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The Middle Between Us
Four tormented souls. Two impossible love stories. One inescapable fate.
The Middle Between Us delicately unfurls the love stories of two sets of couples, detached by time but brought together by fate. Where one is set in the artisanal streets of a 21st-century city life, the other depicts the breathtaking wild mountains of eastern Europe as it’s set ablaze by the religious zealotry of World War I. Where one revolves around two men coming to term with their own sexual identities, the other forces its two young lovers apart in the face of insurmountable odds. Seemingly unrelated at first, the two star-crossed couples find out they are not only parallel – but deeply intertwined.
Itamar S.N. delicately but unapologetically weaves the complexities of modern-day romance with conflicts as old as time, finding the middle between love and acceptance, intimacy and desire, obsession and art.
The Middle Between Us delicately unfurls the love stories of two sets of couples, detached by time but brought together by fate. Where one is set in the artisanal streets of a 21st-century city life, the other depicts the breathtaking wild mountains of eastern Europe as it’s set ablaze by the religious zealotry of World War I. Where one revolves around two men coming to term with their own sexual identities, the other forces its two young lovers apart in the face of insurmountable odds. Seemingly unrelated at first, the two star-crossed couples find out they are not only parallel – but deeply intertwined.
Itamar S.N. delicately but unapologetically weaves the complexities of modern-day romance with conflicts as old as time, finding the middle between love and acceptance, intimacy and desire, obsession and art.
270 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2022
32 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Itamar S.N.
3 books3 followersItamar S.N is a young Israeli writer, musician and columnist, living in Tel Aviv. At university he read political science and middle-eastern studies, and in his first novel he explores with great sensitivity the personal impact of the sexual, religious and cultural fault lines that exist between the Muslim, Christian and Jewish societies of his region.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 6, 2023
Two love stories with an unexpected twist
I enjoyed reading this book and the lesson waiting for me towards the end. It might just affect my relationships positively.
One love story takes place in the Caucasus circa WW1, and the other in modern day Israel. Different times, different geographies, different demographics of the characters, but a critical lesson that might repeat itself if one is not careful.
I wish I could meet my Katya like Erez did. Even so, my imagination might be enough to guide me.
Having just returned from my trip to Israel, I also enjoyed popular landmarks and streets and sights featuring in the story. So relatable!
While the writing was expressive and engaging, the English itself was a bit quirky. I suggest that the author consider getting an editor on board to tweak the grammar, format the text and also help with copyedits.
Looking forward to more by this author.
I enjoyed reading this book and the lesson waiting for me towards the end. It might just affect my relationships positively.
One love story takes place in the Caucasus circa WW1, and the other in modern day Israel. Different times, different geographies, different demographics of the characters, but a critical lesson that might repeat itself if one is not careful.
I wish I could meet my Katya like Erez did. Even so, my imagination might be enough to guide me.
Having just returned from my trip to Israel, I also enjoyed popular landmarks and streets and sights featuring in the story. So relatable!
While the writing was expressive and engaging, the English itself was a bit quirky. I suggest that the author consider getting an editor on board to tweak the grammar, format the text and also help with copyedits.
Looking forward to more by this author.
August 24, 2022
‘Only God knew how much he needed to feel again, how much he needed a partner’
Israeli author Itamar S.N. is a writer, a musician, and a columnist for an Israeli Parliament Member. His writing themes combine education, history and Middle Eastern politics, and human rights. He is also a LGBTQ movement volunteer. His novels to date – NIV, WHITE SMOKE, and now THE MIDDLE BETWEEN US. He lives in Tel Aviv.
Having established respect and admiration for his earlier novels, this new story broadens the author’s purview of the impact of love, again displaying his enviable ability to create characters with only a few brush strokes, as the opening lines indicate – ‘When Erez lifted his eyes from the black bar and saw the stranger standing at the entrance, the ground beneath him disappeared for one timeless second. The sensation was thrilling yet confusing, bringing back the smell of his childhood bedroom to his nostrils. He didn’t know why he felt so attracted to this man, but from that moment on, nothing and on one could distract Erez from him.’
The provided synopsis unveils the plot line: Itamar S.N ‘delicately unfurls the love stories of two sets of couples, detached by time but brought together by fate. Where one is set in the artisanal streets of a 21st-century city life in Tel Aviv, the other depicts the breathtaking wild mountains of eastern Europe as it’s set ablaze by the religious zealotry of World War I. Where one revolves around two men coming to terms with their own sexual identities, the other forces on two young lovers apart in the face of insurmountable odds. Seemingly unrelated at first, the two star-crossed couples find out they are not only parallel – but deeply intertwined – a story that weaves the complexities of modern-day romance with conflicts as old as time, finding the middle between love and acceptance, intimacy and desire, obsession and art.’ Beautifully written with sensitivity and compassion, this new novel again proves that Itamar S.N. is becoming a significant author of note.
Israeli author Itamar S.N. is a writer, a musician, and a columnist for an Israeli Parliament Member. His writing themes combine education, history and Middle Eastern politics, and human rights. He is also a LGBTQ movement volunteer. His novels to date – NIV, WHITE SMOKE, and now THE MIDDLE BETWEEN US. He lives in Tel Aviv.
Having established respect and admiration for his earlier novels, this new story broadens the author’s purview of the impact of love, again displaying his enviable ability to create characters with only a few brush strokes, as the opening lines indicate – ‘When Erez lifted his eyes from the black bar and saw the stranger standing at the entrance, the ground beneath him disappeared for one timeless second. The sensation was thrilling yet confusing, bringing back the smell of his childhood bedroom to his nostrils. He didn’t know why he felt so attracted to this man, but from that moment on, nothing and on one could distract Erez from him.’
The provided synopsis unveils the plot line: Itamar S.N ‘delicately unfurls the love stories of two sets of couples, detached by time but brought together by fate. Where one is set in the artisanal streets of a 21st-century city life in Tel Aviv, the other depicts the breathtaking wild mountains of eastern Europe as it’s set ablaze by the religious zealotry of World War I. Where one revolves around two men coming to terms with their own sexual identities, the other forces on two young lovers apart in the face of insurmountable odds. Seemingly unrelated at first, the two star-crossed couples find out they are not only parallel – but deeply intertwined – a story that weaves the complexities of modern-day romance with conflicts as old as time, finding the middle between love and acceptance, intimacy and desire, obsession and art.’ Beautifully written with sensitivity and compassion, this new novel again proves that Itamar S.N. is becoming a significant author of note.
February 6, 2023
I don’t know what I think of this book yet. It’s two stories with a connection, and I was surprised by which one I liked better. I’m not sure if the translation was the problem, but somehow I didn’t quite connect to it like I wanted to.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews