Ishmael's Oranges, by Claire Hajaj
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Ishmael's Oranges, by Claire Hajaj
Download PDF Ebook Online Ishmael's Oranges, by Claire Hajaj
It’s April 1948, and war hangs over Jaffa. One minute seven-year-old Salim is dreaming of taking his first harvest from the family’s orange tree; the next he is swept away into a life of exile and rage. Seeking a new beginning in swinging-'60s London, Salim finds an unexpected love with Jude, a troubled Jewish girl struggling with her own devastating family legacy. The bond between them flourishes in the freedom of the age, bringing the promise of thrilling new worlds. But before long, childhood conflicts and prejudices reawaken to infringe upon their life together, pulling them and their children inexorably back towards the Middle East and its battlegrounds. From Russia’s pogroms, to the Summer of Love and the Middle East’s restless cities, Ishmael’s Oranges follows the journeys of men and women cast adrift by war — to tell the story of two families spanning the crossroad events of modern times, and of the legacy of hatred their children inherit.
Ishmael's Oranges, by Claire Hajaj- Amazon Sales Rank: #1037199 in Books
- Brand: Hajaj, Claire
- Published on: 2015-06-09
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 7.60" h x .90" w x 5.00" l, .84 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 336 pages
Review 'Compelling'. Association of Jewish Libraries 'Timely and captivating, Ishmael's Oranges is beautifully crafted.' -- Elif Shafak 'Richly, hauntingly written... immeasurably beautiful... Hajaj's story... shines the light of empathy' Independent 'Beautiful... Wonderfully written... a great read' Hello! blog 'In her first novel, Hajaj, who herself shares both Palestinian and Jewish heritage, shines a revealing spotlight on the consequences of deeply embedded prejudices.' -- Booklist 'If anyone can make a compelling, thought-provoking and honest story out of these disparate viewpoints, it's Hajaj' The National 'Ishmael's Oranges is, one that conjures up the sights, smells and sounds of the Middle East as you turn the pages... much more than a standard retelling of the difficulties that beset two communities... an accomplished piece of storytelling... movingly told... If you are looking for a gripping, challenging summer read, then Ishmael's Oranges should be on your list.' Jewish Chronicle 'Claire Hajaj isn't afraid to ask difficult questions about how far people will go for love, for family, for faith or for country... At its heart, Ishmael's Oranges tells the everyday story of the Israel-Palestine conflict. It's not concerned with wider global implications or peace negotiations, but with presenting a new take on a familiar story: the way division affects real people and real families.' Curious Animal 'A beautifully rendered work that makes the tragedy of the Middle East real; highly recommended.' Library Journal '[Hajaj] makes great efforts to be fair to the two sides of an apparently insoluble conflict, acknowledging the faults and anguish of each.' World Literature Today
About the Author Claire Hajaj shares both Palestinian and Jewish heritage. Her childhood was split between the Middle East and rural England. She has lived on four continents and worked for the United Nations in war zones from Burma to Beirut. A former journalist, she lives in Beirut, Lebanon.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. There were two ways to get from Al-Ajami to the souks of Jaffa’s Clock Tower Square.The route from Salim’s house led straight through the silent inland. It passed the sun-bleached whiteness of the seaside villas, their walled gardens spilling glorious streams of red bougainvillea and the dusty tang of oranges. It turned left onto old Al-Ajami Street, where new motorcars whined past donkeys trundling loads of pomegranates and lemons. The door of Abulafia’s bakery was always open, even in in the bracing winter months. Salim had waited there a hundred times, his senses scorched by the smell of pastries rising in clouds of cinnamon and allspice. His mother liked manquish, a flatbread sprinkled with thyme and sesame. He used to eat it from her hands, a little piece at a time, as they walked out into Jaffa’s old city, with its coffee shops and yellow plumes of nargile smoke.The other way to the Square belonged to Jaffa’s boys; it was a rite of passage. As soon as a boy was old enough to walk, another would dare him to try it - crossing down across the wild beaches, braving the slippery rocks and then inching out step by step under the ancient port wall.Today, the sun beat down on the great crescent of the Mediterranean; the water shone gold against the black land like a ring in an African ear. Salim and Mazen jumped across the tide pools, splashing the bare-armed boys fishing for crabs. They picked their way across the jagged rocks until the port of Jaffa emerged in white, sea-stained stone.‘Jaffa’s harbour is as old as the sea,’ Brother Phillipe had taught them. ‘It was here before the Arabs or the Jews. God himself led Japhet here, Noah’s son, in the times before time. The bones of twenty-two armies rest here. The pagans of Thebes chained their maiden sacrifice just there,’ his wrinkled hand pointed and a dozen pairs of eyes followed it, ‘There, out on the rocks that we call Andromeda, waiting for the sea monster to devour them. The British King Richard the Lionheart, lay in his sickbed on the port just there, begging Salah Al Din for peace. The godless Emperor Napoleon camped by the lighthouse, while the plague destroyed his army and his righteous prisoners rose against him. He learned a lesson that I tell you now, mes enfants: that Jaffa is God’s beloved place, and they are cursed who come to harm it.’
