Review by GideonTheReader -- The Expelled by Mois Benarroch

Review by GideonTheReader -- The Expelled by Mois Benarroch

Read THE EXPELLED/ EL EXPULSADO IN

English getbook.at/theExpelled

FRANCAIS   getbook.at/lExpulse

Italiano  getbook.at/lEspulso

español  getbook.at/elExpulsado

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Review by GideonTheReader

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The Expelled by Mois Benarroch is a novel written with a unique style and form. The story is composed of and is divided in different plots in the form of a book created and read by the main character who is working as a novelist. The story or stories inside a full-length novel somehow reminds me of Arabian Nights, especially the part where the protagonist is reading his novel to the younger version of his wife, but this one has its fresh version of it.

The main plot begins with the main character riding on a bus going back to his home. At first, it seems an ordinary "boring" day for him, reflecting how messy and -- at the same time -- promising his life as a writer is, and also foreseeing his messier and unpromising life back with his and his wife's unstable relationship status. The story is written in a character-driven, first-person with the main character as its narrator. I believe it is a good choice because it helps the readers to have a deeper understanding of what kind of personality the protagonist has even at the earliest part of the whole story. By using the protagonist's voice and perspective, I could say that the character build up is truly strong, to think that at the beginning, readers barely know the character's name and physicality. There is this instant connection between the narrating character and the audience.

As the story moves forward, the plot becomes more interesting when, in the middle of him thinking about his wife, he actually encounters the younger version of his wife at the bus station. Here where the fantasy element comes in, which I believe builds the curiosity of the readers. The comic timing also helps to draw in the audience and to keep on reading.

At first, I find the plot entertaining and informative, however, there is inconsistency when it comes to flow, transition, and over all presentation. The informative part remains all throughout the story and it gives awareness in the society, but it becomes less entertaining when the plot moves to another sub-plots, featuring the bus ride and the expelled, where in some parts, a sudden shift in character perspective is observed. On the other hand, in these parts (where the main plot seems to drift away) the social inequality theme has turned out to be strong because of the intelligently used of situational and object symbolisms.

However, somehow I am disappointed because I have an expectation of any sci-fi element in the story since it is categorized under sci-fi/fantasy genre, and I also find the ending ambiguous that minimized the justification of the fantasy element (but every individual has its own understanding, anyway). But I guess the story could fall under social science/fantasy or magic realism.

Over all, the plot idea and unique style make The Expelled interesting. It mainly tackles about the undying issue of inequality, racism, and discrimination, which I believe will always exist in every kind of nationalities or communities. For me, Benarroch has successfully achieved the eye-opening theme in his novel. And his message about social awareness makes this novel timeless. For that I will rate this 3 out of 4.

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The Expelled 
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