4 out of 4 stars
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Andalusian in Jerusalem is a fiction novel written by Mois Benarroch. It is a Spanish novel that has been translated into English by Enriqueta Carrington. It centres around a Spanish novelist who, as a teenager, decides to falsely tell his closest friend that he is a Jew. The book then follows the novelist as he arrives in Jerusalem for a strange writer’s festival. There, he finds a street that only exists at night, meets an old woman who looks just like his late mother and is coaxed by his friend, Charly, to read his new manuscript.
This book is written in the first person, and at first, I was confused by the long and winding sentences of the main character’s inner monologue that would suddenly branch off in random directions. But when I got used to it, this style of writing became captivating as it felt like he was speaking to us, rather than us reading a book. It felt like we were experiencing everything that was happening to him alongside him.
There were also many weird and almost scary events that happen in the book that made me wonder whether he was dreaming or not. Charly, the main character’s friend, explained that it was the ‘Jerusalem Syndrome’ where psychosis-like experiences were triggered by a visit to Jerusalem. After this explanation, the way the characters just accepted the absurd events and talked about it in a very matter-of-fact way was hilarious.
The manuscript in the middle of the book that was written by Charly was also interesting to read. Despite there being a few too many poems slotted in, I was invested in the characters and their stories. The theme of identity was strong in the manuscript as the characters questioned who they were and where they really belonged after having to convert between religions. It really brought to life the history of the Jewish conversion to Christianity.
Overall, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. There were three minor errors in the book but considering the length, it’s to be expected. Despite the high rating, I wouldn’t recommend this to casual readers as the book makes for a heavy reading. I also do not recommend it to Christians as they are not portrayed positively in the book. However, I will definitely recommend this to those who are already familiar with Benarroch’s writing style or to those who are willing to try something new.
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Andalusian in Jerusalem
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Unfortunately, the religion part is a little off-putting. I appreciated your review though - thank you!
