Woman of Valor

This insightful and poignant novel, translated from Hebrew, follows two couples as they navigate the terrain of marriage and children. Lapid, who writes an advice column for a popular Israeli newspaper, shares her own story side by side with that of a fictional couple whom she terms "the prince and princess." Both couples are desperately in love as they begin their marriages, but as their lives begin to grow more complicated with young children, financial stress, and social pressures, they lose sight of their original, pure goals and expectations. The painful downward spiral is told through a narrative that lacks dialogue but shares the innermost thoughts of husband and wife, and interweaves real letters from columnist Lapid's readers facing similar issues. Individuals of all faiths will relate to the challenges inherent in marriage and raising children, and will certainly benefit from Lapid's wake-up call to choose real-life happiness in a world of fairy-tale expectations. (Nov.)