What do you think?
Rate this book
A Tale of Love and Darkness
Tragic, comic, and utterly honest, A Tale of Love and Darkness is at once a family saga and a magical self-portrait of a writer who witnessed the birth of a nation and lived through its turbulent history.
It is the story of a boy growing up in the war-torn Jerusalem of the forties and fifties, in a small apartment crowded with books in twelve languages and relatives speaking nearly as many. The story of an adolescent whose life has been changed forever by his mother's suicide when he was twelve years old. The story of a man who leaves the constraints of his family and its community of dreamers, scholars, and failed businessmen to join a kibbutz, change his name, marry, have children. The story of a writer who becomes an active participant in the political life of his nation.
(back cover)
It is the story of a boy growing up in the war-torn Jerusalem of the forties and fifties, in a small apartment crowded with books in twelve languages and relatives speaking nearly as many. The story of an adolescent whose life has been changed forever by his mother's suicide when he was twelve years old. The story of a man who leaves the constraints of his family and its community of dreamers, scholars, and failed businessmen to join a kibbutz, change his name, marry, have children. The story of a writer who becomes an active participant in the political life of his nation.
(back cover)
560 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
2,574 people are currently reading
26.5k people want to read
About the author
Amos Oz
168books1,609followersAmos Oz (Hebrew: עמוס עוז�; born Amos Klausner) was an Israeli writer, novelist, journalist and intellectual. He was also a professor of literature at Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba. He was regarded as Israel's most famous living author.
Oz's work has been published in 42 languages in 43 countries, and has received many honours and awards, among them the Legion of Honour of France, the Goethe Prize, the Prince of Asturias Award in Literature, the Heinrich Heine Prize and the Israel Prize. In 2007, a selection from the Chinese translation of A Tale of Love and Darkness was the first work of modern Hebrew literature to appear in an official Chinese textbook.
Since 1967, Oz had been a prominent advocate of a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
Oz's work has been published in 42 languages in 43 countries, and has received many honours and awards, among them the Legion of Honour of France, the Goethe Prize, the Prince of Asturias Award in Literature, the Heinrich Heine Prize and the Israel Prize. In 2007, a selection from the Chinese translation of A Tale of Love and Darkness was the first work of modern Hebrew literature to appear in an official Chinese textbook.
Since 1967, Oz had been a prominent advocate of a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,293 reviews
June 21, 2014
By far, the best book that I've read this year.
It is a long one but worth all the time I spent on it. It is a memoir that begins with Amos Oz (born 1939) birth in Israel and ends with the death of his father. His mother died twenty years earlier than that and in between those two deaths he did not hear from his father anything about his mother; as if his mother did not exist. This novel can be appreciated on three layers: from the macro perspective, it is a tale of Israel as a nation, from the exodus of the East-European Jews from the 18th to the 20th century to the War of Independence; from the Oz family's perspective, the migration of their well-educated family from Russia to Israel armed only with what they know as intellectuals facing difficult times migrating from one country to another before settling in Israel; and lastly, from the internal perspective of what Oz has to go through accepting the sad truth behind the death of his mother and his father trying to forget the whole thing.
This is my first Oz and I am just impressed. He writes beautifully. I was not able to relate to him as he is almost unreachable considering his background: his parents were both professors and in their house, they talked about all those literary greats from Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Freud, etc and his father used to purchase hardbound books with silver or golden linings so that the Oz had a boyhood dream not of becoming an author when he grew up but by becoming a book.
If you also want to know about the history of Israel, go for this book. It is almost the same experience I had reading Salman Rushdie's (4 stars) for Indian history or Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche's (4 stars) for Nigerian history. You see, I am fond of reading history and memoirs and having a book with both is simply my cup of tea.
Oz writes like a wizard. He puts magic on the pages of his book.
It is a long one but worth all the time I spent on it. It is a memoir that begins with Amos Oz (born 1939) birth in Israel and ends with the death of his father. His mother died twenty years earlier than that and in between those two deaths he did not hear from his father anything about his mother; as if his mother did not exist. This novel can be appreciated on three layers: from the macro perspective, it is a tale of Israel as a nation, from the exodus of the East-European Jews from the 18th to the 20th century to the War of Independence; from the Oz family's perspective, the migration of their well-educated family from Russia to Israel armed only with what they know as intellectuals facing difficult times migrating from one country to another before settling in Israel; and lastly, from the internal perspective of what Oz has to go through accepting the sad truth behind the death of his mother and his father trying to forget the whole thing.
This is my first Oz and I am just impressed. He writes beautifully. I was not able to relate to him as he is almost unreachable considering his background: his parents were both professors and in their house, they talked about all those literary greats from Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Freud, etc and his father used to purchase hardbound books with silver or golden linings so that the Oz had a boyhood dream not of becoming an author when he grew up but by becoming a book.
If you also want to know about the history of Israel, go for this book. It is almost the same experience I had reading Salman Rushdie's (4 stars) for Indian history or Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche's (4 stars) for Nigerian history. You see, I am fond of reading history and memoirs and having a book with both is simply my cup of tea.
Oz writes like a wizard. He puts magic on the pages of his book.
March 1, 2019
Η «Ιστορία αγάπης και σκότους» μπορεί να χαρακτηριστεί ως μία θριαμβευτική μαρτυρία,
ένα λογοτεχνικό μνημείο για τη δημιουργία ενός νέου έθνους που γεννήθηκε μέσα στο αίμα, τράφηκε απο θηριωδίες και κατάφερε να επιβιώσει πέρα απο κάθε προσδοκία.
Παράλληλα καταγράφονται οι δυνάμεις αγάπης και σκότους που μαζί με τη γέννηση του Ισραήλ διαμορφώνουν και το χαρακτήρα ενός νεαρού αγοριού, του ίδιου του συγγραφέα, με τη μορφή ποιητικής ελεγείας ή ζωγραφικής αναπαράστασης με λόγια και λέξεις όλων των χρωματικών αποχρώσεων.
Η αφήγηση ξεκινάει με κλιμακωτή και πολύπλευρη εξέλιξη. Λειτουργεί σε πολλά επίπεδα, ιστορικά, φιλοσοφικά, πολιτικά, κοινωνικά, τα οποία αναμειγνύονται σε γλυκόπικρα κοκτέιλς και προσφέρονται στον αναγνώστη μέσα απο
τις εμπειρίες του Οζ και των επιπτώσεων τους στον ίδιο και την οικογένεια του.
Μια θλιβερή αυτοβιογραφία γεμάτη βαριά συναισθήματα και κυκλικές εξάρσεις, καταδικασμένες προσπάθειες, νοσταλγία ανεκπλήρωτων επιθυμιών, απογοήτευση και ατέλειωτες σιωπές με λόγια, σιωπές γεμάτες λέξεις που μάταια παλεύουν να καλύψουν τα τραγικά κενά.
Μια ιστορική βόλτα
- δίχως χρονολογική σειρά - απο την Ανατολική Ευρώπη μέχρι την Ιερουσαλήμ.
Περιγράφονται οι αμφιλεγόμενες σχέσεις μεταξύ των Εβραίων και των λαών της Πολωνίας, της Τσεχοσλοβακίας, της Ρωσίας και την ανάπτυξη όλου του σιωνιστικού ιδεώδους.
Αναφέρεται με άπλετο λυρισμό η εκδίωξη των παππούδων του Οζ όπως κι όλων των Εβραίων και η απόδραση τους στην Παλαιστίνη, ως αποφυγή μιας τραγικής μοίρας θανάτου.
Τα σκοτεινά δάση της ρωσικής γης είναι το σκηνικό των ναζιστικών θηριωδιών, ιδιαίτερα στην Ουκρανία που πνίγεται απ’τ� εβραϊκό αίμα ενώ είναι ο τόπος που προέρχεται η οικογένεια της μητέρα του.
Ο πυρετός της εβραϊκής διασποράς να εγκατασταθεί στο Ισραήλ και να ιδρύσει ένα αυτόνομο έθνος παράλληλα με τη διχοτόμηση αγάπης- μίσους σε όλα τα επίπεδα ζωής.
Ο αυξανόμενος αντισημιτισμός, ο διωγμός των Εβραίων απο τις ευρωπαϊκές πατρίδες τους που θα νοσταλγούν πάντα με αγάπη, η νέα πατρίδα που λαχταρούν να δημιουργήσουν σε χώματα αγάπης-μίσους και οι επιπτώσεις όλων αυτών στις ζωές τους.
Μια διχοτόμηση που κυριαρχεί σε όλη την ιστορία του βιβλίου.
Διχοτόμηση εδάφους, αντιλήψεων, ιδεολογιών, σχέσεων, παλιάς και σύγχρονης σιωνιστικής νοοτροπίας, πνευματικών ακαδημαϊκών ρευμάτων που στηρίζουν το οικοδόμημα του νέου έθνους, μα κυρίως διχοτόμηση ψυχικών αναγκών και συναισθηματικών αγιάτρευτων πληγών.
Διχοτόμηση ολοκληρωτική και κραυγαλέα που οδηγεί με ακρίβεια στην απελπισία, την απογοήτευση και την τραγωδία.
Μέσα σε όλον αυτό τον καταιγισμό περιγραφής και αναφοράς στο Ολοκαύτωμα, τα άλυτα ζητήματα της μέσης Ανατολής που αιμμοραγούν και τη γέννηση του Ισραήλ, έχουμε ως κεντρικό σημείο αναφοράς την αυτοκτονία της μητέρας του Οζ.
Εμφανώς ή μέσα απο τα σκοτάδια της ψυχής του ο Οζ προσπαθεί με πόνο και λαχτάρα να κατανοήσει την τελευταία πράξη της μητέρας του που τον οδήγησε σε αιώνια εσωτερική καταδίκη.
Αυτή η θλιβερή μοίρα που τον κατατρώει απο παιδάκι και η αποκορύφωση της τραγωδίας με την ξαφνική απώλεια της μητέρας του συνθέτουν ένα λογοτεχνικό μεγαλείο, μια μαύρη θριαμβευτική ομολογία της ιστορίας αγάπης και σκότους για τη ζωή ενός ανθρώπου.
Μόνο γι� αυτόν το λόγο κατάφερα να αγαπήσω αυτό το βιβλίο και να το ολοκληρώσω κόντρα σε κάθε δυσκολία που συνάντησα εξ αρχής.
Θα δικαιολογούσα ίσως κάποιους αναγνώστες που το άφησαν ή θα το αφήσουν στην άκρη απο τις πρώτες σελίδες.
Τα 2/3 του βιβλίου και μέχρι να φθάσουμε στην αριστουργηματική αφήγηση του πολέμου της ανεξαρτησίας, η λεπτομέρεια και η επανάληψη είναι τόσο έντονη που ο αναγνώστης νομίζει πως βλέπει μπροστά του τα γεγονότα πραγματικά μα και πολύ κουραστικά.
Υπερβολικές περιγραφές και αναφορές εβραϊκών όρων, θεσμών, πολιτικών προσώπων, ατελείωτες λίστες ονομάτων, τόπων και δραστηριοτήτων του οικογενειακού καθώς και του ευρύτερα κοινωνικού περιβάλλοντος.
Ο συγγραφέας δημιουργεί μια σαφέστατα σπουδαία πεζογραφία που χάνει την κομψότητα και την γοητεία της απο τις πάμπολλες ανακλήσεις και επαναλήψεις.
Σε γενικές γραμμές είναι ενα κουραστικά συναρπαστικό βιβλίο που σε βασανίζει στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος του περιγράφοντας τις συναντήσεις με τους αρχιτέκτονες του νέου Ισραήλ, οι οποίοι θεωρούνται υπεύθυνοι για τη σύγχρονη νοοτροπία. Μας εξηγεί βασανιστικά και αναλυτικά πως η νέα νοοτροπία διαφέρει απο την παλιά, αυτή της απώλειας και της εξορίας.
Απο την άλλη πλευρά ενώ σε όλο το βιβλίο υπάρχουν σύντομες αναφορές σε γεγονότα στην μετέπειτα ζωή του συγγραφέα, η ιστορία τελειώνει χωρίς να αγγίξει ουσιαστικά το θέμα που τρέχει μέσα στην ψυχή της υπόθεσης και του αναγνώστη :η σχέση του Οζ με τους γονείς του και η σχέση που υπήρχε ή δεν υπήρχε μεταξύ τους.
🌠🎇🎆🌄🏞
Καλή ανάγνωση
Καλή χρονιά
2018 ασπασμούς.
ένα λογοτεχνικό μνημείο για τη δημιουργία ενός νέου έθνους που γεννήθηκε μέσα στο αίμα, τράφηκε απο θηριωδίες και κατάφερε να επιβιώσει πέρα απο κάθε προσδοκία.
Παράλληλα καταγράφονται οι δυνάμεις αγάπης και σκότους που μαζί με τη γέννηση του Ισραήλ διαμορφώνουν και το χαρακτήρα ενός νεαρού αγοριού, του ίδιου του συγγραφέα, με τη μορφή ποιητικής ελεγείας ή ζωγραφικής αναπαράστασης με λόγια και λέξεις όλων των χρωματικών αποχρώσεων.
Η αφήγηση ξεκινάει με κλιμακωτή και πολύπλευρη εξέλιξη. Λειτουργεί σε πολλά επίπεδα, ιστορικά, φιλοσοφικά, πολιτικά, κοινωνικά, τα οποία αναμειγνύονται σε γλυκόπικρα κοκτέιλς και προσφέρονται στον αναγνώστη μέσα απο
τις εμπειρίες του Οζ και των επιπτώσεων τους στον ίδιο και την οικογένεια του.
Μια θλιβερή αυτοβιογραφία γεμάτη βαριά συναισθήματα και κυκλικές εξάρσεις, καταδικασμένες προσπάθειες, νοσταλγία ανεκπλήρωτων επιθυμιών, απογοήτευση και ατέλειωτες σιωπές με λόγια, σιωπές γεμάτες λέξεις που μάταια παλεύουν να καλύψουν τα τραγικά κενά.
Μια ιστορική βόλτα
- δίχως χρονολογική σειρά - απο την Ανατολική Ευρώπη μέχρι την Ιερουσαλήμ.
Περιγράφονται οι αμφιλεγόμενες σχέσεις μεταξύ των Εβραίων και των λαών της Πολωνίας, της Τσεχοσλοβακίας, της Ρωσίας και την ανάπτυξη όλου του σιωνιστικού ιδεώδους.
Αναφέρεται με άπλετο λυρισμό η εκδίωξη των παππούδων του Οζ όπως κι όλων των Εβραίων και η απόδραση τους στην Παλαιστίνη, ως αποφυγή μιας τραγικής μοίρας θανάτου.
Τα σκοτεινά δάση της ρωσικής γης είναι το σκηνικό των ναζιστικών θηριωδιών, ιδιαίτερα στην Ουκρανία που πνίγεται απ’τ� εβραϊκό αίμα ενώ είναι ο τόπος που προέρχεται η οικογένεια της μητέρα του.
Ο πυρετός της εβραϊκής διασποράς να εγκατασταθεί στο Ισραήλ και να ιδρύσει ένα αυτόνομο έθνος παράλληλα με τη διχοτόμηση αγάπης- μίσους σε όλα τα επίπεδα ζωής.
Ο αυξανόμενος αντισημιτισμός, ο διωγμός των Εβραίων απο τις ευρωπαϊκές πατρίδες τους που θα νοσταλγούν πάντα με αγάπη, η νέα πατρίδα που λαχταρούν να δημιουργήσουν σε χώματα αγάπης-μίσους και οι επιπτώσεις όλων αυτών στις ζωές τους.
Μια διχοτόμηση που κυριαρχεί σε όλη την ιστορία του βιβλίου.
Διχοτόμηση εδάφους, αντιλήψεων, ιδεολογιών, σχέσεων, παλιάς και σύγχρονης σιωνιστικής νοοτροπίας, πνευματικών ακαδημαϊκών ρευμάτων που στηρίζουν το οικοδόμημα του νέου έθνους, μα κυρίως διχοτόμηση ψυχικών αναγκών και συναισθηματικών αγιάτρευτων πληγών.
Διχοτόμηση ολοκληρωτική και κραυγαλέα που οδηγεί με ακρίβεια στην απελπισία, την απογοήτευση και την τραγωδία.
Μέσα σε όλον αυτό τον καταιγισμό περιγραφής και αναφοράς στο Ολοκαύτωμα, τα άλυτα ζητήματα της μέσης Ανατολής που αιμμοραγούν και τη γέννηση του Ισραήλ, έχουμε ως κεντρικό σημείο αναφοράς την αυτοκτονία της μητέρας του Οζ.
Εμφανώς ή μέσα απο τα σκοτάδια της ψυχής του ο Οζ προσπαθεί με πόνο και λαχτάρα να κατανοήσει την τελευταία πράξη της μητέρας του που τον οδήγησε σε αιώνια εσωτερική καταδίκη.
