Ester's Child

Rating:
Summary: I guarentee: You'll be hooked!
Review: ...This is a compelling story of three families, Palestinian, Jewish, and German, whose lives are intertwined during the events leading up to and following the foundation of the state of Israel.

The book begins with a sweet love story between Ester Stein, the daughter of strictly religious Polish Jews, and Joseph Gale, the son of non-practicing French Jews. It is a sprawling history, spanning cultures, generations and several countries. Before the book is over Sasson has led us through Israel/Palestine, France, Poland, Jordan, Lebanon, and the United States.

I was impressed with Sasson's ability to tell a compassionate and often joyful tale without hedging around the very difficult issues surrounding the creation of the Israeli state. She never shies away from the devastating terrors and tragedy of war, nor does she forget the humanity and suffering of fighters on both sides of any conflict. The story raises many challenging questions, and Sasson never lets the reader off with easy answers.

There is no obvious right or wrong, only human beings locked in a painful and complicated struggle. Sasson's vast knowledge of Arab and Jewish history is impressive. As we are drawn into the lives of Palestinian refugees, Jewish holocaust survivors, and the families of German Nazis, she gives insight into the roots of a struggle that is still escalating.

Ester's Child is an engaging read, a book that can open your mind and your heart. ...

Rating:
Summary: The best book of 2001
Review: I am an avid reader, reading at least one book a week, along with numerous magazines and newspapers. After 9/11, I wanted to know EVERYTHING about every reason listed telling us why certain Muslims feel they have a valid reason to attack America and Americans. I searched to find various books on the issue of Jews/Arabs and this book caught my attention. The current violence in Israel led me to buy ESTER'S CHILD by Jean Sasson. As I read this book, I was astonished at how little I really knew about the Jews & Palestinians who live in Israel. Why is this not taught in school? It creates such understanding to know the history of this age-old conflict, yet Jean Sasson teaches history in the most interesting manner--in the pages of a well-written and wonderfully compassionate book--without even trying.

Honestly, I cannot believe that this book is not required reading in high schools and universities. This is the kind of book that gets young people to reading!!! Young people are going to be running governments in just a few years and they need to know how people FEEL who live these events...

Wake up world! We must understand the history of these conflicts before we can stop them!!!

After reading this book, I felt compelled to buy everything by this author and I am starting PRINCESS when I finish this review.

I now have a new "favorite" author, JEAN SASSON.

Thank you Jean for this extremely compelling book... I encourage every one who reads this review to buy this book, absorb this book. You will be glad that you did...

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding in every way
Review: I stayed up two nights reading this book. It is that compelling. And, I wanted to know the underlying factors for the ongoing war between Sharon and Arafat in the Middle East.

This books tells it all--the good and the bad. It seems to be a historical fiction that the author researched throughly. I was a little surprised at her ability to write fiction so well--as I had known her to be an excellent author of non-fiction (Princess books).

If you want to discover the source of the troubles in the Middle East, you might want to pick up this book and have a read. You will come away with a lot of new knowledge, yet will be touched by the lives of the people Jean Sasson highlights.

My favorite characters were the little baker Amin and the gorgeous and kind-hearted Demetrius.

I wish every American would read this book. I would like to start a dialogue about the current situation that I fear is going to lead to a world war. This book is soothing and makes people think about the lives of their enemies.

Rating:
Summary: Jean Sasson is remarkable
Review: I've read Jean Sasson's other exemplary works of non-fiction and was a little worried about her ability to adapt to fiction. I should not have been. While Ester's Child is a fictional tale of hope and perseverance for both a Jewish and Palestinian family, it is the historically accurate setting that I found most impressive. Nobody else has even attempted to broach the subject of Israeli and Palestinian interaction in such an even and unbiased fashion. Bill O'Reilly says, "We report, you decide" and that is was Jean has done so well within a story that is fictional.

There can be no basis for terroristic acts to achieve one's ends and the few that perform these acts hurt so much the cause that much greater numbers of Palestinians would rather achieve through peaceful means. I can tell that Jean must have associated with and spent a lot of time with people on both sides of this issue. This book ought to be the first textbook used in educational classes trying to study their dissention.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Portrayal of the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict!
Review: Jean Sasson's debut historical novel, Ester's Child, is truly "a searing drama you'll never forget". Her three years of research paid off. It is a must read for all and is quite timely as conflict continues to brew in the Holy Land.

