A remarkable kindness
Subtitle: a novel
By: Diana Bletter
Edition: First edition.
Publisher: William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; William Morrow Paperbacks
Published: 2015
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 394
ISBN-13: 9780062382443
Subjects: Jewish women; Americans; Tahara; American Jews; Jewish funeral rites and ceremonies; Ḥevra kaddisha; Fiction
Description: "Through a largely hidden ceremony...four friends discover the true meaning of life. It's 2006 in a seaside village in Israel, where a war is brewing. Lauren, Emily, Aviva and Rachel, four memorable women from different backgrounds, are drawn to the village. Lauren, a maternity nurse, loves her Israeli doctor husband but struggles to make a home for herself in a foreign land miles away from her beloved Boston. Seeking a fresh start after divorce, her vivacious friend Emily follows. Strong, sensuous Aviva, brought to Israel years earlier by intelligence work, has raised a family and now lost a son. And Rachel, a beautiful, idealistic college graduate from Wyoming, arrives with her hopeful dreams. The women forge a friendship that sustains them as they come to terms with love and loss, and the outbreak of war. Their intimate bond is strengthened by their participation in a traditional ritual that closes the circle of life. As their lives are slowly transformed, each finds unexpected strength and resilience. Brimming with wisdom, rich in meaningful insights, A Remarkable Kindness is a moving testament to women's friendship, illuminating a mostly unknown ritual that underscores what it means to truly be alive."--Back cover.
Notes: "P.S. Insights, Interviews & more..."--Cover

Includes author biography, "Discovering remarkable stories", and reading group guide at end of work.