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Reviews Of A Wall Of Light
A
thoughtful and heartfelt novelistic meditation on Israel's past and
present…like the great Israeli novelist Amos Oz, Ravel employs the
contemporary family unit as the ideal metaphor for the Jewish state...
Ravel is impressive for her willingness to say in unadorned language
what she so powerfully feels… The Vronskys are finally heroic because
they make the best of a variety of bad situations, and the book goes so
far as to hope that Israelis and Palestinians, working together, can do
the same… This is an idealistic vision, but not a naive one. Ravel
recognizes the cynicism and anger felt by those who have suffered, and
her valuable novel offers the simple wish that they will feel love, too
– for each other and for life itself. ~ The Globe
and Mail, Toronto
The
first installment in a trilogy, [Ten Thousand Lovers] knocked me out.
As did Guelph-based Ravel's second novel, Look For Me. She completes
the trilogy with the Giller-nominated A Wall of Light… [the novel is]
about Israel, Ravel's often frustrating, always dangerous, but much
beloved country. Each of Ravel's novels in the trio can be read alone.
Still, while they are only vaguely linked, one builds upon the other
until the whole is a rich tapestry of what life is like in a country
called Israel. ~ Sun Times, Ontario
A
Wall of Light, establishes Ravel as an original writer with a unique
perspective on Israel, the place of her birth... Ravel has a knack for
crisp and direct dialogue, and Sonya's observations are poetic and
perceptive... In this modern-day fairy tale, instead of a wicked witch,
evil takes the form of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territory,
with its endless cycles of violence and retribution. Ravel… skillfully
juxtaposes the incompetence and stupidity that this situation engenders
with genuine acts of love: the unexpected kindness of a stranger, the
loyalty of a friend, the generosity of a newfound lover. ~ Canadian Press
Skillfully
juggling the weight of the multi-layered past with the bright intensity
of the present, Ravel has written a book that shimmers with suspense,
mystery and wit. Tell your friends. ~ Toronto
Star
Ravel
is writer of considerable energy and sensitivity whose central concern
is the human tolerance, resilience and compassion required to find love
in a war zone. Her central character is likeable and in various ways
inspiring; her novel combines personal drama with political allegory in
a masterful way. ~ Age, Melbourne, Australia
The
last of a trilogy (after Ten Thousand Lovers, 2003, etc.) portrays the
emerging character of Israel through the relatively low-key,
emotionally limpid diary entries of three characters from different
generations… Handling a tricky juxtaposition of three disparate lives
with grace and wit, Ravel shows her characters forging a country out of
trauma." ~ Kirkus
Like
its predecessors, this concluding volume focuses on the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the toll it takes on human lives and
especially on relationships. Here, however, the three narrators weave
the story together most effectively, showing that while war is a
destructive force, love is powerful as well. Ravel writes poignantly
about survival and hope in the midst of tragedy. Recommended for all
libraries. ~ Library Journal
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