I have been reading many books that have been translated this year. I have found that my reactions to the translation can impact the experience of the book. I find that especially on books translated from middle eastern languages. With this in mind, I started reading Homesick by Eshkol Nevo.
This book was designed to switch from perspective to perspective, with no indication of the point of view until you read the words. The characters here represent different sections of Israeli society. The community that the story is focused on is made up of Jewish immigrants from Kurdistan that settled there after the war of 1948, when the Arabs living there abandoned the village. Moshe and Sima are a couple that struggles with the pressure of being religious Jews. Yotam lost his older brother in the conflicts, and his parents are lost in grief. Noa and Avram have travelled around the world in search of themselves. As each of these families go about struggling through their lives, unaware that they are settled where a village used to be. Saddiq, who’s family owned the land for centuries under Turkish rule, is now working in the village building a new house.
Throughout this, Avram’s friend is writing him, talking of love, adventure and more. As the story concludes, the community that is built helps define what it means to be home, with all its various meanings.
Even with the translation, the language is compelling and thought provoking. I recommended this book.
The Source 4 Books 