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Title: Ronit & Jamil
Author: Pamela L. Laskin
Narrator: Nira Amiel, Assaf Cohen, Aylam Orian
Format: Unabridged
Length: 1 hr and 29 mins
Language: English
Release date: 02-21-17
Publisher: HarperAudio
Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 2 votes
Genres: Teens, Romance & Friendship
Publisher's Summary:
Pamela L. Laskin's beautiful and lyrical novel in verse delivers a fresh and captivating retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet that transports the star-crossed lovers to the modern-day Israel-Palestine conflict.
Ronit, an Israeli girl, lives on one side of the fence. Jamil, a Palestinian boy, lives on the other side. Only miles apart but separated by generations of conflict - much more than just the concrete blockade between them. Their fathers, however, work in a distrusting but mutually beneficial business arrangement, a relationship that brings Ronit and Jamil together. And lightning strikes. The kind of lightning that transcends barrier fences, war, and hatred.
The teenage lovers fall desperately into the throes of forbidden love, one that would create an irreparable rift between their families if it were discovered. But a love this big can be kept secret for only so long. Ronit and Jamil must face the fateful choice to save their lives or their love, as it may not be possible to save both.
Members Reviews:
Beautiful, provocative read
Very intriguing version of this classic story. Loved so many of the poems, especially when Laskin created pairs, which showed how similar each side was to the other. Wish it were longer! Beautiful and very thoughtful, with a good message.
Didn't do enough research on this one...
I didn't do enough research about this book before pre-ordering. The idea of a new Romeo and Juliet between an Israeli girl and Palestinian boy was intriguing. The political aspects and the romance aspects were such that I was convinced I wanted to see how the author handled it. I did not, however, realize that Ms. Laskin is a poet.
I am not a huge fan of poetry. (Except Lord Byron's. I like Byron.)
Having paid for the book, I was determined to read it. It didn't take me too long, and I got confused as to who was speaking sometimes. It was repetitive, but I think the repetition is important, as part of the point of the story seems to be to highlight how similar both Ronit & Jamil are, and how similar their families are, despite the gulfs between them. The political exploration was even-handed, with appropriate, I thought, world views expressed. The Romeo and Juliet theme carried through, with what seemed like heavy borrowing from the classic in places.
My overall impression is disappointment, and not simply because I was looking forward to a meaty story. The poetry is specific, evocative...even simplistic at times. It's repetitive, and yet somehow lacking in detail. The book isn't the deep, character- and setting-rich novel that I was expecting -- and wanting -- to read.
Five Stars
I loved this book I thought it was a beautiful retelling of Romeo and Juliet...And just perfect
A must-read!
This beautiful, modern-day love story (a retelling of Romeo and Juliet) will draw you in immediately with its spare and often searingly evocative poetry. Israeli and Palestinian teens, Ronit and Jamil, tell their stories in alternating poems, which function as a literary pas de deux, tracing the arc of their forbidden love affair.
