196 Books: Israel

 The Seven Good Years by Etgar Keret

We're all probably pretty familiar with where Israel is at this point:

Here's the description:

The seven years between the birth of Etgar Keret’s son and the death of his father were good years, though still full of reasons to worry. Lev is born in the midst of a terrorist attack. Etgar’s father gets cancer. The threat of constant war looms over their home and permeates daily life.

What emerges from this dark reality is a series of sublimely absurd ruminations on everything from Etgar’s three-year-old son’s impending military service to the terrorist mind-set behind Angry Birds. There’s Lev’s insistence that he is a cat, releasing him from any human responsibilities or rules. Etgar’s siblings, all very different people who have chosen radically divergent paths in life, come together after his father’s shivah to experience the grief and love that tie a family together forever. This wise, witty memoir—Etgar’s first nonfiction book published in America, and told in his inimitable style—is full of wonder and life and love, poignant insights, and irrepressible humor.

Firstly, I'll try not to tie this book too much to what's happening in that part of the world at the moment, but it'll probably happen a bit. I also think this will be a relatively short post, but I've said that before! Overall it was a nice, light read. Well, let's get into it.

Well of course, my first quote ties to current events hahaha. "It's not their fault,' I say. 'It's just that the attacks are always the same. What kind of original thing can you say about an explosion and senseless death?" I think this is a good description of how many of us (especially in the US) feel about the bombings, the school shootings, the cops killing people of color, etc etc etc. It's the same thing happening, it's the same people being impacted, it's the same politicians and talking heads on the TV wondering what could possible by done about all this?! 

"Once again, we're a small country surrounded by enemies, fighting for our lives, not a strong, occupying country forced to fight daily against a civilian population." All I'll say about this one is it's changed a bit since 2015 (when this book was published). 

You know, reading back through the quotes I highlighted, I don't think I can write this one as I usually do. So many of the quotes are about war and bombing and with what's going on over there right now it's rough. And now I am going to go into my thoughts on it. So in this book he talked a few times about how, as a Jewish person, he has a constant feeling of persecution and paranoia. So, yeah, I can't imagine what that's like. But now (at least to me) they've become the oppressors so it's hard to be sympathetic to that feeling. Although, let me caveat that and say that I absolutely have no idea what any of those people are going through or have been through. I just hate all of it. And I hate waking up each day wondering what fresh horrors the idiot leaders of the country are releasing on each other. There's probably more I can do to help people or push for peace all over, but as one random citizen it's too much. Then you add in climate change and the general destruction of the earth and I DON'T WANT TO LIVE ON THIS PLANET ANYMORE. 

Okay, back to the book. There were a lot of lighthearted quips and cute stories. I will say that it sounds like a wonderful, loving little family. And maybe I'll go back to it in the future if things ever settle down between Israel and Palestine (it may be worth mentioning that the bombing in the book was coming from Syria). 

So, sorry guys. I'm not doing well on this one. The whole time I was reading this story, images of shaking, dust covered children played in the back of my brain. So while I did enjoy this book, it was rather soured. The only way I can make up for this crappy review (although maybe they all are!!) is by giving you a picture of my puppy. I'm obsessed.