Αυτή η θλιβερή μοίρα που τον κατατρώει απο παιδάκι και η αποκορύφωση της τραγωδίας με την ξαφνική απώλεια της μητέρας του συνθέτουν ένα λογοτεχνικό μεγαλείο, μια μαύρη θριαμβευτική ομολογία της ιστορίας αγάπης και σκότους για τη ζωή ενός ανθρώπου.
Μόνο γι� αυτόν το λόγο κατάφερα να αγαπήσω αυτό το βιβλίο και να το ολοκληρώσω κόντρα σε κάθε δυσκολία που συνάντησα εξ αρχής.
Θα δικαιολογούσα ίσως κάποιους αναγνώστες που το άφησαν ή θα το αφήσουν στην άκρη απο τις πρώτες σελίδες.
Τα 2/3 του βιβλίου και μέχρι να φθάσουμε στην αριστουργηματική αφήγηση του πολέμου της ανεξαρτησίας, η λεπτομέρεια και η επανάληψη είναι τόσο έντονη που ο αναγνώστης νομίζει πως βλέπει μπροστά του τα γεγονότα πραγματικά μα και πολύ κουραστικά.
Υπερβολικές περιγραφές και αναφορές εβραϊκών όρων, θεσμών, πολιτικών προσώπων, ατελείωτες λίστες ονομάτων, τόπων και δραστηριοτήτων του οικογενειακού καθώς και του ευρύτερα κοινωνικού περιβάλλοντος.
Ο συγγραφέας δημιουργεί μια σαφέστατα σπουδαία πεζογραφία που χάνει την κομψότητα και την γοητεία της απο τις πάμπολλες ανακλήσεις και επαναλήψεις.
Σε γενικές γραμμές είναι ενα κουραστικά συναρπαστικό βιβλίο που σε βασανίζει στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος του περιγράφοντας τις συναντήσεις με τους αρχιτέκτονες του νέου Ισραήλ, οι οποίοι θεωρούνται υπεύθυνοι για τη σύγχρονη νοοτροπία. Μας εξηγεί βασανιστικά και αναλυτικά πως η νέα νοοτροπία διαφέρει απο την παλιά, αυτή της απώλειας και της εξορίας.
Απο την άλλη πλευρά ενώ σε όλο το βιβλίο υπάρχουν σύντομες αναφορές σε γεγονότα στην μετέπειτα ζωή του συγγραφέα, η ιστορία τελειώνει χωρίς να αγγίξει ουσιαστικά το θέμα που τρέχει μέσα στην ψυχή της υπόθεσης και του αναγνώστη :η σχέση του Οζ με τους γονείς του και η σχέση που υπήρχε ή δεν υπήρχε μεταξύ τους.
🌠🎇🎆🌄🏞
Καλή ανάγνωση
Καλή χρονιά
2018 ασπασμούς.
May 25, 2013
Amos Oz je najveći živi izraelski književnik... Upoznali smo se dok je pisao ovaj autobiografski roman... Bila sam mu urednik... Imala sam zadovoljstvo da se nekoliko puta sretnemo i razgovaramo... Davno sam za RTS obezbedila intervju s njim i to je bilo divno iskustvo... Nažalost nisam uspela da ga dovedem u Srbiju iako mi je to obećao... Ja se još uvek nadam da će se to realizovati jednoga dana... Kao što verujem da će jednoga dana Amos dobiti Nobelovu nagradu za književnost, zaslužio je... A ovaj roman mu je remek-delo...
March 12, 2022
Ljudi dolaze i odlaze, rađaju se i umiru, ali knjige žive vječno. Koliko god sistematično pokušavali da ih unište, uvijek postoje izgledi da će neki primjerak opstati i nastaviti da živi negdje na polici u nekom uglu kakve zabite biblioteke, u Rejkjaviku, Valjadolidu, ili Vankuveru.
ܲ徱ć.
Ako se Đorđe Lebović i Amos Oz slažu u jednom, onda bi to bilo u ovome: Jevreji su u svemu umjereniji, bogobojažljiviji, pametniji i uspješniji i zbog toga vascijeli svijet je opasan i preteći za njih. Jednom sam u knjižari čuo da postoji dosta mađarskih nobelovaca, a onda je jedan smjelo dodao „da, ali su svi jevrejskog porijekla.�
Već u prvim stranicama Oz privlači svojom jednostavnošću i čitljivošću. Kroz cijelu knjigu se provlači književnost, odnos umjetnosti i života, Amosova porodica, progon Jevreja i slično. Proza je toliko ubjedljiva da se mnoštvu odlomaka treba iznova vraćati. Neki tekstovi su zaista nadahnujući. Njegov otac i majka su neiskorišćeni potencijali. Otac je čitao čak na sedamnaest jezika, a govorio jedanaest. Dok mu je majka koju je opisao kao “dostojevskijanska duša� govorila pet jezika, a čitala na osam. Naravno kada nisu htjeli da ih mali Amos razumije onda su govorili ili na ruskom ili na poljskom. Pa će u pojedinim momentima postojati i igra riječi. Često sam se pitao da li se Jevreji između ostalog ponekad bave fizičkim radom pošto su poznatiji kao posrednici, mešetari. Pa Amos kaže ovako: ,,Pojedini jevreji su žestoko besjedili i analizirali zašto je važno da se jevrejski narod vrati poljoprivredi i fizičkom radu: ovdje imamo više intelektualaca nego što nam treba, izjavljivali su, nedostaju nam obični fizički radnici.�
Na neki način pisac pobuđuje vjeru u improvizaciju i raznolikost, te žustro skače unaprijed, pa unazad, i tako se stiče utisak da i nema nekog reda, nego sve teče po nekom svom raspoloženju. Unutrašnja dinamika piščeve proze ogleda se u proizvedenom osjećanju i raspoloženju koje on polako podgrijeva u nama, tako da je u stanju da nas uzdigne i oduševi. Poznato je da jevrejske porodice najviše ulažu u obrazovanje. Tome svjedoči Amos Oz kada govori o jednoj jevrejki Varji koja je iz Rusije došla u Izrael kako bi čistila ulice i poslala svoje dvije nadarene kćerke na univerzitet. Štedila je na hrani, na odjeći. Stanovala u jednoj sobi. Sve to da bi podarila kćerkama obrazovanje. Gdje je početak ove knjige, a gdje kraj, teško je razaznati. Svakako dijelo koje se pamti.
March 30, 2011
There are books which, after you've read them, would give you this silent thought either that you could have written them yourself or maybe you could write something like them too someday. Then there are those books which would have the opposite effect, similar to what happened to Virginia Woolf after reading Marcel Proust's "Swann's Way" (the first book of "In Search of Lost Time")--her literary urges were paralyzed ("Well," Woolf wrote a friend, "--what remains to be written after that? I'm only in the first volume, and there are, I suppose, faults to be found, but I am in a state of amazement; as if a miracle were being done before my eyes.").
This one by Amos Oz could give you the same literary--or writing--paralysis. Published by Vintage books curiously under the category "fiction," he tells us here of his life in Jerusalem during his childhood and adolescence in the 1940s to 1950s when the Jewish state of Israel was in its infancy. It was a life surrounded by books, by voracious readers, scholars, marvelous storytellers, poets and prolific writers. His father could read in 16 or 17 languages and speak 11; his mother spoke 4 or 5 languages and read 7 or 8. She read Maupassant, Chekhov, Tolstoy, Balsac, Flaubert, Dickens, Thomas Mann, Knut Hamsun, Kleist, Moravia, Hesse, Mauriac, Turgenev, Maugham, Zweig, among many others. His father had published his own books and they (father and son) had quarrels, not about allowances or teenage vices, but about Franz Kafka. Amos Oz frequented the house of Samuel Yosef Agnon for whom his father did some translations (Agnon much later on would win the Nobel Prize for Literature) and had interactions with him as a child and, later, as an adult. At one time, when he was just a small boy, his ambition was to become a book. Not an author, or a famous writer, but a book.
I could never claim to have even of a semblance of a life like that. When I was about 9 years old my father brought home (maybe accidentally) first, Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn and, later, Twain's Tom Sawyer. Both I read with delight in that reverse order (Tom Sawyer was supposed to come ahead of Huck Finn). But that was all for me insofar as the classics were concerned. I only got to see good books again when I went to college some 6 or 7 years later.
Why is this such a pleasure to read? One could discuss technique, or the author's imagination, or the tremendous research done, but my answer is simply this: having been exposed to books all his life, Amos Oz knew the good reads from the bad reads so when he wrote his books he knew how to make them captivating ones. He knew how to make his readers hooked, to make them turn one page after another, and how to make occasional explosions of surprises.
One of these surprises I shall partly reveal: Amos Oz also had this literary paralysis and this he got after reading Hemingway (he read "For Whom the Bell Tolls" 4 or 5 times) and Erich Maria Remarque. But he got past this paralysis, his writing hand was "freed", by--what else--another book, "Winesburg, Ohio" by Sherwood Anderson which he read in the Hebrew translation by Aharon Amir.
Read, and find out why and how.
This one by Amos Oz could give you the same literary--or writing--paralysis. Published by Vintage books curiously under the category "fiction," he tells us here of his life in Jerusalem during his childhood and adolescence in the 1940s to 1950s when the Jewish state of Israel was in its infancy. It was a life surrounded by books, by voracious readers, scholars, marvelous storytellers, poets and prolific writers. His father could read in 16 or 17 languages and speak 11; his mother spoke 4 or 5 languages and read 7 or 8. She read Maupassant, Chekhov, Tolstoy, Balsac, Flaubert, Dickens, Thomas Mann, Knut Hamsun, Kleist, Moravia, Hesse, Mauriac, Turgenev, Maugham, Zweig, among many others. His father had published his own books and they (father and son) had quarrels, not about allowances or teenage vices, but about Franz Kafka. Amos Oz frequented the house of Samuel Yosef Agnon for whom his father did some translations (Agnon much later on would win the Nobel Prize for Literature) and had interactions with him as a child and, later, as an adult. At one time, when he was just a small boy, his ambition was to become a book. Not an author, or a famous writer, but a book.
I could never claim to have even of a semblance of a life like that. When I was about 9 years old my father brought home (maybe accidentally) first, Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn and, later, Twain's Tom Sawyer. Both I read with delight in that reverse order (Tom Sawyer was supposed to come ahead of Huck Finn). But that was all for me insofar as the classics were concerned. I only got to see good books again when I went to college some 6 or 7 years later.
Why is this such a pleasure to read? One could discuss technique, or the author's imagination, or the tremendous research done, but my answer is simply this: having been exposed to books all his life, Amos Oz knew the good reads from the bad reads so when he wrote his books he knew how to make them captivating ones. He knew how to make his readers hooked, to make them turn one page after another, and how to make occasional explosions of surprises.
One of these surprises I shall partly reveal: Amos Oz also had this literary paralysis and this he got after reading Hemingway (he read "For Whom the Bell Tolls" 4 or 5 times) and Erich Maria Remarque. But he got past this paralysis, his writing hand was "freed", by--what else--another book, "Winesburg, Ohio" by Sherwood Anderson which he read in the Hebrew translation by Aharon Amir.
Read, and find out why and how.
May 3, 2024
A Tale of Love & Darkness by Amos Oz is a most extraordinary book, an exceedingly personal & insightful account of a life that began when Palestine was a British-mandated territory, with the author coming of age as Israel was born. It is a story that vastly transcends the label of autobiography and which manages to encapsulate the extreme complexity of the author's life and the initial 50 years in the life of the state of Israel.
I read this book while preparing for a study-tour to Israel & the Palestinian Territories that included time spent amidst Jewish, Christian & Muslim people but also those who are Druze, Samaritan & Baha'i and it served well to buttress the many wonderful and occasional sad & perplexing experiences in the area still often referred to as "The Holy Land". Oz embraces an amazing sensitivity and objectivity when confronted with the diversity of people, cultures, languages & spiritual beliefs within Israel/Palestine.
Beyond that, Amos Oz displays a near reverence for books of all kinds and this serves to make his story even more compelling. Looking back to his youth, Oz begins his tale in this manner:
Amos Oz details the emotional difficulties not only in coming of age as Israel is reborn in the midst of tension, gunfire & ethnic displacement but also within a family where the members do not relate well to each other, with an intellectual, emotionally distant father and particularly owing to his mother's apparent mental instability:
In time, Oz flees to a kibbutz where he lives for 30+ years but not before symbolically slaying his father by changing his surname from Klausner to Oz, Hebrew for "strength". The book is full of surprises and this is just one of many. The author mentions that when his secular father fled to Palestine in 1935, he was poor & having once been rich, "returned to the proletariat & was thus rejuvenated."
Meanwhile, his mother was an exile from Rovno, then in Poland, once a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now a part of the Ukraine, a place with a long history of anti-Semitism, later captured by the USSR and then invaded by the Nazis who quickly murdered 25,000 Jews, "more than have been killed by Arabs in 100 years".
After his parents emigrated to Palestine, soon to become Israel, the author mentions that people said that "even now the mobs are sharpening their knives for us in the dark" but it was never mentioned just who they were because "it could be any of them." Anti-Semitism seemed to be almost everywhere but Oz also is confronted with the realization that "even here in Israel, it turns out Jewish mobs can be a bit of a monster."
While not a conventional autobiography, A Tale of Love & Darkness represents an extended search for identity. One of my favorite passages is when a young Amos Oz asks his aunt to explain just who Jesus was. "Her lips quivered as she replied hesitantly that he was still alive & that he loved us all, particularly those who mocked him and if we filled our hearts with love, he would come & dwell within our hearts, bringing suffering but also great happiness and the happiness would shine forth out of the suffering."
Oz indicates that these words seemed so full of apparent contradictions, that his father next took him by the hand to a mattress in the kitchen of their small home, his Uncle Joseph's refuge, asking the famous author of Jesus of Nazareth who & what Jesus was. With his glasses perched on his forehead & looking exhausted, his uncle responded very differently than his aunt:
A Tale of Love & Darkness is filled with wonderfully imaginative and memorable prose, an example being when Oz compares the hopeful message in Mysterious Island by Jules Verne with William Golding's later & more pessimistic tale Lord of the Flies, two tales conceptually similar but with very different outcomes . And here is the author's take on meeting David Ben-Gurion: "He was a visionary peasant, almost biblical in his simplicity, an honest, cruel man and a primeval Jewish spirit."
This is a book I pick up every so often to delve anew into passages I have found particularly uplifting. It was translated from the Hebrew by Nicholas de Lange. Amos Oz held the Agnon Chair of Literature at Ben-Gurion University.
I've not yet read any of the author's works of fiction but have thoroughly enjoyed several of his other non-fiction books, especially including Jews & Words, written together with his daughter, Fania Oz-Salzberger, who is pictured in the 2nd of 3 photo images of Amos Oz within my review.
*Amos Oz died in December 2018 at the age of 79.
I read this book while preparing for a study-tour to Israel & the Palestinian Territories that included time spent amidst Jewish, Christian & Muslim people but also those who are Druze, Samaritan & Baha'i and it served well to buttress the many wonderful and occasional sad & perplexing experiences in the area still often referred to as "The Holy Land". Oz embraces an amazing sensitivity and objectivity when confronted with the diversity of people, cultures, languages & spiritual beliefs within Israel/Palestine.
Beyond that, Amos Oz displays a near reverence for books of all kinds and this serves to make his story even more compelling. Looking back to his youth, Oz begins his tale in this manner:
I wandered dizzily through virtual forests of words, huts of words, meadows of words. The reality of words thrust aside the suffocating backyards, the corrugated iron spread atop stone houses, balconies laden with washtubs & washing lines. What surrounded me did not count. All that counted was made of words.What one encounters in A Tale of Love & Darkness is a 538 page story of an author who succeeded with his youthful ambition and who on every page uses words to full advantage in recounting his own life story.
I ran away & sought refuge in the fortress of sanity of books of mystery, adventure & battle: Jules Verne, James Fenimore Cooper, Sherlock Holmes, The Three Musketeers, The Prisoner of Zenda, Treasure Island, The Last of the Mohicans, The Count of Monte Cristo, the darkest recesses of Africa, grenadiers & Indians, wrongdoers, cavalry men, cattle thieves, cowboys, pirates, archipelagos, hordes of bloodthirsty natives in feathers & war paint, blood-chilling battle cries, magical spells, knights of the dragon & Saracen horsemen with curved scimitars, monsters, wizards, emperors, bad guys, hauntings and especially stories about pale little adolescents who are destined for great things when they have managed to overcome their own wretchedness. I wanted to be like them & to be able to write like the people who wrote them. Perhaps I did not make a distinction between writing & winning.
