Dinner at the Centre of the Earth by Nathan Englander is intriguing, sensitive and difficult to put down.
The central character is an unnamed prisoner in a secret Israeli prison. Gradually Englander shares the story of an immigrant who spies for Mossad, betrays his country because of his dismay at some of it’s actions and becomes a non-person. It’s difficult to know who are the good guys in this shifting muddle of loyalties and it’s only as you near the end that you think you know what is going on.
It’s easy to groan at the thought of another novel about Israel and Palestine but don’t, this is a humorous and sad novel that is well worth reading whatever your views on the conflict.
4/5