A review by levishak
The Tunnel by A.B. Yehoshua

3.0

A bittersweet story set in present day Israel—the book is well written, sweet, funny, and sad. I believe the author is telling the reader about old age and the inevitable loss of function and independence. In the case of the protagonist, the onset of dementia is the overriding problem to be confronted. The characters and interactions are humorous and poignant. There are references to corruption which I am certain an Israeli would understand better than I could. The protagonist and supporting characters find themselves in absurd situations. These wacky scenarios reinforce the tender sadness which characterizes the novel. I wanted to like the book more than I actually did. My main problem is that there are several messages imparted by the author, but none are revealed loud and strong. Metaphors and symbols abound, but I was unable to determine which was the most important.