It's not really good. There are still war in the middle east right? Other countries leaving peacefully and helping each other to have a better life, while they are fighting like that? I wish they would stop. This book could help change others view in Wars. They probably would choose Ichmad's way. Thinking that it is possible to take that path. View all 23 comments. May 14, Ammara Abid rated it really liked it. But it didn't hit me the way it should be.
Nevertheless this book has many beautiful lines. That was weeks rounded down. Which figure sounded like the least amount of time? I took a long, deep breath and tried to steady my voice. To forgive and forget, or to resent and remember? Apr 22, Laura rated it it was amazing Shelves: I think I was the only Goodread's member to not receive a copy of this as part of the Goodreads Giveaway. However, my husband was a fortunate recipient of the book. I am not sure that all the political facts were accurate in this book but I do know I loved the story. Highly recommend this book that boasts of courage and perseverance.
Favorite quotes from book, "Good things make choosing difficult, bad things leave no choice" and "Courage View all 7 comments. Recommended to Poet Gentleness by: I won it on LibraryThings giveaway. I have no pleasure to rate a book with one star, so I'll exceed myself on the explanations. Before you complain about my rating or my review on my curated space, please read, learn and think about the real facts. Be impartial and listen to both sides. In fact, listen to all sides before you decide for yourself. If you are rude, you're going to be flagged.
If you want to discuss my review, do it politely. Respect and toleration are what make relationships possible. There is no one so good, and there is no one so bad, unless they are psychos.
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We, human beings, are somewhere in between angels and demons. Israeli , used as a noun means: IMHO, we diminish the whole dimension of the conflict if we stick with the name given to the land. Is this about land? No one has never heard of a Catholic wanting possession of Israel or Palestine. This is a Jewish-Muslin conflict. Besides, this is a book review.
In contrast to this stands the dative of saying and speaking, which confirms the in-between, moves within it. Then again there is the accusative of the singing poem, which removes and releases what it sings from the in-between and its relations, without confirming anything. Thinking Diary , or Book of Thoughts , vol. In short, for those who doesn't know Hannah Arendt is: A German-Jewish born political theorist, she managed to escape from a concentration camp where she was held because of her ideas and moved to America.
She wrote wonderful works, but her most famous one was Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil , due to her sharp criticism of how Eichmann trial was held in Israel. In this work, Arendt also criticized the way some Jewish leaders acted during the Holocaust. This caused - and still causes - a considerable controversy and even animosity toward Arendt and her work in the Jewish community. She was criticized by many Jewish public figures, charged with coldness and lack of sympathy for the victims of the Holocaust, which was never her intention.
She had regretted using the expression "banality of evil" until she died. A small explanation on the quote: Domination and submission exist on every relationship. Parental, marital, commercial and so on. Well-balanced and used with wiseness and respect, they are what makes a relationship work.
They have an inner poetry, when not measured by outside standards, but by their own. Determining the forces of a relationship, or of a conflict, no matter how unalterable those may be, is a freedom that few achieve to reach. This acknowledgment doesn't mean that the submission has to be forever lived as such. Knowledge is the best way to understand, plan and act to free oneself if the submission was imposed, or to feel comfortable on one's skin if the submission is chosen.
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I'm not talking about sex, slavery, conflicts or war. I'm talking about daily, normal relationships. Those two sides of a relationship are beautifully emphasized by Arendt when she ties this grammatical distinction to her often repeated contrast between violence and speech. But they are also actions that can co-exist, side by side in a single course of action. Stupefied by my statement? Explanation will come soon. She even attempts at a not-funny-at-all joke by linking the names of Menahem Begin and Ariel Sharon, prime ministers of Israel, turning them into Professor Menahem Sharon, Ichmad's teacher.
