Review by Braunsucre -- Andalusian in Jerusalem
Post by Braunsucre » 16 Sep 2018, 19:06
Andalusian in Jerusalem, by Mois Benarroch, translated by Enriqueta Carrington, is a book of many flavors. I find the history therein informative, the poetic sections were intriguing, and the monologue was quite interesting.
It tells the story of young David, in Lucena, who likes to read. While reading, he found out that many inventors, writers, and scientists were Jews, therefore, he decided to fabricate a lie, and confesses this to his best friend; that he was a Jew. The news went viral, but little did he know of the long-lasting effects such a fabrication might have.
"sh*t Jew!" "Jewish asshole!" were some of the names his soccer companions shouted at him, but rather than enrage him, the names made him feel special. He got increasingly curious till he decided to attend the writers festival in Jerusalem, where the story begins in earnest.
Andalusian in Jerusalem, is a book of raw talent and knowledge. It demands all your attention, otherwise, you get lost. It brings you to a certain point, where there is a thin, invisible line between reality and imagination. The history of the era of the Inquisition, when forced religious conversions took place, moved me to tears. The poetic lines also had a very smooth flow. It was interesting to read about the racial discrimination of Jews in Sepharad (modern Spain), and their numerous sufferings, because, this was a subject I'd only read about in the holy books. Numerous quotes appear throughout the book as well, one such quote is: "never again would someone's origin or the color of his skin make him different".
Andalusian in Jerusalem, might come across as a difficult, and poorly edited book at first sight, but the translator's note, at the preface, shed much light on the reason for the grammatical errors found in it. It is noteworthy, as well, that the flavor of the original Spanish manuscript was well-preserved.
In my assessment, the confusing nature of this book is related to the numerous issues that occur in translation, and should, therefore, not affect the rating of the book. I find this book as interesting as I find Shakespeare's books.
I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars, because it stands out among other history books, the story is captivating, and at the same time informative. It makes for an interesting read. All lovers of history and good literature would find gems in this book, but if you're not part of this group, it might not appeal to you.
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Andalusian in Jerusalem
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