The Lemon Tree

A highly readable account of the situation in Palestine/Israel. While it does not necessarily require extensive knowledge of the area, a little prior information would help. Also could serve as the next step to people who want to move beyond textbooks to something a little more human. It does an amazing job of condensing the history of a troubled region into a more moving account than a textbook could hope for.

The way Tolan blends the two stories together keeps the reader on edge. Every event shows the two sides and their reactions. As events unfold the characters become even more dear to the reader's heart. The Israeli's come out with a bit of a bad image at parts, but these parts are countered with the Palestinian reaction. The story shows how the back-and-forth retaliation violence has escalated. It recounts the events from the beginning of the Zionist movement right up to near present-day. Tolan shows these events through the eyes of a recently displaced family which has lived in Palestine for generations. He also shows it through the eyes of a family which is struggling for a place to call home after centuries of displacement.

Overall a highly good read. Recommended for people interested in the area and those just wanting to enjoy a good book.