I didn't understand if she was trying to honor or to offend the real persons. A single sparkle can set those forever burning ashes of the Arab world into a uncontrollable bonfire and kill many. I agree that there is a lack of toleration in that region. But this lack of toleration, of understanding on the Arab region, on that small piece of sacred land, that all are fighting for, that all want to take a bite, can hardly be put solely onto Jewish shoulders. Stated that, about the book: A 3 star rating for the sci-fi creativity because: There is no helpful clarity for those who are not schooled in Middle East politics.
Either they'll believe in distorted facts, or they have to continually stop to search online to find more information about the story, including the setting, to fully understand the circumstances. The author fills in with math and science questions completely unnecessary and that did not move the story or make it more believable - only less. But all that is irrelevant to my review, so I closed my eyes to them on my 2nd reading. The author, Michelle Cohen Corasanti, daughter of American orthodox Jews, says she is Jewish, highly educated in Harvard as she affirms on her website http: The Israelis, except for two or three persons, are portrayed as completely cruel and unfeeling, the archetypes of evil.
I don't think Israel is perfect. I'm open-minded and I was eager to have a look on a different side so I tried to overlook it on my first reading, but as I had to write the review and I was really unable to pinpoint what had me so annoyed with the book, I gave it a second reading. And as Umberto Eco says, a book is only never completely understood on its first reading. But that is irrelevant.
But that is irrelevant too. She is totally entitled to her royalties. This book has only the author's personal POVs and insights and that has to be said, so people do not confuse it with reality. Much on the contrary, but I will arrive there soon. If the book were half as helpful to peace as it is being said, I would be the first to give it five stars and recommend it.
Novels lack what biography or historical books should always have: This book is not a treaty on how to promote peace. This books distorts historical facts galore. AND it wears its mask of supposedly injustices against the Palestinian people askance. It makeups itself and shows unreality heavily painted with sympathy and solidarity as its main character is a genius, wonderful, spectacular man telling the heart-wrenching, silly, childish view of the story of an oppressed-oppressor people, whose extremists have no shame to use women-bombs or armed children against unarmed civilians.
But again, how their extremists act is not my main point. About the leading character's name: I believe Corasanti meant Ahmad, that is also Mohammad, the last and most important Islam prophet. A Palestinian reviewer said she probably meant Ichmad to insult the Palestinians - according to the reviewer in Arab "Ichmad" has a similar sound to the verb that means "subdue".
I cannot blame the reviewer's tone against this book or her angry words. It's because of people with such funny ideas that we have this terrible conflict on the region She is not only being prejudiced against Jews, BUT she is being highly prejudiced against the Palestinians. Here on her GRs dashboard and in her interactive website, a Palestinian actor plays Ichmad, divulging the Palestinian misery.
This is not the way to solve any conflict. Corasanti's badly written book is throwing more fuel on the already burning conflict. Maybe some of you have noticed my using of trendy words. Why did I use them? Because this book, as 50 Shades of Grey, is narcissistic. This is about Corrassanti. Her life in Israel; her problems with her Palestinian friends, her extremely orthodox Jew family, her own rebellion against the education she received; her own fantasies.
This is not about any conflict, any religion or any people. It is a narcissistic, badly written work of science-fiction. And speech and violence as Arendt so wisely showed so many times in her many works can walk hand-in-hand, and can be cloaked under a thin veil… of a Jewish or Muslim bride? Or maybe as Corassanti prejudicially narrated: To add insult to injury, on their nuptial night of their arranged wedding, otherworldly intelligent hero Ichmad fantasies of his perfect, dead Nora while he has a still Yasmine beneath him on bed.
That is what got me nagged and annoyed with this book. How did Hitler gain so many followers? When he proposed violence, he had already hypnotized a whole army, a nation, with his ideas. Not even the wise? Jews are to stick with Jews. But in an even more dangerous way, Corasanti, a Jewish-American author, has no knowledge of what she is doing, she has no idea of the power of her prejudiced words; of how can them be used against what she is supposedly intending, peace?
