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Review June 2018

 Title by Author.

All the Rivers
by Dorit Rabinyan.

First Published: 2017



All the Rivers

by Dorit Rabinyan

A fascinating book.

As the love affair between Hilmi and Liat progresses they unconscientiously reveal the attitude of Israelis and Arabs to the conflict in the Middle East. The Israeli Liat fears that her country will be subsumed by the number of Arabs in the area. Hilmi is more tolerant but he harbours no illusions about the future of their love affair.

Both come from close loving families who would be devastated to find out about their love affair. Liat gets to know Hilmi’s family through the camera that Hilmi buys for his younger brother. The affair is destined to failure and the author maintains tension throughout. The surprise ending is an autobiographical note from the author’s life.

The author uses many rich descriptive techniques to take you "into the moment" with all of the characters both major and minor; she indulges your senses and thereby makes this a totally absorbing read.

The description of the weather of a New York winter contrasted with the warmth of the Middle East is stunning. The details of the garden that Hilmi was creating came into particular praise. It is quite an easy read and all credit to the translator.

The book has been banned from Israeli schools, despite teachers’ requests to keep it on the curriculum. The authorities were obviously frightened of the revelations made by Liat.

A book that promoted much discussion. Thank you Kath for choosing it and thank you Steve and Elaine for their hospitality.

4 stars JC (Some readers gave this the highest possible rating).


For background information on the Israeli Palestine conflict, see: The Higher Learning.


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