A Land Without Borders, by Nir Baram

When it comes to the political situation in Israel, particularly in regard with the Palestinian population, most of the books are either black or white, up to the ideological affiliation of the writers. If unsure a book is worth, or not, your time and your money, you only have to Google the author and you can easily figure out which orientation he or she has and the main thesis and assumptions are almost crystal clear. 

It is a pityful pathetic intellectual situation, but this is how things are. After all, it is not bad to take sides, but the ideological sides are very narrow and obstruct the real view, particularly when it comes to Israel. Although I have my own view - narrow also - about the 'situation', I realized that I need more understanding and insights from the 'other side' therefore when offered the chance to get an ARC from Nir Baram book, I decided to take the challenge and offer myself the opportunity of a different lecture.

I think that one of the mistakes done in this case, either you are right or ('wrong') left is that we are tempted to ignore arguments and look only for the over-validation of our points of view. But if you are curious by nature, this is not enough, and things may change as people can change too. 

In the tradition of Amos Oz and David Grossman, Nir Baram is visiting Palestinian villages and inquires about what future stays ahead for the relations between Israel and the Palestinians. Unfortunately he doesn't look necessarily to answer his questions with new questions, but there are interesting facts revealed that may help to do your own further research. Like, for instance, how happened that in Betlehem the percentage of Chrisian Arabs decreased, a fact noticed by the author but not worth the effort of a serious journalistic research. The book is less ideological than expected though therefore, especially if you are curious to gather arguments and even get a sociological overview of the profile of the Palestinian leaders and their background there are some good information to take from it, although parsimoniously.

As for the future, is very unclear after so many chances were missed or peace plans were drawn without taking into consideration the local dynamic. Personally, I keep my assumption that in order to build a state you need elites and if there is any serious research that will show me the potential of a Palestinian elite able to take over the state bureaucracy and lead it to the creation of a modern - not terror-based state - I am more than happy to take the challenge. Otherwise, we are not taking about a dream but a scary nightmare.

Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Of Israeli life in Palo Alto: Noga Niv - Inside the Bubble

Contemporary books about the hectic Israeli expat experiences in Europe or America are not a very frequent publishing event - at least not in English, but this one succeeds to break the ice. Inside the Bubble was published in Hebrew in 2008 and comes in an English version in 2015. 

Told from the perspective of Daniella, an Israeli psychologist on the Western coast of the USA, the literary alter ego of the author, it tells the story of a couple of financially successful Israeli families living on the top of the big waves of the start-up bubble. It is hard to identify these people back in the country as they keep speaking Hebrew and their children, altough bilingual, keep a strong Israeli identity. In the country, they belong to the invisible rich people, investing in expensive penthouse they occupy for maximum two months the year, the house where they will one day return, eventually, after getting the best from the 'chutz'. In the States, they are quite easy to spot, as they do not mix very well with the local Jewish communities, except during the high holidays or some special charity events. They keep the customs and the language and the homesickness for home and the za'atar. Many of them the first generation born in Israel, their identity is made up of their common language, Army histories and the grief of their parents whose lives were dramatically torn to pieces by Shoah. 

The stories are told through the voices of the women friends, part of a group of expat women that are trying to make a life of their own while their husbands are busy making money. They are not strong women, as the stereotypical women literature expects to be, but women enjoying the discoveries of their mature years, with all the doubts and struggle involved. Human stories are never simple and I enjoyed the subtle observations and introspections of the author.  

There are stories to be told and readers to enjoy them and this book is a welcomed addition to an emerging literature. Right now, I wonder who will write a similar book about expat life in Berlin. Or maybe not.