The Fig Orchard

by Layla Fiske

The unforgettable, deeply moving story of a woman splintered by war and cultural mores, desperately struggling to hold her family together, THE FIG ORCHARD is a rich, compelling epic of love, heroism, family and empowerment.

In an isolated, tradition-bound village high above the Jordan River, balancing delicately amidst age-old superstitions and religious orthodoxy, Nisrina Huniah, a fifteen-year-old girl, is torn between innocent imaginings and looming apprehensions as she marries a man she has never met – only to fall in love on the night they are wed.

Her joy, short-lived, takes a heart-wrenching turn when the encroaching World War fiercely shatters her reality, propelling her on an unexpected journey where she develops unlikely friendships that ultimately alter her perception of herself and the world around her.

Beautifully written in rich, elegant prose, this sweeping epic of love and friendship, longing, and the hope of redemption is woven into a colorful tapestry that comes alive against the vibrant backdrop of life in early twentieth-century Middle East.

With its haunting and deeply affecting ending, THE FIG ORCHARD will remain in the hearts and minds of its readers long after the last page is turned.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Book Club, Fiction, Historical

450 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 13, 2013

About the author

Award-winning author, Layla Fiske, was born in Detroit, Michigan and grew up in Southern California. The daughter and granddaughter of immigrants, she was raised with the rich culture, language and foods of the Middle East. A graduate of San Diego State University, she completed a career in the field of land use management while raising two children. Now the grandmother of three, she lives in San Diego with her husband.

THE FIG ORCHARD, named one of the Best Books of 2014 by Kirkus Reviews; winner of the Theodor S. Geisel "Best of the Best" Book Award; winner of the San Diego Book Awards Best Historical Fiction; and winner of the Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for Historical Fiction, is her first novel.

Reviews

[Jennie Coull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a couple of weeks ago and I deliberately left it to review, I wanted to give it a good amount of time to settle over my soul. What I feel when I think of The Fig Orchard is sadness, not because this was an overly sad book (don’t get me wrong I did cry like a baby) or a bad book, no it makes me sad because no one is reading it.

What it's about

The unforgettable story of a woman splintered by war and cultural mores, desperately struggling to hold her family together, THE FIG ORCHARD is a rich, compelling epic of love, heroism, family and empowerment. In an isolated, tradition-bound village high above the Jordan River, balancing delicately amidst age-old superstitions and religious orthodoxy, Nisrina Huniah, a fifteen-year-old girl, is torn between innocent imaginings and looming apprehensions as she marries a man she has never met, only to fall in love on the night they are wed. Her joy takes a heart-wrenching turn when the encroaching World War fiercely shatters her reality, propelling her on an unexpected journey where she develops friendships that ultimately alter her perception of herself and the world around her. Beautifully written, this sweeping epic of love and friendship, longing, and the hope of redemption is woven into a colorful tapestry that comes alive against the vibrant backdrop of life in early twentieth-century Middle East. With its haunting and deeply affecting ending, THE FIG ORCHARD will remain in the hearts and minds of its readers long after the last page is turned

What I thought

This is a beautiful coming of age story about a strong girl in a time and place where women’s rights meant nothing, women were things to be owned and controlled. It is about love, and how love can heal you, whether it be the love of a husband, a child or a friend.

As I said it was beautiful, the writing is wonderful, detailed, magical and realistic. I was whisked off to a time and place I have never really thought about, set in the Middle East, I was made to think about the long lasting effects of WW1 even in the small towns. It was obvious that the author knew what she was talking about, and had done her research. They do say write what you know and Layla Fiske did that so well, my god the food sounded so real, I was hungry the whole time reading this. When I wasn’t reading It, I was thinking about reading it trying to find an extra 5 minutes here and there. The character development was outstanding and heartbreaking and everything just had a real sense of realism to it. It was a bit predictable in places, but you know what? I didn’t care.

My heart just broke for Nisrina more than once. It was a hard life for her growing up, no real mother and a father that couldn’t stand to look at her. She was used as a maid, baby sitter and tolerated at best till she came of age and was sold off as quick as look at you. Jabran was fascinated with Nisrina from the first moment he saw her and he knew as soon as he could he would make her his bride. He was a gentle old soul with a sense and understanding of the world that many men didn’t have after a life time. He just wanted to live his life, love his family and tend to his fig orchard.

