Review by Emily flint -- Keys to Tetouan by Mois Benarroch
[Following is a volunteer review of "Keys to Tetouan" by Mois Benarroch.]
Keys to Tetouan, by Mois Benarroch can be described as a book about the Bezimra family, a Jewish family, and their longing for their home in Tetouan. The Bezimra's were part of the Jews that were exiled from Spain and waited until they could go back. Unfortunately, like in many situations similar, going back to how things were, was not to happen. About the older generation that cannot seem to come to terms with not being there but yet do not really want to go back. How they are trying to fit in but it just doesn't work. About the younger generation that really know next to nothing about their heritage and are not very interested for the most part. Yet there is still a sense of pride and duty to tell their stories.
The book starts off and almost immediately, it grabs your attention. You can almost taste the grief and sadness of some of these people. This author did an amazing job of making you feel the homesickness and almost despair. Almost as if you can relate to it yourself. You can almost taste the regret of one character who just wanted, needed, his religion. It was a part of himself that he never realized he needed until it was almost too late. Although, it is written more in the format of short stories and can be a little confusing as to whom they are referring to. Some of it can be read similar to poetry as well, which makes it more interesting.
To me, this book was more like reading from a persons daily diary, little excitement, but you get to peek into their lives. It feels like you are privy to their secret thoughts that can not be spoken. Their longing to be whole again, to be family again. But you feel as if it is too little too late for some.
I would suggest this book to anyone who is interested in reading about how some Jews still felt the effects of the Spanish exile and the deterioration of religion in this family.
I give this book a 3 out of 4 stars because of the confusing format and the simple grammatical and spelling errors. Also, I felt as if some of the writing was disjointed and incomplete. Even with that, it was a good book to read. Something I could see having to read for a class in school.
******
Keys to Tetouan
View: on Bookshelves
Keys to Tetouan, by Mois Benarroch can be described as a book about the Bezimra family, a Jewish family, and their longing for their home in Tetouan. The Bezimra's were part of the Jews that were exiled from Spain and waited until they could go back. Unfortunately, like in many situations similar, going back to how things were, was not to happen. About the older generation that cannot seem to come to terms with not being there but yet do not really want to go back. How they are trying to fit in but it just doesn't work. About the younger generation that really know next to nothing about their heritage and are not very interested for the most part. Yet there is still a sense of pride and duty to tell their stories.
The book starts off and almost immediately, it grabs your attention. You can almost taste the grief and sadness of some of these people. This author did an amazing job of making you feel the homesickness and almost despair. Almost as if you can relate to it yourself. You can almost taste the regret of one character who just wanted, needed, his religion. It was a part of himself that he never realized he needed until it was almost too late. Although, it is written more in the format of short stories and can be a little confusing as to whom they are referring to. Some of it can be read similar to poetry as well, which makes it more interesting.
To me, this book was more like reading from a persons daily diary, little excitement, but you get to peek into their lives. It feels like you are privy to their secret thoughts that can not be spoken. Their longing to be whole again, to be family again. But you feel as if it is too little too late for some.
I would suggest this book to anyone who is interested in reading about how some Jews still felt the effects of the Spanish exile and the deterioration of religion in this family.
I give this book a 3 out of 4 stars because of the confusing format and the simple grammatical and spelling errors. Also, I felt as if some of the writing was disjointed and incomplete. Even with that, it was a good book to read. Something I could see having to read for a class in school.
******
Keys to Tetouan
View: on Bookshelves
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