Review for Mustard and Vinegar

 

sad but inspiring stories of one family's journey, May 28, 2010

This review is from: Mustard and Vinegar (Paperback)

"Mustard and Vinegar" is a collection of short stories based on the experiences of the author's family in Turkey, Lebanon, and Palestine. Each story brings the people and events of one family's journey through life to life, in the way that only a naturally gifted writer can do. Most of the stories are sad, reflecting time and place, but they're also inspiring, especially toward the end as Munira, one of the central characters, sees her children fulfill her dreams.

There's also a lot of fascinating cultural insight here, dealing with things like the oppression of women, the importance of family, and the nature of faith. Many of the stories are set in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, showing the Palestinian side of the Middle Eastern conflict from the perspective of one family.

I really enjoyed "Mustard and Vinegar," probably even more because I had the privilege of meeting the author -- a truly gracious and inspiring lady. Her desire was to capture the realities of life for her family so that her children and grandchildren wouldn't forget. That's a common reason for writing -- I've considered writing my own family history, about my Mennonite ancestors back in Ukraine -- but not everyone can do it so well that the stories will be meaningful and interesting to those outside the family as well.

- Rachel Starr Thomson, author of "Pieces of Grace And What They Mean", "Tales of the Heartily Homeschooled", and the Seventh World Trilogy.

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