I loved that after her childhood she found real love with Jabran. I felt it and believed it, I believed he loved her with his whole being, he saw her for her, not just as a women to be owned and bear his children. He loved the woman she was and was happy spending the rest of his life loving her, but that all changed when one day he was taken and enslaved into Turkish army.

My only real complaint is I hungered for more interaction between Nisrina and Jabran. I wanted to hear their talks and see their love…btw when I say "see" I don’t mean the sexy bits, I am rather pleased they were left out , I don’t think they would have added anything to this story. I just wanted more interaction between the two.

On a side note I do find it hard to read historical books with my modern day brain. I find my inner feminist comes out and I want to rage at the injustices..lol more than once I had to remind myself that this is set in a very different time and place.


Over all this book has made its way into my heart and onto my favorite shelf. It is one that I know I will read again and highly recommend it to EVERYONE.

[Cheryl Wedesweiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a GOODREADS.COM giveaway on December 31, 2013. The author mailed a copy to me and I received it on January 3, 2013. The book was so interesting that I am glad that I started it immediately upon receipt.

This story takes place in Palestine before World War I. A young girl, Nisrina, is raised in a society that frowns upon the education of women. She is raised by her coldhearted father, but taken under the wing of her stepmother. An arranged marriage brings about feelings of fear, but she lucks out because her husband turns out to be sweet and thoughtful (Some women found that their husbands, whom they often did not met before the wedding, were brutal). Nisrina’s husband is kidnapped and forced to become a soldier for the Turks. She is left to raise their three children as she prays for his return.

This story was great fun and it kept me captivated for hours. The story is told with rich and beautiful detail. The reader is transported to this time and can almost smell the wonderful meals.

I do plan to donate this book to the library so that others can enjoy it.

[Nicole Overmoyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Layla Fiske has painted a beautiful picture of a world I really never stopped to consider; the Holy Land in the years before, during, and after World War I. She leaves the reader with no doubt that she knows the customs, the dress, the food, and the climate of the time and the place. Her characters are human in their failings and in their accomplishments. No one is perfect and all pay self-imposed penance for the crimes they believe themselves to have committed.

There were times I wanted to shake Jabran and shout at him to stop being such a fool but then I realized his only foolishness was in being a good man.

There were times I wanted to hug Nisrina and tell her that she hadn't done anything to deserve the pain she thinks she deserves but then I realized she had to do what she did or she couldn't be the woman she wanted to be.

The book is a time and a place that most of us never thought about. With our twenty-first century minds, we might even say that things should not have been the way they were then. We would be wrong. The author has convinced me of that.

The only reason this book doesn't get five stars from me is the timing of things. Once Jabran and Nisrina get married, the years mentioned in the book only span four years or so based on the dates mentioned. The problem is that Nisrina and her children grow and change very quickly in those years. Too much happens, I suppose is the best way to put it, for it all to fit in the time-frame. Or maybe I'm just being picky.

Either way, I'm so happy I had the chance to read this book and I will read it again. I know I missed things.

I won a copy of The Fig Orchard in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book frustrated me to no end. I kept saying, "Where is this lady's editor?!?" I kid you not, one out of every ten sentences is a fragment. I guess that's her writing style, but it's maddening. And the rabbit trails! Just when the plot was getting exciting, she'd go into the whole life story of a minor character. The length could have been cut by half with no ill effects. To be honest, the only reason I read beyond the first hundred pages is because the story is so intriguing. But that even failed me, as it got very predictable, with all the loose ends tied up in one neat, unbelievable bow. Very Deus ex machina. I'm sure we'll still have lots of fun discussing it at book club though!

[Jeanie Rucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Layla Fiske's historical fiction novel, The Fig Orchard, is an amazing and captivating read. She describes life in the Middle East so vividly that another culture unfolds before your eyes. Nisrima stays strong through life's unexpected trials and true to her only love, Jabran. Because of Layla Fiske's fine-tuned writing skills, the reader is captivated by many questions - some of which are not fully answered till the end of the book. I was left wanting the story to continue and I can only hope that this talented writer will bring us a sequel to The Fig Orchard.

