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A Pigeon and a Boy
A mesmerizing novel of two love stories, separated by half a century but connected by one enchanting act of devotion—from the internationally acclaimed Israeli writer Meir Shalev.
During the 1948 War of Independence—a time when pigeons are still used to deliver battlefield messages—a gifted young pigeon handler is mortally wounded. In the moments before his death, he dispatches one last pigeon. The bird is carrying his extraordinary gift to the girl he has loved since adolescence. Intertwined with this story is the contemporary tale of Yair Mendelsohn, who has his own legacy from the 1948 war. Yair is a tour guide specializing in bird-watching trips who, in middle age, falls in love again with a childhood girlfriend. His growing passion for her, along with a gift from his mother on her deathbed, becomes the key to a life he thought no longer possible.
Unforgettable in both its particulars and its sweep, A Pigeon and A Boy is a tale of lovers then and now—of how deeply we love, of what home is, and why we, like pigeons trained to fly in one direction only, must eventually return to it. In a voice that is at once playful, wise, and altogether beguiling, Meir Shalev tells a story as universal as war and as intimate as a winged declaration of love.
During the 1948 War of Independence—a time when pigeons are still used to deliver battlefield messages—a gifted young pigeon handler is mortally wounded. In the moments before his death, he dispatches one last pigeon. The bird is carrying his extraordinary gift to the girl he has loved since adolescence. Intertwined with this story is the contemporary tale of Yair Mendelsohn, who has his own legacy from the 1948 war. Yair is a tour guide specializing in bird-watching trips who, in middle age, falls in love again with a childhood girlfriend. His growing passion for her, along with a gift from his mother on her deathbed, becomes the key to a life he thought no longer possible.
Unforgettable in both its particulars and its sweep, A Pigeon and A Boy is a tale of lovers then and now—of how deeply we love, of what home is, and why we, like pigeons trained to fly in one direction only, must eventually return to it. In a voice that is at once playful, wise, and altogether beguiling, Meir Shalev tells a story as universal as war and as intimate as a winged declaration of love.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
225 people are currently reading
3740 people want to read
About the author
Meir Shalev
57 books349 followersMeir Shalev (Hebrew: מאיר שלו) was one of Israel’s most celebrated novelists. He received many awards for his work, including the National Jewish Book Award and Israel’s Brenner Prize, both for A Pigeon and a Boy.
A columnist for the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Shalev lived in Jerusalem and in northern Israel with his wife and children.
A columnist for the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Shalev lived in Jerusalem and in northern Israel with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 439 reviews
July 3, 2019
A Pigeon and a Boy
Ja'ir is a tour guide in Israel, specialized in birdwatching tours. During a tour, he meets an old American jew who served in the Palmach and fought during the 1948 War of Independence in the battle at the San Simon Monastery.
The man tells him the story of a boy who got killed during this fight, but who released a pigeon before he died. The boy was a pigeon handler who kept and trained homing pigeons that belonged to the Haganah.
"Not a single gun fired, no grenades exploded, and all the mouths stopped shouting. It was so quiet that we heard the bird’s wings beating the air. For a single moment every eye and every finger was following that bird as she did what we all wanted to do: make her way home.”
And so begins the story of the boy and his pigeon (a Belgian pigeon btw, a real champion!).
The book alternates between two narratives, and jumps back and forth in time and between the different characters. There's the story of the boy and his pigeons and girlfriend ; and there's the story of Ja'ir and his wife and family.
Ja'ir seems to be obsessed with his mother, who gives him money to buy a home for himself, although he's married.
Near the end of the book, these two storylines merge in an unexpected and rather spectacular way.
Meir Shalev's writing is engaging, and he uses much symbolism and many metaphors throughout the storytelling. He is also a master in irony, a quality that I particularly like.
I liked the book, but I did not love it. I thought there were far too many detailed descriptions, about the habits and handling of homing pigeons and also about … home renovation. This multitude of (boring) details distracted me several times from the otherwise intriguing story.
Child with a dove - Marc Chagall
Ja'ir is a tour guide in Israel, specialized in birdwatching tours. During a tour, he meets an old American jew who served in the Palmach and fought during the 1948 War of Independence in the battle at the San Simon Monastery.
The man tells him the story of a boy who got killed during this fight, but who released a pigeon before he died. The boy was a pigeon handler who kept and trained homing pigeons that belonged to the Haganah.
"Not a single gun fired, no grenades exploded, and all the mouths stopped shouting. It was so quiet that we heard the bird’s wings beating the air. For a single moment every eye and every finger was following that bird as she did what we all wanted to do: make her way home.”
And so begins the story of the boy and his pigeon (a Belgian pigeon btw, a real champion!).
The book alternates between two narratives, and jumps back and forth in time and between the different characters. There's the story of the boy and his pigeons and girlfriend ; and there's the story of Ja'ir and his wife and family.
Ja'ir seems to be obsessed with his mother, who gives him money to buy a home for himself, although he's married.
Near the end of the book, these two storylines merge in an unexpected and rather spectacular way.
Meir Shalev's writing is engaging, and he uses much symbolism and many metaphors throughout the storytelling. He is also a master in irony, a quality that I particularly like.
I liked the book, but I did not love it. I thought there were far too many detailed descriptions, about the habits and handling of homing pigeons and also about … home renovation. This multitude of (boring) details distracted me several times from the otherwise intriguing story.
Child with a dove - Marc Chagall
July 14, 2025
По принцип, повече съм чел за проблемите и живота на европейските и американските евреи.
За пръв път ми попадна книга, развиваща се в тяхната собствена държава Израел и определено не съм разочарован, че отделих от времето си за нея.
Меир Шалев е добър разказвач, има дар слово и историите вплетени в този роман са доста интересни. И макар да се досещаш по средата, накъде се е запътила развръзката, удоволствието не намалява.
Израел и героите му са описани шарено и колоритно, дори Войната за независимост е предадена добре, но по-скоро романтично.
Бая време прекарах в нета, търсейки повече информация за места, неща и събития направили ми впечатление в книгата, което много ценя.
Цитат:
"Изобразен на картините на честите караници, запазил се в мириса на редкия секс и в звукозаписите на безкрайните ни мълчания. Стените са просмукали виковете ми, но шепотът ѝ винаги е отскачал от тях като рикошет."
За пръв път ми попадна книга, развиваща се в тяхната собствена държава Израел и определено не съм разочарован, че отделих от времето си за нея.
Меир Шалев е добър разказвач, има дар слово и историите вплетени в този роман са доста интересни. И макар да се досещаш по средата, накъде се е запътила развръзката, удоволствието не намалява.
Израел и героите му са описани шарено и колоритно, дори Войната за независимост е предадена добре, но по-скоро романтично.
Бая време прекарах в нета, търсейки повече информация за места, неща и събития направили ми впечатление в книгата, което много ценя.
Цитат:
"Изобразен на картините на честите караници, запазил се в мириса на редкия секс и в звукозаписите на безкрайните ни мълчания. Стените са просмукали виковете ми, но шепотът ѝ винаги е отскачал от тях като рикошет."
Read
April 4, 2020Tedium set in. Pages skipped over.
Around halfway in, the oft repeated insistence on certain similar physical characteristics between two of the protagonists led me to surmise quite correctly what the link between them would be. There is a twist, which was not only unexpected but also utterly ludicrous.
Boring AND laughable.
I never did like pigeons much.