Amos Oz details the emotional difficulties not only in coming of age as Israel is reborn in the midst of tension, gunfire & ethnic displacement but also within a family where the members do not relate well to each other, with an intellectual, emotionally distant father and particularly owing to his mother's apparent mental instability:
Father & I were like a pair of stretcher bearers carrying an injured person up a steep slope. I was like an upside down Jesus: born of a virgin man by an invisible spirit and we were like 3 prisoners sharing the same cell.The author goes on to compare his mother, who committed suicide when Oz was 12, to the terrifying mad woman in Jane Eyre.
In time, Oz flees to a kibbutz where he lives for 30+ years but not before symbolically slaying his father by changing his surname from Klausner to Oz, Hebrew for "strength". The book is full of surprises and this is just one of many. The author mentions that when his secular father fled to Palestine in 1935, he was poor & having once been rich, "returned to the proletariat & was thus rejuvenated."
Meanwhile, his mother was an exile from Rovno, then in Poland, once a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now a part of the Ukraine, a place with a long history of anti-Semitism, later captured by the USSR and then invaded by the Nazis who quickly murdered 25,000 Jews, "more than have been killed by Arabs in 100 years".
After his parents emigrated to Palestine, soon to become Israel, the author mentions that people said that "even now the mobs are sharpening their knives for us in the dark" but it was never mentioned just who they were because "it could be any of them." Anti-Semitism seemed to be almost everywhere but Oz also is confronted with the realization that "even here in Israel, it turns out Jewish mobs can be a bit of a monster."
While not a conventional autobiography, A Tale of Love & Darkness represents an extended search for identity. One of my favorite passages is when a young Amos Oz asks his aunt to explain just who Jesus was. "Her lips quivered as she replied hesitantly that he was still alive & that he loved us all, particularly those who mocked him and if we filled our hearts with love, he would come & dwell within our hearts, bringing suffering but also great happiness and the happiness would shine forth out of the suffering."
Oz indicates that these words seemed so full of apparent contradictions, that his father next took him by the hand to a mattress in the kitchen of their small home, his Uncle Joseph's refuge, asking the famous author of Jesus of Nazareth who & what Jesus was. With his glasses perched on his forehead & looking exhausted, his uncle responded very differently than his aunt:
Jesus of Nazareth was one of the greatest Jews of all time, a wonderful moralist who loathed the uncircumcised of heart & fought to return Judaism to its original simplicity & wrest it from the power of the hair-splitting rabbis.The competing responses caused the young future author to grapple with the seeming discrepancies of the two explanations, especially since he was not able to envision "the uncircumcised of heart" & had never met a "hair-splitting rabbi".
A Tale of Love & Darkness is filled with wonderfully imaginative and memorable prose, an example being when Oz compares the hopeful message in Mysterious Island by Jules Verne with William Golding's later & more pessimistic tale Lord of the Flies, two tales conceptually similar but with very different outcomes . And here is the author's take on meeting David Ben-Gurion: "He was a visionary peasant, almost biblical in his simplicity, an honest, cruel man and a primeval Jewish spirit."
This is a book I pick up every so often to delve anew into passages I have found particularly uplifting. It was translated from the Hebrew by Nicholas de Lange. Amos Oz held the Agnon Chair of Literature at Ben-Gurion University.
I've not yet read any of the author's works of fiction but have thoroughly enjoyed several of his other non-fiction books, especially including Jews & Words, written together with his daughter, Fania Oz-Salzberger, who is pictured in the 2nd of 3 photo images of Amos Oz within my review.
*Amos Oz died in December 2018 at the age of 79.
January 5, 2017
Kad sam bila srednjoškolka, imala sam zastrašujuće periode potpune mentalne tišine i fizičke osamljenosti, kad sam mesecima sedela u zatvorenim prostorijama i apsolutno ništa nisam radila - jela sam, možda gledala televiziju i spavala oko 17h dnevno. Nedavno sam razmišljala, a čitajući ovu knjigu i zaključila, da, kad bih morala da prepričavam nekome te periode svog života, a trajali su dugo, ne bih znala šta da kažem jer se ničeg više ne sećam sem te tišine. Ipak, postoji nekoliko uporišnih tačaka, a to su knjige koje možda nisu najveća remek-dela, niti su po nečemu izrazito posebne, ali su u datim trenucima bile ključne za formiranje stavova i osećanja prema događajima - "Norveška šuma" prvi put kad sam se razočarala u tadašnju 'simpatiju', pa sam kukala i njanjavila celog dana; "Talasi" kad sam prvi put otišla sa ciljem u biblioteku; "Jedna Svanova ljubav" kao potpuni zaokret u mom poimanju osećanja i društvenih odnosa itd.
"Priča o ljubavi i tami" je za mene upravo jedan takav roman, koji je došao u posebnom trenutku mog života i vratio me ideji da književnost ne mora biti nekakva intelektualna zapetljancija, revolucionarni stil, ili šta već danas tražimo u književnosti - i dalje postoji Pripovedači, oni koji umeju da ispričaju priču koju biste slušali da sedite s nekim uveče, ne možete da zaspite i on vam priča posebnu tajnu ili nekakvu gigantsku pripovest o svom detinjstvu, životu u Izraelu dok u Evropi milioni Jevreja stradaju, rat sa Arapima za Palestinu, ali i kako napraviti vrt u bašti, kako voleti učiteljicu, kakav je životu u kibucu, šta je socijalistička zaostavština u Izraelu, i na kraju, zašto dvoje ljudi (majka i otac), tako različiti, nisu (ili jesu?) opstali. Amos Oz je takav pripovedač, vrlo topao i ličan - kao što sam negde već pomenula, vrlo sličan Knausgoru, ali daleko kompleksnije pripovesti i jedinstvenije lične istorije koja je nerazdvojiva od istorije Izraela. Svi njegovi rođaci, prijatelji i poznanici su na neki način bili važni za konstituisanje političkog i kulturnog (posebno kulturnog!) života Izraela i zaista sam mnogo toga naučila o Bliskom istoku i njegovoj istoriji u drugoj polovini 20. veka.
Ova knjiga mi je isprašila moje pomalo elitističko dupe i vratila me je želji da se samo otabačim preko kreveta i čitam, čitam, čitam bez nekakvih interpretacija i baljezganja o 'Edipovom kompleksu' (IMA GA! :D), književnoj istini i sličnim pametovanjima.
Apsolutno svi treba ovo da pročitaju. Za mene je ovo savremena Šeherezadina priča. Priče.
"Priča o ljubavi i tami" je za mene upravo jedan takav roman, koji je došao u posebnom trenutku mog života i vratio me ideji da književnost ne mora biti nekakva intelektualna zapetljancija, revolucionarni stil, ili šta već danas tražimo u književnosti - i dalje postoji Pripovedači, oni koji umeju da ispričaju priču koju biste slušali da sedite s nekim uveče, ne možete da zaspite i on vam priča posebnu tajnu ili nekakvu gigantsku pripovest o svom detinjstvu, životu u Izraelu dok u Evropi milioni Jevreja stradaju, rat sa Arapima za Palestinu, ali i kako napraviti vrt u bašti, kako voleti učiteljicu, kakav je životu u kibucu, šta je socijalistička zaostavština u Izraelu, i na kraju, zašto dvoje ljudi (majka i otac), tako različiti, nisu (ili jesu?) opstali. Amos Oz je takav pripovedač, vrlo topao i ličan - kao što sam negde već pomenula, vrlo sličan Knausgoru, ali daleko kompleksnije pripovesti i jedinstvenije lične istorije koja je nerazdvojiva od istorije Izraela. Svi njegovi rođaci, prijatelji i poznanici su na neki način bili važni za konstituisanje političkog i kulturnog (posebno kulturnog!) života Izraela i zaista sam mnogo toga naučila o Bliskom istoku i njegovoj istoriji u drugoj polovini 20. veka.
Ova knjiga mi je isprašila moje pomalo elitističko dupe i vratila me je želji da se samo otabačim preko kreveta i čitam, čitam, čitam bez nekakvih interpretacija i baljezganja o 'Edipovom kompleksu' (IMA GA! :D), književnoj istini i sličnim pametovanjima.
Apsolutno svi treba ovo da pročitaju. Za mene je ovo savremena Šeherezadina priča. Priče.
September 12, 2018
This is one book which I absolutely loved. It's a coming-of-age tale: of the author - and his country.
I had hopes of writing a detailed review; had underlined so many passages, made copious notes and even made a rough outline. But then, I find that I cannot do it. Some books are like that for me - too complex and rich to be analysed.
Amos Oz narrates the tale of his dysfunctional family; his proud and egoistic father and his disturbed and sensitive mother, and himself as the shy and gifted youngster growing up amidst the turmoil. His country is also dysfunctional, with its Jewish heart and Arab body; two races (?) fated to live together permanently at war. Oz weaves these two narrative strands seamlessly, and we get a magical tale composed of equal parts of love and darkness (are they that much different?).
This book gave me much more insight into what Israel was, than the over-hyped ones like .
I had hopes of writing a detailed review; had underlined so many passages, made copious notes and even made a rough outline. But then, I find that I cannot do it. Some books are like that for me - too complex and rich to be analysed.
Amos Oz narrates the tale of his dysfunctional family; his proud and egoistic father and his disturbed and sensitive mother, and himself as the shy and gifted youngster growing up amidst the turmoil. His country is also dysfunctional, with its Jewish heart and Arab body; two races (?) fated to live together permanently at war. Oz weaves these two narrative strands seamlessly, and we get a magical tale composed of equal parts of love and darkness (are they that much different?).
This book gave me much more insight into what Israel was, than the over-hyped ones like .
December 5, 2015
"قصة عن الحب والظلام" للكاتب الاسرائيلي عاموس عوز ترجمة جميل غنايم.قرأت"هذه الرواية الأسبوع الفائت وحركت بداخلي الكثير من المشاعر المتناقضة...لماذا متناقضة؟ لأنني أحببت أسلوب الكاتب الروائي وأعجبت بحرفيته من حيث الكتابة والثقافة، ولكنني بالمقابل اشمأزيت من تحريفه التاريخي والسياسي للأحداث.
وسأقوم بتقييم للرواية ضمن ثلاثة محاور:
-البنية الأدبية والروائية.
-التحليل النفسي للكاتب لجهة اعتبار هذه الرواية بمثابة سيرة ذاتية
-الجانب السياسي والتاريخي للرواية.
البنية الروائية: على الرغم من أن الكاتب بالغ في التفاصيل، وفي تعداد أسماء بعض الأشخاص والأشياء والأماكن، إلا أنه برع في إعطاء الصورة التي يريدها، وحتى تمكن من إيصال المشاهد لخيالنا. حتى الرائحة،تفنن بجعلنا نتنشقها، حيث أحسسنا أننا نشتم عبق الأحداث معه.
كان يتلاعب بالزمن عبر التنقل بالماضي. فكنا تارة في الماضي البعيد جدًا وتارة أخرى في الماضي البعيد، وفجأة كنا نجد أنفسنا في ماضٍ أكثر قربًا وارتباطًا بالحاضر.
الرواية هي سيرة ذاتية تحكي عن طفولة الكاتب بالتحديد ، تلك المرحلة من حياته المتعلقة بوجود والدته على قيد الحياة. وكأن زمنه توقف عند هذه الفترة، وما عدا ذلك-أي بعد انتحارها-كل ما حدث لم يعد يشكل أهمية له..
أنا لا أدري عن النسخة العبرية للرواية، لكنني أعتقد أنه وفي الغالب أهداها لوالدته، فإهداؤها لها يبدو ضمنياً ﻷنه� محور القصة"قصة الحب والظلام". وقد حاول عاموس أوز أن يخفي هذا الأمر، بلا وعيه طبعًا، عبر تطرقه للأحداث السياسية التي ترافقت مع وجود والدته بقربه.لا يمكنني إنكار إبداعه، في وصف المشاهد التي عاشها ووصفه للأشخاص والأماكن.
الناحية النفسية: العقدة الأودبية واضحة بتجلٍ في هذه الرواية، فمعظم السيدات اللواتي عشقهن الكاتب إن كان فكريًا أم جنسيا، هن سيدات بعمر والدته وقت انتحارها، أي في أواخر الثلاثينات، وهما المعلمة زيلدا التي مثلت بالنسبة له ذلك التقارب الفكري مع والدته. والمعلمة أورنا التي اختبر معها تجربته الجسدية الأولى . نحن لا نجد الكثير من الفتيات في هذه الرواية، باستثناء زوجته نيللي التي لم يقم بوصفها الخارجي، بل اكتفى بوصف أخلاقها ومجهودها. حتى السيدة العابرة التي التقاها في المقهى لاحقًا وأسهب في وصفها مبديا إعجابه بشخصيتها رغم أنه لا يعرفها، أعطاها عمرًا في الأربعينات.
لقد وصف حالة الاكتئاب التي تعرضت لها والدته وصفًا دقيقًا مما يدل على مدى تأثره بهذه الواقعة، ولا سيما أعراض الشقيقةالتي لازمتها. الأمر الذي يبدو غاية في دقة الملاحظة بالنسبة لفتى لم يتجاوز الثلاثة عشر عامَا.
ورغم كل تلك التفاصيل، لم يتطرق لسبب وصول والدته لهذه المرحلة، مع أنه أخبرنا أن صديقتها ليليا وعدته في إحدى الرسائل أنها ستخبره عن أسباب معاناتها...لكنه لم يخبرنا ماذا حصل بعدها،لم يطلعنا إن عرف سبب اكتئاب والدته الذي أوصلها للإنتحار من صديقتها أم �. مع أنه من المرجح أنه كان على علم مسبق بهذه التفاصيل، لشدة وعيه وإدراكه بالأمور... وحتى لو علم ...فصورتها المشرقة يجب أن تبقى مشرقة رغم كل المعاناة وأسبابها. ولا يجب الافصاح عن مضمونها.
واللافت في وجود العنصر النسائي الناضج في الرواية أنه كان الراوي الوحيد لكل الأحداث، وإذا فجأة بخالته سونيا تدخل على الخط وتروي لنا تاريخ حياة والدته، وكأنه أراد من خلال ذلك إعطاء المزيد من المصداقية والعاطفة للتاريخ الأسري الراقي الذي عاشته الوالدة من خﻻ� راوية تسانده.
وهناك وصف العمة غرينا والجدة شلوميت وغيرهن من النساء اللواتي أخبرنا عنهن ذوات الأعمار التي تتراوح من أواخر الثلاثينات ومافوق.
وقبل أن أتطرق للجانب السياسي والتاريخي، أريد إبداء إعجابي بالترجمة التي كانت نقية وخالية من الشوائب التي تشعر القارىء بأنه أمام نص مترجم.
الجانب السياسي والتاريخي للرواية:
برع الكاتب هنا أيضًا في تصوير المغالطات والتزييف والتضليل، الذي يهدف إلى إرساء أفكار سامة لاأساس لها من الحقيقة. من يقرأ الرواية في بدايتها يلاحظ مدى إدراكه للأذى الذي لحق بفلسطين وبالفلسطينيين. حتى أنه لم يتحدث عنهم كعرب، وإنما كفلسطينيين. وعن شعوره بالعاطفة تجاه رجل فلسطيني أنقذه حين كان تائهًا لدرجة أنه اعتبر نفسه وكأنه حظي بوالد "عربي"، رغم كل العداوة.
وكأنه خلال هذه الصفحات الأربعمئة الأولى أراد شد القارىء العربي وإغراءه من أنه سيحصل على المزيد من تلك المشاعر التي تلامس روحه الطيبة البعيدة عن الحقد والقريبة من التسامح. ولكن مع وصولنا لآخر الصفحات (المئتين) حتى كشر عن أنيابه وبدأ يبخ السم الذي اعتدنا تجرعه منهم عبر تزوير التاريخ والوقائع . وهنا سأبدأ بالتوجه مباشرة إلى الكاتب عبر الدفاع بواسطة أدلة مدموغة كتبها التاريخ وترسخت في ذاكرة كل فرد منا:
"أستاذ عاموس بسبب معاناتك واضطهادك حاولت الانتقام منا نحن العرب رغم أنه لا ذنب لنا لا في اضطهاد الدول الأوروبية لكم ولا في هولوكوست هتلر. وإذا كنت تتحدث عن ظلم ومعاناة إليك ما تسبب كيانك الصهيوني به، وذلك باختصار شديد..وقبل البدء، أريد أن أقول لك أنك بحوالي 700 صفحة وأكثر حاولت توضيح معاناتك، فأما إذا خيّر لأي فرد عريي أو فلسطيني تحديداً أن يكتب عن معاناته بسببكم الأمر سيأخذ منا مجلدات مكتوبة.