[Joanne Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our book club just read the Fig Orchard and we all loved it! What an amazing read!! I instantly connected to the main character, Nisrina, and as the story unfolded, I felt both her pain and her passion. It is sensuous and tender. I loved the settings, and am impressed with how detailed and realistic they were. I truly felt transported. The Fig Orchard ranks right up there with Khaled Hosseini's latest book - which I'd just finished reading - And the Mountains Echoed. I love a book that I keep thinking about after I've finished it and this book did not disappoint. Layla Fiske did an excellent job telling a story of love, intrigue, cruelty and compassion.

[Kris Purtle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start this review by saying that I am a voracious reader. When I get into a book, I devour it. That said, when my mom first read this book, and raved about it, I was still hesitant to read it. I didn't think that it would be a story to my liking. Still, I purchased it, on my Kindle, to read before our book club gets together to discuss it. I waited, and waited. But, I finally sat down to read it, and I was captured from the start. I felt a kinship toward Nisrina, as a girl who just wanted more out of life than what was about to be handed to her. Instead of getting to leave, for the girls school, with her closest friend, Nisrina was instead given to marriage. I fell in love with the story of her life with Jabran... with his tender, and true love for his wife, and their children. I wept with her as he was taken away for a war he wanted nothing to do with. As the story continues, there is much heartache. But, somewhere along the way, Nisrina comes into her true calling, and returns home a woman, with strength, knowledge and courage. Written in a time, and place, where women are to be completely dependent on men, to honor and obey them..... Nisrina lives a life like a roller coaster ride, with many ups and downs. Yet, she keeps strong in the face of much adversity. With a beautiful ending, that left me aching to want more, but fulfilled me at the same time. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I would love to see Layla Fiske write a second book, picking up where The Fig Orchard left off. Giving us a glimpse into the reunion, that was much anticipated through each turned page. To hear about the lives of Nisrina and Jabran's children.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the Goodreads First Reads giveaways program for putting The Fig Orchard into my hands. It is such a gift for book lovers to “win” the opportunity to own, read and review books before they are released to or realized by the wider public.

Layla Fiske’s historical novel is set in the Middle East during the early 20th century and follows Nisrina from the moment of her tumultuous birth into her marriage and child-bearing years, and then through the events that are set in motion by the first World War. The story contains intense scenes of murder and war, as well as quiet, reflective chapters about cultural, culinary and religious rituals, and the pursuit of education.

While I loved the development of Nisrina’s character as she discovers and fulfills her vocation as a convent-taught midwife, my favorite part of the saga was when Jabran is forced to serve in the Turkish army during the War and to make choices that will both hurt and save those he loves. Overall, I found Orchard to be an uplifting story that explores the relationships between spouses, friends, children and parents, and enemies who realize that they have more in common than they originally believed.

[Gordon Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent first novel by author Layla Fiske. The book has an interesting and somewhat overlooked historical setting, the Arab Christian community of Palestine in the first part of the 20th century, before World War II. The Middle East front of World War I, which pitted the Ottoman Turkish empire (rulers of Palestine) against Great Britain (rulers of Egypt), is not well-known other than through the story of Lawrence of Arabia, but plays an important part in this story.

However, the book is primarily focused on the life of a Palestinian woman, her family, and those in the Palestinian Christian community with whom she interacts. Her life spans a period during which traditional Palestinian Christian society changes as a result of the forces of modernity, particularly in terms of the place of women within that society.

The story itself is filled with interesting plot turns and situations. The many characters are tied together in a way that reminds me of a Charles Dickens novel, in which coincidence and chance often lead their lives to become intertwined. The bittersweet, haunting, and somewhat mysterious ending makes me wonder if a sequel is forthcoming, but in a way I hope not.

[Lee Fullbright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Layla Fiske is an exceptionally talented storyteller. Her award-winning novel, The Fig Orchard, transported me (the highest compliment one can give a storyteller, I feel). And it educated me, taking me places I’d never wholly considered before (an Arab Christian community in WWl Palestine). And then it completely wrapped its arms around me, first with food and smells and traditions and figures of speech foreign, but also, strangely, universal and comforting, and then with love for characters one aches to conceal and protect. I was enthralled by the characters’ journeys (and dismayed by the worse than second-class status of its women; I went to bed more than one night feeling SO immensely grateful for my right to choose or fight for absolutely anything I want).

It’s a rarity for a story to pull me so completely into another place and time, but The Fig Orchard totally drew me into its orbit. It’s got some kind of powerful thing going on, and that kind of powerful storytelling magic is something I’d like to experience more of … encore, please!

