Someone to Run With, by David Grossman (2000; English translation 2004)
I have had a long dry spell during which I have not been reading and or finishing any books. Part of this is due to a new job that I began in late August. In addition to learning a new job, it also provided longer hours. I am hoping to get back into reading again. I have lots of books on my "to read" list. I currently have several books "in progress" that I hope to finish within the next few weeks. The first book I finished, is David Grossman's English translation of Someone to Run With. The book was originally written in Hebrew. I read the English translation. Sometimes things are lost in translation and I find some Israeli author especially difficult when translated into English.
The story begins with Assaf, a 16-year-old who has been left at home in Jerusalem while his parents are away. His father has gotten him a job in the city's sanitation department. Assaf isn't keen on his job, but when a stray dog appears, Assaf is tasked with finding its owner. The dog leads Assaf all over town where he runs into people who know the dog and its owner. Thus, is speaking with these strangers who know the dog, Assaf learns that the dog's owner is a young girl named Tamar. He also picks up tidbits about her.
The story switches between Assaf's search for Tamar and Tamar's dark adventure. She is out to find her drug-addicted brother who has been caught as a pawn in Jerusalem's drug underworld. She has changed her appearance and sets a trap to incorporate herself into the same crime circle as her brother in hopes of finding him and helping break his drug habit.
I found the story mildly interesting, but it is not one of my favorite books.
Read: January 7, 2012
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