Hostage, the memoir by former hostage Eli Sharabi, who survived 491 days in Hamas captivity, has been chosen as one of Time magazine’s 100 must-read books of 2025, the publication announced Wednesday.
“In his bestselling memoir, Eli Sharabi, an Israeli abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, and held captive for 491 days, recounts his imprisonment in chilling detail. He describes the dawn raid when he was separated from his wife and daughters, and the long ordeal through the tunnels beneath Gaza,” wrote critic Hamilton Kane for Time.
“He writes about the bonds he formed with other hostages and the survival method they developed together. ‘One shared siniya between us for a meal: a tray with a little rice, meat or beans… a pita and a half to scoop it up.’ When he was finally freed in a prisoner exchange, Sharabi stepped into a world that had changed forever and learned that his family had been murdered in the attack. This is the first captivity memoir written after October 7, and Sharabi offers an unflinching, intimate look at one of the most controversial conflicts in modern history.”
Among the authors featured on Time’s 2025 list are literary giants such as Margaret Atwood, whose new book is titled "Book of Lives"; rock legend and poet Patti Smith with Bread of Angels, a follow-up to her acclaimed memoirs; and South Korean author Han Kang, winner of both the 2024 Booker Prize and the Nobel Prize in Literature, with We Do Not Part.
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The cover of the English edition of Eli Sharabi's best-selling memoir Hostage
(Photo: from Facebook)
Last month, Sharabi’s book reached No. 4 on The New York Times bestseller list, just a week after its U.S. release in English. At the time, Sharabi said he was “grateful and full of compassion.” He thanked readers and supporters, prayed for the return of all remaining hostages and dedicated the book’s success to the memory of his wife Lian, his daughters Noya and Yahel, and his brother Yossi, all killed by Hamas terrorists on October 7.
In Israel, the Hebrew edition of Hostage became the best-selling book in the country, with more than 100,000 copies sold. The English edition was published by HarperCollins, and international editions are expected to follow in several languages.
“We are proud, and not at all surprised, by the success of the English edition,” said Sela Meir Publishing, which released the Hebrew version. “Beyond being a historically important testimony, Eli has written a timeless and universal story about the strength of the human spirit and the ability to choose one’s path even in impossible circumstances. This is not only a story about suffering but also about the power to change, which is why it will continue to move and inspire readers around the world.”