Name: Chains of Sand
ISBN: 9781785079726

Jemma Wayne

New novel from Baileys Woman's Prize for Fiction Longlisted author that explores the complexities of human emotion and human relationships against a background of conflict in Israel.

Chains of Sand

Liam Byrne 

Writing to review has always been a concept I have found difficult, as I spent many of my thirty-plus years reading books without being particularly evaluative or critical of them. I knew what I did like, I knew what I didn’t like, but often skimmed along the surface narrative, not really looking to plunge much deeper. ‘Chains of Sand’ by Jemma Wayne is a novel that effectively forces you to confront your own ideas and perceptions of the very real crises between Israel and Palestine, whilst often telling a very engaging narrative. That it doesn’t completely hang together is a shame, but it does provide something compelling enough and thought-provoking enough to make it a worthwhile and interesting read.

At the heart of the novel, outside of the ‘Israel problem’, seems to be a battle between ritual and belief, and that of the existence of these occasionally out-dated concepts within a modern world that sees them through confused eyes. Through the characters that Wayne creates, we get a true sense of their confusion as to how to be themselves in a world that is constantly shifting the goalposts in terms of expectation – what is it to be a good man? Israeli? Jew? These quandaries, seen primarily through the eyes of Udi (a man who desires to leave Israel for the UK) and Daniel (a man seeking to reverse that journey) cause the majority of the tension within the story. As we see the relationships they have with friends and family, and the potential contradictions in beliefs and values, I felt that we do end up wanting what is best for our two de facto main characters, even when their ideologies are so often in conflict.

The structure occasionally felt somewhat gimmicky – the story told across ‘Then’ and ‘Now’, with mixed usage of first and third person to attempt to provide a well-rounded picture from multiple viewpoints. This is somewhat successful; I did worry at times that the story interested me primarily due to a desire to find how the seemingly disparate ideas linked, rather than to see the narrative through to the end. However, the reveal of the link near the end was a reveal that at least made the structure choices more defendable. The changes in person, as well as some of the description, is occasionally clunky and awkward in nature, and doesn’t always benefit the story overall. However, the often short, simple sentences that both Udi and Daniel use to exemplify the desire of both men to fulfill their own perceived destinies.

One other issue I have with the story, which might be exacerbated somewhat by the structure, is the use of some characters seemingly as pure plot points and little more. This is most obvious in Avigail, who I feel never truly gets developed, and seems to be there primarily to allow us to be shocked by what happens to her. Whilst this does help to emphasise the sense of barely suppressed violence that permeates life at times in Israel, it is hard to see it as more than just a way to tug at the heart strings with limited real substance.

As a novel that explores belonging and what makes you the person you grow up to be, it is an unmitigated success. Wayne’s creates interesting characters alongside a narrative that allows us to understand the inherent conflicts between the main parties of thought. That there are a few missteps along the way doesn’t detract a lot from the novel, though does stop it from being considered (in my eyes) an absolute ‘must read’.

Deborah Meades

*Goodreads giveaway winner*
This is a beautifully written book. It deals with identity in the increasingly confusing and complicated world with live in today. But it is much more than that, it is about relationships ;between parents and children, siblings, friends and lovers. It is about prejudice, racism, gender and truth. It is set in England and Israel and as well as being a fabulous novel taught me much about the Middle East. It is about people and the experiences we all go through. I hope many people read it. I did become a little confused at times by the changing narratives but that may have been my problem rather than a problem with the book.

Chains of Sand

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