Beat: The true story of a suicide bomb and a heart

by Rowan Somerville

On June 1st 2001, a suicide bomb killed twenty-one young Israelis outside a nightclub in Tel Aviv. The next day, in an apparently retributive act of violence, an Israeli settler shot a Palestinian pharmacist, Mazan Al-Joulani, in the neck, rendering him brain dead. Out of this violence came an extraordinary act of humanity, when the family of Al-Joulani agreed to donate his heart to Yigal Cohen, a dying Israeli. Rowan Somerville, the son of two cardiologists, travelled to the Levant to talk to survivors, families, the surgeon who performed the transplant and the family of the suicide bomber. In this powerful story, Somerville untangles the roots of violence, faith and tribal conflict, and the possibility of redemption.

Genres: Nonfiction

296 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2017

Reviews

[Niall Balmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true tale telling of, and contrasting the very worst of man and the best of man.

[Joanne Finegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest and heartfelt creation... I felt drawn in and educated more with each page. The narration left me feeling like a kind mentor was bending my ear to show me a new perspective by just taking in their findings.

[Liam J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story teller, of 2 intertwining stories, revealing the gamut of human emotions: love, hate, mercy, grace, compassion, intransigence, hope.

[Fiona O'Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non fiction 5 stars.

[Lara CH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs to read this book.

[Book]

The author’s shines when he focuses on non-fiction rather than the first chapter’s historical(ish) fiction.

The book attempts neutrality, however, the author’s perspective is still painfully western/israeli leaning. The words terrorist and terrorism appear only when speaking about Palestinian violence. The epilogue is the only chapter to honestly and critically engage with Israel’s role in the conflict.