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The Almond Tree
Michelle Cohen Corasanti
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Description for The Almond Tree
Paperback. .
Gifted with a mind that continues to impress the elders in his village, Ichmad Hamid struggles with the knowledge that he can do nothing to save his friends and family. Living on Occupied land, his entire village operates in constant 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 ... Read morehis poor and dying family. In doing so he reclaims a love for others that was lost through a childhood rife with violence, and discovers a new hope for the future. Show Less
Product Details
Publisher
Garnet Publishing Ltd United Kingdom
Place of Publication
Reading, United Kingdom
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 4 to 8 working days
About Michelle Cohen Corasanti
Michelle Cohen Corasanti has a BA from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a MA from Harvard University, both in Middle Eastern Studies.She also holds a law degree. A Jewish American, she has lived in France, Spain, Egypt and England, and spent seven years living in Israel. She currently lives in New York with her family. The Almond Tree is ... Read moreher first novel. Show Less
Reviews for The Almond Tree
With the onset of adulthood, one already must cope with so much. The Almond Tree follows the struggles of young Ichmad Hamid as his family is lose to strife, imprisonment, and everything they hold dear. The twelve year old learns it may be on him to use his limited talents to help his family and bring back something ... Read moreof a life. The Almond Tree is a strong addition to coming of age fiction collections, highly recommended. The Almond Tree , intelligent, never over stated and written with love, informs and educates it reminds us that there could be a better way to share this land and that if you allow intellect to blossom only good will come from it. Michelle Corasanti's profound and finely crafted debut novel tells the story of one man, Ichmad Hamid, from his humble beginnings as a scared and helpless child in an occupied village through to his inspirational rise to power and influence. This intimate tale of love and loss and awareness shines a greater understanding of the personal toll of the ongoing Israeli Palestinian conflict. beautifully written and exhibits an inherent knowledge of life in theOccupied Palestinian Territories and Gaza. Corasanti's elaboration of history and fiction has created a touching narration which ensnares the reader fromthe first chapter. Michelle has captured the pain, the sense of betrayal, the daily life, and the spirit of triumph that is ultimately an accurate portrayal of the Palestinians. Her instrument is fiction but her powerful prose and compelling characters raises The Almond Tree to the status of epic the heroic story of a people just like us. So how will Americans be able to put on those shoes and see through those eyes? By engaging in loud debate? Vociferous argument? Lengthy lectures? Probably not. Sometimes it takes a small thing, something unforeseen, to open eyes and galvanize opinion. How about a good story? Yes, a good story. Here's one: a novel entitled The Almond Tree. The first novel of a Jewish New Yorker, Michelle Cohen Corasanti, an epic drama of the proportions of The Kite Runner, but set in Palestine. A story that grabs you from the first page and makes your heart go out to the Palestinians without pointing fingers at anyone. An adventure that brings you into the magical world that travelers once crossed on horseback or camel towards Beirut, Amman or Cairo. A land where for centuries Christians, Muslims and Jews shared their traditions. Where the children inherited the land, generation after generation, and the clans stayed together. Where courage was not the absence of fear, but the absence of selfishness. Where children learned a fundamental principle of life: decency. Spanning six turbulent decades, The Almond Tree follows Ichmad, a gifted Palestinian boy from a small rural village, on a journey of painful enlightenment as he seeks to keep his family together while trying to make sense of the violent conflict that surrounds him. When he encounters hardships and obstacles, Ichamd must learn to respond without hatred and understand that soldiers are only human beings and that war is merely politics. This novel is not a political lecture, but a gripping and compassionate work of fiction that puts the reader in those shoes that Obama spoke of. If Americans can find the time to read this novel, I believe they will be inspired to ask questions and do research. The next time they watch CBS, FOX, NBC or CNN, instead of anonymous refugees or 'terrorists, ' they will see the faces of mothers with children, grandparents with grandchildren, parents with brothers. People going to work, returning from school, shopping in the market. People who can't pick the oranges from their own trees because the Israeli military have blocked them off. Students who can't accept their scholarships to Harvard or Yale because Israeli authorities don't allow them to leave Gaza. And then, those same Americans who have been silent and unaware will demand justice and peace. Because this wonderful story is not about being anti-Israel, but about helping Israel to live in peace with its Palestinians brothers and sisters. Through The Almond Tree we can step into the shoes of the Palestinians. Then, we will begin to see, with our own eyes, a glimmer of hope in solving a conflict that weighs so much on us all. The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti is not the definitive Palestinian narrative, rather, it is the story of one Palestinian and his family. It is a work of fiction, but many of the incidents are based on things that really happened to the residents of Israeli Arab villages and the Gaza Strip. This is Ichmad s story, told in a manner that strongly resembles the voice and narrative used by Khaled Hosseini in his popular novel, The Kite Runner. This will not be easy reading for Israelis and Jews elsewhere, but it should be required reading. The pain and suffering described are that of the Palestinian protagonist. The victims of Palestinian terrorism are not mentioned because they play no role in Ichmad s life. The narrative is clearly one-sided, but it is a side that is unknown to the Israeli public. Any chances of reconciliation and peaceful relations between Israelis and Palestinians depend on hearing and understanding what has taken place on the other side, and this is true in both directions. The Almond Tree, intelligent, never over stated and written with love, informs and educates it reminds us that there could be a better way to share this land and that if you allow intellect to blossom only good will come from it. Corasanti's accomplished debut novel offers a humanistic look into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict...Sensitive, moving...a complex novel as necessary as ever.
