NOTE: I was not paid to review this book. It is an unbiased and objective review. If you have a book with Jewish or Israel related content and would like me to write a review, contact me for details of where to send me a review copy of the book.

Book Review: A Stone Speaks: The Voice of the Kotel, by Israel Rubin

A Stone Speaks, by Israel Rubin, published by Mosaica Press, is a book with an interesting angle. A Stone Speaks is supposed to tell the story of Jerusalem - the history, stories, events, impressions, and more - from the perspective of the ultimate insider. From the perspective of one that has seen it all. From the perspective of one of the stones of the Kotel.

The book is written in the voice of one of the stones, as if it could talk, as if it saw everything and had a story to tell, commentary to relate, thoughts and emotions to relate and transmit. This is definitely a book with a unique slant,  if the content itself is not particularly new. A Stone Speaks is the history of Jerusalem - the content of which can be found in many history books, religious books, memoirs, etc., but the perspective is what makes it unique and interesting.

The truth is, though, in my opinion, this is more of a history book, and it is a good one. I love the idea the author was trying to incorporate, but I personally found the execution lacking. There is not enough actual perspective or unique stories from the perspective of the stone. He gets away with the stone narrating the story by having the stone narrate, but very little is from the perspective of the stone, and the stone is mostly narrating the regular history.

That being said, as I mentioned, the book is invaluable as a clear history book of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Rubin traverses the history, ancient and modern, with clarity and brevity, reviewing the events and struggles experienced in the Holy Land, especially in Jerusalem. The wars, the tribulations, the poverty, the victories, the foreign influences, celebration.

Along with the history, the author writes about special events that happen regularly in Jerusalem, about the unique institutions in Jerusalem, special visitors and dignitaries that have visited Jerusalem.

As a history book, A Stone Speaks is clear, interesting, easy to read, and important. it is all the history of Jerusalem in one place.

A Stone Speaks is less about the stone than it could be, but it is all about the history of Jerusalem.


buy A Stone Speaks on Amazon.com



NOTE: I was not paid to review this book. It is an unbiased and objective review. If you have a book with Jewish or Israel related content and would like me to write a review, contact me for details of where to send me a review copy of the book.