Wild Thorns (Interlink World Fiction)

The events of this book take place in the Israeli occupied West Bank in the early 1970's, about 5 years after the Six Day War of 1967. Usama, a young Palestinian returns to his homeland after few years of working abroad. The return story includes tales of humiliation at the border crossing. Usama is shocked by the changes around him, he came back to fight the occupation and struggles with the idea that Adil, his cousin and best friend has actually given up the family farm and is working as a laborer in Israel proper, "inside". The reality of his people under the occupation, eating "their" bread, working in "their" factories and learning "their" words was incomprehensible to him.The way Sahar Khalifeh presented the changes in the Palestinian society during the first few years of the occupation was very illuminating and original. Here we see a highly polarized society, the Palestinians working abroad in the oil states, the Palestinians working "inside", the "intellectuals", the upper and middle classes, of whom, some "collaborated" and others refused to. Tremendous tensions described in a very real and human way, with little attempt to support one group of Palestinians over another.Adil, is by far the most sympathetic character in the novel. He works tirelessly to support his family; he does however resent his father, and gets drunk to wash it all away. A classic war of the classes, the father fights by talking to western media, would never approve of his son working "inside" yet he does not approve of Usama or his youngest son breaking the laws of the Israeli occupation. Adil, the son, works diligently to improve the condition of fellow laborers and fights for their rights within the Israeli law.Sahar Khalifeh does a wonderful job describing in very vivid language the everyday life of a neighborhood. Scenes from the markets, cafes, street vendors, hustle bustle and fear. Scenes of small dwellings bursting at the seams and then add a curfew on top of that. There are also the scenes of the polarization disappearing and the whole neighborhood shouting slogans in unison. There is also Usama's mother, an endearing old woman who has her own dreams for her son; dreams that have nothing to do with occupation or politics.We are treated to 2 accounts of experience in an Israeli jail. Basil, Adil's younger brother is welcomed by the members of the resistance and accepted into their ranks. A friend of Adil, who also ended up in prison, was also eventually welcome. His cell was very different though. Ruled by another Adil, a socialist, who administered justice and education but lacked in sympathy, warmth and understanding; not like the real Adil.The real Adil is portrayed simply as a good human being, who helped fellow Palestinians in real and tangible ways. Adil was selfless, generous, modest and genuinely caring, that was his only agenda. But at times, we think Adel is the way he is, out of hopelessness, he knows Palestine is lost, no longer worth fighting for, but he can make the lives of those around him less unbearable. And he gets drunk to wash it all away. I am not sure if that is the Adil that Sahar Khalifeh set out to create, but he certainly comes across like that.While this clearly is a partisan, pro Palestinian and anti occupation novel, it is not a propaganda piece; and it is certainly worthy of reading and savoring. Sahar Khalifeh signals hope for peace, reconciliation, and coexistence in the novel. Several reference to the class struggle overtaking the racial divide and even more promising tales of humans reaching out across the divide. There is the tale of the two Israeli soldiers weeping as they see a five year old boy reunite with his father for the first time ever and there is Adil lifting up the young Israeli girl who had just witnessed the stabbing of her father, an army officer.Wild Thorns is well worth reading. The translation comes across well. It does not sound stale like many translations of Arabic literature can be.

Guess what? Palestinians are people, too. If that sentence makes you angry, then you probably won't want to read this book -- but if you're willing to read with an open mind, you may come away from the book with an enriched understanding of "the other side." On the other hand, even if you already are sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinians, but from the remote perspective of news reports, then this book will make it all more real to you.The tale is already twenty-six years old, set just a few years into the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Written by a Palestinian, about Palestinians, it is sympathetic to them, but it's not a propaganda piece. We get only rare glimpses of Israelis in this book, but when they do appear, they are shown in the same humane light that shines on the main characters. When a five year old Syrian boy meets his imprisoned father for the first time, the Israeli guards turn away with tears in their eyes. This is not the only scene in which someone on one side of the conflict responds compassionately to the suffering of someone on the other side.Parents and grandparents want their boys and young men to study and become professionals with good incomes, and they hope for their daughters to marry successful daughters. Men struggle to feed their families and to negotiate a little self respect in spite of the compromises they find themselves making. Other men (and boys) alternate between pride, fear, and shame as they try to respond to the humiliations and oppression of their people with costly courage.One of the great functions of literature is to let the reader walk in another's shoes. That is what I had in mind when I chose to read this book. I have not been disappointed.

I am very grateful to a friend in your Customer Service Department for recommending this book to me. It is an authentic account of life in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, ringing true as only someone who had been there can make it. This siutation, between Palestinians and Israelis remains a powder keg today, and doubtless much of the Western world is uninformed about it, except for what the newspapers tell them. The book illustrates most vividly how hate, war, violence, and ignorance are destroying everyone, regardless of the side they take. There are not just two sides here; the author presents the situation in all its complexities and really makes the reader think. Most people in the book are just trying to survive and are not being allowed to. This has happened again and again throughout history, but the novel is a highly vivid and relevant description of how continuing intolerance will result in destruction for everyone. It is particularly relevant for U.S. readers, due to recent terrorist acts in this country (such as the World Trade Center Bombing). One of the main characters is a Palestinian terrorist. No one can afford not to try to understand where he is coming from. The author has done an outstanding job and the book should be more publicized.

I was assigned this book as summer reading for my high school literature class. As someone who has studied the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, I was appalled at the fact that this book was essentially propaganda against Israel. I noticed in other reviews that they talked about the two sides given in this book, but it was essentially a story portraying two sides of the same side (against Israel). One side was one of terrorism against Israel, while the other character was resigned to his oppression. Although, even this character was leaning towards terrorism at the end of the novel. The story capitalized upon the victim culture, and acts as if the Palestinian people have no free will or choice, although they are free to leave the occupied territory. Not once do I remember an Israeli speaking in the book. I would have appreciated the book more had it truly portrayed both sides of the conflict.

I don't read books I bought it as a gift. check another review