Dr. Amin Jaafari, an Arab-Israeli citizen, is a respected, dedicated surgeon at a hospital in Tel Aviv. He has learned to live with the violence that plagues his city and works tirelessly to help the victims brought to the emergency room. But one night, a deadly bombing in a local restaurant takes a horrifyingly personal turn, when his wife’s body is found among the dead—bearing injuries that match those typically found on the bodies of fundamentalist suicide bombers.
As evidence mounts that his wife, Sihem, was responsible for the catastrophic bombing, Dr. Jaafari must face the inescapable realization that the beautiful, intelligent, thoroughly modern woman he loved had a secret life that was far removed from the comfortable, assimilated existence they shared.
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"Another book that really deserves 3.5 stars instead of 3 or 4 stars. The plot immediately grabs you -- a Arab-Israeli surgeon who's well respected and well liked by his Israeli colleagues and neighbors. The beginning opens up with him operating on victims of a suicide bomber, who turns out to be his wife! And then his life turns upside down! Did she do it? If so, what were her motivations? I liked that this book was written with a Palestinian perspective, and it sheds a nice light on the complications and difficulties of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. The characters are well developed, and there's no easy answer at the end. It really made me wonder if people will ever get along and how important it is to try."
— Jenny (4 out of 5 stars)
“Stefan Rudnicki’s deep baritone, lightly accented enunciation, and textured characterizations are relentlessly, painfully true to life…Rudnicki's performance is urgent, immediate, and agonizing. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile“The book’s dark vision of the conflict is powerful.”
— New Yorker“The Attack, Yasmina Khadra’s best book, is an urgent, must-read.”
— Paris Match“Moving…[Khadra] nicely captures his hero’s turmoil in trying to come to terms with the endless violence.”
— Publishers Weekly“The Attack is a detective story sans detective, suffused with raging grief over what sectarian violence has made of the Islamic world…powerful and engrossing.”
— Booklist" This book is well written and gives the reader a glimpse into the mind of a suicide bomber. Not enjoyable, really, but certainly a conversation starter. "
— Liz, 2/13/2014" Bedouin-born doctor working in a Tel Aviv hospital attempts to unwind his wife's actions. Yasmin Khadra (pen name, actually a man so do which pronoun do I use?) does a great job of showing the dynamics and intricacies of life for Israelis, Palestinians, Bedouins. Deals with issues of integration, religion, and personal relationships, survival (or not). Shows all the shades of grey. Written in French and translated into English. "
— Crissie, 2/9/2014" For me, this book was intense. I couldn't put it down and that's when I know it's good (for me at least). I decided, after reading it that I should turn to more light-hearted fare though. As engaging as this book is, the end of it is depressing and left me feeling empty. Isn't that a requirement for award winning novels? "
— Kristi, 1/27/2014" What would you do if you found out your wife was a suicide bomber? "
— Alison, 1/2/2014" Great writing but unhappy ending "
— Cynthia, 12/28/2013" I highly recommend this book for those who are far from the wars of the world. It puts things in perspective in a way that not many books can. Very intense and dark, it is unsettling to think of the injustice of the world. "
— Maya, 12/24/2013" Superb book. It gave me insight into suicide bombers' perspectives. "
— Diane, 12/19/2013" Man struggles to understand why his wife would do such a horrendous thing. That we do not always know those we love and what makes them tick. "
— Lee, 12/4/2013" Un pugno nello stomaco. "
— Kia76, 11/21/2013" I found this a very interesting read. Disturbing at times considering the topic. I am still confused as to what complels people to do this type of thing. "
— Pat, 11/19/2013" This is an exquisitely wrought story of perseverance in the face of a seeming deception and incredibly inhumanity. A journey of the soul. Look at the friendships in this story and ask where we would be, without those who stand by us through everything. "
— Susan, 11/12/2013" Enjoyed this book, good look into mid east culture. "
— Dawn, 7/29/2013" So disappointed. It had such a promising premise (prominent doctor in Israel finds out his beloved wife is the suicide bomber in a recent attack - this is revealed in the summary on the back!). It was nearly 200 pages of whining and self-pity; it has practically no plot and is incredibly repetitive. "
— Jenny, 6/12/2013" Started off strong...then it withered away at about 3/4 of the book. Not as enticing of a story as I thought it would be. "
— Dominicana, 6/7/2013" Interesting book that takes a unique approach at suicide bombing and the atrocities in the Middle East. It had suspense and unexpected turns in the story. Shed some light for me on the struggle of those who live in that region of the world. "
— Holly, 2/16/2013" It was a good book even though it was sad to think people think the way they do and do not treasure their lives like we do in the Western part of the world. "
— Alice, 9/13/2012" would recommend this one. "
— Gill, 11/29/2011" The book gives insights in a situation known to all due to the reports on the news, but understood by those few peole who actually live there. Without forcing our opinion in one camp or another! Good story, everybody should read it once. "
— Lore, 8/7/2011" I couldn't stop talking about this novel for a year..and obviously I still can't..must tell you something right? "
— Ryan, 6/28/2011" Very interesting story. I learned quite a lot about the middle east and a smattering of understanding of how their customs figure into things. It was sad, but realistic. "
— Linda, 5/21/2011" Great line " time to let God go free...we have held him prisoner of our bigotries for too long"<br/> "
— Julianabadescu, 5/14/2011" Nicely done. Vivifies the Palestinian struggle, their torcherous existence and the absurdity of war. "
— Liliane, 4/15/2011" The translation could have used an editor. "
— Anton, 3/21/2011" I really liked the writing style and cultural background of this story. But I must say that after the half of the book these positive sides had run down. But Maybe I am just an impatient reader. "
— Keiu, 3/19/2011" Very interesting story. I learned quite a lot about the middle east and a smattering of understanding of how their customs figure into things. It was sad, but realistic. "
— Mspianobug, 2/11/2011" I found this a very interesting read. Disturbing at times considering the topic. I am still confused as to what complels people to do this type of thing. "
— Pat, 2/4/2011" Despair and hopelessness. How does one carry on/live with such --- walk by faith, clinging to your dreams and the good that is within you??? Found myself wishing there were a way to wipe away the pain and resignation and to soothe. "
— Susan, 2/4/2011" An interesting insight of the personal struggle that takes place in the Mid East, particularly the struggle involving the understanding of the motivation as to why a suicide bomber chooses to kill one's self for "the cause." "
— Tony, 1/28/2011" Started off strong...then it withered away at about 3/4 of the book. Not as enticing of a story as I thought it would be. "
— Dominicana, 1/5/2011" Remember the smell of the orange trees he describes. Moving work. "
— Jennifer, 11/22/2010" What an intensely gripping and good book. I loved the characterisation. You live with the main character through his grief, questions and ultimate resolve right to the end of the book. This is a wow book with huge punch. I would love to read everything else by this author. "
— Elaine, 11/15/2010Yasmina Khadra is a pen name of Algerian army officer Mohammed Moulessehoul, who is the author of three other books published in English: The Swallows of Kabul, In the Name of God, and Wolf Dreams. He took the feminine pseudonym to avoid submitting his manuscripts for approval by military censors while he was still in the army. He lives in France.
Stefan Rudnicki first became involved with audiobooks in 1994. Now a Grammy-winning audiobook producer, he has worked on more than five thousand audiobooks as a narrator, writer, producer, or director. He has narrated more than nine hundred audiobooks. A recipient of multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards, he was presented the coveted Audie Award for solo narration in 2005, 2007, and 2014, and was named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices in 2012.