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| David Grossman, To The End Of The Land, Vintage International |
As everybody knows, the proper art of any country teaches us a lot about its very own culture. That's why, as a huge traveler and huge reader, I love to discover about the different national writers. Last year, when I visited my beautiful Israel for the very first time, I read my first Meir Shalev's book, The Blue Mountain. This year, when I came back to my beloved land, I decided to give a try with another Israeli writer. To be honest, I didn't hesitate a lot: the title, gorgeously illustrated by a simple, but eloquent cover easily attracted my interest (yes, the appearance of books are a part of my pleasure, even if I follow the golden rule: "Don't judge a book by its cover", in all senses of the word). Then I read the back cover, and I approved my choice:
"Just before his release from service in the Israeli army, Ora's son ofer is sent back to the front for a major offensive. In a fit of preemptive grief and magical thinking, so that no bad news can reach her, Ora sets out on an epic hike in the Galilee. She is joined by an unlikely companion - Avram, a former friend and lover with trouble past - and as they sleep out in the hills, Ora begins to conjure her son. Ofer's story, as told by Ora, becomes a surprising balm both for her and for Avram - and a mother's powerful meditation on war and family."
To The End Of The Land received amazing reviews ("A boundary-pushing novel... Like all great literature, it is an act of generosity, opening itself to every human possibility" - The Washington Post; "An extraordinary epic of love, war, and sorrow... Stunning - brilliantly written and beautifully constructed." - The Times (London)), and became a national bestseller. As you may know, war and military service are both a part of the Israeli life. I wondered how the subject would be tackled, through this mother's eyes. And I purchased the book.
And I read it. And I fell in love. Through the words of a worried and so much loving mother, we enter the national mourning, the hidden (?) constant fear of death which surrounds the Israeli society. Through Ora's grief, story and fears, we discover a part of Israel not well-known enough, in my opinion, by those who don't feel close to the country itself, especially those who unfortunately tend to forget that a death is a death, that everybody bleeds in the same colours, and that tears always burn with their sharpness. David Grossman send his character Ofer, Ora's son, to a massive offensive at the beginning of the bloody second Intifada. His poetic pen describe with sorrow how Ora lost him the moment he was nationalized by the country. With To The End Of The Land, I couldn't help but feeling my heart breaking in thousand of pieces; when I read about our foolish leaders and humanity, when I read about this mother's fear and constant tries to feel worth living with a family she loves more than anything else, when I read about her numerous, but human mistakes and her efforts to repare them, sometimes only for the worse. Naive hopes made tears fill my eyes all along the reading. A reading touching, lovely, powerful, emotional and accurate which could not leave the readers indifferent. Interesting fact: Ora's fears is not only about her son Ofer's potential death; it is also about the consequences of the war, as Ora is conscious that, if Ofer comes back alive, his experience could change him forever, maybe to a man she wouldn't like him to be, full with pain, anger and will of revenge.
Worth reading? Definitely! Necessary? Yes, probably!
My article is long enough, but as there is still much more to be told about this subject, here is a link to a great article written by The Gardian's reporter Jacqueline Rose:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/sep/18/david-grossman-end-of-the-land
Finally, I want to finish writing by telling you how much David Grossman himself knows what he wrote about. Not only because he is Israeli, but because of his own personal story.
Cherish your life!