تحدثت عن عملية قنص العمة غريتا بالتفصيل وكيف أن الرصاصة دخلت من أذنها واخترقت عينها، كررت هذه الواقعة لأكثر من مرة بينما مررت على مجزرة دير ياسين مرور الكرام، ولو أنك كررت ذكرها، أيضا بسطحية مكررة..فقط للتذكير يا أستاذ عاموس تمكنت من رصد أكثر من مئة مجزرة "معلنة" قام بها كيانك منذ أكثر من سبعين عاما، في حيفا ويافا وطولكرم وخان يونس وواحدة عايشتها وهي مجزرة صبرا وشاتيلا في بيروت. أما مجزرة دير ياسين تلك التي وجدت لها مبررات والتي لم تذكر تفاصيلها إليك حصيلتها:
بتاريخ 10-4-1948
حصلت المجزرة في دير ياسين وذهب ضحيتها 245 شخصًا منهم 25 امرأة حامل و52 طفلا دون العاشرة.
تحدثت عن احتلال العرب لأرضك بمساعدة ومؤامرة منسقة مع البريطانيين إليك إثبات على كذبك وتضليلك:
أنشىء وعد بلفور أو تصريح بلفور بتاريخ 20 نوفمبر عام 1917. وهو الاسم الشائع المطلق على الرسالة التي أطلقها آرثر جيمس بلفور إلى اللورد وولتر دي روتشيلد يشير فيها إلى تأييد الحكومة البريطانية لإنشاء وطن قومي لليهود في فلسطين. حين صدر الوعد، كان تعداد اليهود في فلسطين 5%من مجموع عدد السكان. وقد أرسلت الرسالة قبل أن يحتل الجيش البريطاني فلسطين. وقد أطلق على هذا الوعد العبارة الشهيرة: "وعد من لايملك لمن لا يستحق". وهذا ما لم يخطر على بالك ولو التلميح له رغم ثقافتك الواسعة التي أشدت بها على امتداد الرواية.
تتحدث عن فكركم الراقي، وأنتم كلما وجدتم في مجتمعاتنا مفكرًا قمتم باغتياله أو ببث الفضائح حوله. ومن أمثال ضحاياكم، لا يسعني إلا أن أذكر وائل زعيتر، وغسان كنفاني، وناجي العلي. طبعًا اللائحة تطول وعدد كلماتي بدأ ينفذ.
لقد قمعتم فكرنا ليس فقط بواسطة القتل الإغتيال، وإنما عبر ترسيخ أنظمة دكتاتورية قمتم بزرعها لبث الرعب وإثارة هموم معيشية لدى شعوبنا بدل انشغالها بأمور فكرية.
كنتم منهمكون في أكثر من جانب على بث الفساد الفكري في عقولنا إن عبر جماعات دينية ابتكرتوها أو عبر أمور أخرى تشكل ملهاة وتخديرا للوعي العقلي العربي.
كان هدفكم كما ذكر جدك في الرواية، وعن لسانك طبعًا، أن تجمعونا في قوقعة في السعودية. ولكن هل برأيك أيها المفكر أنه يمكن للإنسان أن يعيش داخل قوقعة قومية؟
أنظروا إلى أنفسكم ، قتلتم ، نكلتم، فرقتم ونشرتم الفساد في الأرض بغية إثبات وجودكم..وها أنتم ذا، عقدة الذنب متخفية في ضمائركم ستلازمكم دون أن تشعروا بها وتقضّ مضاجعكم...لأن ما بني على باطل ، على أذى وحقد وضغينة، لا بد وأن ينتهي بفشل مؤلم. تمامًا كما حصل لوالدك حين أراد أن ينكش الأرض خلف بيتكم بالقوة ويضع بداخلها بذاره. الأوتاد نفرت من الأرض، والبذار ما إن بدات تنبت حتى ماتت، حتى الشتول التي غرسها لايهامك بأن زرعك طيب ماتت وهلكت، وتسببت لك بألم كبير. لقد استعملتم كل أدواتم الحادة، لنكش الأرض، كما استعملتم كل القمامة التي لديكم كسماد، بذلتم وقتكم ومجهودكم ، اغتصبتم الأرض ، جرحتوها بقسوة، شتتم جذورها بكل حقد..وبالنهاية لم تحصدوا شيئًا.. هذا الواقع الذي حدث معك ووصفته بكل تأمل...الكلام ليس من عندي..إنه مقتبس من كتابتك بتصرف مني.
لا يمكن ل "معاليك" كما كان يسميك والدك، أن توافق كمفكر على إنشاء قومية وكيان عبارة عن إبادة قومية وكيان آخر..هذا أمر مستحيل، لأننا خلقنا لنعيش مع بعض، ولنتقبل بعض، لا أن نتقوقع ونعادي بعض..هذه هي الحضارة الفكرية والإنسانية التي يجب أن تعترفوا بها لنتوصل لسلام حقيقي وفعلي.
ختامًا أستاذ عاموس، قبل وصولي لصفحات تضليلك، كنت قد قررت إعطاءك خمس نجوم، وذلك لإبداعك الأدبي، ولكن بمجرد أن أستدركت أنك أبدعت ضﻻﻻ، سحبت نجمتين منك.
وبما أنني لا أريد ، وبهذه الرواية بالذات، أن تضيع النجمتين هدرًا فقررت أن أهدي نجمة، لأجنة مجزرة دير ياسين الذين قتلوا في أرحام أمهاتهم .
أما النجمة الثانية، فسأهديها للقدس، للمسجد الأقصى ولكنيسة المهد وقلبي كله إيمان بأن أقدامنا ستطأ هذه الأرض الطاهرة مهما طغى الظلم وعلا الاستبداد.
"لفلسطين سلام آتٍ" ودماء الأبرياء عبر عقود لن تذهب هدرًا!
وسأقوم بتقييم للرواية ضمن ثلاثة محاور:
-البنية الأدبية والروائية.
-التحليل النفسي للكاتب لجهة اعتبار هذه الرواية بمثابة سيرة ذاتية
-الجانب السياسي والتاريخي للرواية.
البنية الروائية: على الرغم من أن الكاتب بالغ في التفاصيل، وفي تعداد أسماء بعض الأشخاص والأشياء والأماكن، إلا أنه برع في إعطاء الصورة التي يريدها، وحتى تمكن من إيصال المشاهد لخيالنا. حتى الرائحة،تفنن بجعلنا نتنشقها، حيث أحسسنا أننا نشتم عبق الأحداث معه.
كان يتلاعب بالزمن عبر التنقل بالماضي. فكنا تارة في الماضي البعيد جدًا وتارة أخرى في الماضي البعيد، وفجأة كنا نجد أنفسنا في ماضٍ أكثر قربًا وارتباطًا بالحاضر.
الرواية هي سيرة ذاتية تحكي عن طفولة الكاتب بالتحديد ، تلك المرحلة من حياته المتعلقة بوجود والدته على قيد الحياة. وكأن زمنه توقف عند هذه الفترة، وما عدا ذلك-أي بعد انتحارها-كل ما حدث لم يعد يشكل أهمية له..
أنا لا أدري عن النسخة العبرية للرواية، لكنني أعتقد أنه وفي الغالب أهداها لوالدته، فإهداؤها لها يبدو ضمنياً ﻷنه� محور القصة"قصة الحب والظلام". وقد حاول عاموس أوز أن يخفي هذا الأمر، بلا وعيه طبعًا، عبر تطرقه للأحداث السياسية التي ترافقت مع وجود والدته بقربه.لا يمكنني إنكار إبداعه، في وصف المشاهد التي عاشها ووصفه للأشخاص والأماكن.
الناحية النفسية: العقدة الأودبية واضحة بتجلٍ في هذه الرواية، فمعظم السيدات اللواتي عشقهن الكاتب إن كان فكريًا أم جنسيا، هن سيدات بعمر والدته وقت انتحارها، أي في أواخر الثلاثينات، وهما المعلمة زيلدا التي مثلت بالنسبة له ذلك التقارب الفكري مع والدته. والمعلمة أورنا التي اختبر معها تجربته الجسدية الأولى . نحن لا نجد الكثير من الفتيات في هذه الرواية، باستثناء زوجته نيللي التي لم يقم بوصفها الخارجي، بل اكتفى بوصف أخلاقها ومجهودها. حتى السيدة العابرة التي التقاها في المقهى لاحقًا وأسهب في وصفها مبديا إعجابه بشخصيتها رغم أنه لا يعرفها، أعطاها عمرًا في الأربعينات.
لقد وصف حالة الاكتئاب التي تعرضت لها والدته وصفًا دقيقًا مما يدل على مدى تأثره بهذه الواقعة، ولا سيما أعراض الشقيقةالتي لازمتها. الأمر الذي يبدو غاية في دقة الملاحظة بالنسبة لفتى لم يتجاوز الثلاثة عشر عامَا.
ورغم كل تلك التفاصيل، لم يتطرق لسبب وصول والدته لهذه المرحلة، مع أنه أخبرنا أن صديقتها ليليا وعدته في إحدى الرسائل أنها ستخبره عن أسباب معاناتها...لكنه لم يخبرنا ماذا حصل بعدها،لم يطلعنا إن عرف سبب اكتئاب والدته الذي أوصلها للإنتحار من صديقتها أم �. مع أنه من المرجح أنه كان على علم مسبق بهذه التفاصيل، لشدة وعيه وإدراكه بالأمور... وحتى لو علم ...فصورتها المشرقة يجب أن تبقى مشرقة رغم كل المعاناة وأسبابها. ولا يجب الافصاح عن مضمونها.
واللافت في وجود العنصر النسائي الناضج في الرواية أنه كان الراوي الوحيد لكل الأحداث، وإذا فجأة بخالته سونيا تدخل على الخط وتروي لنا تاريخ حياة والدته، وكأنه أراد من خلال ذلك إعطاء المزيد من المصداقية والعاطفة للتاريخ الأسري الراقي الذي عاشته الوالدة من خﻻ� راوية تسانده.
وهناك وصف العمة غرينا والجدة شلوميت وغيرهن من النساء اللواتي أخبرنا عنهن ذوات الأعمار التي تتراوح من أواخر الثلاثينات ومافوق.
وقبل أن أتطرق للجانب السياسي والتاريخي، أريد إبداء إعجابي بالترجمة التي كانت نقية وخالية من الشوائب التي تشعر القارىء بأنه أمام نص مترجم.
الجانب السياسي والتاريخي للرواية:
برع الكاتب هنا أيضًا في تصوير المغالطات والتزييف والتضليل، الذي يهدف إلى إرساء أفكار سامة لاأساس لها من الحقيقة. من يقرأ الرواية في بدايتها يلاحظ مدى إدراكه للأذى الذي لحق بفلسطين وبالفلسطينيين. حتى أنه لم يتحدث عنهم كعرب، وإنما كفلسطينيين. وعن شعوره بالعاطفة تجاه رجل فلسطيني أنقذه حين كان تائهًا لدرجة أنه اعتبر نفسه وكأنه حظي بوالد "عربي"، رغم كل العداوة.
وكأنه خلال هذه الصفحات الأربعمئة الأولى أراد شد القارىء العربي وإغراءه من أنه سيحصل على المزيد من تلك المشاعر التي تلامس روحه الطيبة البعيدة عن الحقد والقريبة من التسامح. ولكن مع وصولنا لآخر الصفحات (المئتين) حتى كشر عن أنيابه وبدأ يبخ السم الذي اعتدنا تجرعه منهم عبر تزوير التاريخ والوقائع . وهنا سأبدأ بالتوجه مباشرة إلى الكاتب عبر الدفاع بواسطة أدلة مدموغة كتبها التاريخ وترسخت في ذاكرة كل فرد منا:
"أستاذ عاموس بسبب معاناتك واضطهادك حاولت الانتقام منا نحن العرب رغم أنه لا ذنب لنا لا في اضطهاد الدول الأوروبية لكم ولا في هولوكوست هتلر. وإذا كنت تتحدث عن ظلم ومعاناة إليك ما تسبب كيانك الصهيوني به، وذلك باختصار شديد..وقبل البدء، أريد أن أقول لك أنك بحوالي 700 صفحة وأكثر حاولت توضيح معاناتك، فأما إذا خيّر لأي فرد عريي أو فلسطيني تحديداً أن يكتب عن معاناته بسببكم الأمر سيأخذ منا مجلدات مكتوبة.
تحدثت عن عملية قنص العمة غريتا بالتفصيل وكيف أن الرصاصة دخلت من أذنها واخترقت عينها، كررت هذه الواقعة لأكثر من مرة بينما مررت على مجزرة دير ياسين مرور الكرام، ولو أنك كررت ذكرها، أيضا بسطحية مكررة..فقط للتذكير يا أستاذ عاموس تمكنت من رصد أكثر من مئة مجزرة "معلنة" قام بها كيانك منذ أكثر من سبعين عاما، في حيفا ويافا وطولكرم وخان يونس وواحدة عايشتها وهي مجزرة صبرا وشاتيلا في بيروت. أما مجزرة دير ياسين تلك التي وجدت لها مبررات والتي لم تذكر تفاصيلها إليك حصيلتها:
بتاريخ 10-4-1948
حصلت المجزرة في دير ياسين وذهب ضحيتها 245 شخصًا منهم 25 امرأة حامل و52 طفلا دون العاشرة.
تحدثت عن احتلال العرب لأرضك بمساعدة ومؤامرة منسقة مع البريطانيين إليك إثبات على كذبك وتضليلك:
أنشىء وعد بلفور أو تصريح بلفور بتاريخ 20 نوفمبر عام 1917. وهو الاسم الشائع المطلق على الرسالة التي أطلقها آرثر جيمس بلفور إلى اللورد وولتر دي روتشيلد يشير فيها إلى تأييد الحكومة البريطانية لإنشاء وطن قومي لليهود في فلسطين. حين صدر الوعد، كان تعداد اليهود في فلسطين 5%من مجموع عدد السكان. وقد أرسلت الرسالة قبل أن يحتل الجيش البريطاني فلسطين. وقد أطلق على هذا الوعد العبارة الشهيرة: "وعد من لايملك لمن لا يستحق". وهذا ما لم يخطر على بالك ولو التلميح له رغم ثقافتك الواسعة التي أشدت بها على امتداد الرواية.
تتحدث عن فكركم الراقي، وأنتم كلما وجدتم في مجتمعاتنا مفكرًا قمتم باغتياله أو ببث الفضائح حوله. ومن أمثال ضحاياكم، لا يسعني إلا أن أذكر وائل زعيتر، وغسان كنفاني، وناجي العلي. طبعًا اللائحة تطول وعدد كلماتي بدأ ينفذ.
لقد قمعتم فكرنا ليس فقط بواسطة القتل الإغتيال، وإنما عبر ترسيخ أنظمة دكتاتورية قمتم بزرعها لبث الرعب وإثارة هموم معيشية لدى شعوبنا بدل انشغالها بأمور فكرية.
كنتم منهمكون في أكثر من جانب على بث الفساد الفكري في عقولنا إن عبر جماعات دينية ابتكرتوها أو عبر أمور أخرى تشكل ملهاة وتخديرا للوعي العقلي العربي.
كان هدفكم كما ذكر جدك في الرواية، وعن لسانك طبعًا، أن تجمعونا في قوقعة في السعودية. ولكن هل برأيك أيها المفكر أنه يمكن للإنسان أن يعيش داخل قوقعة قومية؟
أنظروا إلى أنفسكم ، قتلتم ، نكلتم، فرقتم ونشرتم الفساد في الأرض بغية إثبات وجودكم..وها أنتم ذا، عقدة الذنب متخفية في ضمائركم ستلازمكم دون أن تشعروا بها وتقضّ مضاجعكم...لأن ما بني على باطل ، على أذى وحقد وضغينة، لا بد وأن ينتهي بفشل مؤلم. تمامًا كما حصل لوالدك حين أراد أن ينكش الأرض خلف بيتكم بالقوة ويضع بداخلها بذاره. الأوتاد نفرت من الأرض، والبذار ما إن بدات تنبت حتى ماتت، حتى الشتول التي غرسها لايهامك بأن زرعك طيب ماتت وهلكت، وتسببت لك بألم كبير. لقد استعملتم كل أدواتم الحادة، لنكش الأرض، كما استعملتم كل القمامة التي لديكم كسماد، بذلتم وقتكم ومجهودكم ، اغتصبتم الأرض ، جرحتوها بقسوة، شتتم جذورها بكل حقد..وبالنهاية لم تحصدوا شيئًا.. هذا الواقع الذي حدث معك ووصفته بكل تأمل...الكلام ليس من عندي..إنه مقتبس من كتابتك بتصرف مني.
لا يمكن ل "معاليك" كما كان يسميك والدك، أن توافق كمفكر على إنشاء قومية وكيان عبارة عن إبادة قومية وكيان آخر..هذا أمر مستحيل، لأننا خلقنا لنعيش مع بعض، ولنتقبل بعض، لا أن نتقوقع ونعادي بعض..هذه هي الحضارة الفكرية والإنسانية التي يجب أن تعترفوا بها لنتوصل لسلام حقيقي وفعلي.
