avigail hayoun

The Camel in the Forest is a lyrical and deeply personal memoir that offers a rare, ground level perspective on life within the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A. E. Hayoun blends personal narrative with historical context, creating a work that is both intimate and informative. Set against the backdrop of the Negev desert, the memoir captures the emotional and cultural realities of immigration, identity, and belonging in a region shaped by tension and resilience. Hayoun’s storytelling is vivid and reflective, weaving together moments of vulnerability with broader insights into the political and social fabric of Israeli life, particularly during events such as the Operation Guardian of the Walls. What makes this memoir especially compelling is its balance. It neither distances itself from the personal nor loses sight of the historical weight of the setting. Instead, it invites readers into a nuanced exploration of culture, faith, and conflict, enriched by literary influences and a strong sense of place. Thought-provoking and evocative, The Camel in the Forest offers readers a meaningful opportunity to engage with one of the world’s most complex regions through the lens of lived experience.

I was very skeptical about this book at first as it’s almost the complete opposite to what I normally read. However I shouldn’t have panicked. It’s a beautiful collection of poetic stories about aliyah and Israel. Stunning! I couldn’t recommend it more!

This poetry collection provided the reader a unique perspective on life in Israel from the point of view of an American Jew who made Aliyah. The descriptions of the land in the Negev desert were absolutely beautiful and accurate to my own experience there. The author did an incredible job of bringing me back and I imagine that readers who have never been to Israel or the Negev will gain a good understanding of just how incredible the country is. The walk through the author's initial perceptions of Israelis and the culture shock she experienced were comical and relatable. The culmination in the author's experiences during wartime in Israel was a solid juxtaposition, examining the rich history of the region and the daily lived experiences of Israeli citizens of all races, religions and ethnic backgrounds. I think it's easy to just take what we see online and in the media for granted, and an in-depth look into life during wartime is important, as so much of the West has no working concept of what that looks like and the psychological torture it entails. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in survivor testimony.

An inspiring insight into life in the midst of change, growing roots, and finding beauty in unexpected places.

"...One of the best parts of this memoir is that she wrote it while the events were still relatively fresh on her mind. So often people wait until decades have past before putting their memories out in a published form and I cannot help but question the accuracy of those works. It is not because I believe those authors would intentionally misguide someone, but rather my own memories have become embellished or hazy through the years I know others experience the same thing. Hayoun's writing is clear and easy to understand. I adore the way she structured the deposits of the memoir into small, easily digestable chapters. The chapters are easy to read as you have a few moments of down time if you are unable to set aside large spans of time for reading the work. Through every chapter I felt like I understood both the author and the setting in greater detail. She far exceeded the goal of making the story connect and resonate. Overall, if you are like me, I would highly recommend this account of recent events regarding Hamas and Israel. I know both of those words can trigger some folks, but as we move into 2025 we should strive to listen to people more than we cut them off simply due to their word choice. I found Hayoun presented the accounts as unbiased as possible for someone directly in the midst of turmoil. I am sure you will love this memoir as well."