[Susan Ranscht · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fig Orchard, at its core, is a sweet love story. A story of the love between men and women, parents and children, and friends. A love that shows in the characters’ dependence on faith, the land, and its fruits. Food is a central theme. Set in the Middle East spanning from the early 1900’s into the 1930’s, the historical events and details are well researched and authentic. Ms. Fiske carries the Syrian culture in her genes and in her heart.

She flavors her writing style with a formality and passive voice that suggests far away times and places that move through life at a pace considerably slower than today’s. Sometimes the omnipotent third person observer tells the same thing several times using different words, a tendency I’m not certain was deliberate, but is reminiscent of many Biblical stories.

As a first novel, The Fig Orchard presages the promise of even better work to come. I look forward to Ms. Fiske’s future tales.

[Janice Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "The Fig Orchard," Layla Fiske tells the story of a seemingly ordinary woman who lives an extraordinary life as she rises to meet the challenges of her times and a culture that does not value women.
Easy to read and beautifully told, this story captures the reader's imagination and heart. Even though we do not live in Nisrina's times, region or culture, we can very much relate to her experiences with love, joy, pain, loss, betrayal and finally contentment and redemption.
For a first-time author, this is a very complex and polished book. I hope Fiske will share more stories like this with us, so that we may better understand the people who live in a part of the world that's been steeped in mystery but with whom we share universal feelings, fears, hopes and dreams for ourselves and our loved ones.

[Jennifer K · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title was intriguing to me when I first saw it on Goodreads First Reads and I was thrilled when I won it and received a wonderful thank you from the author! I know if I am going to love a book or not after reading the first paragraph and I was hooked with this one. It was a beautifully told story about love, friendship and redemption. There was good story development which made it hard to put down and how the characters crossed paths was unexpected and rewarding. This book will stay with me for a long time. I cannot wait to give it to my mom to read; I know she will love it as well! Looking forward to more from Layla Fiske - thank you for such a touching read!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fig Orchard was an engaging and well written book. While I read it, I felt transported through time and space by the author's descriptions of flavours, sights, and smells. Combined with the heartbreaking and heartwarming story, it was an engaging read. When I was not reading the book, I was thinking about it. Ever time I picked it up I was instantly reabsorbed in the characters and their lives. While the situations the characters experienced were far removed from my life, the characters and underlying themes were very relatable. It is a beautiful book that I will definitely reread in the future.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so nice to read a good, old-fashioned novel. To me, that means no artificial literary pretensions. Bad things happen to good people, they overcome them; something else happens and you are never sure if all will be well. Would be quite logical and realistic if the story ended in tragedy. I am reminded of "Gone with the Wind" - except the heroine is a thoroughly nice person and the war is in Palestine during WW I. And I never sympathized with the Turks as I did with Confederate soldiers!

[Jeffree Itrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a mesmerizing tale to take you on a ride through history in a region of the world you've never been, read this book. Ms. Fiske is a masterful storyteller who surreptitiously makes you love her characters, well not all of them, but most. By the time you finish reading The Fig Orchard the characters will seem like old friends that you are sorry to see go. Perhaps Ms. Fiske will write a sequel featuring the next generation of the Yusef family. Hint, hint....

[Susan McBeth (Adventures by the Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only a gifted storyteller like Layla Fiske could do justice to this intriguing fictional tale of Nisrina Huniah and her struggles to raise three children alone in a male-dominated Middle Eastern culture after her husband is forcibly "conscripted" into the Turkish army. Inspired by her real-life grandmother's similar experience, Layla pays beautiful homage to her family with a story that will live on for a very long time.

[Patricia Tienken-boman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I got past the first chapter, which for some reason I kept on putting the book down (maybe too many interruptions) after I couldn't put the book down, such rich descriptions and what a different world! It was enlightening to read about a country that we only hear problems in and their history. Of course I loved Nisrina and her strength. Looking forward to meeting the author at our book club gathering!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as a part of the Goodreads First Reads program. This is a very well written novel about life in the Middle East in the early 1900's. The characters were phenomenally done. I really felt like I got to know them. I really enjoyed reading this novel and I can't wait to read more from Layla Fiske.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful tale, told in Syria, a land of turmoil. It gives you a delightful insight into a place which is so alien. Wonderful descriptions of the land, culture, dress and food, which take you on a glorious journey. The story of Nisrinia, her loves, her faith, her bravery and her maternal instinct, which had me entranced from start to finish.

