The Debba
by Avner Mandelman
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Description
In Middle East lore the Debba is a mythical Arab hyena that can turn into a man who lures Jewish children away from their families to teach them the language of the beasts. To the Arabs he is a heroic national symbol; to the Jews he is a terrorist. To David Starkman, "The Debba" is a controversial play, written by his father the war hero, and performed only once, in Haifa in 1946, causing a massive riot. By 1977, David is living in Canada, having renounced his Israeli citizenship and show more withdrawn from his family, haunted by persistent nightmares about his catastrophic turn as a military assassin for Israel. Upon learning of his father's gruesome murder, he returns to his homeland for what he hopes will be the final time. Back in Israel, David discovers that his father's will demands he stage the play within forty-five days of his death, and though he is reluctant to comply, the authorities' evident relief at his refusal convinces him he must persevere. With his father's legacy on the line, David is forced to reimmerse himself in a life he thought he'd escaped for good.The heart-stopping climax shows that nothing in Israel is as it appears, and not only are the sins of the fathers revisited upon the sons, but so are their virtues--and the latter are more terrible still. Disguised as a breathtaking thriller, Avner Mandelman's novel reveals Israel's double soul, its inherent paradoxes, and its taste for both art and violence. The riddle of the Debba--the myth, the play, and the novel-- is nothing less than the tangled riddle of Israel itself. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
I'm really glad I read this one. It's a decent mystery/thriller (quite a few twists & turns & there are plenty of various military/police/secret ops groups in here!), but more interesting to me are the history/questions/issues it raises about Israelis & Palestinians -- from the 1940s through the 1970s (when the book is set). I'd definitely recommend it if you are interested in the history & politics of the area. The book also fit in nicely with my Banned Books reading as it revolves around a controversial play that is to be staged & the various efforts made to quash the production of the play.
Action-packed story of an Israeli who gives up his citizenship, moves to Canada and returns to Israel after his father dies to fulfill a wish of his father. The complex tale is told with suspense and skillful writing and the reader is caught up in the story almost immediately. I really enjoyed this book. Mandelman is an excellent writer with a highly creative imagination whose knowledge of Israeli-Palestinian politics enriches this novel and turns it into a compelling murder mystery. Don't miss reading this!
It didn't click with me this time (I couldn't stay interested in the preparations to stage the play) , but I will definitely try again at a later date. Haven't read much fiction set in modern-day Israel and this one has a unique flavor.
This is an awful book. Pass it by. It's a muddled tale of woe and deceit. I struggled to finish it in order to findout the identity of the murderer.
Ratings
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Published Reviews
ThingScore 100
Mandelman...has written a first-rate debut novel that tackles current issues in the Arab-Israeli conflict while revealing the paradoxes of Israeli life for those who embrace the arts yet must deal with violence on a daily basis.
added by bell7
Author Information
5+ Works 159 Members
Awards and Honors
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2010
- People/Characters
- David Starkman
- Important places
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Tel Aviv, Israel
- Dedication
- To my parents—and to A.
- First words
- Men in my family have always left their place of birth. (Prologue)
It was in Toronto in 1977, seven years after I had last seen him, that I learned of my father's murder. (Chapter 1)
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Suspense & Thriller, Historical Fiction
- DDC/MDS
- 813.54 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English 1900-1999 1945-1999
- LCC
- PR9199.3 .M34814 .D33 — Language and Literature English English Literature English literature: Provincial, local, etc.
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 82
- Popularity
- 387,852
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.54)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 2