Want to write an autobiography? It would be much more commendable and interesting to read about the POV of a Jewish woman that had lived in Israel for 7 years and had great issues with her religion, her strict orthodox parents and the way she has grown. Want to write about your sexual fantasies? For sure, voyeurs and stalkers will buy your book. This narcissistic authorial catharsis that have been happening recently is confusing the minds of many - special teenagers and YA - that have no such knowledge to distinguish between fantasy and reality.
I would dare say: To end this review, a last thought: Arendt raised the question of whether evil is radical or simply a function of thoughtlessness, a tendency of ordinary people to obey orders and conform to mass opinion without a critical evaluation of the consequences of their actions and inaction. I agree with her point of view and I believe evil resides - in most cases - in simple thoughtlessness. Evil can start, for example, with a simple omission.
That is why I am not omitting myself. It could have started with me, as a reader, not being knowledgeable of the intended submission I was being forced to. That's why I'm saying NO to those many 5 star ratings; NO to those who write for their own narcissist purposes please don't confuse with commercial, or artistic. I'm a free, intelligent, thinking woman and I refuse to be fooled or lead by a supposedly heart-wrenching beautiful story told by a noble woman, that is the one who holds the formula of secret, magic powder which will bring peace between the ancient feud of Israel and Palestine, of Jews and Muslims.
Life is not a fairy tale. We cannot live only on fantasies. Please, let's grow up. Let's talk and behave like adults. We are not children or teenagers anymore. We had the opportunity to dream of winning the gold medal in the school writing concourse or kissing hurriedly the first boyfriend on the front door step before Daddy opens it. Now, as adults, we have the responsibility of building a better world for our grandchildren, without excluding anyone. Or so I hope. I think I've been clear, but let me be clearer: For those who want to read more on what is the reality of the conflict and this book , there are a few excellent, knowledgeable reviews, please see them in the comment as I had no more review space left.
View all 33 comments. Now it was filled with landmines like the one that killed my baby sister, Amal. He sets about trying to use his intellect to keep his family afloat when his father Baba is wrongfully imprisoned for 14 years. It was hard not to get angry and upset while reading this book.
The landmines, the curfews, the blatant racism shown towards the Palestinians…, the list goes on. I applaud her for writing a novel about a very controversial topic. The story is about forgiveness and seeing the humanness in someone above seeing their religion or ethnicity. I did like the hopeful tone in the book despite the tragedies. This is one of those books which are important to read in spite of the difficult subject matter. There is no doubt in my mind that Michelle Cohen Corasanti is one of today's greatest novelists, and most important socio-political commentators.
What she's done with The Almond Tree is highlighted the cause of one of the world's most unjustifiably maligned, and oppressed people. She's also produced a beautiful multifaceted story which is in equal parts utterly riveting, shocking, and addictive. A remarkable story about Ichmad, an impoverished child living in war torn Israel through the fighting between the Jews and Palestinians. A devastating view of war and how unarmed citizens are pulled in innocently striping them of loved ones, necessities and at times, even spirit. The story of Ichmad is of a 12 year old boy who was able to rise above and move beyond the barriers of poverty because of his genius mathematical skills.
It cost him loved -ones including his own brother who believed hi A remarkable story about Ichmad, an impoverished child living in war torn Israel through the fighting between the Jews and Palestinians. It cost him loved -ones including his own brother who believed him to be a traitor by working and studying with a Jew.
It's also a story about faith and hope - about what peace can do to bring 2 fighting nations as well as fighting neighbours and family members together. I've read some harsh reviews about this book, but the reality is, it is a work of fiction. It was a story that kept me engaged and one I could go back and read again. View all 9 comments. I looked forward to reading this book because of the subject matter; unfortunately, the novel was disappointing. The book is the fictional memoir of a Palestinian named Ichmad Hamid.