(Other birds are available)
Around halfway in, the oft repeated insistence on certain similar physical characteristics between two of the protagonists led me to surmise quite correctly what the link between them would be. There is a twist, which was not only unexpected but also utterly ludicrous.
Boring AND laughable.
I never did like pigeons much.
(Other birds are available)
June 3, 2007
Forgive me for showing off a little -- I'm actually reading this in the original Hebrew. I know it was entirely unnecessary for me to point that out, but I'm excited about my new quest to improve my Hebrew literacy. Also, I wanted to let you know in advance that it will take me a long time to post my review!
Ok -- here's my review. Reading this book was an interesting experience, on a variety of levels. When you read in a foreign language and you find yourself criticizing the book, it's not always clear whether it's a flaw in the book or whether there's something you're missing because of the language barrier. For example, it took me a long time to get into this book -- was that because it was a slow starter, or because it was written in Hebrew? Some of the characterization seemed superficial to me, and there were some minor holes in the plot -- again, was I just missing things because I skipped over some hard words/passages? I guess the only way to find out would be for me to read it in English, which I'm actually curious to do when it comes out (I think the translation is due to be published later this year).
Basically, as I experienced it, the book had clear strengths and weaknesses. The love story from the War of Independence was definitely poignant and gripping, even in a foreign language. The motif of the doves was interesting and original, although I felt that some of the symbolism was a little heavy-handed. The "message" sent with the final dove was just plain weird -- bizarre, in my view, although definitely a creative plot twist. I felt that Yair's relationships with his brother and with his ex-wife could have been better developed, and that both of them should have been better fleshed out as characters -- I found them overly unsympathetic, and I think they could have been depicted in a more complex, multi-faceted way. It wasn't clear to me why Yair and Tirzah broke up the first time they dated. Etc., etc. Anyway, that's why I plan to at least skim it in English when it comes out so I can see how much of the above was simply a function of my limited Hebrew.
I have to say (and I apologize in advance; I know this is probably too much information), this is the second full-length novel I've read in Hebrew and it feels so weird to read sex scenes in Hebrew! First of all, while you can sort of skim them in English if you prefer, you don't have that option when you're reading in a foreign language -- you end up processing every word, which makes reading the scene a very different experience. Also, it's lashon kodesh! I found myself gasping, "What!" whereas in English, I'm basically immune. Thirdly, at least based on the limited sample of two Israeli novels, Israeli novelists are quite earthy and graphic when it comes to these things. By comparison, American sex scenes seem almost metaphysical. Sorry -- I just had to share that.
Ok -- here's my review. Reading this book was an interesting experience, on a variety of levels. When you read in a foreign language and you find yourself criticizing the book, it's not always clear whether it's a flaw in the book or whether there's something you're missing because of the language barrier. For example, it took me a long time to get into this book -- was that because it was a slow starter, or because it was written in Hebrew? Some of the characterization seemed superficial to me, and there were some minor holes in the plot -- again, was I just missing things because I skipped over some hard words/passages? I guess the only way to find out would be for me to read it in English, which I'm actually curious to do when it comes out (I think the translation is due to be published later this year).
Basically, as I experienced it, the book had clear strengths and weaknesses. The love story from the War of Independence was definitely poignant and gripping, even in a foreign language. The motif of the doves was interesting and original, although I felt that some of the symbolism was a little heavy-handed. The "message" sent with the final dove was just plain weird -- bizarre, in my view, although definitely a creative plot twist. I felt that Yair's relationships with his brother and with his ex-wife could have been better developed, and that both of them should have been better fleshed out as characters -- I found them overly unsympathetic, and I think they could have been depicted in a more complex, multi-faceted way. It wasn't clear to me why Yair and Tirzah broke up the first time they dated. Etc., etc. Anyway, that's why I plan to at least skim it in English when it comes out so I can see how much of the above was simply a function of my limited Hebrew.
I have to say (and I apologize in advance; I know this is probably too much information), this is the second full-length novel I've read in Hebrew and it feels so weird to read sex scenes in Hebrew! First of all, while you can sort of skim them in English if you prefer, you don't have that option when you're reading in a foreign language -- you end up processing every word, which makes reading the scene a very different experience. Also, it's lashon kodesh! I found myself gasping, "What!" whereas in English, I'm basically immune. Thirdly, at least based on the limited sample of two Israeli novels, Israeli novelists are quite earthy and graphic when it comes to these things. By comparison, American sex scenes seem almost metaphysical. Sorry -- I just had to share that.
November 28, 2023
This novel was slow to take flight. The gestational plot felt more like that of an elephant than a bird.
There were two plus timelines: one of two young pigeon handlers during wartime; and another couple during the present time with a pigeon connection. There may have been a third timeline or an overlapping/connected one that went over my head while I was sitting on the egg that just wouldn’t hatch.
The older timeline was fine. They get inculcated into the pigeon handling world and then the war happens. The present day timeline was a struggle. The guy renovates a house for an incredibly long time. Marital issues galore and bore.
There were some mildly interesting tidbits of information on the pigeon handling industry but other than that, it was too long, repetitive and dry to get into. Too many minor details eg on the moon, the stars, the sky. Not enough beef.
I suppose the writing was good. It was just the slow pace that kept my interest at bay.
I read this as part of my reading challenge to read one book set in every country. I had copious amounts of options for Israel but I chose sweet/melancholy over grief/struggle.
There were two plus timelines: one of two young pigeon handlers during wartime; and another couple during the present time with a pigeon connection. There may have been a third timeline or an overlapping/connected one that went over my head while I was sitting on the egg that just wouldn’t hatch.
The older timeline was fine. They get inculcated into the pigeon handling world and then the war happens. The present day timeline was a struggle. The guy renovates a house for an incredibly long time. Marital issues galore and bore.
There were some mildly interesting tidbits of information on the pigeon handling industry but other than that, it was too long, repetitive and dry to get into. Too many minor details eg on the moon, the stars, the sky. Not enough beef.
I suppose the writing was good. It was just the slow pace that kept my interest at bay.
I read this as part of my reading challenge to read one book set in every country. I had copious amounts of options for Israel but I chose sweet/melancholy over grief/struggle.
July 10, 2016
I don't quite know how to begin to describe my feelings after completing this book. During the "course" if you will of reading it, I savored each page for the subtleties of the descriptions and the masterful capturing of emotions. I read slowly. I reflected. I let the descriptions and the nuanced thinking seep in slowly to my being and my understanding. Yes, I pondered my own meaning of "home" in every sense-physical, spiritual and emotional. I appreciated the thoughts that this book generated. Interestingly, perhaps because of the methodical way I read, I eagerly returned to this book late each night...not because of action, but rather because of the insights I might gain and the creative, new way of lyrical expression of some profound thoughts.
I wanted to list this book as a "favorite". Up until about two-thirds through the book I would have. Elements just bounded out of my believable realm. Strange how one pivotal event could shift my praise. "Why" I questioned? Did Meir Shalev really have to have that happen? I closed the book with a sad sigh. It was so close for me...so close to being just incredible.
There are descriptions and metaphors in this novel that are masterful. Just a few I liked:
"The greater light set and disappeared; its luminescence faded, then extinguished. First it lost its beingness, then its name. Darkness neither fell nor rose. It was not created all at once, like the light or the sea or the trees or man; rather it took shape, spread, thickened, and was. The exposed beams of the roof, which previously had stood blackened against the sky, were now swallowed up inside it. The lesser light, that evening merely a narrow sickle, brightened in the west. Exuberant stars shone. Spiraling and naked, holding hands——this too was part of Tiraleh's orchestration——we watched them multiply and make a sieve of the dome of heaven."
