By Bianca Marais
A beautifully-written and touching book about 3 women, each struggling with her own personal problems, but eventually all coming together and helping each other, whether intentionally or not. This is all happening amidst the revolutionary transition of South Africa out of apartheid (and the racism and violence that accompanied it), and in the deepest depths of the AIDs epidemic (not devoid of violence, either). [fiction, 435 pp.]
By Sasha Okun
A very special book that looks at the art of drawing through technique and skill building, accompanied by history, stories, and explanations as to why this technique and skill building is important. A lot of the principles talked about here (perspective, composition, mark-making) are taught in art school, but here they are peppered with personal anecdotes and art-historical stories that are relevant to the subject (though sometimes intentionally irrelevant!) The book is full of humor, the author's viewpoint of what art is (and what isn't art), and other philosophical musings. [Hebrew, 294 pp.]
By Assaf Inbari
An interesting account of the three leader's of Israel's first socialist party. This was at the time surrounding the establishment of the state, with those who favored America's support and those (like the heroes of this book) who favored USSR's support; Israel's character will be determined by those who win. These three, though they worked together, were far from agreeing on pretty much anything. They each had their own agenda, their own reactions to the revealed atrocities of the soviets, their own personal problems. All is told in plain, flowing language in this book. [non-fiction, 180pp.]