ختامًا أستاذ عاموس، قبل وصولي لصفحات تضليلك، كنت قد قررت إعطاءك خمس نجوم، وذلك لإبداعك الأدبي، ولكن بمجرد أن أستدركت أنك أبدعت ضﻻﻻ، سحبت نجمتين منك.
وبما أنني لا أريد ، وبهذه الرواية بالذات، أن تضيع النجمتين هدرًا فقررت أن أهدي نجمة، لأجنة مجزرة دير ياسين الذين قتلوا في أرحام أمهاتهم .
أما النجمة الثانية، فسأهديها للقدس، للمسجد الأقصى ولكنيسة المهد وقلبي كله إيمان بأن أقدامنا ستطأ هذه الأرض الطاهرة مهما طغى الظلم وعلا الاستبداد.
"لفلسطين سلام آتٍ" ودماء الأبرياء عبر عقود لن تذهب هدرًا!
April 1, 2013
قصة الحب والظلام سيرة ذاتية لعاموس عوز الروائي اليهودي الذي رشح لنوبل عام 2009 هذه السيرة تحوي سيرة أصوله اليهودية أجداده وأبويه الذين هاجرا من بولندا وروسيا إلى القدس سيرة طفولته وقصة انتحار ولادته فانيا التي شكلت هاجسا وعبئا في حياته هو ووالده
هذه السيرة تحوي قصة بناء دولة اليهود في فلسطين منذ فترة الإنتداب البريطاني وتأتي هذه القصة متزامنة مع انتحار والدته وكأن هناك حبل ما يشّد القصتين معا
تبدأ الرواية بسيرة يوسف كلاونزر عم عاموس الفيلسوف والمفكر اليهودي وخلال المئة الأولى من الصفحات تعرقلنا في القراءة الأسماء اليهودية الغريبة التي تنتشر بسرعة انتشار فطر في غابة إلا إن اللغة الشاعرية وعذوبة اللغة وجمال الوصف و ثقافة عاموس الأدبية خاصة حين تعلق الأمر بمكتبة كلاونزر ومابين رائحة أغلفة الكتب الجلدية وطفولة عوز بينها يصبح الأمر شائقا فيخيل لك إنك تجري مع عاموس هنا وهناك متأملا مستمتعا بروائح الكتب
فصل سيعشقه محبي القراءة ..
يحلل عاموس الصراع السياسي بين العرب واليهود بين حين وآخر بل أنه يفسح المجال لأفرايم الجندي ليقول أن مقاومة العرب ليست إرهابا أو قتلا وأنه الحل الوحيد الذي يمكنهم أن يقوموا به أمام من احتل أرضهم وقد يكون هذا رأي اليهودي البسيط البعيد عن السياسة ولكن مع كل ذلك لا يستطيع اليهودي سوى أن يقاتل من أجل أن يعيش وإن الإنسان العربي عليه أن يتعايش مع اليهودي هذه الأفكار التي حاول أن يروج لها عاموس والتي من أجلها ظهرت هذه الترجمة العربية على أساس أن اليهودي ضحية عنف أوربا التي رأت في اليهود جزء عفن فيها حاولت استئصاله بإبعادهم إلى فلسطين
أفرد عاموس صفحات كثيرة تحدث عن كراهية العرب لليهود المجازر التي ارتكبوها متغافلا عن المجازر التي ارتكبتها الأيدي الصهيونية مما يظهر طريقة تفكير اليهودي ونظرته بشأن الحق التاريخي في فلسطين وربما يجدر لكل قارىء عربي أن يفهم الطريقة التي يفكر بها اليهود والمنطلق الذي ينطلقون منه لقد ساعدني عاموس على فهم ذلك حقيقة وكيف أن العمل السياسي يتدخل حتى في شراء الجبن !..
لو تطرقت إلى الجانب الأدبي والإنساني في هذه السيرة فلن أنسى ما سربه الروائي في كتابه من مشاعر إنسانية القلق والغضب ضجيج الوحدة إلى جانب تنوع الشخصيات مثقفين ومضطربين نفسيا منتحرين إلى العمال ، الحالمين والمثيرين للشفقة هناك الكثير من مساحات للحلم والخيال والقص خاصة فيم يتعلق بالعلاقة الروحية التي كانت بين عوز وفانيا والتي تجلت في تلك الملكة ملكة الخيال والتي أودعتها سرا والدته فيه
برع عاموس في وصف الأماكن العتيقة المنازل بترتيبها الداخلي الأرفف الجدران والشوارع وصفا دقيقا للغاية كما كان بارعا في وصف الأحداث والإجتماعات العائلية وعلاقته بوالديه وحالة الصمت التي كانت تسود أرجاء المنزل بسبب التربية الدينية ربما كتقليد للتنشئة الأب المتزمت والأم المريضة كل هذه العوامل فرضت الصمت الذي إرتد على عاموس ليصبح ذلك الحكاء الذي ينفث أنفاسه حبرا على الورق وكأنه يلتقظ اللحظة بكافة إنفعالاتها للتو ولعل لقاءه مع بن غورين نموذجا
تبدو الأحداث في الكتاب تدور كالدائرة وتشعر بعاموس يدور ويدور يذهب ويعود الدائرة محورها الأم التي غادرت دون وداع لتترك الكثير من الصمت ومشاعر الغضب والإحساس بالخيانة وأسئلة دون إجابة ويبدو أن عاموس أخفى بعض الأمور عن القارىء ربما حتى لا يسيء لوالديه
السرد على الرغم من التكرار الذي أراه موفقا في أغلب الأحيان كان بديعا واللغة فاتنة وهناك الكثير من المشاهد التي لا تملك إزائها سوى التوقف أمام إبداع الكاتب
قصة الحب والظلام واحدة من أهم تجارب القراءة
August 16, 2017
A moving, intense memoir of the life of this prolific Israel author, tells of life in the Land of Israel from the 1930s until the early 1950s. The author manages to juggle humor and sadness, in a book which does bring to life the Israel of that time. It is circular in nature and not chronological and dwells also on life in Europe for Jews before the re-establishment of the Jewish State. The two problems with the book are the amount of detail can become monotonous and boring and that Oz sometimes tries too hard to be iconoclastic and cynical, leading simply to a certain putridity. Though my own politics differs from Oz leftwing (yes still humane) political though and that may account for part of my irritation.
The author describes his grandmother's obsession that the Levant is filled with germs, and her immaculate obsession with cleanliness as a result. Oz describes his early childhood with a clear and penetrating memory and end in his mother's suicide at 38 in the early 1950s-with Oz describing her depression and his pain and psychological exploration of her suicide. He describes his intellectual but frustrated father and the stifling, book filled flat in Jerusalem from which he escapes to the animating Kibbutz Hulda at the age of 15. The author describes the situation of Israel in the last years of the British Mandate of Palestine, and provides interesting history of the birth of Israel. From the Holy Land during the Second world war, when the Jewish yishuv (community) of Israel feared the Holocaust coming to the Holy Land at a time when the Nazis looked like they had the Palestine mandate strangled by their control of the Caucuses in the north and their advance in North Africa on the other frontier. At this time Haifa and Tel Aviv, as the auhtor mentions were bombed by Italian planes. The gripping elation and fear at the vote in the Untied Nations at the end of 1947 in which the partition of Palestine was agreed to, the coming of the painful War of Independence and the shortages incurred therein, the atrocities of the war such as the burning alive by Arabs of 50 nurses and doctors on the road to Jerusalem and the killing of dozens of Jews in Jerusalem during a terrorist bombing by pro-Arab British Army deserters calling itself the British Fascist Army. The author describes his first sexual infatuation with a schoolteacher in her 30s named Zelda, and this too is described in immaculate detail. Overall a great contribution to Israeli literature and thought.
The author describes his grandmother's obsession that the Levant is filled with germs, and her immaculate obsession with cleanliness as a result. Oz describes his early childhood with a clear and penetrating memory and end in his mother's suicide at 38 in the early 1950s-with Oz describing her depression and his pain and psychological exploration of her suicide. He describes his intellectual but frustrated father and the stifling, book filled flat in Jerusalem from which he escapes to the animating Kibbutz Hulda at the age of 15. The author describes the situation of Israel in the last years of the British Mandate of Palestine, and provides interesting history of the birth of Israel. From the Holy Land during the Second world war, when the Jewish yishuv (community) of Israel feared the Holocaust coming to the Holy Land at a time when the Nazis looked like they had the Palestine mandate strangled by their control of the Caucuses in the north and their advance in North Africa on the other frontier. At this time Haifa and Tel Aviv, as the auhtor mentions were bombed by Italian planes. The gripping elation and fear at the vote in the Untied Nations at the end of 1947 in which the partition of Palestine was agreed to, the coming of the painful War of Independence and the shortages incurred therein, the atrocities of the war such as the burning alive by Arabs of 50 nurses and doctors on the road to Jerusalem and the killing of dozens of Jews in Jerusalem during a terrorist bombing by pro-Arab British Army deserters calling itself the British Fascist Army. The author describes his first sexual infatuation with a schoolteacher in her 30s named Zelda, and this too is described in immaculate detail. Overall a great contribution to Israeli literature and thought.
January 18, 2019
“Sono nato e cresciuto in un minuscolo appartamento al piano terra, forse trenta metri quadri sotto un soffitto basso: i miei genitori dormivano su un divano letto che la sera, quando s’apriva, occupava quasi tutta la stanza, da una parete all’altra. La mattina presto ripiegavano il divano comprimendolo per bene, nascondevano lenzuola e coperte nel buio del cassetto che stava lì sotto, rivoltavano il materasso, chiudevano, sistemavano, stendevano su tutto un rivestimento grigio chiaro e infine disponevano qualche cuscino ricamato in stile orientale, occultando con ciò ogni traccia del loro sonno notturno. E così, la stanza fungeva da camera da letto, studio, biblioteca, tinello e persino salotto.�
Autobiografia in forma di romanzo, storia di formazione, e quindi delle tappe dolorose che un bambino dovrà attraversare per diventare uomo, e storia di un popolo all’alba di una speranza nascente che subito si tramuta in lacrime, guerra, dolore.
Libro-universo, caleidoscopico, vivo, scintillante, nel quale l’autore sa riprodurre mimeticamente, magicamente, l’indole e il linguaggio delle persone di cui racconta, in modo che ci sembra di vederle e di sentirle: soprattutto i nonni paterni e materni, i genitori, le zie e gli zii, ma anche gli intellettuali e i capipopolo. E così il lettore viene avviluppato nell’incanto della costruzione narrativa e si immerge completamente in un mondo che ben presto gli diventa caro, come in un sogno vivido fatto di realtà vera e toccante.
Amos è un bambino che sogna di diventare libro: “Quand’ero piccolo, da grande volevo diventare un libro. Non uno scrittore, un libro: perché le persone le si può uccidere come formiche. Anche uno scrittore, non è difficile ucciderlo. Mentre un libro, quand’anche lo si distrugga con metodo, è probabile che un esemplare comunque si salvi e preservi la sua vita di scaffale, una vita eterna, muta…�.
Amos è un bambino che immagina e allestisce mondi a partire da pochi elementi: cartine, legnetti, foglie, segni sul pavimento...per costruire galassie e universi, schierare eserciti in battaglia, immaginare strategie, allo scopo di “offrire una nuova opportunità a ciò che non esisteva più né mai più avrebbe avuto un’opportunità�: il motivo per cui, confida Oz, ancora oggi sono spinto a scrivere una storia. Amos, infine, è un bambino che assorbe emozioni e pensieri, osserva con sguardo attento e amoroso il suo piccolo nucleo di affetti e tutto il mondo che gli sta intorno. Apprende e assimila. Si nutre e si abbevera. Gioca, si innamora, sbaglia, comprende.
Ma questa è una storia talmente ricca, talmente densa, così traboccante e perfino meravigliosamente ridondante che è impossibile darne conto senza essere penosamente restrittivi, ingiustamente circoscritti. Questo è un viaggio entusiasmante che si fa tutto d’un fiato, volando, anche se è lungo più di 600 pagine, ma nel quale si deve poi ritornare per fermarsi in qualche stazione particolarmente suggestiva e immergersi nel paesaggio umano così mirabilmente descritto: la nonna ossessionata dall’igiene; il nonno innamorato dell’eterno femminino; il padre coltissimo e logorroico; la madre ombrosa, intelligente e sensibile; la maestra Isabela e la sua scuola dei gatti; lo scrittore Agnon, Nobel recente, “bambino prodigio assetato d’amore�; e infine tutto il popolo degli emigrati europei assiepato sulla strada che attende col fiato sospeso e il cuore in subbuglio la decisione dell’Onu sulla fondazione del nuovo stato di Israele. È la notte del 29 novembre 1947, quando “D’un tratto un silenzio da altri mondi scese e agghiacciò tutta la scena, un silenzio terrificante, un silenzio di tragedia, un silenzio pieno di fiati sospesi quale non avevo mai sentito in vita mia ne mai più sentii, prima e dopo di allora.�
Questa storia raggiunge una pienezza che si declina in molte e diverse variazioni: dal massimo divertimento alla massima angoscia. È piacevolmente stupenda la mirabolante capacità di Amos Oz di trasformare il linguaggio in carne viva e sentimenti veri. Come un funambolo esperto lo scrittore ti porta per mano dentro la sostanza della sua vita, quella della sua famiglia e anche quella del suo popolo -il nodo e il mistero dell’essere ebreo su una terra invano promessa. Incontriamo così la storia degli ebrei europei, intellettuali colti e poliglotti, che amavano l’Europa ma non erano dall’Europa ricambiati e dovettero emigrare in una terra che stava producendo un nuovo tipo di ebreo, muscoloso e prepotente. (Ci sono anche brevi indimenticabili ritratti dei politici del tempo, come Ben Gurion e Menachen Begin).
Ma il centro di luce e tenebra di questa storia è Fania Mussman, la madre, concentrazione di tenerezza e disperazione, nodo d’amore irrisolto, intorno al quale il destino di Amos si dispiega e di cui lo scrittore parla qui per la prima volta, dopo avere custodito per anni il suo dolore all’ombra di un necessario silenzio.
E così si arriva all’ultima pagina con le lacrime agli occhi e il cuore colmo di bellezza e di gratitudine. Con questi sentimenti ti abbraccio, ovunque tu sia, caro Amos Oz.
Autobiografia in forma di romanzo, storia di formazione, e quindi delle tappe dolorose che un bambino dovrà attraversare per diventare uomo, e storia di un popolo all’alba di una speranza nascente che subito si tramuta in lacrime, guerra, dolore.
Libro-universo, caleidoscopico, vivo, scintillante, nel quale l’autore sa riprodurre mimeticamente, magicamente, l’indole e il linguaggio delle persone di cui racconta, in modo che ci sembra di vederle e di sentirle: soprattutto i nonni paterni e materni, i genitori, le zie e gli zii, ma anche gli intellettuali e i capipopolo. E così il lettore viene avviluppato nell’incanto della costruzione narrativa e si immerge completamente in un mondo che ben presto gli diventa caro, come in un sogno vivido fatto di realtà vera e toccante.
Amos è un bambino che sogna di diventare libro: “Quand’ero piccolo, da grande volevo diventare un libro. Non uno scrittore, un libro: perché le persone le si può uccidere come formiche. Anche uno scrittore, non è difficile ucciderlo. Mentre un libro, quand’anche lo si distrugga con metodo, è probabile che un esemplare comunque si salvi e preservi la sua vita di scaffale, una vita eterna, muta…�.
Amos è un bambino che immagina e allestisce mondi a partire da pochi elementi: cartine, legnetti, foglie, segni sul pavimento...per costruire galassie e universi, schierare eserciti in battaglia, immaginare strategie, allo scopo di “offrire una nuova opportunità a ciò che non esisteva più né mai più avrebbe avuto un’opportunità�: il motivo per cui, confida Oz, ancora oggi sono spinto a scrivere una storia. Amos, infine, è un bambino che assorbe emozioni e pensieri, osserva con sguardo attento e amoroso il suo piccolo nucleo di affetti e tutto il mondo che gli sta intorno. Apprende e assimila. Si nutre e si abbevera. Gioca, si innamora, sbaglia, comprende.