"From this the reader can grasp that neither earthquakes nor world wars are necessary to change the course of a person's life and create an uproar. Sometimes it takes nothing more than a child's slingshot or a cat's claw or an opportunity that falls in the path of a hawk."
"This was your house, breathing around you, expanding, teeming, contracting, enwrapping. The ground, which here is not corseted with cement and straitjacketed with asphalt, shifts in a slow, never-ending dance, while we-the houses, the trees, the people, the animals-are carried about in its arms, moving on its thin outer crust."
The women in this novel are strong; however, it was the men in this novel that I either admired or pitied. My favorite character was Meshulam Fried. He was generous, kind, self-made, thoughtful and a true friend. The man I pitied was Dr. Mendelsohn. Though he was not a major character, I ached for him and and I was grateful that his personal story ended strong.
This book leaves me with a feeling of gratitude. I am grateful for my own physical home which my husband and I both worked diligently together to remodel and make our own. I also am grateful for my personal body home which requires constant vigilance and care and finally my spiritual home which I yearn to daily feed and nurture.
Indeed, I will be reading more books written by Meir Shalev and I acknowledge my Goodreads friends for suggesting this. Next time I read a book by this author I will make sure to have some fresh figs on hand to further enhance the power of place that Shalev is so gifted in creating.
I wanted to list this book as a "favorite". Up until about two-thirds through the book I would have. Elements just bounded out of my believable realm. Strange how one pivotal event could shift my praise. "Why" I questioned? Did Meir Shalev really have to have that happen? I closed the book with a sad sigh. It was so close for me...so close to being just incredible.
There are descriptions and metaphors in this novel that are masterful. Just a few I liked:
"The greater light set and disappeared; its luminescence faded, then extinguished. First it lost its beingness, then its name. Darkness neither fell nor rose. It was not created all at once, like the light or the sea or the trees or man; rather it took shape, spread, thickened, and was. The exposed beams of the roof, which previously had stood blackened against the sky, were now swallowed up inside it. The lesser light, that evening merely a narrow sickle, brightened in the west. Exuberant stars shone. Spiraling and naked, holding hands——this too was part of Tiraleh's orchestration——we watched them multiply and make a sieve of the dome of heaven."
"From this the reader can grasp that neither earthquakes nor world wars are necessary to change the course of a person's life and create an uproar. Sometimes it takes nothing more than a child's slingshot or a cat's claw or an opportunity that falls in the path of a hawk."
"This was your house, breathing around you, expanding, teeming, contracting, enwrapping. The ground, which here is not corseted with cement and straitjacketed with asphalt, shifts in a slow, never-ending dance, while we-the houses, the trees, the people, the animals-are carried about in its arms, moving on its thin outer crust."
The women in this novel are strong; however, it was the men in this novel that I either admired or pitied. My favorite character was Meshulam Fried. He was generous, kind, self-made, thoughtful and a true friend. The man I pitied was Dr. Mendelsohn. Though he was not a major character, I ached for him and and I was grateful that his personal story ended strong.
This book leaves me with a feeling of gratitude. I am grateful for my own physical home which my husband and I both worked diligently together to remodel and make our own. I also am grateful for my personal body home which requires constant vigilance and care and finally my spiritual home which I yearn to daily feed and nurture.
Indeed, I will be reading more books written by Meir Shalev and I acknowledge my Goodreads friends for suggesting this. Next time I read a book by this author I will make sure to have some fresh figs on hand to further enhance the power of place that Shalev is so gifted in creating.
October 7, 2011
A masterpiece of two woven stories, the love story between two pigeon handlers in the period prior to Israel's War of Independence framed and intersected by that of a tour guide specializing in bird watching who learns the details of the tale from one of his guests.
In this unlikely subject, the reader is treated to learning the habits and handling of homing pigeons that served as reliable means of communication during the British Mandate of the land of Israel until 1948.
It is hard to do this story justice with a synopsis or a review. The power of the novel is in the crafting of the tale as it unfolds, with the main characters--although beautifully detailed--remaining nameless but for their functions as pigeon handlers. Not so the tour guide, whose life is unraveling before it is put together again with a new love.
A great book selection for a book group, as it covers several interesting issues to discuss.
In this unlikely subject, the reader is treated to learning the habits and handling of homing pigeons that served as reliable means of communication during the British Mandate of the land of Israel until 1948.
It is hard to do this story justice with a synopsis or a review. The power of the novel is in the crafting of the tale as it unfolds, with the main characters--although beautifully detailed--remaining nameless but for their functions as pigeon handlers. Not so the tour guide, whose life is unraveling before it is put together again with a new love.
A great book selection for a book group, as it covers several interesting issues to discuss.
November 21, 2021
The book is absolutely beautifully written and I can see why it is a favorite amongst many. That said, it took me a while to get into it. Perhaps because I didn't have a lot of time to read and I got to it in a long and choppy way. But I did feel that way even reading it. Like it was hard to get into. I appreciated the beauty of it alongside the fact that it didn't feel easy to read. It took off for me in the last third, which I choppily plunged through overnight.
At its heart it is a love story, shrouded by a lot of love disappointment and disengagement. The characters endure a lot of loss and strain. There is deep friendship and generosity as well. But the backdrop is always, homing pigeons used during he war, and a boy they called "the Baby" who eventually dies sending out his last pigeon to the girl he loves.
At its heart it is a love story, shrouded by a lot of love disappointment and disengagement. The characters endure a lot of loss and strain. There is deep friendship and generosity as well. But the backdrop is always, homing pigeons used during he war, and a boy they called "the Baby" who eventually dies sending out his last pigeon to the girl he loves.
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October 8, 2023Меир Шалев - "Момчето с гълъбите", изд. "Колибри, прев. Емилия Юлзари
Това е вече пълното подробно ревю след прочитането на книгата.
Това е една от книгите, чието прочитане отлагах дълго. Една от книгите, за които просто усетих кога е дошъл моментът. И една от книгите, за които вероятно ще пиша повече от веднъж. От вчера чета "Момчето с гълъбите" на Меир Шалев. Върви бавно, защото темата е в категорията "тежки" - война и любов по време на война. Не знам дали ще я разбера, почти със сигурност ще я чета бавно. Но искам да споделя един цитат - може би малко прекалено дълъг, но за мен всяка дума от него си заслужава:
"Тръгнах да си търся дом.Някои хора стрелят - в себе си или в в ближните си. А аз тръгнах да си търся дом. Такъв, който ще успокоява и лекува, с който ще се изграждаме взаимно и ще се опознаем и заобичаме.
Тръгнах. Въоръжен с неочаквания подарък, който получих от майка си, с намерението да изпълня желанието и повелята й. В думите й прозираше разкаяние:
- Вземи, Яир. Върви и си намери дом. Място за почивка на нозете ти. Трябва да си имаш свое място.
Продължи да ме наставлява:
- Дом, в който преди теб са живели хора, стар и не голям, ще го ремонтираш малко... - замълча за миг, пое въздух и се закашля. - И обърни внимание - къщата да е в старо селище. Дърветата около нея да са големи, най-добре кипариси. И стар рожков върши работа. От пукнатините в плочника да никне трева.
После ми обясни:
- В старото селище отмъщенията са останали в миналото, някогашните омрази са се притъпили, а наистина големите любови, не дребните и досадните, са се уталожили, вече няма място за нови възможности и не са останали сили за безплодни опити".
/прев. от иврит Емилия Юлзари/
Този откъс, особено последният абзац от него, ме остави без думи. Неволно направих сравнение с нещата, които са важни за нас, когато търсим нов дом. Разумни, рационално обосноани, понякога дори егоистични доводи. Свързани с удобство, близост и изгодни цени. А сега прочитам това и ми се струва толкова близко до... не, не до ума, по-скоро до духа - защото понякога има по-важни неща от това дали домът /не просто къщата, а домът/ е близо до работното място или до училището.
Има, но май започваме да ги забравяме...
Тези редове, написани дотук, заедно с цитирания откъс, написах и цитирах, докато още четях книгата. И признавам, че макар да ми се искаше да добавя още нещо за книгата, след като приключа с четенето, не знаех дали ще мога да го направя. Дали ще намеря нужните думи и нужните чувства, за да го направя.
Защото повече от веднъж, докато четях тази книга, се питах: за какво е всъщност тя? В началото, подведена може би и от анотацията, си мислех, че това е книга за война. И очаквах традиционните военни описания. Очаквах битки, очаквах много смърт. И много безнадеждност.
Не се оказа точно така.
Да, “Момчето с гълъбите” наистина е книга, в която има и война, и любов. И загуба. Но наред с това има и много надежда. Съзидание. Ново начало. Почти библейско раждане.
“Момчето с гълъбите” е книга за дома. За създаването на дом, за намирането на дом, за завръщането у дома, за това, което е домът за всеки от нас. И не само домът като мястото, където живеем, а всичко около този дом – определянето на мястото за градината, първото дърво, посадено от новия собственик на дома. И като казах “собственик” – всъщност ние ли притежаваме домовете или те нас? Не мога да се отърва от мисълта за дома, който не приема единия от своите обитатели – вратата, която “не иска” да се отключи, уредите, които не се подчиняват на ръцете, които ги докосват с неприязън, стените, които “шушнат”, когато между тях върви “неправилният”. човек
" - Сложи още пръст. Но не засипвай стъблото, там не бива да загнива! Не утъпквай с крака, дивак! Ще го задушиш! Това е първото ти дръвче в новата ти къща. Клекни
учтиво на четири крака и натискай пръстта с ръце. С малко сила и много нежност".
И ето, първото дърво е посадено и мястото започва да се превръща в дом.
Такъв дом, който не просто да ти осигурява защита от външния свят, дом, който не е просто мястото, където отиваш да спиш през нощта,
"Дом, който да те обгърне от всички страни, да ти даде покой и да утоли жаждата ти. Да се изградите един друг и да се изцелите един друг, да си смените взаимно пода и покрива, стените, вратите и прозорците, да си бъдете благодарни".
Защото домът има душа. И знае, усеща от какво има нужда “неговият човек”. И е готов да го даде… стига да го заслужим.
Но тази книга нямаше да е това, което е, ако не бяха гълъбите. Признавам, че никога не съм се замисляла особено за тези птици. Просто едни красиви, кротки наглед същества. Но тук те са символ – на дома, на вечното завръщане у дома. Пощенският гълъб не знае колко важно е съобщението, което носи. Той не лети, за да изпълни мисия. Просто иска да се прибере у дома.
"Те са като хората - казваше му тя. - Карат се, изневеряват си, хранят се заедно, копнеят за дома и получават разрив на сърцето".
Меир Шалев, "Момчето с гълъбите", прев. Емилия Юлзари
Както доста книги в последните години, така и в “Момчето с гълъбите” има две сюжетни линии. За разлика от други книги обаче, тук те не са ясно разграничени. Преливат се, застъпват се, вървят заедно и понякога “прескачането” от едната в другата е светкавично и неочаквано. Не очаквах разкритието накрая, изобщо не подозирах кое ще се окаже Момчето с гълъбите, нито се досещах по какъв начин ще е свързано с Яир. Към края имаше моменти, които ми се сториха не точно неправдоподобни, по-скоро нереални, като излезли от легенда или приказка.
Впечатли ме начинът, по който Яир говори за/ на майка си. В един момент говори за нея – “тя”, в следващото изречение вече се обръща към нея. Не ми стана ясна целта на този похват, но по някакъв странен начин ми хареса.
Отлагах дълго четенето на “Момчето с гълъбите”, но мисля, че я прочетох в точния момент. Радвам се, че го направих – това определено е една от книгите, които оставят трайни следи в паметта и душата.
Това е вече пълното подробно ревю след прочитането на книгата.
Това е една от книгите, чието прочитане отлагах дълго. Една от книгите, за които просто усетих кога е дошъл моментът. И една от книгите, за които вероятно ще пиша повече от веднъж. От вчера чета "Момчето с гълъбите" на Меир Шалев. Върви бавно, защото темата е в категорията "тежки" - война и любов по време на война. Не знам дали ще я разбера, почти със сигурност ще я чета бавно. Но искам да споделя един цитат - може би малко прекалено дълъг, но за мен всяка дума от него си заслужава:
"Тръгнах да си търся дом.Някои хора стрелят - в себе си или в в ближните си. А аз тръгнах да си търся дом. Такъв, който ще успокоява и лекува, с който ще се изграждаме взаимно и ще се опознаем и заобичаме.
Тръгнах. Въоръжен с неочаквания подарък, който получих от майка си, с намерението да изпълня желанието и повелята й. В думите й прозираше разкаяние:
- Вземи, Яир. Върви и си намери дом. Място за почивка на нозете ти. Трябва да си имаш свое място.
Продължи да ме наставлява:
- Дом, в който преди теб са живели хора, стар и не голям, ще го ремонтираш малко... - замълча за миг, пое въздух и се закашля. - И обърни внимание - къщата да е в старо селище. Дърветата около нея да са големи, най-добре кипариси. И стар рожков върши работа. От пукнатините в плочника да никне трева.
После ми обясни:
- В старото селище отмъщенията са останали в миналото, някогашните омрази са се притъпили, а наистина големите любови, не дребните и досадните, са се уталожили, вече няма място за нови възможности и не са останали сили за безплодни опити".
/прев. от иврит Емилия Юлзари/
Този откъс, особено последният абзац от него, ме остави без думи. Неволно направих сравнение с нещата, които са важни за нас, когато търсим нов дом. Разумни, рационално обосноани, понякога дори егоистични доводи. Свързани с удобство, близост и изгодни цени. А сега прочитам това и ми се струва толкова близко до... не, не до ума, по-скоро до духа - защото понякога има по-важни неща от това дали домът /не просто къщата, а домът/ е близо до работното място или до училището.
Има, но май започваме да ги забравяме...
Тези редове, написани дотук, заедно с цитирания откъс, написах и цитирах, докато още четях книгата. И признавам, че макар да ми се искаше да добавя още нещо за книгата, след като приключа с четенето, не знаех дали ще мога да го направя. Дали ще намеря нужните думи и нужните чувства, за да го направя.
Защото повече от веднъж, докато четях тази книга, се питах: за какво е всъщност тя? В началото, подведена може би и от анотацията, си мислех, че това е книга за война. И очаквах традиционните военни описания. Очаквах битки, очаквах много смърт. И много безнадеждност.
Не се оказа точно така.
Да, “Момчето с гълъбите” наистина е книга, в която има и война, и любов. И загуба. Но наред с това има и много надежда. Съзидание. Ново начало. Почти библейско раждане.
“Момчето с гълъбите” е книга за дома. За създаването на дом, за намирането на дом, за завръщането у дома, за това, което е домът за всеки от нас. И не само домът като мястото, където живеем, а всичко около този дом – определянето на мястото за градината, първото дърво, посадено от новия собственик на дома. И като казах “собственик” – всъщност ние ли притежаваме домовете или те нас? Не мога да се отърва от мисълта за дома, който не приема единия от своите обитатели – вратата, която “не иска” да се отключи, уредите, които не се подчиняват на ръцете, които ги докосват с неприязън, стените, които “шушнат”, когато между тях върви “неправилният”. човек
" - Сложи още пръст. Но не засипвай стъблото, там не бива да загнива! Не утъпквай с крака, дивак! Ще го задушиш! Това е първото ти дръвче в новата ти къща. Клекни
учтиво на четири крака и натискай пръстта с ръце. С малко сила и много нежност".
И ето, първото дърво е посадено и мястото започва да се превръща в дом.
Такъв дом, който не просто да ти осигурява защита от външния свят, дом, който не е просто мястото, където отиваш да спиш през нощта,
"Дом, който да те обгърне от всички страни, да ти даде покой и да утоли жаждата ти. Да се изградите един друг и да се изцелите един друг, да си смените взаимно пода и покрива, стените, вратите и прозорците, да си бъдете благодарни".
Защото домът има душа. И знае, усеща от какво има нужда “неговият човек”. И е готов да го даде… стига да го заслужим.
Но тази книга нямаше да е това, което е, ако не бяха гълъбите. Признавам, че никога не съм се замисляла особено за тези птици. Просто едни красиви, кротки наглед същества. Но тук те са символ – на дома, на вечното завръщане у дома. Пощенският гълъб не знае колко важно е съобщението, което носи. Той не лети, за да изпълни мисия. Просто иска да се прибере у дома.
"Те са като хората - казваше му тя. - Карат се, изневеряват си, хранят се заедно, копнеят за дома и получават разрив на сърцето".
Меир Шалев, "Момчето с гълъбите", прев. Емилия Юлзари
Както доста книги в последните години, така и в “Момчето с гълъбите” има две сюжетни линии. За разлика от други книги обаче, тук те не са ясно разграничени. Преливат се, застъпват се, вървят заедно и понякога “прескачането” от едната в другата е светкавично и неочаквано. Не очаквах разкритието накрая, изобщо не подозирах кое ще се окаже Момчето с гълъбите, нито се досещах по какъв начин ще е свързано с Яир. Към края имаше моменти, които ми се сториха не точно неправдоподобни, по-скоро нереални, като излезли от легенда или приказка.
Впечатли ме начинът, по който Яир говори за/ на майка си. В един момент говори за нея – “тя”, в следващото изречение вече се обръща към нея. Не ми стана ясна целта на този похват, но по някакъв странен начин ми хареса.
Отлагах дълго четенето на “Момчето с гълъбите”, но мисля, че я прочетох в точния момент. Радвам се, че го направих – това определено е една от книгите, които оставят трайни следи в паметта и душата.
May 10, 2020
I purchased this book in Israel in October 2018, when I visited my daughter. The little bookshop had english books on one side and Hebrew books on the other and was right down the street from my hotel. The story was beautiful and sad and also fascinating. Each character's life was rich with emotion. While the pigeons carried much of the story, I was enthralled by the "house" and Yair's desire for a place of his own, shaped by the women he loved.
February 8, 2017
It is a beautifully written story about first love. However, it is much more than that. It is a book about a home, not a house, but a home which takes on many different meanings in the story. It is a home which pigeons know how to find and fly to which is incredible by itself, especially when coupled with images of Israel. It is also a home for our first love which most people have in their heart and carry through life. It is a home where we want to feel unconditionally loved and accepted. It is a home which our lifelong friends love to visit. It is also about feeling at home in your country, which exists because of brave people who paid with their life for its freedom. Essentially, it is a story about peace, or home, within and the disappointments people experience when this inner peace is lacking.
I gave this book 4 stars and not 5 because I was disappointed with how the story ended. I was just hoping for a happier ending. However, analyzing the book a couple of weeks after finishing it, I think maybe there was point to the ending as well... and the point is that happy endings, unfortunately, don't happen very often.
I gave this book 4 stars and not 5 because I was disappointed with how the story ended. I was just hoping for a happier ending. However, analyzing the book a couple of weeks after finishing it, I think maybe there was point to the ending as well... and the point is that happy endings, unfortunately, don't happen very often.
January 23, 2018
Uitgelezen op amper twee dagen. Wat een verteller. Wat een verhaal. Wat een feest om dit boek te lezen. Ik houd echt van Meir Shalev. Zelfs de boeken van hem die ik minder vind, zijn nog meer dan de moeite waard… Mooi verhaal dit, alweer met dat exotische joodse tintje. Het gaat over die vreemde wereld van Jerusalem en Tel Aviv, over de smachtende mensen daar. Shalev heeft het over johannesbroodboominnen - want bomen zijn vrouwelijk -, joodse rituelen en gebruiken. Al lezend heel veel opgestoken over reisduiven, interessant! En enorm genoten van het verhaal over de verwekking van hoofdpersoon Ja’ared. Ongelooflijk romantisch en tegelijk zo dramatisch. Pas laat in het boek wordt duidelijk hoe de twee hoofdverhalen gelinkt zijn. Ik vertel niets, je leest het maar zelf. Ik deel enkel dit: ik ben weg van dit boek en mijn favoriete schrijver is nog een grotere favoriet geworden.
August 15, 2012
This book is about home. About how your home houses more that your body, but also your soul. Some of us live in the wrong home all of our lives and some of us are lucky to find the perfect fit. It is also about undying, deep, aching, love. And pigeons, yes, you will learn about carrier (homing - get it?!) pigeons. It has moments of beauty and jewels of phrases. Here is one of my favorites: The ground, which here is not corseted with cement and straitjacketed with asphalt, shifts in a slow, never-ending dance, while we - the houses, the trees, the people, the animals - are carried about in its arms, moving on its thin outer crust.
And you learn why sometimes an email just won't do. (If you're not going to read this you can ask me!)
Now, why didn't I give it 5 stars? Because, unfortunately, it was a bit of a slow read. For me, I was interested in what was going to happen but I was not gripped by it and could and did set the book down. Also, for me there were so many references to streets and places that I sometimes got muddled up.
And you learn why sometimes an email just won't do. (If you're not going to read this you can ask me!)
Now, why didn't I give it 5 stars? Because, unfortunately, it was a bit of a slow read. For me, I was interested in what was going to happen but I was not gripped by it and could and did set the book down. Also, for me there were so many references to streets and places that I sometimes got muddled up.
August 26, 2019
Romāns Balodis un zēns ietver un glabā sevī divus mīlestības stāstus. Tos šķir pieci gadu desmiti, un vienīgais, kas tos šķietami vieno, ir kaisle, ilgas, nezūdošā mīlestība. Taču patiesībā tos vieno, kas vairāk. Kaut kas prātam neaptverams. Kaut kas, kas pirmajā brīdī pēc izlasītā liek apstāties. Padomāt. Padomāt. Atgriezties un pārlasīt visu vēlreiz. Lai nosēžas. Lai iesakņojas visās saprāta šūniņās. Jo tas, ko mūsu acu priekšā uzbur autors, tas, kā viņš meistarīgi sasaistījis tos vienā veselumā, ir īsts brīnums.
