Book review: “If there’s heaven” by Ron Leshem
May 13th, 2006 at 8:33 amThis is a Hebrew book by an Israeli author. For some reason, the suggested English translation in the inside cover is “Beaufort” (the name of the fortress in this book), which I think is much less becoming than a direct translation of the Hebrew “im yesh gan eden” (If there’s heaven). Israeli publishing houses, it seems, suck not only in translating foreign titles to Hebrew, but in translating Hebrew titles to foreign languages as well. Uh oh…
This book is narrated by Erez - a lieutenant of the Israeli army during the occupation of southern Lebanon. He leads a group infantry protecting Beaufort - one of the most important outposts in the area, trying to prevent Hizbullah guerilla from bombing northern Israel.
Written in a very light and readable style this book is highly believable - the usage of slang is terrific, and the manner of talk between the soldiers feels very real. The dialogues and monologues uncover a difficult reality, in which young soldiers give their lives for the country, fighting and living in difficult conditions, watch their friends die or become mutilated, and wait for vacations home. The author conveys the mindset of the soldiers very well, and the book is at once funny and tragic, at times a random whirlwind of thoughts, expressing quite successfully what goes inside the head of Erez in difficult situations.
Besides the main story line, the author manages to squeeze in thoughts on politics, war, amazing friendship and love, making the book very satisfying overall. I really think it’s one of the best, if not the best Israeli book I have ever read. I highly recommend it, although I don’t think it’s easily translatable.
November 2nd, 2006 at 3:18 am
I started reading this book in hebrew, and what I am most amazed by is the sheer mass of homoerotic imagery, which is heavily emphasized (in a way) by large amounts of coarse and vulgar chauvinism. To say the truth, it actually does reflect a certain aspect of Israeli society - i.e. the part about the state of women in Israel, which is simply terrible, but that’s beside the point…
To some extent, these kind of things in the book, which seem to be just literary cliches, actually shed a rather realistic light on many aspects of Israeli society, and anyone considering immigrating should read something similar and see if they would like to live with such people and such attitudes on a day to day basis or if maybe its more fit as a brief “experience”. I’m not criticizing immgrants here, btw, just saying some of them really don’t realize what they’re getting into.
November 2nd, 2006 at 8:22 am
To “Israeli”: I think you are taking it a bit too far
January 25th, 2007 at 12:23 am
To “Israeli”: Are you really Israeli? It seems to me you have a very twisted look at the Israeli society…..
and you are missing the point of the book….
February 16th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
It is the best book I have ever read. I hope it will be translated to English soon.
May 2nd, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Sadly, it seems none of the posters on this blog have any kind of understanding on Israeli culture or the military’s culture and jargon. Unfortunately, the amount of Israeli’s who actually experienced the events described in the book is limited. I for one have, and I must say – this is as close as you’ll ever get to feeling what Israeli soldiers felt while in Lebanon. I recommend you all take a good look inside, know where you stand and thank god for what he has shown you and more so – what he has not, and then you can thank Ron Leshem for the scope and message he has conveyed.
Though fictional, it is the most factual document that so diligently describes the actual events, emotions and hardship we experienced in southern Lebanon.
December 24th, 2007 at 12:38 am
A fantastic book about a very tragic situation. well written, gripping and terrifying.
It describes the hardships of a few who protect so many, under horrific condtions. kudos to author Leshem. Yes, there is some vulgarity- but that’s life and particulalry under such difficult and dangerous circumstances.