The Hilltop: A Novel

"Americans may not recognize the portrait of Israel in Assaf Gavron’s most recent novel, but Israelis sure will. It’s set in an illegal Jewish settlement on the West Bank. The residents are a cross section of Israeli society who joined the settlement for any number of reasons: religious, ideological or simply in search of anonymity. The book deals with Israel’s overarching conflicts — Jew versus Jew, Jew versus Palestinian — and presents them with a nuanced complexity that feels very real. It’s a funny and ultimately melancholy read."