[Vanessa Springett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book of love, loss, and perseverance. I could almost smell the flowers and taste the foods. Looking forward to meeting the author at our next book club. A very nice read. So glad I live where I live in the time we live. Reading books about other times in other lands make me appreciate my life even more.

[Marie (UK) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written novel. The author sees all the detail in the world and includes it in this book so that the reader feels a part of it. Emotionally poignant, brutal at times, the characters are so vivid and real. The ending is fabulous but also leaves you wanting more

[Natalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous story, filled with family, food, love and adventure. I couldn't put this one down. The writing is lyrical and the characters are very real. Looking forward to reading more from this author!

[Cheryl, The Book Contessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching and gripping novel

this is a wonderful, touching novel of family, hardship, betrayal, and hope. I would recommend this book to all who enjoy intelligent fiction. 4.5 stars

[Rachel Diaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5. There were aspects of this book I really enjoyed but it definitely reads as a debut novel. The timelines never seemed to add up, too many story lines are conveniently wrapped up in the end - many of those story lines were unnecessary. I think this book just needed better editing. I also think this book was marketing incorrectly…it’s being sold as a story about love and so I had expectations when it came to Nisrina & her husband. I had to realize this book is not about their love story, it’s about Nisrina’s life story. Once I realized that, I was able to enjoy the book much better. Her husband irritated me to no end. He started out as a pretty dreamy guy but thanks to the introduction of a totally unnecessary character during the war, he became really sleazy in my eyes - not the author’s intentions but it turned me off from the book. I think the author could have gotten the character to a similar wartime dilemma without introducing a side chick. It took away from the love story between Nisrina & her husband, and made me despise one of the kind, noble characters. There are also some holes in the plot…her husband’s reasons for changing his identity and staying away made no sense at all and were explained in a brief sentence. I think the author needed to focus more on that storyline (if she insisted on having him mysteriously reappear in the end) and less on other characters. Also, how he revealed his identity to his daughter was such a dick move, he irritated me all the way until the very last page. There were some serious holes in the murder of the brother-in-law as well. Lastly, we as readers were robbed of the reunion between Nisrina & her husband. This made no sense considering we witnessed the reunion between Alodia the nun & the boy she fell in love with as a teenager & hadn’t seen or heard from in decades. Why include that? Why not give the book space to include a reunion between the main character and her long awaited husband’s return? And since I’m being nit picky, the third person narration prevented us from getting to know Nisrina. I wanted to hear her thoughts. She grew & changed so much, endured so much, remained such a good, gentle & caring person, I would have loved to hear her thoughts. And I wanted more dialogue between her & her husband while they were together. They seemed to have a sweet relationship but I had to buy in based on what the narrator told me alone. The narrator constantly told me they loved each other but I wanted to see it for myself through dialogue and more interactions between them. Overall though, Nisrina’s story was worth reading. And the book was set during an interesting time in history, in a region I didn’t know much about during WWI. I liked learning about the culture & religion. The foods sounded amazing and the descriptions were enjoyable.

[Aria Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fig Orchard is an epic saga and debut novel written by Layla Fiske. It was published July 2nd, 2013, by Rancho Publishing, LLC. The Fig Orchard was named one of the Best Books of 2014 by Kirkus Reviews. It was the winner of the Theodor S. Geisel "Best of the Best" Book Award, winner of the San Diego Book Awards Best Historical Fiction, and the winner of the Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for Historical Fiction. Who wouldn't be interested in the struggles of a family separated by war, and a woman who was a source of unfailing strength? However, I quickly realized that I sadly had no interest in the way the story was told. I found the writing difficult. The author relied heavily upon cliches, repetition, and predictability.
Fiske was raised with the culture, language, and foods of the Middle East. She also had her grandmother’s stories to enrich her cultural experience and to help create a colorful tapestry in which to immerse her story.
Fiske has painted a stunning picture of the Holy Land in the years before, during, and after WWI. The customs, climate, dress, and food all come alive during this historical time and place. The characters are believable, both human and fallible. All of the characters are prone to their own unique sufferings. The story is told by the author with care and an inclination towards descriptive prose designed to capture imagination. It is a book written to elicit emotion. It is a sweeping epic told across borders, land, and ages. It includes a full spectrum of human experiences, including love, war, tragedy, joy, friendship, and loyalty. Time and place weigh in heavily as the reader bears witness to the changing times of Palestine and its people during the turn of the century. I believe this book is harder for a young age group and would recommend this book would be best for ages 13 - 17.