Vairāk par grāmatu un sajūtām var lasīt blogā: https://gramatas.austra.lv/2019/08/26...
Vairāk par grāmatu un sajūtām var lasīt blogā: https://gramatas.austra.lv/2019/08/26...
October 18, 2019
Burvīgs stāsts par māju sajūtu un mīlestību, papildus bonusā interesanti fakti par pasta baložiem.
November 26, 2012
I just finished reading the incredible novel, A Pigeon and a Boy, by Meir Shalev. I purchased this book last week, and put it on the top of my tall stack of books to read. After reading the jacket, I decided it was a book I wanted to read, and must read, immediately. The book didn’t disappoint me in the least, in fact I was quite surprised, emotionally overwhelmed and amazed at the content and how it affected me.
I am still wrapped in the emotional aftermath from reading this incredible story of love and its power, enduring from the years before Israel’s independence, and through the decades to follow. I am reminded of the fragility of life. This novel details so brilliantly what once was, what could have been, what is, and what the present and future can hold.
The story line focuses on a destiny of sorts. During the 1948 War of Independence homing pigeons were often used to deliver messages to the war front. During one battle scene a pigeon handler dispatches one final pigeon, before his death, carrying one amazing message to the girl who awaits it on the receiving end, the girl he has loved since childhood.
The novel is rich in characters, characters with depth, and rich in vivid details that one can not only visualize, but our senses can also inhale, touch, taste and feel. We see the emotional waves and veins of life course through the years. Another character is Yair Mendelsohn, who is a tour guide, who specializes in bird-watching trips in modern day Israel. He seems lost in time’s continuum, stuck in another realm. His dying mother leaves him an inheritance, with which she would like him to build a house, a home, leaving him a few specifics on what she would like him to include in the landscape and structure.
Love from the past illuminates the pages of love in the present, co-joining the story line with breathtaking scenarios.
The novel is a metaphor for several things, including time and place, war, love and loss, family and what defines “home”. Is home an illumination or place in the heart, is it a physical place, is it genetic memory surfacing, is it a place we can return to, renovate, build, or is it all of those, some of, or none of those things? These are questions we are left to ponder after reading this exellent novel, written with insight and sensitivity to life and to nature, and a universal and extraordinary story, a novel that Meier Shalev has written so beautifully and masterfully, a novel on the wings of love, that touches the core of one’s soul, one’s heart.
The heart-wrenching novel will stay with me for a long time.
March 13, 2020
An uncharacteristic love story, as only Shalev can tell it. Set partly during the Israeli war for independence, this is the story of two homing pigeon handlers in love. It is also partly set in modern times, 50 years later, which is about a nebbish-type who wanders in and out of his life looking for love and a home, despite being quite married and quite homeful. He learns about the pigeon handler's story during his work as a tour guide ferrying around bird watchers.
There's a lot more to it than that, but I don't want to spoil anything. The denouement is particularly astonishing and bizarre, but again, Meir Shalev excels at lingering around that boundary between the believable and unbelievable, unlike a pigeon, whose path you can always follow, in his novels, you're never quite sure what the hell lies around the next corner.
There's a lot more to it than that, but I don't want to spoil anything. The denouement is particularly astonishing and bizarre, but again, Meir Shalev excels at lingering around that boundary between the believable and unbelievable, unlike a pigeon, whose path you can always follow, in his novels, you're never quite sure what the hell lies around the next corner.
August 23, 2011
From the description, this sounded like a lovely book, but it was a big disappointment for me. It took a long time for the story to get started and there were very few characters that I would call likeable. In fact, the main character, Yair, was extremely un-likeable. There were also some parts of the story that defied belief. I did like the parts about caring for the homing pigeons. Thought there was far, far too much detail about house renovations. I did like the way the two threads tied together, and the story did get better toward the end, but by then I was just reading to finish it.
November 5, 2019
Šajā grāmatā ir ļoti daudz simbolisma un mīlestība nebūt nav vienīgā stāsta līnija (vai divas). Ievelk Izraēlā, ebreju kultūrā un dzīvē jau no pirmās lappuses un liek alkt pēc vēl.
Plašāk blogā:
http://lalksne.blogspot.com/2019/11/m...
Plašāk blogā:
http://lalksne.blogspot.com/2019/11/m...
July 26, 2014
I really tried to like this book but was frustrated by a number of things:
- The story took a really long time to develop so it was hard to get into.
- At the beginning, I was very confused by the narration. It jumped back and forth in time and it wasn't clear who was narrating about what.
- I wish the stories had been more closely woven to one another in a more poetic way. At the end, it felt rushed and forced and was almost too simple. The author could have done more to weave them together (through symbolism or specifics regarding the characters).
- I dont quite understand why Yair is a pseudo birdwatcher. To allude to the fact that his parents were pigeon carriers but he wasnt fully connected to his past? I feel like there should be something important there but it wasnt clear.
- I do not understand why he killed and ate the pigeon. Given the significance of pigeons to his mother (who he loved)and his father, I thought he would love them as opposed to being so violent (did he really have to attack it, behead it, pluck it and then EAT it??). I am trying to understand the symbolic significance of this scene (e.g., is he rejecting his past? did he need to free himself from his mother's memory?) but I cant seem to make sense of it. I also thought it was interesting that Tirzah said they had to get rid of the pigeon nests and was also very mean to them. Given that pigeons are the reason he was even born, I didnt understand the rejection of them but perhaps that's the point(?).
- I found the relationship between Gershon, Yair, and Tirzah to be disturbing (they touched each other while Gershon watched and told them what to do?!) and did not understand why they kept alluding to a relationship between Benjamin and Liora and himself and Zohar.
- The chances of his mother impregnating herself with a few drops of semen is hardly believable, but I was willing to overlook that. What I thought was unnecessary was the detail regarding the spoon and syringe and Dr. Laufer finding her naked in the barn. Also, what are the chances that she'd just fall asleep in a barn when she had just found out that her beloved was killed in battle? This is yet another example of the overly descriptive and jarring scenes sprinkled throughout the book that seemed to be there to incite the audience (like unnecessary sex scenes in bad movies).
- I, too, do not understand why he went to get Liora at the end. She is such an annoying and obnoxious character. I understand his desire to show her what he had accomplished (since he always felt so inferior to her); however, he didnt even pay for the house himself and he didnt even build it himself. His mother paid it for him (reaffirming his over dependence on her) and his mistress, who actually loved him, built it, so it wasnt truly his accomplishment. This choice made me dislike him even more. In the end he was always just a whiny momma's boy, who always disliked himself (due to his short stature and darker skin), lacked confidence, never accomplished anything, and never could get anything done for himself and on his own. He simply lived in the shadows of others while hating himself for it.
- The story took a really long time to develop so it was hard to get into.
- At the beginning, I was very confused by the narration. It jumped back and forth in time and it wasn't clear who was narrating about what.
- I wish the stories had been more closely woven to one another in a more poetic way. At the end, it felt rushed and forced and was almost too simple. The author could have done more to weave them together (through symbolism or specifics regarding the characters).
- I dont quite understand why Yair is a pseudo birdwatcher. To allude to the fact that his parents were pigeon carriers but he wasnt fully connected to his past? I feel like there should be something important there but it wasnt clear.
