The Family Orchard
By Nomi Eve
Ah, Nomi Eve! Who is this woman, I wondered, as I read her first novel not too long ago. It had been sitting in my bookcase for the past six years or so – looking difficult. Some books do that to me. Fortunately, I picked it up and began to read. And I was transported to an enchanted land, filled with both reality and dreams. There I met exquisite women and men with magic skills, people who could dream and who could tell stories so fantastic you never knew or cared if they were real.
Nomi Eve is blessed with magical writing skills, there are twists and turns in this novel that will enchant and bewitch you. The story follows several generations of a family over two hundred years. It begins in Russia; most of it takes place in Palestine, later Israel; and it ends in the United States. Here is a quote from the back cover: "Intensely imagined, at once sensual, spiritual, and humorous, an artful mixture of dreams and reality, legend and fact, this impressive novel takes risks with narrative method and succeeds beautifully." -- Publishers Weekly
And it is that risk Nomi Eve takes with the narrative that makes the book so wonderful. To imagine these stories in your mind and then write a first novel like The Family Orchard is amazing. I loved it.
Fire Clouds At Sunset
Yesterday, a there was a wild-fire some miles from us. Looking out my window it seemed to be just behind the hills in front of our house, but it wasn't that close. I took these pictures at sunset. I don't see any smoke this morning, so, hopefully, it has been contained.
Have a great day!
