Reaview of Almost Dead in Washington

Jewish Week
August 12, 2010

Washington Jewish Week

August 12, 2010 Thursday
A slice of Israeli life
by Rabbi Rachel Esserman
The political and social situation in Israel is far more complex than usually
portrayed in the American Jewish media. To understand the workings of Israeli
society, one must accept a multitude of conflicting viewpoints. For many Israelis
including the younger generation of novelists politics, religion and social
customs cannot be understood in terms of black and white.
Almost Dead shows not only how the writers understand the Israeli psyche, but
are able to empathize with those on the other side of the Israeli-Palestinian
question. It reveals a slice of Israeli life few Americans ever see.
Almost Dead is a brilliant black comedy that not only manages to poke humor at
the situation in Israel, but also reveals the heartbreaking conditions hidden below
the surface. Alternating chapters of the novel focus on two characters: Eitan
Croc Einoch and Fahmi Sabih.
Einoch, a 30-something businessman, becomes the focus of media attention after
he survives several terrorist attacks. His life is unsettled even before the attacks:
Hes debating immigrating to the United States, his girlfriend and he are unable
to talk about rescheduling the date of their wedding and his work at a time
management firm no longer sustains him.
Instead of rejoicing at his survival, he becomes obsessed with learning about a
stranger he met minutes before the first bombing. His quest for an answer takes
him to Jerusalem, where he lives through two other acts of terrorism, first an
ambush on the road and then a bombing in a cafe.

The publicity surrounding his survival infuriates those responsible for the
attacks, making him a symbol for both sides of the conflict, one the terrorists
want to destroy.
While Einochs sections follow chronological order, Sabihs are less focused,
moving forward and backward through time. It takes a few pages for his situation
to become clear: He is in a coma in a Jewish hospital, which is surrounded by
protesters demanding he be taken off life support. The young Palestinian tries to
remember the events before his arrival, thinking back on his life, including his
decision to leave the village home he shared with his father and sister, and join
his brother in a Palestinian refugee camp.
These two sides of his family struggle for his soul, leaving him wondering
whether he should forget about the home lost to the Israelis and the treatment
that led to the death of his mother, or fight with his brother, using terror against
those they consider their oppressors. As the novel progresses, it becomes clear
that Sabih and Einoch will meet, but the circumstances are hidden from view
until the suspensefilled ending.
What is impressive about Almost Dead is that Gavron has created two believable
and sympathetic characters. These are not straw men written only to espouse
political dogma, but rather complex individuals who have serious doubts about
the paths their lives follow. The author shows how they, and others, are caught in
situations beyond their control, how each side mistrusts the other and how some
on both sides refuse to compromise.
Yet for most of the novel, the humor is predominant, sometimes causing this
reader to laugh out loud an amazing trick for such a difficult subject. Then,
during the final section, the suspense increases, turning the black comedy into a
page-turning thriller as readers wait for the inevitable meeting of the two men.
The rush of emotion experienced at the novels conclusion was unexpected, but is
just another indication of the works remarkable qualities.