BOOKS > La Livre de Rachel

Esther David’s novel Book of Rachel, published by Penguin Viking has been translated in French by Sonja Terangle, titled Le Livre de Rachel and published by Editions Heloise d’Ormesson. It was launched in Paris on 5-2-2009.

The novel is about the old who have been left behind in India by families, which immigrated to Israel. Set in Danda, on the picturesque Konkan coast, Rachel’s life revolves around her fight to preserve an ancient synagogue. She deals with the pervading sense of isolation, by trying out an ancient recipe every day. Rachel’s story is woven around love, longing, recipes and the Jewish heritage in India. This is Esther David’s second novel which has been translated into French. Earlier, her novel The Walled City was also translated in French by Editions Philippe Picquier.

Le Livre de Rachel was well received and well received by French literary circles. It was reviewed by Jean-Claude Perrier for Livres Hebdo, Newspaper Actualité Juive by Carole Binder, Le Figaro Litteraire and Le Point and a Belgian newspaper by Kerenn Elkaim. This novel in French was reviewed with an interview with Esther David by Television 24 and on Television Ocean by Gora Patel for their cultural programmes. It was also widely reviewed on radio programmes like Radio France International by Sophie Ekoué. Radio Judaiques FM by Monique Naccache. While Kathleen Evin of France Inter RDV said in her programme L'Humeur vagabonde, “ I loved Le Livre de Rachel for Esther David’s sense of humour, her tenderness and the description of a culture I did not know.”

A signing of the book was also organized by Comptoir de l'inde, Paris, while Fabienne Desjardins interviewed Esther David for her website on colours of India.