Review by Jem Tomarong -- Keys to Tetouan by Mois Benarroch
[Following is a volunteer review of "Keys to Tetouan" by Mois Benarroch.]
3 out of 4 stars
Review by Jem Tomarong
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How do you describe your home? Is it your comfort zone? What do you feel when you leave your home? This book is a historical fiction written by Mois Benarroch. He will show you the importance of your home. He is a prolific novelist and poet. His novels take us from literary travel, to science-fiction, and time travel back and forth which you will notice on this book.
What makes you excited when it talks about your home? In our home, our dreams begin. We desire for something and we are hoping for a bright future. Keys to Tetouan will dig your memory in your hometown. For sometimes, reminiscing the past can motivate our current situation. In the town of Tetouan, cholera became the epidemic disease which killed half of the population. And, Spanish invader came along bringing Christianity to their town. Some converted to Christianity and others believe the false Messiah. The people are also exiled into another place. They are forced to leave their hometown. How could the people of this town regain their position?
This novel is about a Jewish family that leaves Tetouan because of the Spanish inquisition. They are the Benzimra family that immigrated to different places. Jewish language is prohibited in the place where they have been exiled. They just keep it as a secret. They wanted to go back home in order to trace their lineage. Could the Benzimra family find each other? What is there key for searching? It's been a long time, since they departed in their place, way back 1860. As the years goes by, the new generation learned Portuguese and Spanish language. How could they communicate when they forgot their language?
The reader will notice repeated words to emphasize the author's point. This novel composes of letter to tell the next Benzimra's generation. Hence, oral repetition is one of the Jewish culture. They keep on narrating the history of their family, so that their next generation will still remember them. The new generation learned new languages, and they adopted different culture. How could the next generation understand the letter when they spoke Spanish language?
I got amazed on how the Jewish people go back to their homeland in search of a bride. Language barrier can’t stop them. The long distance doesn’t matter, too. They still took the long journey going back home. Mois Benarroch emphasizes the importance of our own hometown which made me like this novel. No matter how far we go, we must take a look to where we came from.
This novel is like an investigative documentary. A person who loves history will enjoy this book. Therefore, I rate this novel 3 out of 4 stars. There are grammatical errors found. But, the reader will learn about the Jewish culture, customs, and on how they love and value their native land.
******
Keys to Tetouan
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3 out of 4 stars
Review by Jem Tomarong
Share This Review
What makes you excited when it talks about your home? In our home, our dreams begin. We desire for something and we are hoping for a bright future. Keys to Tetouan will dig your memory in your hometown. For sometimes, reminiscing the past can motivate our current situation. In the town of Tetouan, cholera became the epidemic disease which killed half of the population. And, Spanish invader came along bringing Christianity to their town. Some converted to Christianity and others believe the false Messiah. The people are also exiled into another place. They are forced to leave their hometown. How could the people of this town regain their position?
This novel is about a Jewish family that leaves Tetouan because of the Spanish inquisition. They are the Benzimra family that immigrated to different places. Jewish language is prohibited in the place where they have been exiled. They just keep it as a secret. They wanted to go back home in order to trace their lineage. Could the Benzimra family find each other? What is there key for searching? It's been a long time, since they departed in their place, way back 1860. As the years goes by, the new generation learned Portuguese and Spanish language. How could they communicate when they forgot their language?
The reader will notice repeated words to emphasize the author's point. This novel composes of letter to tell the next Benzimra's generation. Hence, oral repetition is one of the Jewish culture. They keep on narrating the history of their family, so that their next generation will still remember them. The new generation learned new languages, and they adopted different culture. How could the next generation understand the letter when they spoke Spanish language?
I got amazed on how the Jewish people go back to their homeland in search of a bride. Language barrier can’t stop them. The long distance doesn’t matter, too. They still took the long journey going back home. Mois Benarroch emphasizes the importance of our own hometown which made me like this novel. No matter how far we go, we must take a look to where we came from.
This novel is like an investigative documentary. A person who loves history will enjoy this book. Therefore, I rate this novel 3 out of 4 stars. There are grammatical errors found. But, the reader will learn about the Jewish culture, customs, and on how they love and value their native land.
******
Keys to Tetouan
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Like Jem Tomarong's review? Post a comment saying so!
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