Ma questa è una storia talmente ricca, talmente densa, così traboccante e perfino meravigliosamente ridondante che è impossibile darne conto senza essere penosamente restrittivi, ingiustamente circoscritti. Questo è un viaggio entusiasmante che si fa tutto d’un fiato, volando, anche se è lungo più di 600 pagine, ma nel quale si deve poi ritornare per fermarsi in qualche stazione particolarmente suggestiva e immergersi nel paesaggio umano così mirabilmente descritto: la nonna ossessionata dall’igiene; il nonno innamorato dell’eterno femminino; il padre coltissimo e logorroico; la madre ombrosa, intelligente e sensibile; la maestra Isabela e la sua scuola dei gatti; lo scrittore Agnon, Nobel recente, “bambino prodigio assetato d’amore�; e infine tutto il popolo degli emigrati europei assiepato sulla strada che attende col fiato sospeso e il cuore in subbuglio la decisione dell’Onu sulla fondazione del nuovo stato di Israele. È la notte del 29 novembre 1947, quando “D’un tratto un silenzio da altri mondi scese e agghiacciò tutta la scena, un silenzio terrificante, un silenzio di tragedia, un silenzio pieno di fiati sospesi quale non avevo mai sentito in vita mia ne mai più sentii, prima e dopo di allora.�
Questa storia raggiunge una pienezza che si declina in molte e diverse variazioni: dal massimo divertimento alla massima angoscia. È piacevolmente stupenda la mirabolante capacità di Amos Oz di trasformare il linguaggio in carne viva e sentimenti veri. Come un funambolo esperto lo scrittore ti porta per mano dentro la sostanza della sua vita, quella della sua famiglia e anche quella del suo popolo -il nodo e il mistero dell’essere ebreo su una terra invano promessa. Incontriamo così la storia degli ebrei europei, intellettuali colti e poliglotti, che amavano l’Europa ma non erano dall’Europa ricambiati e dovettero emigrare in una terra che stava producendo un nuovo tipo di ebreo, muscoloso e prepotente. (Ci sono anche brevi indimenticabili ritratti dei politici del tempo, come Ben Gurion e Menachen Begin).
Ma il centro di luce e tenebra di questa storia è Fania Mussman, la madre, concentrazione di tenerezza e disperazione, nodo d’amore irrisolto, intorno al quale il destino di Amos si dispiega e di cui lo scrittore parla qui per la prima volta, dopo avere custodito per anni il suo dolore all’ombra di un necessario silenzio.
E così si arriva all’ultima pagina con le lacrime agli occhi e il cuore colmo di bellezza e di gratitudine. Con questi sentimenti ti abbraccio, ovunque tu sia, caro Amos Oz.
June 3, 2021
3,5*
Foi com ela que aprendi também que existem palavras que exigem um silêncio absoluto à sua volta: que necessitam de espaço. Como os quadros, alguns dos quais não suportam vizinhos.
Sinto que este livro não é totalmente para mim. Aliás, várias vezes senti que este livro não é propriamente para o leitor, mas mais para memória futura do autor, tal é a enumeração de pormenores do seu passado, como ruas, pessoas com que se cruzou, acontecimentos vividos por antepassados longínquos em terras distantes. É um livro de memórias em que parece que nenhum pormenor, nenhum acontecimento por mais insignificante que pareça, pode ficar de fora para não cair no esquecimento.
Desde que vi “Exodus� (sim, o Paul Newman a sair do mar), há muitos anos, que fiquei interessada na fundação do Estado de Israel e, subsequentemente, no conflito israelo-palestiniano, numa altura em que era demasiado nova para reconhecer a sua complexidade.
Pensávamos que daí a pouco tempo, mais uns anos, os Judeus seriam a maioria no país � e então daríamos a todo o mundo um exemplo de comportamento para com a nossa minoria, os Árabes: nós, que sempre fôramos uma minoria oprimida, havíamos certamente de ter com a minoria árabe uma relação íntegra e justa, generosa, e partilharíamos a nossa pátria com eles, partilharíamos tudo com ele e jamais faríamos deles gatos. Era um belo sonho.
Como registo histórico desde o êxodo dos judeus europeus para Israel até à ida do autor para o kibutz, “Uma História de Amor e Trevas� é um documento valioso e esclarecedor, mas o meu interesse na esfera pessoal recai mais sobre o jovem Amos e pela sua sensível mãe do que pelo pai, um intelectual frustrado e desprezível. Fico satisfeita por ter terminado este livro, porque descobri em Amos Oz um autor que quero continuar a explorar, que felizmente se afastou dos homens viris de Hemingway e se aproximou de Chekov e Sherwood Anderson, mas, infelizmente, é uma autobiografia que se arrasta demasiado, e prova disso são os seis meses que passei com ela.
Os contos de Sherwood Anderson devolveram-me o que deixara para trás a partir de Jerusalém. (...) A vida acanhada dos meus pais. (...) Percebi finalmente de onde vinha: de um emaranhado de dor, fingimento, saudade, ridículo, pobreza, provincianismo, educação sentimental, ideais anacrónicos, medos asfixiantes, inveja e desespero.
[Obrigada, Ana. Não tendo sido também a melhor das leituras para mim, teve excelentes momentos.]
Foi com ela que aprendi também que existem palavras que exigem um silêncio absoluto à sua volta: que necessitam de espaço. Como os quadros, alguns dos quais não suportam vizinhos.
Sinto que este livro não é totalmente para mim. Aliás, várias vezes senti que este livro não é propriamente para o leitor, mas mais para memória futura do autor, tal é a enumeração de pormenores do seu passado, como ruas, pessoas com que se cruzou, acontecimentos vividos por antepassados longínquos em terras distantes. É um livro de memórias em que parece que nenhum pormenor, nenhum acontecimento por mais insignificante que pareça, pode ficar de fora para não cair no esquecimento.
Desde que vi “Exodus� (sim, o Paul Newman a sair do mar), há muitos anos, que fiquei interessada na fundação do Estado de Israel e, subsequentemente, no conflito israelo-palestiniano, numa altura em que era demasiado nova para reconhecer a sua complexidade.
Pensávamos que daí a pouco tempo, mais uns anos, os Judeus seriam a maioria no país � e então daríamos a todo o mundo um exemplo de comportamento para com a nossa minoria, os Árabes: nós, que sempre fôramos uma minoria oprimida, havíamos certamente de ter com a minoria árabe uma relação íntegra e justa, generosa, e partilharíamos a nossa pátria com eles, partilharíamos tudo com ele e jamais faríamos deles gatos. Era um belo sonho.
Como registo histórico desde o êxodo dos judeus europeus para Israel até à ida do autor para o kibutz, “Uma História de Amor e Trevas� é um documento valioso e esclarecedor, mas o meu interesse na esfera pessoal recai mais sobre o jovem Amos e pela sua sensível mãe do que pelo pai, um intelectual frustrado e desprezível. Fico satisfeita por ter terminado este livro, porque descobri em Amos Oz um autor que quero continuar a explorar, que felizmente se afastou dos homens viris de Hemingway e se aproximou de Chekov e Sherwood Anderson, mas, infelizmente, é uma autobiografia que se arrasta demasiado, e prova disso são os seis meses que passei com ela.
Os contos de Sherwood Anderson devolveram-me o que deixara para trás a partir de Jerusalém. (...) A vida acanhada dos meus pais. (...) Percebi finalmente de onde vinha: de um emaranhado de dor, fingimento, saudade, ridículo, pobreza, provincianismo, educação sentimental, ideais anacrónicos, medos asfixiantes, inveja e desespero.
[Obrigada, Ana. Não tendo sido também a melhor das leituras para mim, teve excelentes momentos.]
September 21, 2012
It is a crime to try to rush through this richly textured memoir, you have to slow down, you have to savour it and let its images sink in, you have to see, through the eyes of the alien only child that was Amos Oz, the strange melange of old world jews bickering and conjuring up an extraordinary new, yet ancient country, ripping it out of an existing land, dreams centuries old and a great many nightmares of the first half of the twentieth century. It is excruciatingly and painfully honest, binding love and darkness so closely together that it is hard to tell where one begins and the other ends, and whether any of two ever stop hurting.
Slowly, hesitantly and masterfully, Amos Oz starts following the central thread of his life, circling around the tragic core of his childhood. We read an amazing story of self-laceration as Amos Oz is determined to leave no stone unturned in punishing himself through his own disturbing memories of himself as an akward child, a dreamer living between two heart-wrenching worlds utterly beyond his comprehension, the rational but disappointing world of his father and the strange shadowy world of his mother. A haunting memoir of an imaginative and sensitive child desperately striving to live his childhood in an impossible place, at the wrong time, reaching for love he could never be quite sure of deserving or attaining.
Slowly, hesitantly and masterfully, Amos Oz starts following the central thread of his life, circling around the tragic core of his childhood. We read an amazing story of self-laceration as Amos Oz is determined to leave no stone unturned in punishing himself through his own disturbing memories of himself as an akward child, a dreamer living between two heart-wrenching worlds utterly beyond his comprehension, the rational but disappointing world of his father and the strange shadowy world of his mother. A haunting memoir of an imaginative and sensitive child desperately striving to live his childhood in an impossible place, at the wrong time, reaching for love he could never be quite sure of deserving or attaining.
July 18, 2011
This memoir recounts the author's life in the formative years of the nation of Israel as well as the years leading up to 1948, as well as the lives of his parents and many relatives from various parts of Europe. It's not only the memoir of a child who grew to become a writer and needs to tell of the terrors and memories of his childhood. It's also a memoir of the young state peopled by so many from all over who had lost everything and were desperately trying to build a permanent Jewish home. No place in the world wanted them, so this must be the place.
It is not an easy read but it is definitely worthwhile. There is much to learn here and so many viewpoints. I have the feeling, in the end, that this was a task that Oz had to do to finally lay the past to rest.
It is not an easy read but it is definitely worthwhile. There is much to learn here and so many viewpoints. I have the feeling, in the end, that this was a task that Oz had to do to finally lay the past to rest.
April 2, 2013
"أكلنا تفاحة مسمومة" عاموس عوز قصة عن الحب و الظلام
بهذه العبارة المقتبسة من الرواية ذاتها افتتح مراجعتي,فهي تجسد بشكل كبير إحساسي بعد إتمام قراءتها بجهد لا يضاهيه الا جهد غواص يحاول تحطيم رقم قياسي للغوص,عاموس عوز قدم لنا في روايته هذه تفاحة تقطر سما زعافا قد ينسف كل معتقداتنا و ثقافة نفي لكل ما يأتي من هذا الطحلب العالق بمؤخراتنا ويكبر يوما بعد يوم و إن لم نلفظ هذه التفاحة الملعونة فورا و بمجرد الانتهاء من الرواية فان في خطر ز��ع نبتة قد تكون ثمارها سرطانا يأكلنا ببطء.
أول شيء لفت انتباهي لهذه الرواية عنوانها , فالعنوان عادة يترجم من خلال الأحداث و كنت أعتقد أنني سأجد قصة حب عنيفة لا تذر نيرانها أخضرا أو يابسا لكني وجدت قصة حب مغايرة فسًرَت لي العنوان بشكل مغاير فعاموس تحدث في كتابه عن حب شاذ متطرف شيطان لا ينبت إلا في الظلام ..العنوان إذن منطقي لغاية التفاهة. من الأشياء أيضا التي لفتت انتباهي إهداء المترجم جورج خوري هذه الرواية لروح ابنه الذي مات خطأ على يد مقاومين فلسطينيين في الحي اليهودي و المترجم بهذا الإهداء يحاول ان يرسي أسسه قيم التسامح مع العدو مقدما دم ابنه قربانا لهذه المحاولة..وعجبي..مع ذلك أرفع قبعتي لهذا المترجم الذي نقل بصدق كبير رواية عبرية إلى اللغة العربية و لم ينتقص منها شيئا يمس بقيمتها الأدبية,نعم رواية عاموس تمتلك من المكونات الأدبية ما يؤهلها لتأخذ أفضل التقييمات و يحسب لعاموس ذكاؤه في تحذيرنا من تصنيف كتابه في خانة معينة حتى لا نحتجزه في زاوية معينة في النقد فكابه هذا مفتوح الهوية نجح فيه أن يكتب رواية في إطار أوتوبيوغرافي مثير أدخلنا في متاهة زمنية يجاذبنا فيها الحاضر و الماضي ويحاول من خلالها عاموس أن يقرب القارئ من النتائج ثم يعود للأسباب و العكس صحيح في سرد مطرد بين مد و جزر لدرجة وقع فيها مرارا في التكرار و الإطناب وجدته عديم الجدوى كاد أن يفقد تقييمي نجمتين من خمسة,تعتبر رواية عوز هذه أرشيفا متكاملا للأدب العبري فهو الشاهد المعاصر لأدباء شكلوا اللبنة الأولى للأدب الاسرائيلي على أرض فلسطين و ذكر الجنسية هنا من باب التفريق بين الأدب العبري في دياسبورا اليهودية و الأدب العبري في الكيان الصهيوني و نستطيع أن نقول أن عاموس استطاع بفعل المناخ الأدبي و الفكري الذي تربي فيه أن يكون مجدد الأدب العبري و أفضل ممثل له عالميا باعتباره أكثر الكتاب اليهود ترجمة في العالم.
قبل أن أتجرد كليا من حيادي تجاه عاموس لا بأس أن أذكر باختصار حكاية هذا الصهيوني و هو لقب يحبه عاموس و غلب على روايته و لن أمنعه من هذه المتعة,ولد عاموس عوز في القدس تحت اسم عاموس كلاوزنر من جدين لأم هاجروا من روفينو بأوكرانيا و من جدين للأب قادمين من روسيا من خلال الرواية يتضح لنا أن الجدود هاجروا لفلسطين أو الدولة العثمانية أنذاك فيما يعرف بعليا الثانية ( من روسيا بسبب الاضطهاد الروسي لليهود) و عليا الثالثة (من دول اوروبا الشرقية)’أبوا� كانا من أشد الصهاينة عنصرية و ذلك لانضمامهما لتيار جابوتينسكي, يمتلك والده و عمه رصيدا معرفيا مهما أثر في حياة الكاتب في حين لم تكن أمه الا شبحا ضائعا سرعان ما التحق بمكانه و هو في سن الثانية عشر, انتحار والدته رغم مكابرته شرخ وجدانه و ظل الشبح مرافقا بشكل أو بآخر معظم كتاباته, و الغريب أن عاموس بدا مترددا في الحديث عن أمه و أسباب انتحارها فجاءت قصة الأم كقطًارة أذن تزيد الوجع أكثر مما تزيل ضجيج تساؤل القارئ مما جعلنا نتساءل لماذا اعتمد هذه الطريقة في الحكي و هل لخلطه بين العام و الخاص هدف أراد أن نصل اليه أم هو فقط يرمي رمي الأسباب على الظروف العامة التي رافقت تأسيس دولته ,في حين فشل عاموس في سبر أغوار نفسية أمه أجاد في تفصيل نفسيات شخصيات عايشت أسرته أو عاصرها هو و اختياره للشخصيات لم يكن اعتباطيا بل مرتبا بشكل يتماشى مع أحداث تأسيس الكيان كمحاولة لتجريد القارئ من اي عتب قد يرافق اليهود و يحمله ذنب الاحتلال هنا يجب أن أؤكد على أمر مهم جدا فرواية قصة عن الحب و الظلام لم تكتب للعرب و المسلمين رغم فرحة عاموس بترجمتها فهي نفسها فرحة الاسد بحصوله على فريسته دون عناء بل كتبت للغرب العدو القديم هي ابتزاز عاطفي رخيص و استجداء عطف العالم لهذا "الشعب الضعيف "الذي عانى الويلات من أوروبا و ليس العرب و هي محاولة تفسير و تبرير الوجود اليهودي في فلسطين من باب المساعدة الثقافة و التنويرية لشعب متخلف و محاولة العيش بسلام جنبا
لجنب
هذه الصورة العبثية التي أراد عاموس توصيلها للعالم مليئة بالمغالطات و الكذبات التاريخية بدءا بسخافة الاحتلال البريطاني للأراضي اليهودية متجاهلا وعد بلفور و مساعدة بريطانيا للكيان بالنهوض قبل أن يرحل و إغفاله أيضا للمجازر الإسرائيلية و في هذا كان عاموس ذكيا جدا في انهاء روايته في مرحلة تاريخية معينة تجنبا للمجازر التي حدثت بعد ذلك خصوصا لو عرفنا ان الرواية كتبت من بداية 2000 ,عبث عاموس هذا بدا أكثر عبثا في طريقة تدرجه في الحديث عن العربي فهو بداية تجنب الخوض فيه و مع توالي الأحداث بدأ هذا العربي يظهر كموج مدجج بالسيوف لا هدف له الا ذبح اليهود و لم يسلم من هذه الصورة الكاريكتورية الرجل الذي ساعده يوما و أخرجه سالما في حادثة متجر النساء هنا يجب ايضا أن أذكر ملاحظتين على درجة كبيرة من الأهمية أولها تجنب عاموس ذكر لفظ "فلسطيني" و استبداله بلفظ "عربي" و هذا نجد هدفه في الملاحظة الثانية و هي محاولته تبرير فكرة الأرض الموعودة لليهود في القدس بأرض موعودة للعرب و هي مكة أو السعودية و فات هذا المثقف أن العرب ليسوا جميعا مسلمين فيهم مسيحيين يعتبرون فلسطين أيضا أرضا مقدسا غباء كاد أن يعصف بكل نجمات تقييمي لهذه الرواية.