- I do not understand why he killed and ate the pigeon. Given the significance of pigeons to his mother (who he loved)and his father, I thought he would love them as opposed to being so violent (did he really have to attack it, behead it, pluck it and then EAT it??). I am trying to understand the symbolic significance of this scene (e.g., is he rejecting his past? did he need to free himself from his mother's memory?) but I cant seem to make sense of it. I also thought it was interesting that Tirzah said they had to get rid of the pigeon nests and was also very mean to them. Given that pigeons are the reason he was even born, I didnt understand the rejection of them but perhaps that's the point(?).
- I found the relationship between Gershon, Yair, and Tirzah to be disturbing (they touched each other while Gershon watched and told them what to do?!) and did not understand why they kept alluding to a relationship between Benjamin and Liora and himself and Zohar.
- The chances of his mother impregnating herself with a few drops of semen is hardly believable, but I was willing to overlook that. What I thought was unnecessary was the detail regarding the spoon and syringe and Dr. Laufer finding her naked in the barn. Also, what are the chances that she'd just fall asleep in a barn when she had just found out that her beloved was killed in battle? This is yet another example of the overly descriptive and jarring scenes sprinkled throughout the book that seemed to be there to incite the audience (like unnecessary sex scenes in bad movies).
- I, too, do not understand why he went to get Liora at the end. She is such an annoying and obnoxious character. I understand his desire to show her what he had accomplished (since he always felt so inferior to her); however, he didnt even pay for the house himself and he didnt even build it himself. His mother paid it for him (reaffirming his over dependence on her) and his mistress, who actually loved him, built it, so it wasnt truly his accomplishment. This choice made me dislike him even more. In the end he was always just a whiny momma's boy, who always disliked himself (due to his short stature and darker skin), lacked confidence, never accomplished anything, and never could get anything done for himself and on his own. He simply lived in the shadows of others while hating himself for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2023
"Момчето с гълъбите" е сплав от няколко човешки истории, свързани по неочакван начин една с друга. Някои от тях са на гълъбари, други - не, обаче косвено всички те разказват колко кратък и колко свързан с другите е човешкият живот. Как всички живеем на тази земя, раняваме се и си помагаме, а поколенията ни се сменят както поколенията гълъби в една гълАбарна.
"Момчето с гълъбите" е любовен роман, но едновременно с това е и история, пропита с мек антивоенен патос, защото на тази земя, от която идва Меир Шалев, войната никога не е свършвала. Но и вкусът към живота не е преставал да удържа хората заедно.
"Здравей, дом" е едно от изреченията, които винаги ще помня от Меир Шалев. Намерете си и вие едно :)
"Момчето с гълъбите" е любовен роман, но едновременно с това е и история, пропита с мек антивоенен патос, защото на тази земя, от която идва Меир Шалев, войната никога не е свършвала. Но и вкусът към живота не е преставал да удържа хората заедно.
"Здравей, дом" е едно от изреченията, които винаги ще помня от Меир Шалев. Намерете си и вие едно :)
June 11, 2011
I throughly enjoyed this novel, which jumps back and forth between 1948 Israeli independence battles and the present, with much about carrier-pigeons and ordinary birds. It is very much a (very confusing) love story, with some magical realism here and there but not enough to drive me crazy.
July 1, 2024
לסקירה מפורטת בעברית, קישור לבלוג שלי -
https://sivi-the-avid-reader.com/יונה...
https://sivi-the-avid-reader.com/יונה...
March 31, 2019
נפלא כל כך!
חגיגה של שפה וסיפור שרק מאיר שלו מסוגל לכתוב.
חגיגה של שפה וסיפור שרק מאיר שלו מסוגל לכתוב.
December 26, 2024
It seems like an ordinary story to me. Maybe not so common. Maybe not so usual and not as used by other authors. But still quite ordinary. And yet an ordinary story told by an artist in a very creative manner is always a good choice for the reader.
Unfortunately, one detail stands out from the ordinary. It’s the length of the book. Surprisingly, the second half of the book, where the chapters get smaller and smaller, feels longer than it needs to. Too long. At least the first half seems more readable and shorter.
Fortunately, there is another extraordinary detail. Or rather, the character. Meshulam is so charismatic and cheerful that the main characters seem dull in front of him. And his sharp expressions are full of humor and wisdom.
Unfortunately, one detail stands out from the ordinary. It’s the length of the book. Surprisingly, the second half of the book, where the chapters get smaller and smaller, feels longer than it needs to. Too long. At least the first half seems more readable and shorter.
Fortunately, there is another extraordinary detail. Or rather, the character. Meshulam is so charismatic and cheerful that the main characters seem dull in front of him. And his sharp expressions are full of humor and wisdom.
May 23, 2019
Errmm…. This is an amazing book except for one crucial event in the plot which was bizarre and unbelievable. I even found it rather disturbing. It is a shame really, because the rest of the book is very well written. So if you don’t mind just one stain, there are many things about the book to appreciate. If you do mind, then skip it.
It is not apparent at first, but the story is essentially about love and relationships. It starts with the release of a pigeon from a dying pigeon handler during 1948 Israeli conflict. The plot is then woven around, well, pigeons and carrier pigeons in particular. Once trained, carrier pigeons will remarkably find their way back to their home, wherever they are released. There are parallels in the story. How certain individuals are drawn back to a certain place, person or relationship.
Many different relationships are explored. There are spousal, parents and children and sibling relationships. There are first loves, extra-marital affair, loss of a spouse, loss of a grown up child, loss of unborn child. There is physical attraction, emotional and psychological attraction, sibling rivalry, competition for affection and approval, favouritism, inferiority, guilt and responsibility. There is excitement and opportunity, also regret and resentment.
The characters are multi-layered. From the enigmatic, strong-willed, domineering and detached Mother, to the fastidious, obsessive, dutiful, ritualistic Yordad, you learn more about each character as each layer is removed. Probably the purest love was displayed, not by a main character, but by a supporting one, Meshulam Fried. He is my favourite character, self-made, resourceful, influential, steady, faithful and generous. The feeblest character was the protagonist, Yair.
The prose is splendid. Metaphors are frequently used. Some parts are very descriptive, sometimes even lyrical. There are many elements which are brought together so naturally and harmoniously.
“The old lion was lying in wait on an armchair in the corner of the lobby, alert and smelling of aftershave. His eyes and his watch glowed in the dim light, his white mane coiffed, his wrinkles deep, his silver eye-brows standing on end.”
“The house and its mistress, she and her abode. The large, light-coloured rooms just like her, and the proper angles just like hers, she of her wealth, of the whitewashed walls of her body, of the marvelous distance between the windows of her eyes.”
“I wonder whether this time I will manage to enter the apartment without incurring the wrath of the front door. When Liora opens it, the door swivels on its hinges in obedient silence, but with me it makes itself heard, a groan of sorrow upon my arrival and a clarion call of joy upon my departure, often accompanied by a shriek of alarm.”
The plot is actually made up of two different threads. It alternates between the two storylines and moves back and forth in time. The two narratives eventually merge neatly and suddenly many of the enigmas become clear, although not all.
The weak points:
But the disturbing event was
It was shame to find a blemish in this otherwise splendid, finely crafted, unexpected gem of a book.
It is not apparent at first, but the story is essentially about love and relationships. It starts with the release of a pigeon from a dying pigeon handler during 1948 Israeli conflict. The plot is then woven around, well, pigeons and carrier pigeons in particular. Once trained, carrier pigeons will remarkably find their way back to their home, wherever they are released. There are parallels in the story. How certain individuals are drawn back to a certain place, person or relationship.
