Saving Sophie: A Novel (54 page)
Read Saving Sophie: A Novel Online
Authors: Ronald H. Balson
The antiquities shopkeeper and me at his shop in the Via Dolorosa.
(Photo taken by my wife.)
Recommended Reading
For more information about the subject matter and related themes addressed in
Saving Sophie,
the author suggests the following books for further reading.
The Prime Ministers
Yehuda Avner
My Promised Land
Ari Shavit
A History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Mark Tessler
Battleground
Samuel Katz
Myths and Facts: A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict
Mitchell G. Bard
History of the Jews
Paul Johnson
Hebron Jews: Memory and Conflict in the Land of Israel
Jerold S. Auerbach
Reading Group Questions
1. How did Jack confront the conflict between his legal and moral principles and his desperate need to rescue his daughter? Was Jack too quick to trust people? Was that his character flaw?
2. Having washed his hands of Alina, why was al-Zahani so possessive of Sophie, the child of the union he despised?
3. Do you fault Jack for overruling the judge and giving the al-Zahanis liberal visitation? Would you have done the same?
4. What do you think would have become of Sophie had she not been rescued?
5. How did Arif al-Zahani perceive and process Sophie’s exclusion from Jamila’s playgroup?
6. What do you think drove Liam and Catherine to suspect a lack of commitment? Do you think there was a moment of indecisiveness?
7. Given the history of the region and how many times the land has changed hands, what is your feeling about al-Zahani and his group’s claims for exclusive possession of the country as “Sons of Canaan”?
8. Do you think at the critical moment that al-Zahani was prepared to sacrifice Sophie?
9. How does the prospect of fame and wealth of a professional basketball career create a surreal world of impossible expectations for young athletes? Are you critical of Violet McCord?
10. What would you do with a child who shows gifted talents? Does the lure of success encourage parental exploitation?
RONALD H. BALSON
is a Chicago trial attorney, an educator, and a writer. His practice has taken him to several international venues. He is also the author of the international bestseller
Once We Were Brothers
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ALSO AVAILABLE FROM
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ONALD
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ALSON
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Contents
Map #2: British Mandate of Palestine
Map #3: Palestine: U.N. Partition Plan (1947)
A Reading Group Gold Selection
Also Available from Ronald H. Balson
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
SAVING SOPHIE.
Copyright © 2015 by Ronald H. Balson. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
Cover design by Michael Storrings
Cover photographs: alleyway © Eldad Carin / Shutterstock; man © Stuart Brill / Trevillion Images
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-06585-8 (trade paperback)
ISBN 978-1-250-08129-2 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4668-7286-8 (e-book)
e-ISBN 9781466872868
Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at [email protected].
First Edition: September 2015