Crisis follows crisis, although Ichmad is able to better his life because of his intelligence. A major problem is the weak characterization. From the beginning Ichmad sees himself as different: The village teacher speaks of him as a genius who will make his people proud To make matters worse, Ichmad is exceptional in other ways.
Twice he is a hero: His generosity knows no bounds: Character transformations are also incredible. He is not the only one to undergo such a miraculous change. Her veil, her thick, unplucked eyebrows, her traditional robe. And then there are the gaps and inconsistencies. When he is released fourteen years later, his first words to his family are about the death of the daughter When was he told?
A professor accuses Ichmad of cheating. A classmate, without ever being told about the accusation, comments that the professor has become lazy The writing style is repetitious. On the same page, another person is described: Then there are the lengthy advanced math problems — , , which serve virtually no purpose in a work of fiction.
I knew their strength lay in their roots which were so deep that even if the trees were cut down, they survived and sent forth shoots to create new generations. The symbol should speak for itself; it should not need to be explained. There is no doubt that the author is passionate about the Palestine-Israel conflict. Certainly, the Palestinian perspective needs to be given, and to have a Jewish American attempt to do so is daring. It is unfortunate that the skills required to write a good novel are missing. Please check out my reader's blog http: One boy would carry that hell around with him like a prison.
The other would rise above it, and try to transform it. Both worked toward the same cause: It's a story of war. Ichmad and his family were the victims of hate, victims of fear, victims of war-mongering politics. But Ichmad was more than just a victim. He was his father's son It is a novel that tells the story of two oppressed peoples: But Corasanti does something important. She makes both sides human. She brings the Israeli side of the story to life with Professor Sharon.
She shows us things—real things—that we do not see in the media. She shows us people. View all 5 comments. Feb 03, Debbie "DJ" rated it it was amazing Shelves: What a powerful book and such an incredible story. This one got inside me right away, and held me to the very end. The family's extremely different viewpoints all held points of validity. I can clearly see how "doing the right thing" can be so different for each person. How can anyone judge another's experience under such impossible circumstances. I wanted to say this is also a story of h WOW!
I wanted to say this is also a story of hope, but it is really one of luck. I can say this book opened my eyes in a profound way. I highly recommend it. Heart wrenching and yet heartwarming novel that everyone should read. Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to room type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.
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Additional fees are not calculated automatically in the total cost and will have to be paid for separately during your stay. Cards accepted at this property. The Almond Tree accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival. He also ferried us in his personal car to the city. Quiet place away from the town's noise and pollution. Breakfast's omelette was a piece of art.
It is well managed and pretty well run. I just did not feel the personal touch I had in other places. We felt right at home at The Almond Tree. We really felt part of a luxury experience. The room was large, very comfortable and clean. We had excellent diners in the pleasant and beautiful rooftop garden. Also the staff is very helpful. In short, this hotel exceeded our expectations and is nicer than on the pictures!! Our suite could go on with an endless amount of adjectives. A lot of space, perfect lighting, outstanding view. I felt so much at home especially with the extremely hospitable staff who were nothing but kind to us.
I felt extremely happy to have had my Diwali dinner there for it is one I will never forget. This stay made my trip memorable. Stayed in the King Suite and it was awesome. We were kindly upgraded to a bigger suite by the owner Chetan who kindly met us outside the hotel to welcome us in and help us with our luggage.
The place was so quaint and beautifully laid out with great attention to detail gone into the decor and layout of the rooms. Chetan made sure our stay was comfortable and provided us with information on where we could visit. Would certainly recommend and would visit again. I would only recommend they add a few signs with directions to help travellers find the property easily. That combined with the gracious staff and the exceptional food, there are few hotels I have stayed at that are as complete a package as this one. Chetan and his team are truly wonderful hosts. Honest, close and personal treatment.
