Review of Andalusian in Jerusalem
Posted: 23 Sep 2021, 07:50
[Following is a volunteer review of "Andalusian in Jerusalem" by Mois benarroch.]
Andalusian in Jerusalem is an interesting novel written by Mois Benarrochm. The book is about the Jerusalem syndrome that the Jews are unique wherever they are and that they are different in all that they do. Guillermo is a Spanish teenager who jokingly reveals to his closest friend that he is a Jew but this belief about him is blown out of proportion. This leads everybody in the school to believe the Spanish teenager’s lie of being a Jew, as if it is a well-known secret in the world. This falsehood exposes him to some opportunities he will not have had ordinarily. For instance, he will become a respected writer because of the lie. In fact, his novel will get him invited to attend a strange writer’s festival in Jerusalem. By providence, he will meet a woman who resembles his deceased mother, claiming to be his mother; she also told him she has a daughter. Guillermo meets a Jewish-Moroccan Israeli writer, Charly, who is never relenting despite the fact that he faces discrimination.
The book contains a number of positive lessons. One of such positive aspects is the value we place on friendship. The trio consisting of Guillermo, Charly and Nora are good friends as portrayed in the novel. Even after the abduction of Guillermo, they reunite and keep their company. One of the benefits that Guillermo derives from his friendship with Charly is that he gets inspired to write a novel, about “The 11-M Attacks,” after he assists his friend to edit his manuscript. It can also be gleaned from the manuscript of Charly that humility is a virtue. In Lucena, the timely advice given is to be humble though you are rich. It is also advised not to tell one’s secret to anyone. The reason for this is that the famous folks do not find it easy to hide from the public.
Another positive aspect of this book is that there is no place like home. Though, Guillermo travels to attend the strange writer’s festival, he will be happy to return home. Surprisingly, he no longer waits for the event. He leaves a message for the organizers that he will have to be home urgently for some personal reasons. At last, he is free from strange things and cities. More so, I gained some knowledge on “Water Memory.” This is thrilling to learn about the subject that water keeps in its molecules the memory of everything that happens to it.
This novel is so interesting but it also contains some scary aspects. One of those negative aspects is the abduction saga. It made me feel the pain that Guillermo had before he was returned to his hotel. Also, some gory scenes were presented in it. One of such is the mother slashing her own child’s throat to circumvent his or her conversion to Islam. Children who never came out of the hospitals is another pathetic case.
This book was carefully written that I did not observe any error in it. The novel is really entertaining and its presentation was done sequentially. Thus, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because it was exceptionally edited.
I recommend this book to everyone who is interested in the history of Jerusalem and Spain. It also contains some funny parts that will ease the burden of the mind.
******
Andalusian in Jerusalem
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Andalusian in Jerusalem is an interesting novel written by Mois Benarrochm. The book is about the Jerusalem syndrome that the Jews are unique wherever they are and that they are different in all that they do. Guillermo is a Spanish teenager who jokingly reveals to his closest friend that he is a Jew but this belief about him is blown out of proportion. This leads everybody in the school to believe the Spanish teenager’s lie of being a Jew, as if it is a well-known secret in the world. This falsehood exposes him to some opportunities he will not have had ordinarily. For instance, he will become a respected writer because of the lie. In fact, his novel will get him invited to attend a strange writer’s festival in Jerusalem. By providence, he will meet a woman who resembles his deceased mother, claiming to be his mother; she also told him she has a daughter. Guillermo meets a Jewish-Moroccan Israeli writer, Charly, who is never relenting despite the fact that he faces discrimination.
The book contains a number of positive lessons. One of such positive aspects is the value we place on friendship. The trio consisting of Guillermo, Charly and Nora are good friends as portrayed in the novel. Even after the abduction of Guillermo, they reunite and keep their company. One of the benefits that Guillermo derives from his friendship with Charly is that he gets inspired to write a novel, about “The 11-M Attacks,” after he assists his friend to edit his manuscript. It can also be gleaned from the manuscript of Charly that humility is a virtue. In Lucena, the timely advice given is to be humble though you are rich. It is also advised not to tell one’s secret to anyone. The reason for this is that the famous folks do not find it easy to hide from the public.
Another positive aspect of this book is that there is no place like home. Though, Guillermo travels to attend the strange writer’s festival, he will be happy to return home. Surprisingly, he no longer waits for the event. He leaves a message for the organizers that he will have to be home urgently for some personal reasons. At last, he is free from strange things and cities. More so, I gained some knowledge on “Water Memory.” This is thrilling to learn about the subject that water keeps in its molecules the memory of everything that happens to it.
This novel is so interesting but it also contains some scary aspects. One of those negative aspects is the abduction saga. It made me feel the pain that Guillermo had before he was returned to his hotel. Also, some gory scenes were presented in it. One of such is the mother slashing her own child’s throat to circumvent his or her conversion to Islam. Children who never came out of the hospitals is another pathetic case.
This book was carefully written that I did not observe any error in it. The novel is really entertaining and its presentation was done sequentially. Thus, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because it was exceptionally edited.
I recommend this book to everyone who is interested in the history of Jerusalem and Spain. It also contains some funny parts that will ease the burden of the mind.
******
Andalusian in Jerusalem
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon