Eyes Of A Different Color

Eyes of a Different Color by Robert Jaffee, MD, is a tale of cultural clashes, complex relationships, and personal growth that follows the love story of Bob, a Jewish-American ophthalmologist, and Iris, a young woman from Israel. The narrative begins with a gripping prologue where Bob mourns the tragic loss of his wife at a grave site in Israel. Following this, the plot unfolds through their meeting, brief yet impactful romance, grappling with differing cultural expectations, and culminates in a rollercoaster of emotions tied to proposals and the logistics of a wedding amidst military bureaucracy. Set in 1979, this narrative examines their life post-marriage and the challenges they must face to make it work. One of the prominent themes is the struggle for identity and belonging. Bob's journey reflects a continuous conflict between his professional life in America and the pull he feels toward Iris and her world in Israel. This juxtaposition is illustrated through Bob’s skepticism regarding the compatibility of their lives, representations of his internal bias against Iris’s potential choices, and her experience in the military. The question of what it means to know someone is also central to the narrative: Bob’s realizations about Iris’s perspective allow for deeper characterization, showing Iris as a strong, opinionated woman determined to shape her destiny while battling traditional constraints.  

Furthermore, there is a rich exploration of cultural contrast, which feeds the conflict within their relationship. Iris’s negotiations with her identity as a soldier versus her aspirations to be an actress, juxtaposed with Bob’s obligations as a doctor, reveals how personal ambition is often shaped and constrained by social values. Notably, both characters confront their complex feelings of love, loathing, and the fear of abandonment as they navigate their relationship. Their conversations about the future capture the struggle of facing their cultural differences while trying to forge a path together. Jaffee uses rich imagery to depict settings, reflecting the vibrancy and starkness of Israeli culture. The dialogue captures the nuances of communication, often layered with unspoken tension that creates suspense. For instance, the miscommunication between Bob and Iris underscores the challenges of their cultural divide, while humor infused in their exchanges exhibits their vulnerability and charm. Eyes of a Different Color entertains and offers a unique take on interracial marriage, a heartwarming narrative packed with insights about love and marriage.