Rating: 
Summary: Come on, Heather
Review: Whether or not the the main character in a book is sympathetic has no reflection on the quality of the book itself; if the author bothers to indulge in "beautiful descriptions," obviously they ARE important or integral to the story, and any belief otherwise is simply due to a lack of perception or depth of understanding on behalf of the reader/reviewer. I found "Welcome to Heavenly Heights" to be an excellent, lyrical read, its characters and storlyine deeply insightful and educational. Miller's novel is one of depth and meaning, unlike much of the mediocre literature out there today. The "rave" is truly deserved.
Rating: 
Summary: A BOOK TO BE READ AND REMEMBERED
Review: While newscasters trumpet the latest statistics from one of the most vied for areas of the world, first time novelist Miller puts very human faces on an often misunderstood way of living. Her perceptions are astute, her prose meticulous, and her powers of observation remarkable.This is the story of a group of American Jews who leave the United States to make Aliyah - they go to Israel, to a settlement on the West Bank. It is the first year in their new home that Miller traces with artist's eye and abundant heart as she depicts a culture and a faith through their dinners, weddings, births, marriages, adjustments, and mikvahs. What must it be like, what motivates one to leave the comforts of America for a dangerous place where car and bus bombings are a daily occurrence? Couple that fear with an iffy water system, a tedious, sometimes blind bureaucracy, and construction that often would not pass inspection. It is a place where worship is familiar, but men bring guns to the shul. It is a land where the sound of dropping bombs echoes throughout. Yet, in the West Bank settlement of Heavenly Heights there can be heard the sound of laughter as friendships are forged and religious faith reigns supreme. Winner of a PEN New England Discovery Award for this unpublished manuscript, Miller is a deft writer who does a service by sharing the lives of these sturdy souls. "Welcome To Heavenly Heights" is a book to be read and remembered. - Gail Cooke
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