Published October 2012
In her insightful debut novel about a journey of self-discovery in Israel and Gaza as viewed through the eyes of a Palestinian boy, American Jewish author Michelle Cohen Corasanti explores the universal themes of hope, peace and the triumph of the human spirit against adversity. “Although written from a Palestinian perspective, the story is intended to be apolitical,” according to Cohen Corasanti. “Rather than focusing on people’s differences, the protagonist finds commonality in those he encounters.” Cohen Corasanti believes it is important in conflict resolution to put oneself in the shoes of the other.
A lawyer trained in international law and human rights, Cohen Corasanti holds a bachelor’s degree from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a master’s degree from Harvard University. Both degrees are in Middle Eastern Studies. She also lived in Jerusalem for seven years.
“Throughout my novel, I tried to take real occurrences that I had either witnessed or read about in the news and fictionalize them,” Cohen Corasanti explained. “So many times I had read that some faceless person had been wounded or killed and it seemed inconsequential – a statistic. After meeting someone whose father went to prison for 14 years, I understood the impact of such an experience on not only the prisoner, but also his family.”
The Almond Tree has received early acclaim for its authenticity and humanity from several Middle Eastern observers and writers, including the author of Bad Marie, Marcy Dermansky, who was inspired by its tale of a Palestinian boy and his family.
“Prepare yourself: The Almond Tree may very well move you to tears,” Dermansky observed. “Michelle (Cohen) Corasanti's profound and finely crafted debut novel tells the story of one man, Ichmad Hamid, from his humble beginnings as a scared and helpless child in an occupied village to his inspirational rise to power and influence. His intimate tale of love and loss and awareness shines a greater understanding of the personal toll of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
Dermansky’s acclaim for The Almond Tree is shared by Les Edgerton, author of The Death of Tarpons, Monday’s Meal and Hooked. “Some will be tempted to compare The Almond Tree to The Kite Runner, but to do so unfairly places the two books in some sort of presumed ranking,” Edgerton noted. “Both of these books are brilliant and powerful accounts and deserve to stand tall on their own merits, irrespective of the other.”
Citing Ichmad’s story of survival and wisdom gleaned from his imprisoned father who taught him that all men have value, even their enemies, Edgerton applauded The Almond Tree as “one of those rarest of books—a fiction that rings with authenticity and integrity to reveal the wonder of what it really is to be human.”
In recognizing the attitudes of those who would dismiss the Israeli/Palestinian conflict as an “unsolvable” problem, Cohen Corasanti wrote the The Almond Tree to make it clear that these are issues that can be resolved. “As human beings, we have two choices—we can either hold on to our hatred and let it destroy us, or we can forgive and overcome,” Cohen Corasanti observed.
“If ever peace is to become a reality between Israel and Palestine, it will be because of the influence of books such as this,” Edgerton added. “I am proud to have been allowed by Michelle Cohen (Corasanti) to have played a very tiny role in the development of this novel. This is a book that I think will endure and resonate forever in the souls of all who read it. I know it will in mine. Some books have the power to change us profoundly; this is one of those books.”
Michelle Cohen Corasanti is a lawyer trained in international law and human rights. She has a B.A. from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a M.A. from Harvard University, both in Middle Eastern Studies. A Jewish American, she has lived in France, Spain, Egypt and England, and spent seven years living in Israel. She currently lives in New York with her family.The Almond Tree is her first novel. For more information about The Almond Tree, visit http://thealmondtreebook.com/.