The Blue Mountain: A Novel

I have never been to Israel. Know little of the enterprise set out here: the return of the exiled to the earth. So for some time in this tale I was lost. But then I was caught up in the lyrics, the twisting images and the oddly wrought characters. I was sorry to leave the village. Outstanding.

This is a lovely book, a pleasure to read and enjoy. Shalev is perhaps the finest of the current generation of Israeli authors, a natural storyteller with a deep knowledge of and love for Israel's language, land and people. I am trying to read everything of his that appears in English, and urge others to do the same.

The novel is a fictionalized series of vignettes based on early to mid-20th century pioneer life in Israel. Characters are of Eastern Europeans who migrated to Israel and came to found a farming village. The stories have the flavor of folktales with the characters represent personae of specific types rather than deeply drawn persons. The books incorporates historical events as they reflect in daily life of everymen or women in an agrarian Israeli Jewish society pre-independence. The Blue Mountain: A Novel

This book is interesting if a reader wants to know more about the beginnings of the state of Israel. The reader needs to study a chart of the characters and who is related to whom in order to follow the story. It is well written but hard to follow.

This is the first novel by Shalev that I have read. I have sent a copy as a gift to a dear cousin, and for myself ordered another novel by Shalev. I trust this will indicate how I feel about the novel.

Read this 3 times… beautifully written even for a translation!

I've never read a story like this. It has given me a deeper understanding of the pioneer period of Zionist settlement in Israel. Shalev presents a loving but critical vision of an agricultural community in Israel's great Valley -- and it explains the emergence of a whole new Jewish lifestyle in the ancient homeland. Elegant writing and an original story telling style. I'm charmed!

A GREAT NOVEL W ITH HUMOR I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT.!

Easy read. Very easy. It doesn't need a, review as such!

This is an extraordinary book depicting unusual places and people, all written in a language which please all senses. The unusual becomes enjoyed and understood.

This is one of the best novals I've read in recent years. Well recommend

Loved the way this book was written. Wonderfull descriptions; surreal in places but surprisingly easy to read despite the qurky style.

I found it sooo boring, not exciting not entertaining,