Mike’s Place by Jack Baxter & Joshua Faudem | Book Review

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

There's a rule at Mike's Place: never, ever talk politics or religion. At this blues bar on the Tel Aviv beachfront, an international cast of characters mingles with the locals, and everyone is welcome to grab a beer and forget the conflict outside. At least, that's the story Jack and Joshua want to tell in their documentary.But less than a month after they begin filming, Mike's Place is the target of a deadly suicide bombing. Jack, Joshua, and the Mike's Place family survive the only way they know how-by keeping the camera rolling.Written by filmmakers Jack Baxter and Joshua Faudem and illustrated by award-winning cartoonist Koren Shadmi, Mike's Place chronicles the true story of an infamous terrorist attack in painstaking detail. Rarely has the slow build to tragedy, and the rebirth that follows, been captured with such a compassionate and unflinching eye.

Why Did I Read Mike’s Place?

Mike’s Place: A True Story Of Love, Blues, And Terror In Tel Aviv by Jack Baxter and Joshua Faudem, illustrated by Koren Shadmi appealed to me based on several factors. Obviously, I love graphic novels and comics, so of course that was number one in appeal. Number two in appeal for this book was the setting. I haven’t really read anything set in Tel Aviv. Therefore, I wanted to read this book very badly. Finally, Josh read it and really liked it, so I figured I would probably like this one too. Thus, I threw it on my readathon pile and essentially flew through this book.

What’s The Story Here?

Mike’s Place is basically a story about this bar in Tel Aviv. Jack and Joshua, the authors, are documentary makers who are searching for a subject. They stumble upon Mike’s Place which is this bar where the conflict outside is forgotten. The Palestinians rub elbows with the Jews. Then there’s the ex patriots. It really feels like a place that is special and different, it’s a place that shows peace is possible. Unfortunately, a few weeks into shooting the documentary, the unthinkable happens. A suicide bomber targets the bar and the unthinkable happens. However, ultimately, we see the bar rise back up from the ashes and the quality of resilience.

How Did I Like Mike’s Place?

I really enjoyed Mike’s Place. It was different from what I normally read. Plus, there’s that whole true story aspect which enhanced my enjoyment. I am genuinely into non fiction. In addition, the different people we meet in this book are fascinating. It’s all the more big of a deal that they are actually real people. However, the tragedy is hard to read and it does come out of nowhere, much like tragedy in real life. This book though is totally worth it.

Other reviews of Mike’s Place by Jack Baxter & Joshua Faudem:

• Comics Grinder – “a remarkable job with bringing to life these characters“
• Graphic Policy – “a graphic novel that sticks with you for days and week“

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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