Food was really really oily. This is despite me telling them not to add any oil in the food. I guess I was spoilt by the bed and breakfasts I stayed before coming here. The Almond Tree is located close to the Umaid Bhawani Palace in a gated community, all properties built from matching stone. The staff were lovely, keen to make our stay the best we could have. A boutique homestay hotel with great food.
The Almond Tree: When novels distort legacies of struggle
The roof top terrace offers a great dining experience. Che tan is a fantastic host. Wifi went out halfway through our three-day trip. The building, the staff, the breakfast, the room, water pressure and temperature, the rooftop view, the room service exceeded all of my expectations.
Dinner on the rooftop terrace was real great experience! Very clean , nice roof terrace and the owner was very helpful. The place was really clean and beautiful! WiFi worked really well and the staff was friendly. They were really caring and helped us get rickshaws and olas to go see the city.
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The home style Indian meal for dinner is a must! Such a wonderful meal and experience. We had a fantastic stay and it far exceeded our expectations. Looking at the reviews they were all so positive, I wondered could it really be that good? We stayed in the suite which was spacious with modern, tasteful furniture and included a lounge area. The bed sheets and quilts were of excellent quality. The garden on the roof was beautiful with flowers and herbs growing and had a great view of the palace. A lovely place to dine in the evening.
The staff were incredibly helpful particularly the manager, Chetan. He gave us tips on where to visit, local restaurants and helped organise Tuktuks for us which are a great way to explore the old city as taxis are unable to fit in the narrow alleyways. We also appreciated his help in suggesting a local store where we could buy local rugs after we were overcharged in the market. We usually stay in a big chain 4 or 5 star hotel in India but we are so glad we chose the Almond Tree.
It is an oasis of calm and comfort in a very busy city. Truly spacious and beautiful and we couldn't think of a better place to stay. One of our favourite, if not the favourite hotels, in 5 weeks in India. Chetan and his staff couldn't be more helpful.
Wish we could have stayed longer. The hotel is located in a very quiet neighbourhood rare in India but still close to the town. Please enter a valid email address. An error has occurred. Your welcome email will arrive in your inbox soon. We have more than 70 million property reviews, and they're all from real, verified guests. The only way to leave a review is to first make a booking.
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Please check your email and click the link to reset your password. Gifted with a mind that continues to impress the elders in his village, Ichmad Hamid struggles with knowing that he can do nothing to save his friends and family. Living on occupied land, his entire village operates in fear of losing their homes, jobs, and belongings. But more importantly, they fear losing each other. On Ichmad's twelfth birthday, that fear becomes reality. With his father imprisoned, his family's home and possessions confiscated, and his siblings quickly succumbing to hatred in the face of conflict, Ichmad begins an inspiring journey using his intellect to save his poor and dying family.
In doing so he reclaims a love for others that was lost through a childhood rife with violence and loss, and discovers a new hope for the future. Reminiscent of The Kite Runner and One Thousand Splendid Suns , this is an uplifting read, which conveys a message of optimism and hope. Read more Read less. Add both to Cart Add both to List. One of these items ships sooner than the other. Buy the selected items together This item: Ships from and sold by Amazon.
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Showing of reviews. Top Reviews Most recent Top Reviews. There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. The novel begins with the family of Ichmad Hamid, who lives in extreme poverty in one of the Arab villages within the triangle coincidentally not far from where I live.
The hero of the book is Ichmad, who tells the story in the first person. He had lost two sisters in tragic circumstances. His father, Baba, was arrested by the Israeli security authorities as he unwillingly had a weapons cache hidden on his property and was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. Their home was blown up as it was built illegally and they lived in a tent under shocking conditions. There was also a curfew in those days in the s in the Arab villages for security reasons.
Ichmad and his brother, Abbas, worked in a Jewish settlement as building laborers in order to support the family. Their wages helped to keep the family above water for basics. The description of their living and working conditions boggles the imagination. Abbas was pushed off the building site by an Israeli worker and this left him crippled for the rest of his life and very bitter towards Israelis.