-provoking. What would I do if someone had shot my father, unprovoked, and for ideological reasons that didn't involve him? What would you do?
Read
January 15, 2016How would you respond if a terrorist shot your father? In 1998, twelve years after a bullet grazed Rabbi David Blumenfeld's scalp in Jerusalem, his daughter Laura (then a Washington Post reporter) set out to confront the gunman. Her book created a stir in many circles. Some readers applauded her triple investigation--into revenge traditions worldwide, into the shooter and his family, and into herself and her own family. Others decried a perceived self-indulgence. Some praised her principal theme of humanism: that terrorists can't stay terrorists if they know the potential victims personally. But many fellow journalists criticized her duplicity in cozying up to the gunman's family without identifying herself.
I recommend the book with serious reservations. I find her methods unethical and her writing sometimes juvenile. Truly compelling passages crash against fatuous sections about her parents, her husband, her brother--sections that read like a teenager's diary. (It's surprising, given the glowing blurbs from Elie Wiesel, Tony Horwitz, Jonathan Rosen, and Glenn Frankel. Hard to believe they read the book in its final form.) Still, with dehumanizing conflicts raging in Israel/Palestine and elsewhere, a work examining our vengeful instincts is probably called for. (Jeff B., Reader's Services)
I recommend the book with serious reservations. I find her methods unethical and her writing sometimes juvenile. Truly compelling passages crash against fatuous sections about her parents, her husband, her brother--sections that read like a teenager's diary. (It's surprising, given the glowing blurbs from Elie Wiesel, Tony Horwitz, Jonathan Rosen, and Glenn Frankel. Hard to believe they read the book in its final form.) Still, with dehumanizing conflicts raging in Israel/Palestine and elsewhere, a work examining our vengeful instincts is probably called for. (Jeff B., Reader's Services)
January 9, 2015
As a young reporter for the Washington Post, Laura Blumenfeld writes about revenge and its motives. She explores the reason for vengeance in humans through the study of different cultures - some very shocking and graphic. Her fascination/obsession with revenge is sparked by the shooting of her father in Jerusalem by a Palestinian gunman.
Blumenfield's father, an American rabbi was a victim of a random attack. He happened to be walking in Jerusalem in 1986 at dusk when a gunman, Omar Khatib shot him... either luck, fait or divine intervention left him with only a scalp wound. A centimeter lower and the bullet would have killed him instantly. As it was, her father was relatively unhurt and able to continue a normal life. Laura was not... her obsession about being an honorable daughter and seeking revenge on the shooter takes over her life .... she finds and befriends the gunmans family and through letters comes to know Omar. The book is good, intense at times, very thought provoking... it was however a bit long in places...it is well worth reading but if 50 or so pages were cut from the book it would be better.
Blumenfield's father, an American rabbi was a victim of a random attack. He happened to be walking in Jerusalem in 1986 at dusk when a gunman, Omar Khatib shot him... either luck, fait or divine intervention left him with only a scalp wound. A centimeter lower and the bullet would have killed him instantly. As it was, her father was relatively unhurt and able to continue a normal life. Laura was not... her obsession about being an honorable daughter and seeking revenge on the shooter takes over her life .... she finds and befriends the gunmans family and through letters comes to know Omar. The book is good, intense at times, very thought provoking... it was however a bit long in places...it is well worth reading but if 50 or so pages were cut from the book it would be better.
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