Instead of nominations for our book of August 2022

[Jan]

This month we noticed we had a ready-made slate of nominations under the topic Books on Israel. So, instead of nominations on some other topic, here are the first 10 suggestions for books on Israel that are available and that are not already on the group's bookshelves.

These choices do not mean that the books suggested later are lesser suggestions. Please take all the suggestions and for that matter all the books already on our shelves as ideas for future reading.

(These three suggestions are already on our bookshelf: Spies of No Country: Secret Lives at the Birth of Israel, A Tale of Love and Darkness, and Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem and Divided a Nation. The fact that they are already there shows great minds run in the same channels. 😘)

The first 10 viable suggestions are going to be the candidates for the poll for August book-of-the-month. This is not the poll. It will be soon. Not all the books are histories but they all about Israel. Here they are:

1. Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn by Daniel Gordis, used copies available although Kindle is pricey, good chance it'll be in your library. Leans toward the politically conservative, dare I say.

2. Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle, by Dan Senor. Plenty of used copies, although, again, Kindle isn't cheap. No longer in my public library. Some might say boosterism

3. Can We Talk About Israel?: A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted by Daniel Sokatch. Because it's new, used books are not such a great option here. Kindle just under $10, hardback around $20. Leans toward the liberal, in the American sense, that is, leftward. Not in my library (yet?).

4. Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth by Noa Tishby. Won't be out in paperback until September, so no bargain copies, but my library has one; yours may too. I enjoyed reading some of the Goodreads reviews. Seems to cut across political lines to some extent, and highly rated except by those to whom Israel's existence is an affront

5. Genesis 1948: The First Arab-Israeli War by Dan Kurzman. Originally published 1972 and currently $3.38 on Amazon, so the price is right. A "classic" view???

6. Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East by Michael Oren. From 2001. Inexpensive used copies available over the internet, plus it is in my library and may be in yours. Will be a perspective that's prior to recent developments. Obviously.

7. Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier's Story of a Forgotten War. Available used at bargain prices and may be in your library. A look at Israel through the lens of an episode during the war in Lebanon.

8. My Wild Garden: Notes from a Writer's Eden by Meir Shalev, from 2017. Available used in the $12 -$15 range, once postage and handling is included. Is not in my library. This book is different; a look at Israel through the poetic lens of a garden. Many good reviews. This author has been totally under the radar for me: how surprised I am to find four of his previous books on our bookshelf (but not this one).

9. Side by Side: Parallel Histories of Israel-Palestine, $14.39 on Amazon and some used out there for $10-$11, when postage is included. Said to be basic and both frustrating and helpful. A view of Israel through the lens of the conflict. From 2011, so won't reflect more recent Middle Eastern developments

10. Israel: A History by Anita Shapira. Hails from 2012. Considered nonpartisan and authoritative. Used copies in the $10-$11 range; sadly isn't in my public library.

I have stopped with ten books for the purpose of the poll. This is not the poll but just a list of the books that will be on the poll. Mostly I used suggestions in the order they were made. I omitted one that was too expensive and also I stuck to nonfiction this time. If you are concerned that your suggestion was omitted, please contact me via a private message. Please comment if you can enlighten us further about any of the candidates. If you hate or love one of them, reflect that in your vote. Again, this isn't the poll. Will set up the poll soon. And, I expect, we'll be back to regular nominations next month.

[Jan]

This poll is set up to begin at midnight Wednesday, or, technically, Thursday 12:01 AM. Once the poll is open I can send you the usual email and link. If you see this comment 1st, you can scroll to the poll at the very bottom of the group home page, or click on "polls" with the navigational tools. I can legitimately say 'vote early and often,' since you can change your vote for as long as the poll is open. Happy voting!
Jan