Review by Juliet Muia -- Gates to Tangier by Mois Benarroch
4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Gates to Tangier by Mois Benarroch is a novel about the events that followed the reading of a certain Jewish man’s will. In the will, the deceased asked his children to look for their half-brother as a condition to accessing their inheritance. He had never told them about his illegitimate child when he was alive. The story begins after the lawyer reads the will to the family. Upset and determined to find their half-brother, the siblings set out on a journey to find the truth.
The author employs suspense as a literary tool to drive the reader through the pages of the novel. His choice of words is excellent. He uses humor to ease the tension created by some events in the story. He also has a strong sense of imagination. The use of thoughtful insights, pictures of the world through the minds of others and the reflections of the dead exhibit the great creativity of the author. He gives detailed accounts about how the narrator’s family is scattered in different parts of the world-Madrid, New York, Paris and Israel. The trip to Morocco in search of their half-brother reminds them of their early years in life since their parents had lived in Morocco before going to Israel.
He gives a full representation of the Jewish community. He sheds light on the issues that affect the contemporary Jewish community such as the crisis with the Palestinians and the identity crisis among the Jews. Also, he incorporates the evils that have torn the moral fabric of both the Jews and the rest of the world, which gives the novel a universal outlook. They include corruption, prostitution, adultery, ethnicity, and greed. He paints a picture of the contemporary family. The struggles within the institution of marriage take a center stage. This leads to identity crisis of the children born thereof. However, the author is also keen to note that there is still a remnant that upholds the Jewish values-those who have stood the test of time.
As expected from a Jew, the author mentions some of the aspects of the Jewish history as recorded in the Bible. For example, the story of Cain and Abel, the tower of Babel, circumcision of young males and the synagogue as a place of worship among others. Such aspects give the story authenticity. The writer is also keen to mention Nazism and Hitler since they played a pivotal role in the history of the Jews.
I give the novel 4 out of 4 stars. It is an excellent piece of Jewish literature. It covers both the historical and contemporary aspects of the Jewish community. The novel gives a view of the world through the eyes of a Jewish family. It is an epic piece of work.
******
Gates to Tangier
Read Gates to Tangier in
English: GETBOOK.AT/GATES2TANGIER
Español GETBOOK.AT/PUERTASTANGER
Francais: GETBOOK.AT/PORTESdeTANGER
Portugues: GETBOOK.AT/PORTaSdeTANGER
Italiano : getBook.at/PORTEdiTANGERI
No comments:
Post a Comment