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Strangers with the Same Dream Book Review

Alison Pick
Picture a kibbutz in the 1910s: idealistic Jews building a new world for themselves on the principles of communal living. This story tears that picture to shreds. We hear from the perspectives of four characters, each adding a layer of detail and intrigue to the whole messy drama of their Zionist project. The narrative veers away from political commentary, instead turning over every stone in the hearts of the young *halutzim*. Theirs is a hard existence full of compromises, betrayal, and cognitive dissonance. My only criticism: the use of a ghost character as a narrative technique was unnecessary; the gimmick got old quickly.

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Lemons Book Review

Kasia Jaronczyk
These short stories weave the political pressures of Soviet Poland into domestic life. Families celebrate Stalin's birthday out of obligation, even in the privacy of their own home. In the same way, Basia knows not to tell anyone when her grandfather raises a hand against her. Learning to tell a good lie is just as important as learning how to hide a painful truth.

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How to Behave in a Crowd Book Review

Camille Bordas
When tragedy strikes, or your worldview is shattered, the order of the day is to keep clinging to some kind of normalcy. This is the attitude Camille Bordas develops in her characters, and it's bone-chillingly true to life. It's a reflection of a family that's terribly insulated from the world and from each other. Isidore, the youngest, is the most naive and adventurous of the bunch -- although even his outlook on life is heavy with resignation. This story does not inspire change or challenge complacency. It encourages the reader to accept fate, expect nothing, and detach one's self from disaster.

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Les Belles Images Book Review

Simone de Beauvoir
de Beauvoir plunges deep into the cosmopolitan identity crisis: How can I justify my comfortable life amid a world of pain? And should I still be grateful for my position in society even if it doesn't make me happy? This story will ring true for anyone who's experienced an aimless search for authenticity -- not that it will make you feel any better about it.

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