Book Review: Judas by Amos Oz

A Brilliant Novel and Well Written

Amos Oz never disappoints and this is certainly the case in his latest novel “Judas”. This novel revolves around the years 1959/60. There are three main eccentric characters, who are well described in this amazing novel. The background to the novel is Israel’s constant problems with her Arab neighbours.
A young biblical student, Shmuel Ash, whose interest is the study of the New Testament and the Jewish attitude to Jesus Christ and the traitor Judas Iscariot. He left his studies because of financial problems. He lived with his parents in Haifa then moved to Jerusalem to study. Shmuel Ash is asthmatic and had an enlarged heart. After he left his studies, he found a job advertised on a poster in the university canteen. The job offer was companionship to an elderly, cantankerous 70 year old, crippled gentleman, Gershom Wald, who lost a son, Micha, in the 1948 War of Independence. He needed a friend for intellectually, stimulating conversation as well as for preparing light meals for him.
Another character in the novel is Atalia, the widow of Micha and daughter of deceased Shealtiel Abravanel.
Gershom Wald and Atalia live in the same place that was owned by Shealtiel Abravanel, who was viewed as an “Arab lover” and a traitor to Israel and the Zionist movement. Shmuel was offered a small salary for his companionship. Alitalia, who was in her mid forties and still very attractive ran the home. Shmuel who was in his mid 20s was attracted by Atalia but she kept her distance from him. Somehow, despite their age difference and her rather trite treatment of him, Shmuel was very shy of her and she dominated him in her manner.
The author had done his reading on Jesus and the New Testament and this had always featured in the conversations between Shmuel and Gershom Wald. There is much philosophy in their dialogues and this does not bore the reader not even for a moment.
The relationships between these three main characters in the novel is interesting and each character is quite well defined that it allows the reader to obtain a very vivid picture of them as if they are real.
A message for the reader is that Judas Iscariot was a revolutionary which is synonymous to being a traitor. His love for Jesus is actually well portrayed despite the belief that he betrayed Jesus.
This book is really well written, vivid and an excellent read. It holds one’s interest throughout and despite its heaviness at times, it was never daunting or boring in any way. It deserves a five star rating out of five.

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