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| photo courtesy:garnet publishing |
It is not often that a novel enlightens and entertains at the same time.
Michelle Cohen Corasanti’s The Almond Tree does just that.
Set against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the story
unfolds through the eyes of seven year old brilliant child, Ahmed Hamid, as he
helplessly watches his toddler sister stray into an area filled with landmines
and die in front of him.
The narrator, Ahmed displays an amazing ability for academics. However
he has to put his dreams on hold when circumstances force him to take over the
responsibilities of his family. Eventually, Ahmed gets the chance to make a
clean start and pursue his academic dream. But this decision comes at a price,
with severe repercussions on his family.
What works for The Almond Tree:
- Gripping storyline tracing Ahmed’s journey from a country Arab to a renowned professor in the US
- Great scenes between characters such as clash of ideals between Ahmed and his brother Abbas
- The confrontation between Ahmed and his Jewish mentor, depicting the two sides of the conflict
To the writer’s credit, the Almond Tree is a truly fascinating story
that highlights the unrest in Israel occupied Palestinian territories. I
remember watching TV reports about the incidents in Gaza but this book offers a
whole new perspective about the situation. Despite the atrocities, the book has
a very positive feel to it, depicting how choices change people’s lives for the
better or worse.
However on another level, it is also the life story of Ahmed as he
transforms from a war-struck teenager to an intellectual youth and subsequently
an accomplished individual and yet at each stage struggles to strike a balance
between his past experiences and personal choices.
For these reasons alone, certain shortcomings of the novel, such as
smoother transition of events or lack of development of minor characters can be
overlooked. Abbas is a strong character and could have been developed better
but perhaps was overtaken by the sheer magnitude of the story. The narrative is
smooth and despite the bumpy rides when the story takes abrupt turns, it sweeps
one along till the end.
Overall, a great read that throws light on the conflicts in the Middle
East at the same time as the personal life journey of an individual who makes
tough choices and has the courage to live with it.