[Dana Clinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: The Fig Orchard (Layla Fiske) This sweet novel was lent to me by my personal trainer (even though I have suggested she not pass books on to me, because my to-be-read pile will outlive me), and it fit a square in the summer reading library challenge: "Read a Book by an Author You Have Never Heard Of". I did enjoy this read, set in a place I know not too much about, the rapidly changing world of the Middle East in and around current-day Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, but the story evolves from 1896 to 1937. Although the story is overly dependent on most unrealistic coincidences, rooting for our main characters was just obligatory. I have learned so much about life in a poor farming village in old Palestine among Syrian Orthodox Christians (with obvious influence from other religions) via the two intertwining families, the Huniah family (and most pertinently, our major female character, Nisrina, and the family she is married into, the Yusefs. Pregnant with her third child, she abruptly loses her beloved husband Jabran, captured by Turks and forced into their Army during the Great War, eventually won by the British. There are several great strands of stories.. the different ones taking place in their home village and all the traditions (both wonderful and heinous) there; Jabran's life through the war years; a nunnery in the big city where Nisrina goes first to learn midwifery and thereby avoid being banished by her family and her children taken from her (because she is a widow in their eyes) by becoming an economic asset, and later to take sanctuary. The episodes in the Catholic convent are particularly engrossing. Anyway, this is a nice escape read, and I can forgive the coincidences and the tendency for characters which are angels or horrid demons.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The debut author richly weaves a love story, tragedy, perserverance in the face of daunting odds and long-held cultural Middle Eastern traditions into a page-turning novel. Nisrina is a 15-year-old girl who is unwillingly thrust into an arranged marriage in her village near the Jordan River in Palestine. However, she soon comes to deeply love her husband, Jabran, and they build a life with their children and his extended family. As farmers, they grow figs and olives. Until one day, Jabran is kidnapped by Turkish soldiers and conscripted into their service to fight against the British in the expanding World War. Devastated, Nisrina makes a critical decision -- she goes to live in a Catholic convent in Jerusalem and studies to be a midwife. She makes strong bonds with several of the nuns, which will be of great benefit later. Back in her village, Nisrina becomes respected for her work and care, and her children, despite the loss of their father and mystery of his whereabouts, thrive in their mother's devotion. But Nisrina's life is disrupted yet again due to an evil brother-in-law and once again, she is forced to leave her family. I won't drop any more spoilers, but know that this story continues its compelling arc. The reader also learns what happens to Jabran ... But sadly , the ultimate reunion never materializes.

[Jane Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The unforgettable story of a woman splintered by war and cultural mores, desperately struggling to hold her family together, THE FIG ORCHARD is a rich, compelling epic of love, heroism, family and empowerment. In an isolated, tradition-bound village high above the Jordan River, balancing delicately amidst age-old superstitions and religious orthodoxy, Nisrina Huniah, a fifteen-year-old girl, is torn between innocent imaginings and looming apprehensions as she marries a man she has never met, only to fall in love on the night they are wed. Her joy takes a heart-wrenching turn when the encroaching World War fiercely shatters her reality, propelling her on an unexpected journey where she develops friendships that ultimately alter her perception of herself and the world around her. Beautifully written, this sweeping epic of love and friendship, longing, and the hope of redemption is woven into a colorful tapestry that comes alive against the vibrant backdrop of life in early twentieth-century Middle East. With its haunting and deeply affecting ending, THE FIG ORCHARD will remain in the hearts and minds of its readers long after the last page is turned

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a first novel for this author about a Palestinian woman during the early 1900's. Nisrina was a young peasant woman from a small farming community, who wanted to attend school but was not allowed to because she was needed on the farm. Her mother had died in childbirth. Nisrina marries, has children, and then her husband is forced to fight with the Ottoman Army against the British. All in all, a fascinating read, well written and beautifully laced with the middle eastern foods and cultural norms of that period. I loved the book although I wasn't fond of the ending. Overall, an excellent read.