في النهاية لا يسعني إلا أن أقول أن الضجة التي رافقت شخصية عاموس عوز بكونه داعية سلام ليست سوى بروباغندا اسرائيلية اعتادها العرب ككذبة و اعتادها الغرب كمسلمات, و رغم تشدق عاموس بالسلام كحل فهذا الأمر في نظري يشبه لحد كبير صورة الغراب الذي ينعق بجنب أخيه و يقوم بدفنه بعد أن قتله كمحاولة منه تضميد جراح الضمير,عاموس الذي قرأ لبرنارد لويس و معلوم عندنا ما يكنه هذا الأخير من كره للعالم الأسلامي لا يمكن بأي حال من الأحوال أن يكون داعية سلام و روايته هذه أكبر دليل على الشيزوفرينيا الاسرائيلية, ففي الرواية عاموس كان يساريا من الدرجة الأولى رافضا حتى لليمين الإسرائيلي بالتالي فمن المؤكد أن الصورة التي يريدها عاموس أن تصل للغرب هي نفسها الصورة التي تريدها إسرائيل فهو بوق إعلامي جديد محبب لجيل الشباب و يستطيع بسهولة قتل الذاكرة لو كانت تحمل ما قد يعيق الحصول على المراد..و في الأخير من يستطيع أن يرفض أو يتساءل عن أحداث تروى من فم طفل صغير يتيم الأم.......؟
بهذه العبارة المقتبسة من الرواية ذاتها افتتح مراجعتي,فهي تجسد بشكل كبير إحساسي بعد إتمام قراءتها بجهد لا يضاهيه الا جهد غواص يحاول تحطيم رقم قياسي للغوص,عاموس عوز قدم لنا في روايته هذه تفاحة تقطر سما زعافا قد ينسف كل معتقداتنا و ثقافة نفي لكل ما يأتي من هذا الطحلب العالق بمؤخراتنا ويكبر يوما بعد يوم و إن لم نلفظ هذه التفاحة الملعونة فورا و بمجرد الانتهاء من الرواية فان في خطر ز��ع نبتة قد تكون ثمارها سرطانا يأكلنا ببطء.
أول شيء لفت انتباهي لهذه الرواية عنوانها , فالعنوان عادة يترجم من خلال الأحداث و كنت أعتقد أنني سأجد قصة حب عنيفة لا تذر نيرانها أخضرا أو يابسا لكني وجدت قصة حب مغايرة فسًرَت لي العنوان بشكل مغاير فعاموس تحدث في كتابه عن حب شاذ متطرف شيطان لا ينبت إلا في الظلام ..العنوان إذن منطقي لغاية التفاهة. من الأشياء أيضا التي لفتت انتباهي إهداء المترجم جورج خوري هذه الرواية لروح ابنه الذي مات خطأ على يد مقاومين فلسطينيين في الحي اليهودي و المترجم بهذا الإهداء يحاول ان يرسي أسسه قيم التسامح مع العدو مقدما دم ابنه قربانا لهذه المحاولة..وعجبي..مع ذلك أرفع قبعتي لهذا المترجم الذي نقل بصدق كبير رواية عبرية إلى اللغة العربية و لم ينتقص منها شيئا يمس بقيمتها الأدبية,نعم رواية عاموس تمتلك من المكونات الأدبية ما يؤهلها لتأخذ أفضل التقييمات و يحسب لعاموس ذكاؤه في تحذيرنا من تصنيف كتابه في خانة معينة حتى لا نحتجزه في زاوية معينة في النقد فكابه هذا مفتوح الهوية نجح فيه أن يكتب رواية في إطار أوتوبيوغرافي مثير أدخلنا في متاهة زمنية يجاذبنا فيها الحاضر و الماضي ويحاول من خلالها عاموس أن يقرب القارئ من النتائج ثم يعود للأسباب و العكس صحيح في سرد مطرد بين مد و جزر لدرجة وقع فيها مرارا في التكرار و الإطناب وجدته عديم الجدوى كاد أن يفقد تقييمي نجمتين من خمسة,تعتبر رواية عوز هذه أرشيفا متكاملا للأدب العبري فهو الشاهد المعاصر لأدباء شكلوا اللبنة الأولى للأدب الاسرائيلي على أرض فلسطين و ذكر الجنسية هنا من باب التفريق بين الأدب العبري في دياسبورا اليهودية و الأدب العبري في الكيان الصهيوني و نستطيع أن نقول أن عاموس استطاع بفعل المناخ الأدبي و الفكري الذي تربي فيه أن يكون مجدد الأدب العبري و أفضل ممثل له عالميا باعتباره أكثر الكتاب اليهود ترجمة في العالم.
قبل أن أتجرد كليا من حيادي تجاه عاموس لا بأس أن أذكر باختصار حكاية هذا الصهيوني و هو لقب يحبه عاموس و غلب على روايته و لن أمنعه من هذه المتعة,ولد عاموس عوز في القدس تحت اسم عاموس كلاوزنر من جدين لأم هاجروا من روفينو بأوكرانيا و من جدين للأب قادمين من روسيا من خلال الرواية يتضح لنا أن الجدود هاجروا لفلسطين أو الدولة العثمانية أنذاك فيما يعرف بعليا الثانية ( من روسيا بسبب الاضطهاد الروسي لليهود) و عليا الثالثة (من دول اوروبا الشرقية)’أبوا� كانا من أشد الصهاينة عنصرية و ذلك لانضمامهما لتيار جابوتينسكي, يمتلك والده و عمه رصيدا معرفيا مهما أثر في حياة الكاتب في حين لم تكن أمه الا شبحا ضائعا سرعان ما التحق بمكانه و هو في سن الثانية عشر, انتحار والدته رغم مكابرته شرخ وجدانه و ظل الشبح مرافقا بشكل أو بآخر معظم كتاباته, و الغريب أن عاموس بدا مترددا في الحديث عن أمه و أسباب انتحارها فجاءت قصة الأم كقطًارة أذن تزيد الوجع أكثر مما تزيل ضجيج تساؤل القارئ مما جعلنا نتساءل لماذا اعتمد هذه الطريقة في الحكي و هل لخلطه بين العام و الخاص هدف أراد أن نصل اليه أم هو فقط يرمي رمي الأسباب على الظروف العامة التي رافقت تأسيس دولته ,في حين فشل عاموس في سبر أغوار نفسية أمه أجاد في تفصيل نفسيات شخصيات عايشت أسرته أو عاصرها هو و اختياره للشخصيات لم يكن اعتباطيا بل مرتبا بشكل يتماشى مع أحداث تأسيس الكيان كمحاولة لتجريد القارئ من اي عتب قد يرافق اليهود و يحمله ذنب الاحتلال هنا يجب أن أؤكد على أمر مهم جدا فرواية قصة عن الحب و الظلام لم تكتب للعرب و المسلمين رغم فرحة عاموس بترجمتها فهي نفسها فرحة الاسد بحصوله على فريسته دون عناء بل كتبت للغرب العدو القديم هي ابتزاز عاطفي رخيص و استجداء عطف العالم لهذا "الشعب الضعيف "الذي عانى الويلات من أوروبا و ليس العرب و هي محاولة تفسير و تبرير الوجود اليهودي في فلسطين من باب المساعدة الثقافة و التنويرية لشعب متخلف و محاولة العيش بسلام جنبا
لجنب
هذه الصورة العبثية التي أراد عاموس توصيلها للعالم مليئة بالمغالطات و الكذبات التاريخية بدءا بسخافة الاحتلال البريطاني للأراضي اليهودية متجاهلا وعد بلفور و مساعدة بريطانيا للكيان بالنهوض قبل أن يرحل و إغفاله أيضا للمجازر الإسرائيلية و في هذا كان عاموس ذكيا جدا في انهاء روايته في مرحلة تاريخية معينة تجنبا للمجازر التي حدثت بعد ذلك خصوصا لو عرفنا ان الرواية كتبت من بداية 2000 ,عبث عاموس هذا بدا أكثر عبثا في طريقة تدرجه في الحديث عن العربي فهو بداية تجنب الخوض فيه و مع توالي الأحداث بدأ هذا العربي يظهر كموج مدجج بالسيوف لا هدف له الا ذبح اليهود و لم يسلم من هذه الصورة الكاريكتورية الرجل الذي ساعده يوما و أخرجه سالما في حادثة متجر النساء هنا يجب ايضا أن أذكر ملاحظتين على درجة كبيرة من الأهمية أولها تجنب عاموس ذكر لفظ "فلسطيني" و استبداله بلفظ "عربي" و هذا نجد هدفه في الملاحظة الثانية و هي محاولته تبرير فكرة الأرض الموعودة لليهود في القدس بأرض موعودة للعرب و هي مكة أو السعودية و فات هذا المثقف أن العرب ليسوا جميعا مسلمين فيهم مسيحيين يعتبرون فلسطين أيضا أرضا مقدسا غباء كاد أن يعصف بكل نجمات تقييمي لهذه الرواية.
في النهاية لا يسعني إلا أن أقول أن الضجة التي رافقت شخصية عاموس عوز بكونه داعية سلام ليست سوى بروباغندا اسرائيلية اعتادها العرب ككذبة و اعتادها الغرب كمسلمات, و رغم تشدق عاموس بالسلام كحل فهذا الأمر في نظري يشبه لحد كبير صورة الغراب الذي ينعق بجنب أخيه و يقوم بدفنه بعد أن قتله كمحاولة منه تضميد جراح الضمير,عاموس الذي قرأ لبرنارد لويس و معلوم عندنا ما يكنه هذا الأخير من كره للعالم الأسلامي لا يمكن بأي حال من الأحوال أن يكون داعية سلام و روايته هذه أكبر دليل على الشيزوفرينيا الاسرائيلية, ففي الرواية عاموس كان يساريا من الدرجة الأولى رافضا حتى لليمين الإسرائيلي بالتالي فمن المؤكد أن الصورة التي يريدها عاموس أن تصل للغرب هي نفسها الصورة التي تريدها إسرائيل فهو بوق إعلامي جديد محبب لجيل الشباب و يستطيع بسهولة قتل الذاكرة لو كانت تحمل ما قد يعيق الحصول على المراد..و في الأخير من يستطيع أن يرفض أو يتساءل عن أحداث تروى من فم طفل صغير يتيم الأم.......؟
October 10, 2013
Amos Oz is considered one of the leading lights of Israeli literature and there's buzz he's a candidate for a Nobel Prize. This particular book, his memoir, "was nominated one of the ten most important books since the creation of the State of Israel." And at times I truly can understand why. The man can turn a phrase and some of his insights are as striking as his prose:
That wordatlarge was far away, attractive, marvelous, but to us it was dangerous and threatening. It didn't like the Jews because they were clever, quick-witted, successful, but also because they were noisy and pushy. It didn't like what we were doing here in the Land of Israel either, because it begrudged us even this meager strip of marshland, boulders, and desert. Out there, in the world, all the walls were covered with graffiti: "Yids, go back to Palestine," so we came back to Palestine, and now the worldatlarge shouts at us: "Yids, get out of Palestine."
AND
My father had a sensual relationship with his books. He loved feeling them, stroking them, sniffing them... books then really were sexier than books today: they were good to sniff and stroke and fondle. There were books with gold writing on fragrant, slightly rough leather bindings, that gave you gooseflesh when you touched them, as though you were groping something private and inaccessible, something that seemed to tremble at your touch. And there were other books that were bound in cloth-covered cardboard, stuck with a glue that had a wonderful smell. Every book had its own private, provocative scent. Sometimes the cloth came away from the cardboard, like a saucy skirt, and it was hard to resist the temptation to peep into the dark space between body and clothing and sniff those dizzying smells.
So, why rate the book so low? The best I can describe my experience in reading this book is that it was like being sat tightly wedged on a sofa between two proud parents who are determined to show you the family albums--stacks of them--and natter on and on about each photograph. Maybe I'd have felt differently were this not my first work by Amos and I were already a fan of his. Or if I better knew and cared about Israeli intelligentsia and literati. The political and military figures of Israel's short history I generally know and find interesting. It's certainly an eventful, fascinating history--but for me Amos made this story of him and his family before, during, and after the birth of Israel dull as dirt. The memoir was repetitive and rambling and overlong and I gave it over 200 pages before deciding I didn't want to suffer through 400 more.
That wordatlarge was far away, attractive, marvelous, but to us it was dangerous and threatening. It didn't like the Jews because they were clever, quick-witted, successful, but also because they were noisy and pushy. It didn't like what we were doing here in the Land of Israel either, because it begrudged us even this meager strip of marshland, boulders, and desert. Out there, in the world, all the walls were covered with graffiti: "Yids, go back to Palestine," so we came back to Palestine, and now the worldatlarge shouts at us: "Yids, get out of Palestine."
AND
My father had a sensual relationship with his books. He loved feeling them, stroking them, sniffing them... books then really were sexier than books today: they were good to sniff and stroke and fondle. There were books with gold writing on fragrant, slightly rough leather bindings, that gave you gooseflesh when you touched them, as though you were groping something private and inaccessible, something that seemed to tremble at your touch. And there were other books that were bound in cloth-covered cardboard, stuck with a glue that had a wonderful smell. Every book had its own private, provocative scent. Sometimes the cloth came away from the cardboard, like a saucy skirt, and it was hard to resist the temptation to peep into the dark space between body and clothing and sniff those dizzying smells.
So, why rate the book so low? The best I can describe my experience in reading this book is that it was like being sat tightly wedged on a sofa between two proud parents who are determined to show you the family albums--stacks of them--and natter on and on about each photograph. Maybe I'd have felt differently were this not my first work by Amos and I were already a fan of his. Or if I better knew and cared about Israeli intelligentsia and literati. The political and military figures of Israel's short history I generally know and find interesting. It's certainly an eventful, fascinating history--but for me Amos made this story of him and his family before, during, and after the birth of Israel dull as dirt. The memoir was repetitive and rambling and overlong and I gave it over 200 pages before deciding I didn't want to suffer through 400 more.
April 14, 2016
Amos Oz beschreibt nicht nur das Israel seiner Kindheit, das heißt der 40er Jahre des 20. Jahrhunderts, sondern auch die Geschichte seiner Familie. Er tut dies in großer Ehrlichkeit und mutiger Offenheit sich selbst und dem Leser gegenüber. Besonders der Selbstmord der Mutter und was dieses Ereignis mit dem Heranwachsenden machte, erlelbt der Leser gleichsam als Mitglied der Familie. Daneben erfahren wir viel über die Lage und das Selbstgefühl der intellektuellen aschkenazischen Juden des östlichen Mitteleuropa, ihre Vielsprachigkeit und Heimatlosigkeit zwischen den Kulturen, wie auch ihren zionistischen Eifer. Das Buch bringt uns durch Erlebnisse und Befindlichkeiten der Familie Klausner (der Geburtsname des Autors) die frühen Jahres Israels nahe, kurz vor und nach der Staatsgründung. Ich habe das Buch mit großem Interesse gelesen, "miterlebt" wäre beinahe das besser Wort. Gleichzeitig empfand ich eine Traurigkeit angesichts der Tatsache, dass der tiefe Humanismus dieser eher areligiösen Gründerväter in großen Teilen einem unversöhnlichen Fanatismus und religiösem Fundamentalismus gewichen ist.
August 6, 2013
OK, the book is completed and I am having difficulty choosing between 4 or 5 stars, so I guess I will choose 4. It is best to save 5 stars for those books that you are sure must get 5! Otherwise 5 stars doesn't mean much! There is a lot to think about in this book. That is why I like the book. It seems to me a very Jewish trait to analyze, discuss and argue about everything. I like that. Nevertheless in this family there were some things that were NEVER discussed. Issues that should have been discussed, but they were just so painful nothing could be said! After his mother died, Amos and his father NEVER discussed the mother/wife. Not a word! So that which really must be discussed couldn't be discussed. All I can say is hmmm. Really not that surprising if one thinks of it. The deep emotions that tied the family members, the mother, father and son were wonderfully depicted, in an honest and sometimes brutal but also loving manner. I appreciated the honesty. That is why I liked the book. What else did I like? I liked how the people were real people. They did really stupid , crazy stuff. Lectures given in locked bathrooms. Grandmothers lecturing grandfathers to "grow-up", behave as an adult should and not set a bad example for the children. Usually it was the adults who were so childish - but isn't that true to life? Who says grown-ups follow the rules, act properly or set a proper example. The characters where in other words true to life. I think! Aren't we all just fumbling along. And any given person is both wonderful and terrible. Again a characteristic true to life. I would say that the book is primarily about relationships within a family, OK this family but probably many others too. Please check out the comments noted as I progressed through the book. I liked this book/author so much that I think I will immediately try another by the author, a novel entitled . I want to see if a novel holds up as well as this memoir.
