The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti

On The Jacket –

The Almond Tree is an epic novel, a drama of the proportions of The Kite Runner, but set in Palestine. A beauty..I predict it will become one of the biggest best sellers of the decade. Huffington Post.

Michelle Cohen Corasanti delivers a universal story of human courage and perseverance in her debut novel, The Almond Tree. Beginning in a small rural village, a young boy named Ichmad comes of age from the 1950’s to 2010 in a journey of enlightenment and understanding of the climate that surrounds him.

The Almond Tree is an inspirational story of unfathomable pain and an incredible perseverance. The Almond Tree humanizes a culture and brings characters from a distant land to life, with a family united by love but divided by their personal beliefs. From Ichmad’s staunchly traditional and at times overbearing mother, to his father who believes in the power of education, the crux of the family’s story lies in the growing dispute between two brothers who choose very different paths in order to create a new future.

The Almond Tree brings humanity and clarity to the Arab-Israeli conflict and reveals themes of redemption and family sacrifice. Michelle Cohen Corasanti’s personal experience of living in Israel for seven years while attending high school and obtaining her undergraduate degree in Middle Eastern studies from the Hebrew University lends her the perspective, insight and ability to shed new light on a controversial history. The Almond Tree showcases the resilience of the human spirit and brings forth a message of the necessity of education and a plan for peace in the conflict.

Now, Review Time –

The Almond Tree is about Protagonist Ahmed Hamid. This story is set in Palestinian which takes place over the course of around fifty years. I strongly had an urge to read this book when I read on cover that this book can be one of the bestsellers of the decade. This book catch your attention from the very first page and will stay with you till the last page. It is a book of fiction, but it is set in the real world, and it will open your eyes and it will show life, in a part of the world that many of us are unfamiliar with.

This story is dramatic, heartbreaking and frustrating at places but that’s what which keeps you hooked till the last page. And I loved this part about book. Conversation part is awesome and this is what takes book one level higher. This book will redefine what loss and guilt means. One of the things I liked the most about this book is how many perspectives it offered. Author has captured the pain, the sense of betrayal, the daily life, perfectly. This book is my personal favorite.

Book is divided in short chapters which made book easy read. One can read it in breaks without getting bore. This book is like addiction. Once you’ve done reading it, you would like to read few parts over and over again. Author’s writing style is magical. The best part of the book is narration. The Almond Tree is an inspirational and beautifully written story. This is one of the best book I have read in recent times. I would like to rate this book 5/5. The Almond Tree stand highly recommended by Read In Park. It definitely worth a read.