Forgive me for showing off a little -- I'm actually reading this in the original Hebrew. I know it was entirely unnecessary for me to point that out, but I'm excited about my new quest to improve my Hebrew literacy. Also, I wanted to let you know in advance that it will take me a long time to post my review!Ok -- here's my review. Reading this book was an interesting experience, on a variety of levels. When you read in a foreign language and you find yourself criticizing the book, it's not always clear whether it's a flaw in the book or whether there's something you're missing because of the language barrier. For example, it took me a long time to get into this book -- was that because it was a slow starter, or because it was written in Hebrew? Some of the characterization seemed superficial to me, and there were some minor holes in the plot -- again, was I just missing things because I skipped over some hard words/passages? I guess the only way to find out would be for me to read it in English, which I'm actually curious to do when it comes out (I think the translation is due to be published later this year).Basically, as I experienced it, the book had clear strengths and weaknesses. The love story from the War of Independence was definitely poignant and gripping, even in a foreign language. The motif of the doves was interesting and original, although I felt that some of the symbolism was a little heavy-handed. The "message" sent with the final dove was just plain weird -- bizarre, in my view, although definitely a creative plot twist. I felt that Yair's relationships with his brother and with his ex-wife could have been better developed, and that both of them should have been better fleshed out as characters -- I found them overly unsympathetic, and I think they could have been depicted in a more complex, multi-faceted way. It wasn't clear to me why Yair and Tirzah broke up the first time they dated. Etc., etc. Anyway, that's why I plan to at least skim it in English when it comes out so I can see how much of the above was simply a function of my limited Hebrew.I have to say (and I apologize in advance; I know this is probably too much information), this is the second full-length novel I've read in Hebrew and it feels so weird to read sex scenes in Hebrew! First of all, while you can sort of skim them in English if you prefer, you don't have that option when you're reading in a foreign language -- you end up processing every word, which makes reading the scene a very different experience. Also, it's lashon kodesh! I found myself gasping, "What!" whereas in English, I'm basically immune. Thirdly, at least based on the limited sample of two Israeli novels, Israeli novelists are quite earthy and graphic when it comes to these things. By comparison, American sex scenes seem almost metaphysical. Sorry -- I just had to share that.
Shalev is a masterful storyteller and though I thought of rating this a four, a flawed book by Shalev is more brilliant than a thousand "perfect" books. So, I will say, there were a few things about this book that were a bit heavy-handed, and a few things frustrating and annoying. I'll get that out of the way though I won't go on about what I didn't like at this point, because I want to say what moved me.This is a strange, lively, inquisitive story about home and not home, about finding a way to the home within oneself, and about love that can be a kind of home and love that simply can't. There are different kinds of love that people have with each other in this book, and each kind of love has its compelling qualities and richness. I think, in the end, though, there is a belief in this novel that vibrant intimacy with the other requires some knowledge of the self and of the earth. And a sense of wonder about our physical and spiritual existence. Sensuality takes on new meanings in a Shalev novel because there is a love of place, of the earth's fertility, violence and inventiveness that seems to me very unique and yet particularly Israeli. I think somewhere in here is a message that we can carry ourselves within ourselves and from that place we can reach out to the other, or we can fail to be internally connected at which point it is very hard to share a life.I loved all the bird stories in here, all the pigeon stuff, the brokenness of some people and the wholeness of others. The acceptance of how short and bright and imperfect life must be, even with all the radiance of fated (fateful?) loves. I am always fascinated by and curious about Shalev's obsessions with twins and twinning. There are actual twins, but I'm talking mainly in a metaphorical sense. I should write examples here but now I can't remember any of them, except for the basic repetition of this idea of people looking like each other or not looking like each other. It's in here a lot in many guises. I thought about it the whole way through and remember similar things in "Four Meals." (I've also read "The Blue Mountain" but it has been many years and I don't recall.)
What do You think about A Pigeon And A Boy (2007)?
From the description, this sounded like a lovely book, but it was a big disappointment for me. It took a long time for the story to get started and there were very few characters that I would call likeable. In fact, the main character, Yair, was extremely un-likeable. There were also some parts of the story that defied belief. I did like the parts about caring for the homing pigeons. Thought there was far, far too much detail about house renovations. I did like the way the two threads tied together, and the story did get better toward the end, but by then I was just reading to finish it.
—Candice
A Pigeon and a Boy is a love story really, but not like any you’ve read before. It takes place during the Israeli War of Independence in 1948 and the present. There are links between the two but it would ruin the book for readers to explain what they are. Suffice to say that Yair Mendelsohn, the central character, makes a life-changing decision to make a home of his own and in the quest to find his own identity makes some interesting discoveries about himself and his family. Yair, whose father wanted him to become a doctor, instead became a tour guide specializing in bird-watching trips, and there are interesting threads to follow up about different kinds of healing.To see the rest of my review please visit http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/201...
—Lisa
I really tried to like this book but was frustrated by a number of things: - The story took a really long time to develop so it was hard to get into. - At the beginning, I was very confused by the narration. It jumped back and forth in time and it wasn't clear who was narrating about what. - I wish the stories had been more closely woven to one another in a more poetic way. At the end, it felt rushed and forced and was almost too simple. The author could have done more to weave them together (th
—Stephanie
