The Covenant

The Covenant is every bit as good as the other books Naomi Ragen has written, but it is harder to read. Well, let me clarify: it is as easy to read judging by writing style and the plot and characters that pull you into the story. For me, it was harder to read because of the subject matter. It deals with the continuous terrorism faced by Israelis and the results of one such attack. It is, unfortunately, a reality for everyone in Israel, both Israeli and Palestinian. It is also about Jews living in settlements, one of the most controversial issues out of Israel today.

Dr. Jonathan Margulies and his daughter, Ilana, fail to come home one evening. Elise, wife and mother, thinks it is her worst fear come true. And it is. Their car is found on the side of the road filled with bullet holes. Over the course of the next five days ordinary people join the fight against terrorism.

This novel describes a fear that is real in our world. It is not just in Israel anymore either. Our world is full of people who feel they need to go outside of the system to get any results or attention, and unfortunately that sometimes includes resorting to acts of terrorism. There is no easy answer found, and this book does not offer one. But it is a topic that cannot be ignored in our time, even from the relatively safe US. It is not going to go away on its own.

Ragen, Naomi. (2004). The covenant. New York: Penguin.