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Most helpful customer reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful. A beautiful book that opens old wounds. By Salem Alahmad As the son of a man whose family was scattered to the four winds after the creation of the state of Israel this book really hits home. You have captured the many facets of the mentality of the Palestinian people in a way that a westerner could understand. History always repeats itself and much like the sons of the Gold family the sons of the Al-Ishmaeli family also attempt in their own way to adapt to the suffering and loss that their families has gone through in the past (mostly in a tragic manner). They can commiserate together as both are a broken people. Perhaps because I am of Palestinian descent this book does open up personal wounds. I could relate personally too many of these characters and even though the Gold family and Al-Ishmaeli family are literary archetypes of Jews and Palestinians in this modern day conflict they are not far from accurate representations of the players of this viscous game. The novel brings up a consistent message and that is unless one breaks the cycle the victim always becomes the victimizer. As European Jews who survived the persecution of Europe and the Holocaust flock to the Middle East to create a home for themselves their actions results in the victimization and statelessness of the Palestinians. The Palestinians then return the favor to the Israelis and the cycle of abuse and violence continues to this day. We also see the same victim/victimizer relationship with Salim and his abusive father. Salim's resentment of Arab life and desire to elevate himself above it is due primarily to his resentment of his father who deprived him. Much like his father Salim becomes negligent to his own son and the cycle of abuse is completed in the most tragic of ways. To me this book is a warning. A warning to my people that no matter how much violence and death ensues with our struggle with the state of Israel our destruction will be at our own hands because we choose to reciprocate abuse not just with the Israelis but within our own families just so we can have a semblance of a Palestinian identity. We do not realize that our identity is not created by blood and fire, but by the nurturing of our families. One could relate this to nurturing of an orange tree. This is an excellent book. I wish this book will one day be taught in classes. I wish every Palestinian and Jewish youth reads this book. It will save them a lot of grief.Thank you,
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. A great yarn, beautifully written By Bennelong This novel had me riveted from the first page and I read into the night until finished. It is obvious great care had gone into the research behind this story, spanning many decades. The author manages to walk the tightrope of the blame-game of possibly the world's most polarising conflict of our era with dexterity. The humanity of this conflict and the suffering of countless hundreds of thousands of families - no matter which side you happen to lean towards - are what you are left with once you get to the last page. The writing is simple yet evocative and rich in metaphors. I am not sure if the previous (negative) reviewer was actually reviewing this book, she was so off, but I cannot encourage you enough to give this book a chance. I hope this debut author keeps on writing.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Balanced complexities... riveting story By Molly Every event in history has different stories. It depends where you learn the story and who is telling it. This is the story of a family and their tale of a struggle with identity, displacement, and above all love. The author's writing is absolutely captivating, and I was immediately transported to areas she described over years and landscapes. The story's main character, Salim, is introduced in the beginning as a young boy in Jaffa and we follow him through his life where he struggles to find his way. Judit is also introduced in the early chapters and we get a sense of her family history and heritage as well. The tale of their union is both compelling and heartbreaking.I found there were many unexpected turns in the story, and I was enthralled by the emotions that the characters went through. It is an emotional journey of finding a true home and a peace in oneself, regardless of tribes. It is not clear if that is a real place that one can ever reach, but the author asks many of the difficult questions that define histories and identities in a part of the world that has been riddled with conflict for generations.I greatly enjoyed reading this book and I think it provided a balanced view from an individual perspective, from someone growing up in two cultures. That is all we really have - the world as we see it through our own eyes. I enjoy reading because I am able to see something through the eyes of another from time to time. I commend the author for her beautiful story, and I thank her for taking me through the journey of her family's history. An excellent read.
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