Maror

I was intrigued by the blurb; the author is new to me and I know relatively little about Israel. I was unaware of the symbolism in the title and cover art. Mayor is a bitter herb served as a reminder of the pain behind the Jewish exodus.

This is a complex multilayered novel in which the author explores numerous themes,not least the dark underbelly of Israel. One in which corruption, violence, prostitution and more thrives alongside the idealism of a new state. Cohen, a police officer touched by corruption in numerous ways, is the central character. The narrative is not chronological and his investigations are not always in Israel. This can make the story a little difficult follow, but it enables the author to move through some four decades of events following the end of the Six Day War in 1967. The story is a mix of fact, fiction and overall is an allegorical tale which examines the two very different faces of a new State. To what extent does the reality match the idealism and rhetoric of foundation?

I’ve struggled with the audio version. It’s incredibly complex and given the epic nature of the story, it’s one which rightly demands full attention. It’s littered with references to real people, but I’m sure I haven’t picked up on all of them and neither do I understand the Hebrew bits, for which there’s no translation. It’s certainly violent and graphic at times but overall, it’s one which deserves a wider audience. It raises many moral, ethical and political questions which are beyond my limited comprehension. That said, although it’s a challenging listen, I’m sure that a hard copy would be very rewarding. It would allow easy reference to bits that I didn’t fully understand and provide a platform for clarity around the people and subject matter. It’s a roller coaster book, very different to what I normally read, but that’s the excitement of exploring literature. Stick with it; it’s haunting and rewarding.