Dara Harow, the daughter of a rocket physicist for the US department of defense, sends her parents into a tailspin of dual-loyalty anxiety when she plans to wed Roni Ben-Ari, an Israeli officer in an elite counter-terrorist unit. When the Harows are targeted by a terror cell in hot pursuit of technology not yet found in any country's arsenal, Dara finds herself at the center of a hierarchy of terror that threatens her life and the lives of those she loves. The Gilboa Iris is a blazing tale of romance, deceit and international intrigue. Its rich characters and explosive plot take readers from Israel's Gilboa Mountains to the streets of New York, to Germany's Zehlendorf Forest, and back to Israel amid seminal events that rocked the world between 1983 and 2002.
Spanning the years 1982 to 2002, the settings in The Gilboa Iris are many including Israel’s Gilboa Mountains, New York City and Germany’s Zehlendorf Forest.
It’s the love story between Dara Harow, an American, and Roni Ben-Ari, an Israeli soldier. They meet and fall in love on an Israeli kibbutz, but little do they know how their love will be challenged. The first of these challenges is Dara’s loyalty to her parents who disapprove of Roni. Many more challenges follow, creating a spine tingling mystery.
The characters are well developed to the point that, at times, you will likely feel Dara’s happiness and loneliness as well as her harrowing experiences. Her time in New York City is particularly chilling and suspenseful. If I have one criticism it would be that the author did not continue this intensity as Dara tried to return to Israel.
This is Zahava Englard’s first sojourn into the realm of fiction and given The Gilboa Iris, I believe it would be a travesty if it was her last. This is a wonderful story full of romance, mystery and intrigue.
Going into this novel was somewhat of a mystery for me….. I received it as a read and review for one of the book clubs that I belong too….. I started reading with absolutely no expectations at all. Hoping for just a really interesting and good read, sonrisa….
I was filled with many emotions…. First utter sadness {not truly understanding why at first}, after reading the wonderful quotes that “Author Zahava D. Englard” included from such people as “Emily Dickinson” and “Dietrich Bonheoffer {Who was a Participant in the German Resistance against Nazism}”….. Then the touching dedication to her three Daughter’s….. I was given pause by the {Credo of the Muslim Brotherhood} included right before the quotes and right after the dedication to her Daughter’s…. The order of which may have had something to do with my pause, I am not sure….. Then as I moved on to the Prologue that takes place in “Israel, 2001”, all I could do was hold my breath and know in my heart, that this was not only going to be a very interesting novel….but that it was going to be one of those novels that totally changes you from Deep within your Heart and Soul…..
I was right!!!..... “Author Zahava D. Englard’s” Heart and Soul has been poured into and Displayed for all who has the privilege to ever read this Amazing and poignantly emotional read, to truly come to feel such emotions as { Love, Hate, Understand, Want to Understand, but truly not totally Know How, Empathize, Sympathize and Embrace }, such a Human Story…. That reaches all Barriers, Breaking through all Perceptions, and Gripping the Souls of All, {who have ever truly experienced that kind of Loss…. The kind that Cripple’s your Very Essence}….
A Triumph of Literary Excellence to “Author Zahava D. Englard” and her Novel “The Gilboa Iris”…. To Peer within the Soul of a person, you only have to view Life through Their Eyes and Feel it through their Emotions and Heart….. “Author Zahava D. Englard” has truly given you this opportunity, sonrisa. I can say that I am Forever Touched….
Reviewed By: De Ann “Native” Townes Jr. Author of “Peer Inside My Soul and See Me” Note: Received a copy for reviewing purposes:
This is an excellent book! I love it when I read a wonderful captivating book that has a great plot and moving, real characters. The Gilboa Iris met all these qualifications for me. Dara Harrow is a strong minded teenager, who against the wishes of her parents, chooses to leave her home and family to go work in a kibbutz located at Mount Gilboa in Israel. She is following an idealistic interest fostered by her cherished elderly grandfather who is from Isreal, although he lives in the US with Dara and her family.
At the kibbutz, Dara makes many open and wonderful friends. She is also attracted to a brooding mysterious man, Ahron Ben-Ari, called Roni by his friends. This is the beginning of a heart wrenching story filled with international intrigue, deceit perpetrated by several people that she loves, betrayal, the unconditional love of two men who make sacrifices for their love of her, her own feeling of pain and loss and her own loyalty and love that breached all circumstances.
Although the author is an outspoken activist on behalf of Israel, this book is not a political statement. It is a realistic fictional rendering of the lives of people who live in the world of the Israeli people, and the sacrifices that can be made by people who live there. Dara is wonderful rounded person. As you learn to know Ahron Ben-Ari you discover a man who has been damaged by life circumstances, a man who is protective and passionate in love,a man who will sacrifice everything; his love, his happiness and even his life for his country.
I was so intrigued that I went on line to check out some of the places, terms and events that are mentioned in this book. It has been a learning experience, as well as a wonderful read for me.
I highly recommend this book.
