Pilgrims'

Plot

Gavron's novel dramatizes a personal view of the conflict in Palestine, starting at the beginning of the twentieth century and continuing up to the present day. The narrator, Christopher Howard, is the grandson of a young Christian couple who came to Palestine on their honeymoon and found themselves managing the Pilgrims' Hotel, a small hotel that becomes a frequent meeting place for members of all three of the religious traditions fighting for dominance: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. As Christopher tries to piece together a hundred years of history, he draws on the experiences of his parents and grandparents, as well as their Israeli and Palestinian friends. Sympathetic to all sides of the ongoing conflict and hopeful for the future, Gavron gives readers a glimpse into how the religious struggles in Palestine have shaped the lives of all who have lived there, regardless of faith or nationality. Bonnie Johnston