A Vision of Angels

A terrorist attack planned for Easter Sunday in Jerusalem sets off a chain of events that weave together the lives of an American journalist, Israeli war hero, Palestinian farmer, and Christian grocer.

Alerted to a suicide bomb plot, Major Jakov Levy orders the closure of the border with the Gaza Strip. Unable to get his produce to market, Amin Mousa dumps truckloads of tomatoes in a refugee camp. Paul Kessler, an American journalist, sees it on television and goes to Gaza for Amin's personal story.

Hamas militants plot to smuggle the bomb out in Paul’s car and retrieve it when he returns home, but he’s unexpectedly detoured on the way. Meanwhile, a Hamas member confesses to the plot, and the race is on to find Paul and retrieve the bomb before the terrorists can.

A Vision of Angels is a human drama set against the background of the Middle East conflict. Ultimately it’s a story of reconciliation and hope, but not before events as tragic as a modern passion play change the lives of four families forever.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Timothy Smith brings the war between and within countries to the frontlines with his novel, A Vision of Angels. It's dramatic, touching, heartbreaking, and real. I had never read anything like this before and the poetic fear that this novel creates astounded me. 

There are multiple characters in the novel that take center stage. It's hard to pinpoint one main character that readers will build a relationship with. The fact that the characters rotate makes it hard to build a firm connection but in that same light, the array of characters does allow for each reader to find one they feel more drawn to than the rest. 

For me, there were two characters that drew me in: Mishe and David. Mishe is a young man who demonstrates for peace while his father works in the government he hates. Smith takes readers into his life and shows how the war in the Middle East affects his relationships, his feelings, and his hope. David is a photographer from the United States who wants to share what the war is really like. His photos evoke various emotions, outrage and faith being two that stand out. I connected with Mishe because he stands strong behind his cause and I empathized with his troubled family relationship. David pulled me in because of his sincerity, creative eye, and helpful nature. 

The plot of A Vision of Angels revolves around the week leading up to Easter Sunday. Each day represents new tasks, new fights, new worries and new hopes for each character. Some characters get exactly what they deserve, while others face the horrors of living in a war-ridden country. Recommended for adult readers. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

A Vision of Angels