Lezersrecensie
Like a Mosaic
In ‘Apeirogon’, Irish author Colum McCann (1965) explores the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a work, despite praises and nominations, only won the prestigious ‘Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger’ in 2020. This review is based on the first edition published by Bloomsbury.
Comprising 463 pages divided into 1001 chapters, many of which remarkably short and some even only a sentence long, an image or even a blank space. The chapters ascend numerically and halfway through they descend, mirroring the rhythm of breathing. The silver-sheened cover features a swirl of birds in white and two birds in black; which could symbolize the two protagonists Rami Elhanan, an Israeli ex-soldier and graphic designer, and Bassam Aramin, who is a Palestinian scholar, or the daughters they have lost.Rami lost his daughter Smadar at an age of thirteen (almost fourteen) by a suicidebomber in 1997, while Bassam lost his daughter Abir at the age of ten by a shot from an Israeli border guard in 2007.
“The rim of a tightening lung.”
The West Bank is illustrated by the observations from Rami, riding his motorcycle homewards, that already shows the divided land, revealing areas that are solely for Isrealis and others for Palestines, while rarely there are areas for both. Crossing the areas necessitates permits or IDs. The story fluidly shifts between Rami, his time of service in the army and life after, and Bassam, his time in prison and the life after, with the use of thoughts, pasts, current life, and their grief. Also of the wives, Nurit (Rami’s) and Salwa (Bassam’s), and the children are told how they handle the grief. Through Rami the struggle with how Israelis act is told, while through Bassam the struggle of living in the West Bank. Through both is told how fear is used, with images of the Holocaust, but also the random shooting of e.g. water tanks from Palestines. During the story there is a lot of information about the landscape, stories about and quotes from other authors, news, speeches and history.
“If you divide death by life you will find a circle.”
Colum McCann wrote the story like a mosaic, using short chapters and nothing chronically, and laying the pieces together so that it becomes a whole picture. Although the style McCann uses seems chaotic at first, it adds to the uneasy feeling the story gives. Sometimes McCann repeats a sentence from earlier to make a point more clear that is told later, or that it is related. Throughout, the story McCann maintains a neutral stance, the sorrow and grief from Rami and Bassam seep through the pages, and he tells it heard from Rami and Bassam. Also McCann used his own observations when he travelled in the MIddle East.
“And we think the myths are startling.”
From the opening pages it is already heartbreaking, becoming increasingly devastating when the story unfolds, offering no respite. This information-rich book contains well-known and unfamiliar details, providing a portrayal of the realities in the Middle East. Not a book that needs to be read once, but multiple readings, preferably once a year.
Comprising 463 pages divided into 1001 chapters, many of which remarkably short and some even only a sentence long, an image or even a blank space. The chapters ascend numerically and halfway through they descend, mirroring the rhythm of breathing. The silver-sheened cover features a swirl of birds in white and two birds in black; which could symbolize the two protagonists Rami Elhanan, an Israeli ex-soldier and graphic designer, and Bassam Aramin, who is a Palestinian scholar, or the daughters they have lost.Rami lost his daughter Smadar at an age of thirteen (almost fourteen) by a suicidebomber in 1997, while Bassam lost his daughter Abir at the age of ten by a shot from an Israeli border guard in 2007.
“The rim of a tightening lung.”
The West Bank is illustrated by the observations from Rami, riding his motorcycle homewards, that already shows the divided land, revealing areas that are solely for Isrealis and others for Palestines, while rarely there are areas for both. Crossing the areas necessitates permits or IDs. The story fluidly shifts between Rami, his time of service in the army and life after, and Bassam, his time in prison and the life after, with the use of thoughts, pasts, current life, and their grief. Also of the wives, Nurit (Rami’s) and Salwa (Bassam’s), and the children are told how they handle the grief. Through Rami the struggle with how Israelis act is told, while through Bassam the struggle of living in the West Bank. Through both is told how fear is used, with images of the Holocaust, but also the random shooting of e.g. water tanks from Palestines. During the story there is a lot of information about the landscape, stories about and quotes from other authors, news, speeches and history.
“If you divide death by life you will find a circle.”
Colum McCann wrote the story like a mosaic, using short chapters and nothing chronically, and laying the pieces together so that it becomes a whole picture. Although the style McCann uses seems chaotic at first, it adds to the uneasy feeling the story gives. Sometimes McCann repeats a sentence from earlier to make a point more clear that is told later, or that it is related. Throughout, the story McCann maintains a neutral stance, the sorrow and grief from Rami and Bassam seep through the pages, and he tells it heard from Rami and Bassam. Also McCann used his own observations when he travelled in the MIddle East.
“And we think the myths are startling.”
From the opening pages it is already heartbreaking, becoming increasingly devastating when the story unfolds, offering no respite. This information-rich book contains well-known and unfamiliar details, providing a portrayal of the realities in the Middle East. Not a book that needs to be read once, but multiple readings, preferably once a year.
5
2
Reageer op deze recensie
Meer recensies van André (AvdP85)
Gesponsord
Als rechercheur Emmy Clifton de verdwijning van twee tienermeisjes onderzoekt, realiseert ze zich dat ze hen nooit écht heeft gekend. Schrijf je nu in voor de Hebban Leesclub.
Als François de bewusteloze, mysterieuze Elsa aantreft, besluit hij haar te verzorgen. Geleidelijk aan geven ze hun geheimen aan elkaar bloot. Schrijf je nu in voor de Hebban Leesclub.
