To the End of the Land by David Grossman
This epic yet personal story, which is set in contemporary Israel, juxtaposes the tribulations of war and the difficulties of daily life. It depicts the story of Ora’s relationship with her husband, from whom she is now divorced, as well as the tragedy of their close friend Avram, a former soldier who also happens to be the biological father of her kid. Ora is distraught to learn that her son Ofer is returning to the army for a significant offensive and decides to go hiking in the Galilee, leaving no forwarding information for the “notifiers” who might have to tell her the worst news a parent could ever hear. Avram, whom she hasn’t seen in 21 years, is persuaded to accompany her over the phone.
Along the way, Ora tells Avram the tale of her family and gives him the gift of his son, bringing the kid back to life for both his mother and the reader. Never before have the surreality of Israeli daily life and the effects of living in a country where the costs of conflict are passed down from generation to generation been so clearly visible. One of the best anti-war books of our time is David Grossman’s stunning depiction of a family in love and crisis.
To the End of the Land by David Grossman
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A joyful hiking excursion in Galilee has been organized by Ofer, a young Israeli soldier, and his relieved mother Ora. However, when Ora learns that Ofer has reenlisted, she panics and thinks he will perish. She then makes the decision to start walking and go to Galilee because she thinks that if she is not at home when the messengers come, she can guarantee that Ofer won’t pass away.
Together with Ofer’s broken-down, reclusive father Avram, Ora embarks on this quest. When Avram was in the army during the Yom Kippur War years earlier, he had a terrible injury. His son has never met him. He reluctantly agrees to go on this journey with Ora despite being a shell of his former self, and in return, she teaches him everything there is to know about their son and aids in bringing Avram back to life. We learn about the past of these folks and how conflict has affected their lives through this voyage and Ora’s narration.
Ilan, Ora’s estranged spouse with whom she had a son named Adam, and other noteworthy people include him. We first meet Ora, Ilan, and Avram at the beginning of this book when they are recovering at a hospital. They were childhood friends. The three of them created a love triangle from the beginning, and by the story’s conclusion, we know what transpired. Even in the midst of tragedy, there are excellent sections with sharp and humorous conversations that make us grin. We also gain a deep understanding of Israeli society today, including how the ongoing conflict and tension turn people who would normally be friends into enemies.
