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A review by stevendedalus
Kingdom of Olives and Ash: Writers Confront the Occupation by Michael Chabon, Ayelet Waldman
4.0
A mixed bag of essays, mostly from outsiders, from the Palestinian perspective of Israeli occupation.
The most boring ones are the most obviously stage managed, guided by the group Breaking the Silence to specific areas, repeating the same things: too-young Israeli soldiers, a fascination with the minutely detailed oppressions of bureaucracy.
The worst of these is (unsurprisingly) Dave Eggers's overly long piece which is more about him than anything else. Why people keep employing him as a writer is beyond me.
The good ones take novel perspectives, say analyzing the conflict through professional Palestinian soccer players, or Taiye Selassi's beautiful meditation on interfaith love.
Yes, this book has an agenda but its unsensationalized presentation of the daily monotony of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is valuable, if repetitive at times.
I'd say seek out the writing that is from Palestinian authors, best able to relay the everyday nature of their lives, as well as those who bring a freshness and perspective to their writing that breaks up through the usual stories, and you'll be well served.
The most boring ones are the most obviously stage managed, guided by the group Breaking the Silence to specific areas, repeating the same things: too-young Israeli soldiers, a fascination with the minutely detailed oppressions of bureaucracy.
The worst of these is (unsurprisingly) Dave Eggers's overly long piece which is more about him than anything else. Why people keep employing him as a writer is beyond me.
The good ones take novel perspectives, say analyzing the conflict through professional Palestinian soccer players, or Taiye Selassi's beautiful meditation on interfaith love.
Yes, this book has an agenda but its unsensationalized presentation of the daily monotony of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is valuable, if repetitive at times.
I'd say seek out the writing that is from Palestinian authors, best able to relay the everyday nature of their lives, as well as those who bring a freshness and perspective to their writing that breaks up through the usual stories, and you'll be well served.