Ot me-Avshalom (Hebrew: אות מאבשלום Translation: A Letter from Avshalom or A Sign from Avshalom) is a novel by Israeli author Nava Macmel-Atir published by Yediot Books in 2009. The book quickly became a best-seller, and Macmel-Atir received the Golden Book award for selling 20,000 copies in just three months after its release.[1] Half a year after its publication, Ot me-Avshalom received the Platinum Book award from the Book Publishers Association of Israel for selling 40,000 copies.[2] In June 2015, it received the "Diamond Book" commemoration for selling 100,000 copies.[3]
 Book cover of 'Ot me-Avshalom' | |
| Author | Nava Macmel-Atir |
|---|---|
| Original title | אות מאבשלום |
| Language | Hebrew |
| Subject | Avshalom Feinberg & The Nili spy ring |
| Genre | Novel |
| Set in | Modern day Israel & Late 19th century/Early 20th century Palestine |
| Publisher | Yediot Books |
Publication date | 2009 |
| Publication place | Israel |
| Pages | 530 |
| Awards | Golden Book Commemoration Platinum Book Commemoration Diamond Book Commemoration |
| ISBN | 978-965-482-889-5 |
| OCLC | 430497472 |
| Website | אות מאבשלום (Hebrew) |
Plot
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A young graphologist, Alma Bach, embarks on the trail of a man whose handwriting was sent to her for analysis. She discovers characteristics such as sharp wit, high degree of general knowledge, and courage. She discovers a passionate man with a highly developed imagination, linguistic style, and the sensitivity of an artist, a man with a magnetic personality who draws people to him while at the same time secluding himself and keeping a secret, and who is capable of loving at great magnitudes and willing to sacrifice for his love, for his love of the land, for his love of a woman, and eventually to pay the ultimate price. Alma is determined to meet this man face-to-face.[4]
The story moves back and forth between two time periods: modern-day Israel, where Alma undergoes her journey to discover the man, and a biographical depiction of Avshalom Feinberg, founder and leader of the Nili spy ring, which starts in late 19th-century Palestine and continues into the early 20th century.[4]
Awards
editExternal links
edit- Nava Macmel-Atir Official Website (Hebrew)
- Ot me-Avshalom at the Israeli Hebrew Authors Union (Hebrew)
- Itayel, Yoav (21 August 2009). "אות מאבשלום: אבשלום עדיין גר כאן" (in Hebrew). Magazin HaMoshavot. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
- Koren, Doron (29 November 2009). "אות הצטיינות" (in Hebrew). Ynet. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
- Schneider, Tal (9 January 2010). "48 נאוה מקמל עתיר (series on top influential women)" (in Hebrew). Globes. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
References
edit- ^ a b Itayel, Yoav (19 September 2009). "אות זהב לאות מאבשלום" (in Hebrew). Magazin HaMoshavot. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
- ^ a b "רשימת הזוכים ב"ספר הפלטינה"" (in Hebrew). Book Publishers Association of Israel. January 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
- ^ a b Markovitch Slutzker, Gali (June 2015). "המבצעים חוזרים, גם הירידים: שבוע הספר העברי ה-54 נפתח היום" (in Hebrew). Maariv. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
- ^ a b Macmel-Atir, Nava (2009). אות מאבשלום (in Hebrew). Israel: Yediot Books. ISBN 978-965-482-889-5. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