Kirkus Reviews Michelle Corasanti's profound and finely crafted debut novel tells the story of one man, Ichmad Hamid, from his humble beginnings as a scared and helpless child in an occupied village through to his inspirational rise to power and influence. This intimate tale of love and loss and awareness shines a greater understanding of the personal toll of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Marcy Dermansky, author, Bad Marie ...beautifully written and exhibits an inherent knowledge of life in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Gaza. Corasanti's elaboration of history and fiction has created a touching narration which ensnares the reader from the first chapter.
Middle East Monitor Having just finished reading The Almond Tree by new author Michelle Cohen Corasanti, I can honestly state that it is one of the most riveting books I have read during the past several months. Corasanti takes a realistic premise and builds an interesting and highly believable story that only gets better as the pages fly by. While The Almond Tree is a fictional tale, much of it is based on the truth of what is today's world, and as such there is also an important message located within. I highly recommend this book.
Charline Ratcliff at Rebecca's Reads With the onset of adulthood, one already must cope with so much. The Almond Tree follows the struggles of young Ichmad Hamid as his family is lose to strife, imprisonment, and everything they hold dear. The twelve year old learns it may be on him to use his limited talents to help his family and bring back something of a life. The Almond Tree is a strong addition to coming of age fiction collections, highly recommended. The Midwest Book Review. If this is too long, you can start with The Almond Tree is a strong addition until the end. - Helen Dumount, MBR Bookwatch January 2013 issue I predict (The Almond Tree) will become one of the biggest bestsellers of the decade...an epic drama of the proportions of The Kite Runner... A story that grabs you from the first page...This novel is not a political lecture, but a gripping and compassionate work of fiction. Huffington Post, Spanish TV and Radio Host Guillermo Fesser Corasanti's tale of resilience, hope and forgiveness is a must-read both for those who are stumbling through the Israeli-Palestinian minefield for the first time, and others who know its sorrows all too well.
Washington Report on the Middle East ... a Kite-Runner-like epic of Palestinian life... makes you aware of what it's like to exist under Israeli rule...told in a manner that strongly resembles the voice and narrative used by Khaled Hosseini in his popular novel, The Kite Runner...A Palestinian Tale Told by a Jewish American...Although possibly difficult for Israelis and Jews everywhere to read, The Almond Tree should be required reading for all as when there is understanding of the other side, peace can be achieved.
The Times of Israel Corasanti s accomplished debut novel offers a humanistic look into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Sensitive, moving a complex novel as necessary as ever.
Kirkus Reviews Michelle Corasanti's profound and finely crafted debut novel tells the story of one man, Ichmad Hamid, from his humble beginnings as a scared and helpless child in an occupied village through to his inspirational rise to power and influence. This intimate tale of love and loss and awareness shines a greater understanding of the personal toll of the ongoing Israeli Palestinian conflict.
Marcy Dermansky, author, Bad Marie beautifully written and exhibits an inherent knowledge of life in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Gaza. Corasanti's elaboration of history and fiction has created a touching narration which ensnares the reader from the first chapter.
Middle East Monitor Having just finished reading The Almond Tree by new author Michelle Cohen Corasanti, I can honestly state that it is one of the most riveting books I have read during the past several months. Corasanti takes a realistic premise and builds an interesting and highly believable story that only gets better as the pages fly by. While The Almond Tree is a fictional tale, much of it is based on the truth of what is today's world, and as such there is also an important message located within. I highly recommend this book.
Charline Ratcliff at Rebecca's Reads With the onset of adulthood, one already must cope with so much. The Almond Tree follows the struggles of young Ichmad Hamid as his family is lose to strife, imprisonment, and everything they hold dear. The twelve year old learns it may be on him to use his limited talents to help his family and bring back something of a life. The Almond Tree is a strong addition to coming of age fiction collections, highly recommended. The Midwest Book Review. If this is too long, you can start with The Almond Tree is a strong addition until the end. Helen Dumount, MBR Bookwatch January 2013 issue I predict (The Almond Tree) will become one of the biggest bestsellers of the decade an epic drama of the proportions of The Kite Runner A story that grabs you from the first page This novel is not a political lecture, but a gripping and compassionate work of fiction. Huffington Post, Spanish TV and Radio Host Guillermo Fesser Corasanti's tale of resilience, hope and forgiveness is a must-read both for those who are stumbling through the Israeli-Palestinian minefield for the first time, and others who know its sorrows all too well.
Washington Report on the Middle East a Kite-Runner-like epic of Palestinian life makes you aware of what it s like to exist under Israeli rule told in a manner that strongly resembles the voice and narrative used by Khaled Hosseini in his popular novel, The Kite Runner A Palestinian Tale Told by a Jewish American Although possibly difficult for Israelis and Jews everywhere to read, The Almond Tree should be required reading for all as when there is understanding of the other side, peace can be achieved.
The Times of Israel Show Less
