Exodus

Dear Reader-

It has been about five months since I've last posted a book review here. Not coincidentally, in July, 2019 I accepted a position as an elementary school librarian of two libraries in two different schools (one: prek-1 and two: 2, 3, 4, 5). This job has been such a joy and a pleasure to take on, but it's been all-consuming. I was too tired to read much and even listening to books was difficult. All I did was think about the libraries.

I've been thinking recently about the librarian I worked with for five great months at the end of last year's school year, who would come into work telling me how, "I couldn't stop thinking about...last night" or, "I was thinking on my way home yesterday..." or, "This weekend, I realized that...". She never stopped thinking about the library! At the time I didn't really understand it. But, over the past few months I started understanding this better and better. I NEVER stop thinking about these amazing libraries, kids, schools. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to "play" librarian while I work on my MLIS, but boy, my brain just won't shut it off. So, last month, I decided that enough was enough. I was forgetting what this journey was all about: It is about books. The stories. The people. So, I made a concerted effort to read. Again. And, I'm proud to say that my first book back was Exodus by Leon Uris. An oldie, but goody. And once I finished that one, the gates flooded open again and I've read and listened to books non-stop...well, I stopped long enough to think about them, write a review and move on.

Thank you for continuing this journey with me. Here's to a long, fruitful trip together. Again.

Happy Reading! Abby

This is the fictionalized story of how the Jews came to call Israel home. After WWII, Americans Kitty Fremont and Mark Parker reunite on the island of Cyprus where Kitty is volunteering as a nurse and Mark is a journalist. The British, who are in control of Palestine, refuse to let Jewish Holocaust survivors into the country and as a stop-gap measure, the British open a refugee camp on Cyprus, a short distance from Palestine, to house these refugees. Kitty and Mark are recruited by Ari Ben Canaan, who is a member of the Haganah, (an underground Jewish resistance) to force the British, through a smear campaign of sorts, entry of the refugees into the country. Kitty falls in love with the young children in Cyprus, in particular a young girl who reminds her of her own daughter, and follows the refugees and Ari into Palestine. What follows is an account of how Palestine became Israel, a thriving, agricultural country, brought to life in the hands of refugees and survivors. Uris tells not only the story of the birth of Israel, but, through his characters, of the experiences Jews had during the Holocaust and well-before.

You must know by now, dear reader, that I am sentimental about many things including books. I read this book in high school at my father's recommendation and really, really loved it. I'm sure I was slightly influenced by his love for this book. Now, some 20 years later, my judgement is a little clearer. I still really love this story. But this book, published in 1958, is of a different generation. This book is a saga. It's a tale and it will stay with you. It reads almost as non-fiction as Uris has inserted so many historical facts about what happened in the region and around the world at that time (and unfortunately, many inaccuracies as well). It's dense and intense. The characters are too perfect, too strong, too unfaltering in their convictions. It's all a bit too much. However, I still strongly and warmly recommend this story if you have wondered about this special part of the world and why the Israelis and Palestinians (and the rest of the Arab nations in the region) just can't seem to get along. This book will give you a perspective into the complex, intricate and often violent interactions between two nations, two peoples whose fragile relationship was made worse by those in power. This is an interesting take on history and makes for a great story.