The Ascent of Eli Israel: And Other Stories

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: The Ascent of Eli Israel is a vivid, disturbing, haunting, sometimes hilarious trip through the looking glass of modern Israel. The aftermath of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin is painted in vivid colors, as the Oslo Peace Records crumble, as suicide bombs explode in the streets of Jerusalem and ghostly Arabs appear, claiming the right to return to their former homes. Papernick brings the reader to a nightmare world of clashing national myths, in which both sides claim to have God on their side; to a world where the Messiah might appear at any moment to settle the score. These stories are not political stories, however. Papernick refuses to choose sides, to provide easy answers leaving readers to puzzle out their feelings. This is one of the best collections of short stories I have read in years. It stands not only as a great work about Israel and the workings of the Middle East, but also as a great work of fiction. The Ascent of Eli Israel is Papernick's first book. I can't wait to read his next.

Rating:
Summary: Horrible
Review: This book was one of the worst I've ever read. I had to drag myself through it. You might consider skimming through it in a local bookstore before buying it.

Rating:
Summary: Vivid, fascinating collection
Review: This stunning collection of stories leaves the reader transformed. Papernick's vivid prose is laced with visions and nightmares, beauty and blood, laughter and nausea, music and gunfire. Fascinating characters, at odds with themselves, seek to change an unfathomable land and instead find they are the ones altered.