Gloria Antypowich
(Reviewers note: I read this book on my Kindle. I did find repetitive formatting errors that stopped me at first until I realized that it is probably due to the ebook conversion. Other than that the book is well edited.)
THE GILBOA IRIS is a passionate story - emotion emanates from every page. It is a story of romance, intrigue, suspense, love, happiness, tragedy and abject despair. The descriptions of the kibbutz and kibbutz life, the Gilboa Mountains and other locations in Israel are a special part of this book. The characters of Dara Harrow and Roni Ben-Ari, indeed all the characters of this book, were beautifully developed and detailed. About halfway through the book, it hit me - I knew what the outcome of the book was going to be. I cried. I didn’t know if I could continue. I did continue reading and I am glad that I did, as THE GILBOA IRIS is very special and has left a lasting impression on me. The conversation at the end of the book on the Mount of Olives was very poignant. The questioning of hope and optimism is a universal concern. An interesting aside (for me) was the mention of Mossad knowledge of the planning of the 9/11 attacks. The U.S. didn’t acknowledge or give credence to these warnings. I could never take this as fact, but it is interesting and painful to think about. I sincerely hope Zahava Englard gives the public more of her writing.
The Gilboa Iris gives us a fast paced, engrossing, beautifully written look into the sacrifices Israelis take to keep their loved ones safe from the scourge of terror that is too much a part of this world. A fast and engrossing read, with twists and turns that satisfy, it gives us the Israeli hero that is now a dying breed in literature - self assured, intent on protecting his nation - with a smart, idealistic heroine to match.
This was a fun read that was hard to put down. It gives a different perspective of Israel than is seen in most of the media and has a great mix of intrigue tragedy and romance. An enjoyable experience with a look into another world.
Loved it. So want the author to write a follow up. Thought about it for weeks after. Felt like it was all the good of Faye Kellerman, without any of the complexities. Really enjoyed it.
I just finished reading The Gilboa Iris in less than 24 hours from start to finish. This book has everything I need in a novel: intriguing and layered characters, flawless writing, and an intense realistic setting. Dara, the protagonist, is both unique and familiar; it's impossible not to feel like a part of her personal triumphs and tragedies. Rather than a typical suspense novel with an accompanying love story, this book is first a romance, yet it takes place in a time and setting of terror and espionage. This is a stunning debut as the writer's first novel, and I admit that I am disappointed that she has not published any novels since.
Can I say that I enjoyed this book very much, although I found parts about the threat of attacks from nearby villages as covered very superficially, while the anything about Israel itself written as if by a teenager. I also found the part where Dara returns to the US dealt with so quickly, her Pops dies...she walks in and finds her parents murdered. No build up, just felt rushed, lacking any depth of emotion. Take those parts out and the characters themselves were written wonderfully. The relationships were covered in a most realistic, moving way that pulls the reader in and you can't put the book down until the last page is done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The Gilboa Iris had me completely captivated. This novel was romantic in every sense of the word. It's dazzling, raw, and enlightening! The characters were dynamic and full of life. I felt as if I was right there with the characters experiencing what they were experiencing. The novel captures the essence of Judaism and Israeli culture beautifully, shedding light on real-life struggles and hardships. The plot was thrilling, poignant, and engaging in every way. I did not want to put this book down nor did I want it to end. Thank you Zahava for an honest, compelling, and touching read.
Now, going in this novel I unfortunately had a lot of preconceived biases working against my enjoyment. Firstly, I'm not a big fan of harlequin style "Danielle Steele/JD Robb" romances. Second, while I'm all for political and ideological declarations (even ones I might not agree or completely agree with) a requisite amount of authorial skill is needed in order to fully carry the message through adroitly. And here, unfortunately, is where Ms. Englard, for me, falls short. She writes with an aggrieved and understandable passion about Israel and its place in the world as the first, last, and only true sanctuary for the world's Jews but unfortunately undercuts her message with a rose tinted jingoism that suffocates much of the text to the point of being, well, kind of blackly comic. Having been born in Israel and having lived there for a bit myself, I can definitely see this as the work of an outsider looking in as, to put it bluntly, most native born Israelis are a lot more cognizant about their country, their government, and their enemies than Ms. Englard seems to be; her bellows to the native sabra who's served in the army, fought in war, raised their children, lost their friends and/or family, are more than likely going to come off as startlingly naive and myopic.
Now, I don't pretend (at all) to be an expert in the matsav (situation) in Israel or the greater Middle East for that matter. But I do know that the situation is so much more nuanced and painful because of that nuance, then Ms. Englard portrays it. It's not just black and white, it's not just good vs. evil, and just because you feel your/'our' (my wretched freethinking secular self comes calling) God is behind your particular fundamentalist interpretation of doctrine versus some other tribes' God...well, the quickest and most diplomatic thing I can say is "Good luck with all that, tell me how it works out".
There is enjoyment to be had in this text, though. Even if it's sparing Ms. Englard is at her best when she just writes without the fetters of an ideological agenda dragging her down. Granted, I'm not a fan of the kind of romance she utilizes in this book (more than once it comes off as more than a little unnerving that the protagonist Dara is stalked, coerced, manipulated, and bullied all with 'good intentions' by her loves, friends and family, in these moments she comes off like a twelve year old) I still think she'd do better with more editing and less obsession with her jingoist paean to 'her' Israel.