Many different relationships are explored. There are spousal, parents and children and sibling relationships. There are first loves, extra-marital affair, loss of a spouse, loss of a grown up child, loss of unborn child. There is physical attraction, emotional and psychological attraction, sibling rivalry, competition for affection and approval, favouritism, inferiority, guilt and responsibility. There is excitement and opportunity, also regret and resentment.
The characters are multi-layered. From the enigmatic, strong-willed, domineering and detached Mother, to the fastidious, obsessive, dutiful, ritualistic Yordad, you learn more about each character as each layer is removed. Probably the purest love was displayed, not by a main character, but by a supporting one, Meshulam Fried. He is my favourite character, self-made, resourceful, influential, steady, faithful and generous. The feeblest character was the protagonist, Yair.
The prose is splendid. Metaphors are frequently used. Some parts are very descriptive, sometimes even lyrical. There are many elements which are brought together so naturally and harmoniously.
“The old lion was lying in wait on an armchair in the corner of the lobby, alert and smelling of aftershave. His eyes and his watch glowed in the dim light, his white mane coiffed, his wrinkles deep, his silver eye-brows standing on end.”
“The house and its mistress, she and her abode. The large, light-coloured rooms just like her, and the proper angles just like hers, she of her wealth, of the whitewashed walls of her body, of the marvelous distance between the windows of her eyes.”
“I wonder whether this time I will manage to enter the apartment without incurring the wrath of the front door. When Liora opens it, the door swivels on its hinges in obedient silence, but with me it makes itself heard, a groan of sorrow upon my arrival and a clarion call of joy upon my departure, often accompanied by a shriek of alarm.”
The plot is actually made up of two different threads. It alternates between the two storylines and moves back and forth in time. The two narratives eventually merge neatly and suddenly many of the enigmas become clear, although not all.
The weak points:
But the disturbing event was
It was shame to find a blemish in this otherwise splendid, finely crafted, unexpected gem of a book.
May 22, 2015
Shalev is a masterful storyteller and though I thought of rating this a four, a flawed book by Shalev is more brilliant than a thousand "perfect" books. So, I will say, there were a few things about this book that were a bit heavy-handed, and a few things frustrating and annoying. I'll get that out of the way though I won't go on about what I didn't like at this point, because I want to say what moved me.
This is a strange, lively, inquisitive story about home and not home, about finding a way to the home within oneself, and about love that can be a kind of home and love that simply can't. There are different kinds of love that people have with each other in this book, and each kind of love has its compelling qualities and richness. I think, in the end, though, there is a belief in this novel that vibrant intimacy with the other requires some knowledge of the self and of the earth. And a sense of wonder about our physical and spiritual existence. Sensuality takes on new meanings in a Shalev novel because there is a love of place, of the earth's fertility, violence and inventiveness that seems to me very unique and yet particularly Israeli. I think somewhere in here is a message that we can carry ourselves within ourselves and from that place we can reach out to the other, or we can fail to be internally connected at which point it is very hard to share a life.
I loved all the bird stories in here, all the pigeon stuff, the brokenness of some people and the wholeness of others. The acceptance of how short and bright and imperfect life must be, even with all the radiance of fated (fateful?) loves.
I am always fascinated by and curious about Shalev's obsessions with twins and twinning. There are actual twins, but I'm talking mainly in a metaphorical sense. I should write examples here but now I can't remember any of them, except for the basic repetition of this idea of people looking like each other or not looking like each other. It's in here a lot in many guises. I thought about it the whole way through and remember similar things in "Four Meals." (I've also read "The Blue Mountain" but it has been many years and I don't recall.)
This is a strange, lively, inquisitive story about home and not home, about finding a way to the home within oneself, and about love that can be a kind of home and love that simply can't. There are different kinds of love that people have with each other in this book, and each kind of love has its compelling qualities and richness. I think, in the end, though, there is a belief in this novel that vibrant intimacy with the other requires some knowledge of the self and of the earth. And a sense of wonder about our physical and spiritual existence. Sensuality takes on new meanings in a Shalev novel because there is a love of place, of the earth's fertility, violence and inventiveness that seems to me very unique and yet particularly Israeli. I think somewhere in here is a message that we can carry ourselves within ourselves and from that place we can reach out to the other, or we can fail to be internally connected at which point it is very hard to share a life.
I loved all the bird stories in here, all the pigeon stuff, the brokenness of some people and the wholeness of others. The acceptance of how short and bright and imperfect life must be, even with all the radiance of fated (fateful?) loves.
I am always fascinated by and curious about Shalev's obsessions with twins and twinning. There are actual twins, but I'm talking mainly in a metaphorical sense. I should write examples here but now I can't remember any of them, except for the basic repetition of this idea of people looking like each other or not looking like each other. It's in here a lot in many guises. I thought about it the whole way through and remember similar things in "Four Meals." (I've also read "The Blue Mountain" but it has been many years and I don't recall.)
February 9, 2012
This is an absolutely beautiful story from beginning to end. The prose is gorgeous and captivating, allowing the reader to thoroughly feel the setting and the emotions. The story takes place in two time periods, present day Israel and pre-1948 war Palestine. It isn't clear from the start how the two stories will come together, but I never found it confusing or difficult that two stories were being told. When it does all come together, it is in a very satisfying way. The more modern story involves Yair, a young-ish Israeli man. He tells the story of his childhood, his parents and brother, the small and big things that happen in their lives living in both Tel Aviv and then Jerusalem. The older story takes place mainly on a kibbutz, but also in a few other areas of the country as the young man in the story grows up. The stories involve love and loss, family relationships, and personal growth. It is not primarily a story of Jews and Arabs or of politics. Although in some ways the story could have been set in another country, in some ways it felt very Israeli (I could not describe why, maybe just the personalities), and it made me miss Israel and long to visit again. I highly recommend this book and will look for more books by Meir Shalev.
June 10, 2011
A Pigeon and a Boy is a love story really, but not like any you’ve read before. It takes place during the Israeli War of Independence in 1948 and the present. There are links between the two but it would ruin the book for readers to explain what they are. Suffice to say that Yair Mendelsohn, the central character, makes a life-changing decision to make a home of his own and in the quest to find his own identity makes some interesting discoveries about himself and his family. Yair, whose father wanted him to become a doctor, instead became a tour guide specializing in bird-watching trips, and there are interesting threads to follow up about different kinds of healing.
To see the rest of my review please visit http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/201...
To see the rest of my review please visit http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/201...
March 15, 2015
I was living in Israel the first time I read a borrowed copy of this. I loved it and bought a copy of it for myself only to give it away as a gift to someone who never opened it.
I love this book. I could taste the olives, feel the hot air, hear the distinctive voices of the characters and underneath, feel the cruelty of war and the necessity of belonging.
Usually, the books I love are ones I can't put down, but A Pigeon and a Boy was different. I read it slowly and over time. Even with the translation from Hebrew to English the pace and the words were worth savoring.
I love this book. I could taste the olives, feel the hot air, hear the distinctive voices of the characters and underneath, feel the cruelty of war and the necessity of belonging.
Usually, the books I love are ones I can't put down, but A Pigeon and a Boy was different. I read it slowly and over time. Even with the translation from Hebrew to English the pace and the words were worth savoring.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 439 reviews