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For more reviews go to The Thomas Fisher Rare Books Library.
Weaving of all these
strands and layers together is seamless - just
like a Badu carpet!by Ron
Solloway, CBC
I've just emerged from the wonderful and
terrible worlds Malka Marom conjured up.
Marom's ability to combine so many disparate
elements without alienating the reader is
remarkable...stories and histories...people and
places...language and dialect...reality and
fantasy...not to mention all the conflicts,
jealousies and attitudes. The weaving of
all these strands and layers together is
seamless - just like a Badu carpet! There
are many scenes I know will persist in my
imagination (e.g. every encounter between Leora,
Azzizah and Tammam; the chilling and appalling
diatribe by Dorit; Tal's recollection of life on
the kibbutz). I can't find the words in
this inadequate language to express how much i
was moved, thrilled and informed.
Condensing "what it's about" into just a few
words, I'd begin by saying that it's about the
inevitable conflict between love and loyalty -
to the past, present and future; to people and
places; to family and friends.
I can think of only three contemporary novels
that have affected me so much and while
comparisons are invidious I can't help comparing
the effect of "Sulha" on me to the effect i felt
after reading "The Tin Drum", "the World
According to Garp" and Timothy Findley's "Famous
Last Words"
In the desert, Leora learns about the Bedouin way of life. She sees similarities
between their culture and the ancient tribes of Israel, and she ends up in the
middle of what threatens to become a blood feud. By itself, the plot is engaging.
But in Marom’s capable hands, all elements of the novel—plot, language,
characters, and themes—are wonderfully accomplished.
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