So, in the words of Thomas Mann by way of Steppenwolf, this text might not be (also paraphrasing George Costanza now that I think of it) 'for me'. But good writing shines irrespective of genre, so I believe so anyway. And so, sadly, is the inverse. Maybe Ms. Englard will improve with time and subsequent novels, I hope she does as I will be more than willing to give her another chance.
Not very often do I find a book that so captures my attention that I almost literally cannot put it down. I had many other things I should have been doing on a Friday night, but I was unable to do them. I absolutely had to finish this book! In fact, I got to a really exciting point last night, and I did not want to go to sleep!
When I began reading this book, I knew absolutely nothing about it. It seemed fine to begin with. Roni and Dara are star-crossed lovers, love at fist sight--the usual stuff. I have to admit that I wasn't even that interested during the first 30 pages of reading or so. But I was quite smitten with Roni. Give me a rough, strong guy who knows what he wants and doesn't beat around the bush--yes, that is Roni. They made such a sweet couple.
What I did not see coming was the international intrigue and espionage. In fact, there was much I did not see coming. The story seemed normal until Dara returned to the U.S. And the twists and turns did not stop. The more I read, the more I was on edge. I kept telling my mom that I had to finish the book so I would know if I was right or not!
All I will say is that I mostly figured out the direction the story was going. But the author still kept me on the edge of my seat. The book was one wild ride with sweet (not sappy) romance along the way! I connected with this book on so many levels, and it has quickly become my current favorite read.
Okay, it had some minor profanity throughout, but I will tell you, that none of it truly offended me because of how it was used. And although there were implied bedroom scenes, they were not described in any kind of detail. In fact, a part of me truly enjoyed the physical relationship between Roni and Dara. His indomitable sense of humor always showed through.
I do not believe I have read a book that takes place in Israel since I was college age. The author is incredibly knowledgeable about her people. I even managed to learn something that I did not remember ever reading in the Bible concerning Mt. Gilboa. I will let you discover the meaning behind the title of this book--which is quite clever, by the way.
I would recommend this book to lovers of history, fiction, romances, thrillers, and Jewish literature. You will not be sorry that you picked up this book. I would say more about this book, but I don't want to give it away. This is a fabulous debut novel, and I understand now why the book has been rated so highly.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100 percent mine, and I was not financially compensated.
I thought this book was really great. It is a book that usually would not have interested me by just reading the back, it sounded great, just not my type of genre. So one day by chance I picked it off my shelf of random books I have but I don't know why I have them, and within 2 days it was done.
I was very glad that I picked up this book. It has been a while since I read it, and I just made an account on here tonight and I loved this book enough that I just thought I should share my feelings with others who might be interested in reading it. Honestly it tugged at my heart, made me laugh at times, and made me very sad at times. I found I could relate to the main character in many ways (Something I love in books) and I got so pulled into the story it was amazing.
Over all this was a great read and even for people who may not usually be attracted to this kind of book should give it a chance, I know I was glad I did.
When I first started this book, I had a hard time getting into it, then I couldn't put it down, finding myself reading it every chance I got. This is a story of rebellion, love, loss, terror and hope and at one point you have to wonder just how much more one person can take. I cried, a lot, and I am not afraid to admit that, but then I do cry easily. I do not know if I could survive everything Dara went through in her life. The characters in this book are well written..there is depth to them all and life...it is as if they are as real as can be, and perhaps that is why my emotions were so so strong with this story.
This is a character driven novel about a woman who finds love against the backdrop of modern day Israel, Arab and neoNazi terrorists, and international intrigue. The author explores human loss, pain, and redemption through love between a man and woman, and from friends. This story was not formulaic, and at one sad part had me in tears. This was an experience--I enjoyed it very much. There were some parts that felt a bit repetitive, and further editing would have made it even better. Nevertheless, this was a very good read and I recommend it.
I got caught by the rhythm of the story and the historical references. However, some characters are duplicating others and the symmetry of some episodes - the repeated murders from Dara's life - can end up by being exhausting and predictable. The romantic part is welcomed, but sometimes the sweetness is unbearable.
The first book I read on Kindle! It was intriguing and I enjoyed reading it (albeit, it was a bit predictable). Since I've lived in Israel for about 2 years, I could relate to so many things written in the book. Maybe, that's what made me choose 'The Gilboa Iris' in the first place :)
I almost put this book down when it started out in the present and immediately reverted to the past. I soon found myself immersed in the full story and was intrigued by the history of Israel which was presented. The action is fast paced and not unbelievable.
A phenomenal book, full of life, death, love, terrible loss, survival and passion. I had a difficult time putting the book down and yet didn't want it to end it was so engaging!
So far I like the book a lot,a strong yet feminine female lead and a backdrop of Israel-America,I just love it!!I am on 235 page out of 454 and I am so glad I got the book!!