Review by kdstrack -- The Expelled by Mois Benarroch

[kdstrack]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Expelled" by Mois Benarroch.]

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2 out of 4 stars

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The Expelled by Mois Benarroch
Translated by Pamela Deccahe
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy

The Expelled by Mois Benarroch describes the “Expelled” as the Sephardim Jews who arrived in Morocco after the Inquisition. But in reality, the book presents a long list of expelled people.

The story begins as the Nameless Narrator (NN) meets a woman at a train station who looks just like a younger version of his wife, approaches her and begins an affair with her. In less than twenty-four hours NN is expelled from the romantic side of this relationship as his mistress asks him to read to her.

As he reads from his book about a group of people on a bus ride, the reader encounters one expelled person after another. A young man named Cash is expelled when he is shot and killed. The people who sit in the back of the bus are expelled from using the bathroom or from crossing to the front of the bus. The women on the bus are expelled when they are abused and raped. The bus itself is expelled when it constantly encounters a wall across the road and even though the driver turns around there seems to be no way out. A horse is expelled when it too is shot. These are just a few of the situations that occur in the book that NN is reading to his mistress.

When he has finished reading, NN reflects on his work as a writer. He is afraid he will be expelled from his job since his books are not selling. If his boss expels him he has a plan to expel his boss by claiming that he is racist. He cannot afford to be expelled from his job since he suspects that his wife is planning to expel him from their marriage.

NN decides he wants his wife and his mistress to meet. They have coffee together and then the last person of the story is expelled.

I would recommend this story to people who like psychology. Does the author see expelled people all around him because he has been expelled in his own life? The author leads the reader to question how he would respond to a situation in his own life if he were to be expelled.

There were many l-o-n-g sentences that could have been made into shorter phrases instead of the excessive use of commas. (These long sentences should be expelled!) There are also many explicit sexual scenes that distracted from the story. It is always disappointing when you think you are reading fiction but then it turns into triple X. (These too could be expelled!)

I rate this book a 2 out of 4. I don’t think many people are going to understand what the author is presenting.

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The Expelled
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Like kdstrack's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Manang Muyang]

I enjoyed reading your review. This book was my first project in OBC. It is open to many interpretations, much like a poem. I believe that is what Benarroch intended.
The funny thing is, your narrative invites the reader to check the book out. Just to expel the curiosity.

[Lennycat]

Thanks for your informative review. Based on your description, I'm not sure that I would put this on list of books to read.

[Czarmaine AM]

I find your side comments about long sentences and explicit sexual contents hilarious! It just made my morning! Anyway, I just finished reading a book by the same author and I'm thinking of reading another one. I agree that the writing style of Benarroch is really unique and needs some getting used to. Some chapters are very tedious to read. Overall, you're right that many interpretations can branch out from his works so it's not for people who just want an easy read.

[kdstrack]

Re: Review by kdstrack -- The Expelled by Mois Benarroch

Post Number:#4 by czarmaineam » Yesterday, 23:17
I find your side comments about long sentences and explicit sexual contents hilarious! It just made my morning! Anyway, I just finished reading a book by the same author and I'm thinking of reading another one. I agree that the writing style of Benarroch is really unique and needs some getting used to. Some chapters are very tedious to read. Overall, you're right that many interpretations can branch out from his works so it's not for people who just want an easy read.

Hope you enjoy his other books! I agree that each person may understand his writing in a different way. This one was very interesting!!