Joshua Cohen’s latest novel represents a shift away from his previous book, Book of Numbers, both in length and tone. He has replaced a meta-narrative, full of tricksiness and invention, with something more immediate and straightforward, even as he allows himself Tom Wolfe-esque darts of social satire and linguistic extravagance. His protagonist is David King, a recently divorced American Jew who runs an East Coast moving company, and who agrees, reluctantly, to look after his distant Israeli cousins Yoav and Uri, who wish to make a career for themselves in the US. It soon becomes clear that the differences between them are greater than a simple cultural barrier; as King notes: “In America, you lose your house, you can get it back from the bank. In Israel, you lose it to the rockets.” This is an astute and often penetrating look at a divided world, lightened with sympathy for all its flawed protagonists.
• Moving Kings by Joshua Cohen is published by Fitzcarraldo Editions (£12.99). To order a copy for £11.04 go to guardianbookshop.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99