Sasson bought a new understanding to an ancient and complex situation. By using a German, an Arab and a Jewish family she cleverly presented three sides. Her characters are multi-dimensional and very convincing. I found myself wanting to meet them. They are all greatly missed. They continue to be with me as I read the newspaper about the conflict. Her novel put faces on all of the people we see in the news and read about in the newspaper.

Sasson wrote with sensitivity and compassion. It is clear that she has an obvious love for the people in her novel.

With a college degree in history I seek out historical fiction. Ester's Child is a new all time favorite read. I believed it was impossible for her to surpass the Princess trilogy, but she did (and I still strongly recommend them, also).

With great anticipation I look forward to Sasson's next novel!

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Portrayal of the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict!
Review: Jean Sasson's debut historical novel, ESTER'S CHILD, is truly "a searing drama you'll never forget". Her three years of research paid off. It is very timely as the conflict continues to brew in the Holy Land.

Sasson brought a new understanding to an ancient and complex situation. By using a German, an Arab and a Jewish family she cleverly presented three sides to the conflict. The characters are multi-dimensional and convincing. It would be hard to select a favorite character. They are all missed! Now as I follow the news on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict the people have names and faces.

Sasson wrote with sensitivity and compassion. It is clear that she has an obvious love for the people in her novel. ESTER'S CHILD touched all of my emotions while it increased my knowledge.

As a history major in college I seek out historical fiction. ESTER'S CHILD is a new all time favorite read.

After reading ESTER'S CHILD and the Princess trilogy I will purchase and read every book Sasson publishes. With great anticipation I look forward to her next book! I am truly hooked!

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Portrayal of the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict!
Review: Jean Sasson's debut historical novel, Ester's Child, is truly "a searing drama you'll never forget". Her three years of research paid off. It is a must read for all and is quite timely as conflict continues to brew in the Holy Land.

Sasson bought a new understanding to an ancient and complex situation. By using a German, an Arab and a Jewish family she cleverly presented three sides. Her characters are multi-dimensional and very convincing. I found myself wanting to meet them. They are all greatly missed. They continue to be with me as I read the newspaper about the conflict. Her novel put faces on all of the people we see in the news and read about in the newspaper.

Sasson wrote with sensitivity and compassion. It is clear that she has an obvious love for the people in her novel.

With a college degree in history I seek out historical fiction. Ester's Child is a new all time favorite read. I believed it was impossible for her to surpass the Princess trilogy, but she did (and I still strongly recommend them, also).

With great anticipation I look forward to Sasson's next novel!

Rating:
Summary: I guarentee: You'll be hooked!
Review: Once you get past about 10 pages, you'll be HOOKED and this is a promise.

ESTER'S CHILD portrays the reality of LIFE in war. Sasson focuses on the MIDDLE EAST, and in particular Lebanon and Israel. As a once-upon-a-time aid worker in the Middle East, I was astonished at how vividly Sasson described the reality of life for people living in refugee camps. I would have believed her a refugee if I didn't know better.

The way she weaved her story with the three families took my breath away. This is just a page-turner and there is no other way to describe this book. If you have an interest in the ongoing drama of Israel and Palestine, and you like stories with HEART, then this is a good choice for you...

I'm a little baffled by a comment made from the Hong Kong reader who was disturbed by the good looks of some of the characters. Hong Kong thought every character was a looker. Actually, the book is filled with many characters who are ordinary and even plain. Joseph Gale's sister is plain. The little baker is plain. The parents of Demetrius and his friend Walid are plain. I think "Honk Kong" a bit unfair in this observation because it is clearly not true. However, the main characters, Demetrius, Jordan, Christine, and Michel as well as the Jewish parents, Joseph and Ester Gale, are very attractive. Two very attractive people generally have good-looking kids. If you take a count of good looks vs plain looks, it is about 50/50, which is about the same as normal life...

Don't let the good looks of the main characters distress you! The book is outstanding and clearly worth a look. You'll be hooked!

Rating:
Summary: Best Book About Israel/Palestine
Review: There are so many awful things going on in the world today . . . and the violence in the middle east has me particularly sad and frustrated. Despite keeping up with various news publications over the years, I have long wanted to REALLY understand the people and history related to all of the unrest. This book gives a face to the people of the middle east and touches your heart in a deep and personal way that leaves you yearning to learn and know more. The characters are developed against an accurate historical background that the author has obviously thoroughly researched. I highly recommend Jean Sasson's artful and riveting portrayal of interaction among the Palestinians, Jews and Arabs over time. It is a story that changed forever how I read and interpret the daily news. I know longer see the conflict in the middle east as war among people I do not know, but rather dear friends I yearn to help find a way back to peace.