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Homeland: The Illustrated History of the State of Israel earns five stars for many reasons – not because it has voluminous depth of detail, but because it provides an incredible amount of significant details in such a concise manner. Wolfman, Ruiz and Rubin’s graphic history is magnificently illustrated and its facts, though often shocking and even disheartening, are presented in an encouraging way to keep the reader moving forward. I was up until 2am the day after receiving the book for review and managed to get to the year 1948. I wanted to continue - and would have - to the book's conclusion had my leaden eyelids permitted me.
Homeland is, for lack of a better descriptive, a highly illustrated timeline. If one seeks a solid foundation from which to build further study and research about Israel, this is the book to have. Rather than presenting long, elaborate explanations that often cause confusion and frustration, shorter independent captions build one upon the next like stones of a building.
There is a sense of pride in the writing, but not an arrogant pride whose perspective can never be trusted. Rather, Homeland's pride is joyful, grateful, humble, confident, ever cognizant of the obstacles overcome and the tremendous sacrifices made by those committed to the underlying goal. Ultimately, Homeland is an acknowledgment of Israel's yearning for peace and honor among the nations of the world.
Like many people, I have read the newspaper articles throughout the years about the ongoing conflicts in this region of the world. At so far a remove, they are difficult to internalize and gain clarity about in the same way the people living amid the conflict do. Long ago I threw up my hands in frustration and eventually stopped watching news broadcasts about the seemingly unending conflicts. The names changed, but there appeared little movement toward lasting peace and healing. Homeland: The Illustrated History of the State of Israel compels me to want to know more about Israel, to catch up if it were possible and understand better these people of hope among conflict, people of joy despite great loss and sadness, people dedicated to the cause of peace and unafraid to stand up for what is rightfully theirs.
Homeland deserves its place on the list of "must reads" for 2009 and on a bookshelf in every academic institution. Serious students shouldn’t miss reading this, for in learning about the State of Israel, they are opening windows onto the history of the world.
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Susan Cronk/2009 for curled
up with a good kid's book |
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visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)
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Homeland: The Illustrated History of the State of Israel