The Anatomy of Exile, Zeeva Bukai
The Anatomy of Exile, Zeeva Bukai
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The Anatomy of Exile
A Novel

Author: Zeeva Bukai

Narrator: Gilli Messer

Unabridged: 9 hr 45 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/11/2025


Synopsis

Winner of the National Jewish Book Award for debut fictionThe Abadi Family saga begins when a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story between a Palestinian and a Jew ends in predictable tragedy. The family flees to America to mend, but encounters only more turmoil that threatens to tear the family apart.

In the wake of the 1967 Six Day War, Tamar Abadi's world collapses when her sister-in-law is killed in what appears to be a terror attack but what is really the result of a secret relationship with a Palestinian poet. Tamar's husband, Salim, is an Arab and a Jew. Torn between the two identities, and mourning his sister's death, he uproots the family and moves them to the US. As Tamar struggles to maintain the integrity of the family's Jewish Israeli identity against the backdrop of the American "melting pot" culture, a Palestinian family moves into the apartment upstairs and she is forced to reckon with her narrow thinking as her daughter falls in love with the Palestinian son. Fearing history will repeat itself, Tamar's determination to separate the two sets into motion a series of events that have the power to destroy her relationship with her daughter, her marriage, and the family she has worked so hard to protect. This powerful debut novel explores Tamar's struggle to keep her family intact, to accept love that is taboo, and grapples with how exile forces us to reshape our identity in ways we could not imagine.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Rosanne on January 28, 2025

I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of this beautiful book. The language is gorgeous and the characters are so real and heartwarming, and the best thing about this book is the brilliant story. These complex and interesting families who learn about themselves and each other and, through their j......more

Goodreads review by Gail on July 11, 2025

Beautifully written debut novel. Timely and timeless.........more

Goodreads review by Milena on January 12, 2025

Wow, it's hard to believe The Anatomy of Exile is a debut novel! It's an exquisitely written, thoughtful, profound, and often heartbreaking story that deals with one of the most complex and misunderstood issues, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, without dehumanizing or villainizing either side, told......more

Goodreads review by Samantha on May 17, 2025

5 stars is not enough for this book.......more

Goodreads review by Sara on February 25, 2025

In her tremen­dous, trans­port­ing debut, The Anato­my of Exile, Zee­va Bukai demon­strates the unique pow­er of lit­er­a­ture to tran­scend bor­ders, exca­vate our shared human­i­ty, and per­haps even heal. My full review: [URL not allowed]......more