Hostage, a memoir by Eli Sharabi recounting his 491-day captivity in Gaza, debuted at No. 4 on the New York Times bestseller list just one week after its U.S. release.
Sharabi, who survived more than 16 months of captivity before returning to Israel, responded to the news by writing, “Honored and humbled — Hostage is an instant New York Times Bestseller. Thank you to every reader, supporter, and believer who made this possible. As we celebrate this milestone, we continue to pray and fight for the return of all those still held hostage — they are never forgotten. In memory of my beloved wife Lianne, daughters Noiya and Yahel and brother Yossi.”
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The cover of the English edition of Eli Sharabi's best-selling memoir Hostage
(Photo: from Facebook)
The English edition of the book was published by HarperCollins, with additional translations expected to follow. Upon its release in Hebrew earlier this year, Hostage quickly became Israel’s bestselling book, with more than 100,000 copies sold.
Sela Meir Publishing, which released the Hebrew edition, celebrated the international success, saying, “We are proud — though not surprised — by the book’s reception in English. Beyond being a historical testimony of immense importance, Eli has written a timeless and universal work about the power of the human spirit and the ability of any individual to choose their path, even in impossible circumstances. This is not only a book about hardship, but about transformation. That is why it will continue to succeed, to move and to make a positive impact on the world.”