The Pale of Settlement
Stories
Format:Paperback
Publisher:University of Georgia Press
Published:1st Oct '08
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This collection of linked stories explores the complexities of identity and belonging through the experiences of its main character, Susan, in The Pale of Settlement.
The Pale of Settlement is a compelling collection of stories that delve into the complex relationships between Israelis and American Jews, as well as the experiences of emigrants and expatriates. Set against the backdrop of both familiar and foreign landscapes, the narratives traverse from the bustling streets of Manhattan to the archaeological ruins of the Galilee, and even to the serene beauty of Kathmandu. Each character grapples with their own histories and the myths that shape their identities, reflecting the multifaceted nature of belonging in a rapidly changing world.
At the heart of the Pale of Settlement is Susan, the central character, who embodies the struggle of navigating her own borderland. Torn between the traditions of her Jewish heritage and the secular life she seeks in America, she represents the tension between past and present, youth and adulthood. The stories capture her journey as she confronts her familial roots and the weight of history that influences her choices and relationships.
The collection features poignant tales such as 'Helicopter Days,' where Susan learns of her cousin's unsettling transformation, and 'Lila’s Story,' which intertwines her grandmother's past with her own present dilemmas. In 'Borderland,' she encounters an Israeli soldier burdened by his experiences, while the title story poignantly juxtaposes bedtime tales with the harsh realities of terrorism. Through these narratives, The Pale of Settlement invites readers to reflect on the borders we all navigate in our lives.
Much like Primo Levi's, Singer's prose is sparse, searing, and hauntingly descriptive.
* BOMB Magazine *What results is a lyrical, thoughtful, never trite reflection on Israel and Palestine that has won the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction. The book is written with a large audience in mind, and there is enough historical background and explanation for anyone to follow along. . . . Singer must be credited with fiercely considering a controversial topic and remaining true to language.
Singer's seasoned and deeply moving interlinked stories about politics, memory and identity read more like the work of a veteran novelist and add up to one of the most astonishing literary debuts in recent memory. . . . With heartbreaking beauty, grace and wisdom, The Pale of Settlement offers us stories of the sort of penetrating novelistic depth rarely achieved in short fiction, recounting the forceful ways that the past, whether remote or near, urgently intrudes on the present.
* Miami Herald *[Singer] deftly sets larger political themes next to smaller personal ones, as the daily choices her characters make reflect the larger forces that have set those characters and their ancestor into motion. . . . The linked short stories that make up The Pale of Settlement work far better than a more conventional narrative would in telling the tale of Susan's family.
* Columbus Dispatch *Singer writes clearly, succinctly, and effectively. The characters are believable, and the stories uplifting but realistic. Modern issues—terrorism and the second Lebanon war—intrude, but do not overwhelm, a testament to Singer's skill and artistry.
The triumph of Singer's The Pale of Settlement is that we enjoy the questions as much as any answers that might appear.
* NPR's All Things Considered *Should reassure us that the short story remains a deliciously shape-shifting genre . . . The stories in The Pale of Settlement make a strong impression, offering a debut collection that is mature, confident, and haunting.
* New Letters *Margot Singer gives brave and eloquent voice to a new generation of Jewish wanderers in a global diaspora. In her stories, Israel is the first, enduring love, the place of origin and ending—but for many of her Israeli characters, a difficult and increasingly destructive love. The question of ‘home’ remains finally, dazzlingly, undecidable. Singer guides us, as one who knows, into the complex labyrinth of history where lives arise, and too often are unraveled. She is a marvel of a writer.
* author of Her Own Terms- Winner of Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction 2008
ISBN: 9780820333311
Dimensions: 203mm x 133mm x 16mm
Weight: 272g
232 pages