On page 167 of the Harvest publication of this book: The binding and quality of this paperback is really MUCH better than the Vintage Book I was previously reading! Immediately I realize what marvelous company I am keeping with the individuals in this family. Take this quote on page 162: "Do you know what the main thing is - the thing a woman should look for in her man? She should look for a quality that's not at all exciting but that's rarer than gold: decency. And maybe kindness too. Today, you should know this, I rate decency more highly than kindness. Decency is the bread, kindness is the butter. Or the honey." I have personally always valued kindness, put it up there on a pedestal, but I love the analogy of decency and kindness compared to bread and butter/honey. It says it all! other lines are terribly amusing - "Once, it may have been in the winter, at Hanukkah, we had a huge argument that lasted off and on for several weeks, about heredity versus free will. I remember as if it were yesterday how your mother came out with this strange sentence, that if you open up someone's head, and take out the brains, you see at once that our brains are nothing but cauliflower. Even Chopin or Shakespeare: their brains were nothing but cauliflower." And then his Mom, the same person, also expressed the idea that: ..."heredity and the environment that nurtures us and our social class - these are all like cards that are dealt out at random before the game begins. There is no freedom about this: the world gives and you just take what you're given, with no opportunity to choose. But she wrote to me from Prague, the suestion is what each person does with the cards that are dealt out to him. Some people play brilliantly with poor cards, and other do the opposite: they squander and loose everything even with excellent cards." This Jewish family, with roots in Russia, their arguments, philosophical meanderings, goals and idiosyncrasies make a delightful read.
The On page 110: There are gems of truth to be found in this book. I think many women will agree with the following observation:
"What was the secret of Grandpa's charm? I only began to understand years later. He possessed a quality that is hardly ever found among men, a marvellous quality which for many women is the sexiest in a man: He listened. He did not just politely pretend to listen, while....." Some men really listen and some men look in the eyes of a woman. The point is, women like it when the man, in some way really connects. Really cares enough to pay attention. We like this! Right?!
Still only on page 22, but I know this will be another book and author to love. It is all in the writing - that is why I always try and read a bit of a book before I buy it. The problem is that the authors know that too and can provide us with only the best in the first few pages.
"The one thing we had plenty of was books.....When I was little my ambition was to grow up to be a book. Not a writer. People can be killed like ants. Writers are not hard to kill either. But not books; however systematically you try to destroy them there is always a chance that a copy will survive and continue to enjoy a shelf-life in some corner of an out-of-the-way library somewhere, in Reykjavik, Valladolid or Vancouver." I enjoy the expression of how a book "enjoys a shelf-life". I enjoy the random choice of cities where the book just might be found. I enjoy the serious aspect of a child of six realizing how quickly a human can be wiped off the face of the earth juxtaposed to the humor inherent in the words.
I love how it is so embedded in Jewish culture to discusses ANY topic from all sides.
"Here was another typical dilemma: should on or should one not send flowers for a birthday? And if so what flowers? Gladioli were very expensive, but they were cultured, aristocratic, sensitive flowers, not some sort of half-wild...." I find this terribly amusing but to see the real humor you have to read more!
On page 167 of the Harvest publication of this book: The binding and quality of this paperback is really MUCH better than the Vintage Book I was previously reading! Immediately I realize what marvelous company I am keeping with the individuals in this family. Take this quote on page 162: "Do you know what the main thing is - the thing a woman should look for in her man? She should look for a quality that's not at all exciting but that's rarer than gold: decency. And maybe kindness too. Today, you should know this, I rate decency more highly than kindness. Decency is the bread, kindness is the butter. Or the honey." I have personally always valued kindness, put it up there on a pedestal, but I love the analogy of decency and kindness compared to bread and butter/honey. It says it all! other lines are terribly amusing - "Once, it may have been in the winter, at Hanukkah, we had a huge argument that lasted off and on for several weeks, about heredity versus free will. I remember as if it were yesterday how your mother came out with this strange sentence, that if you open up someone's head, and take out the brains, you see at once that our brains are nothing but cauliflower. Even Chopin or Shakespeare: their brains were nothing but cauliflower." And then his Mom, the same person, also expressed the idea that: ..."heredity and the environment that nurtures us and our social class - these are all like cards that are dealt out at random before the game begins. There is no freedom about this: the world gives and you just take what you're given, with no opportunity to choose. But she wrote to me from Prague, the suestion is what each person does with the cards that are dealt out to him. Some people play brilliantly with poor cards, and other do the opposite: they squander and loose everything even with excellent cards." This Jewish family, with roots in Russia, their arguments, philosophical meanderings, goals and idiosyncrasies make a delightful read.
The On page 110: There are gems of truth to be found in this book. I think many women will agree with the following observation:
"What was the secret of Grandpa's charm? I only began to understand years later. He possessed a quality that is hardly ever found among men, a marvellous quality which for many women is the sexiest in a man: He listened. He did not just politely pretend to listen, while....." Some men really listen and some men look in the eyes of a woman. The point is, women like it when the man, in some way really connects. Really cares enough to pay attention. We like this! Right?!
Still only on page 22, but I know this will be another book and author to love. It is all in the writing - that is why I always try and read a bit of a book before I buy it. The problem is that the authors know that too and can provide us with only the best in the first few pages.
"The one thing we had plenty of was books.....When I was little my ambition was to grow up to be a book. Not a writer. People can be killed like ants. Writers are not hard to kill either. But not books; however systematically you try to destroy them there is always a chance that a copy will survive and continue to enjoy a shelf-life in some corner of an out-of-the-way library somewhere, in Reykjavik, Valladolid or Vancouver." I enjoy the expression of how a book "enjoys a shelf-life". I enjoy the random choice of cities where the book just might be found. I enjoy the serious aspect of a child of six realizing how quickly a human can be wiped off the face of the earth juxtaposed to the humor inherent in the words.
I love how it is so embedded in Jewish culture to discusses ANY topic from all sides.
"Here was another typical dilemma: should on or should one not send flowers for a birthday? And if so what flowers? Gladioli were very expensive, but they were cultured, aristocratic, sensitive flowers, not some sort of half-wild...." I find this terribly amusing but to see the real humor you have to read more!
March 12, 2019
Although I think the book would have benefited from some tightening, particularly in the last quarter, A Tale of Love and Darkness is a masterpiece.
July 19, 2016
If you read this book and didn't like it, we can't be friends. Usually I'm open minded and tolerant when it comes to literature, mainly because I don't believe there is such a thing as one 'correct' reading but in this case I just have to be hopelessly sentimental and treat this novel as it was an actual person and not just a work of art that can be examined and viewed from different perspectives. It is perfectly normal we all have different tastes and hence experience literary works in our own way. After all, I myself had varied experiences reading same books. Nevertheless, the very idea that somebody might not like this novel, makes me very upset, which probably indicated a rather strong emotional attachment to it.
It may have something to do with the intimate nature of this novel. Oz writes about his closest relationships, mostly about his immediate family members. He writes about his mother’s suicide and her struggle with depression. This novel feels like a portal into his soul, providing you with a complete view of his most hidden secrets and desires. While reading A Tale of Light and Darkness, you have a sensation of taking a spiritual voyage with him, following him every step of the way. Moreover, you have this feeling of sharing something very private with someone. I had this uncanny feeling of having known Oz’s mother when I read it. Not knowing her as a character, but as a real person of flash and blood. Knowing her in a way I had only known a handful people in my entire life. For when we can truly say that we know somebody?
A Tale of Love and Darkness made me think of many great novels, but most of all, it made me think of Kafka and in a particular of one book of his that comes closest to being an autobiography. When I started reading Letters to Milena, I had this guilty feeling of intruding somebody’s life yet it was not possible to put it down or avoiding getting completely engrossed in it. The letters exchanged (that goes for Milena’s letters as well, not just those Kafka wrote) there are one of those rare instances when literature and life walk hand in hand.
It is something that rarely happens and it can not be forced, that magic of literature and life existing at the same time. In this case, they are real love letters, but they are also real literature. That is what this novel is to me. There are many ways to read it, but after reading it, I had the feeling of knowing the author and that is something I cannot shake off. Sure, one might argue that every novel speaks as much about the author as an autobiography could, but reading autobiographical material is bound to feel more personal.
I have certainly never read autobiographical writing that I could compare with this one. I find it very hard to think of a book of this magnitude, for A Tale of Light and Darkness is truly an unique masterpiece. I can find comparisons with other novels, but it would be hard to find a novel that compares to it. I’m thinking War and Peace because that is generally one that I refuse to compare with others. War and Peace managed to perfectly recreate an era, paint Europe with precision, all while masterfully portraying an amazing amount of absolutely credible characters, have a great story and managing to ask all the questions that actually matter, thus becoming a meditation on spirituality and meaning of life. Yes, I can imagine this novel on the same shelf with War and Peace. Monumental works of literature for sure. Having read this book, I can't help feeling that I know Oz. I don't really know him in person (despite what I might feel), but I have uttmost respect for him as a writer.
Amos certainly managed to recreate past, painting not only history of one country but of others as well, of all its complexity that comes out of its being inevitably linked to so many other countries, cultures and languages. He tells the story of a birth of a nation and he certainly manages to take us back in time. Yet, most of all, he tells a story of life and death. Life and death in all its complexity. Life and death of an individual. Life and death of a family. Few have spoken about their life thus intimately and managed to create a masterpiece in the process. I would have never had the guts to write anything like this. It is as if he has barred his very soul on the paper. It is an autobiography but it is also literature at its finest. It is incredibly touching and endlessly sad. It is powerful and it is raw. It is subtle and it is gentle. It isingenious. An unique work of art. A trrue masterpiece.
Generally, I enjoy reading reviews and opinions that differ from my own, but not in this case. So, if you read and didn't like this novel, I'm not interested in hearing your opinion about it. If you're interested in reading it and have some questions about it, feel free to ask but I'm not sure how eloquent I will be. Some books just crawl in some part of your soul and remain there. You almost want them hidden, you want to keep them a secret…and you almost don't want to share your experience with anyone. You want to, but you’re not sure you’ve what it takes.
Some books are pure magic. They change your life. This is one of those books. I read it and I loved it, yet I find talking about it difficult. It is like when you really like somebody and you choke when you are with them. Perhaps is safe enough to say that I have fallen in love with it.
It may have something to do with the intimate nature of this novel. Oz writes about his closest relationships, mostly about his immediate family members. He writes about his mother’s suicide and her struggle with depression. This novel feels like a portal into his soul, providing you with a complete view of his most hidden secrets and desires. While reading A Tale of Light and Darkness, you have a sensation of taking a spiritual voyage with him, following him every step of the way. Moreover, you have this feeling of sharing something very private with someone. I had this uncanny feeling of having known Oz’s mother when I read it. Not knowing her as a character, but as a real person of flash and blood. Knowing her in a way I had only known a handful people in my entire life. For when we can truly say that we know somebody?
A Tale of Love and Darkness made me think of many great novels, but most of all, it made me think of Kafka and in a particular of one book of his that comes closest to being an autobiography. When I started reading Letters to Milena, I had this guilty feeling of intruding somebody’s life yet it was not possible to put it down or avoiding getting completely engrossed in it. The letters exchanged (that goes for Milena’s letters as well, not just those Kafka wrote) there are one of those rare instances when literature and life walk hand in hand.
It is something that rarely happens and it can not be forced, that magic of literature and life existing at the same time. In this case, they are real love letters, but they are also real literature. That is what this novel is to me. There are many ways to read it, but after reading it, I had the feeling of knowing the author and that is something I cannot shake off. Sure, one might argue that every novel speaks as much about the author as an autobiography could, but reading autobiographical material is bound to feel more personal.
I have certainly never read autobiographical writing that I could compare with this one. I find it very hard to think of a book of this magnitude, for A Tale of Light and Darkness is truly an unique masterpiece. I can find comparisons with other novels, but it would be hard to find a novel that compares to it. I’m thinking War and Peace because that is generally one that I refuse to compare with others. War and Peace managed to perfectly recreate an era, paint Europe with precision, all while masterfully portraying an amazing amount of absolutely credible characters, have a great story and managing to ask all the questions that actually matter, thus becoming a meditation on spirituality and meaning of life. Yes, I can imagine this novel on the same shelf with War and Peace. Monumental works of literature for sure. Having read this book, I can't help feeling that I know Oz. I don't really know him in person (despite what I might feel), but I have uttmost respect for him as a writer.
Amos certainly managed to recreate past, painting not only history of one country but of others as well, of all its complexity that comes out of its being inevitably linked to so many other countries, cultures and languages. He tells the story of a birth of a nation and he certainly manages to take us back in time. Yet, most of all, he tells a story of life and death. Life and death in all its complexity. Life and death of an individual. Life and death of a family. Few have spoken about their life thus intimately and managed to create a masterpiece in the process. I would have never had the guts to write anything like this. It is as if he has barred his very soul on the paper. It is an autobiography but it is also literature at its finest. It is incredibly touching and endlessly sad. It is powerful and it is raw. It is subtle and it is gentle. It isingenious. An unique work of art. A trrue masterpiece.
Generally, I enjoy reading reviews and opinions that differ from my own, but not in this case. So, if you read and didn't like this novel, I'm not interested in hearing your opinion about it. If you're interested in reading it and have some questions about it, feel free to ask but I'm not sure how eloquent I will be. Some books just crawl in some part of your soul and remain there. You almost want them hidden, you want to keep them a secret…and you almost don't want to share your experience with anyone. You want to, but you’re not sure you’ve what it takes.
Some books are pure magic. They change your life. This is one of those books. I read it and I loved it, yet I find talking about it difficult. It is like when you really like somebody and you choke when you are with them. Perhaps is safe enough to say that I have fallen in love with it.
February 22, 2013
Es un cliché decir que los libros son una manera de escapar de la realidad, pero lo voy a decir de todas maneras. Este libro me hizo escapar de mi realidad, y me metió en otra, mucho más dramática, mucho más real, y mucho más hermosa. Me enamoré de Amos Oz con este libro, y claro, como tenía que ser, es el primero que leo, y espero el primero de muchos.
Me enamora como cuenta sus tristezas, sus alegrías, lo dramático y conmovedor que es una vida llena de acontecimientos como los que le suceden a el y a su familia. Su madre, que parece que fue una víctima de la vida, porque quizás sentía demasiado, y al final no pudo con su peso. De su padre, sus abuelos, el drama de ser judío, el drama de la búsqueda judía en general, y en particular también, contada por todos los personajes a su alrededor, y percibida por el desde su infancia. Hermoso y conmovedor.
Me enamora como cuenta sus tristezas, sus alegrías, lo dramático y conmovedor que es una vida llena de acontecimientos como los que le suceden a el y a su familia. Su madre, que parece que fue una víctima de la vida, porque quizás sentía demasiado, y al final no pudo con su peso. De su padre, sus abuelos, el drama de ser judío, el drama de la búsqueda judía en general, y en particular también, contada por todos los personajes a su alrededor, y percibida por el desde su infancia. Hermoso y conmovedor.
April 25, 2016
Amos Oz nasceu em Jerusalém, em 1939, e é uma das principais vozes pela resolução do conflito israelo-palestiniano, sendo dos poucos judeus que reconhece razão aos palestinianos por terem sido expulsos da sua terra.
Uma História de Amor e Trevas é um romance auto-biográfico, mas Amos Oz não o escreveu para contar a sua própria vida, mas a vida da sua família, a história do povo judeu e a do seu país. A heroína do romance é a sua mãe, cujo suicídio quando ele tinha 12 anos, o marcou para toda a vida.
É um romance que conjuga na perfeição emoção e conhecimento. Oscilando entre o riso e o choro, conheci nestas páginas grandes nomes de poetas e escritores judeus e aproximei-me da história da criação de um país e do sofrimento do povo judeu (e palestiniano). As páginas onde é relatado o dia 29 de Novembro de 1947 - data em que a ONU aprova a separação do território - são tão belas que, por instantes, me senti judia.
É impossível referir as pessoas que nesta história se cruzam, desde quatro gerações da família de Oz, vizinhos, professores, políticos e intelectuais familiares e amigos. Gente muito pobre mas de uma grande riqueza cultural e consciência política e social, e para quem os objectos mais preciosos eram os livros.
Dispersos...
1. A "voz" de Fania, mãe de Amos
2. A "voz" de Amos sobre Uma História de Amor e Trevas
3. Amos e os pais
Uma História de Amor e Trevas é um romance auto-biográfico, mas Amos Oz não o escreveu para contar a sua própria vida, mas a vida da sua família, a história do povo judeu e a do seu país. A heroína do romance é a sua mãe, cujo suicídio quando ele tinha 12 anos, o marcou para toda a vida.
É um romance que conjuga na perfeição emoção e conhecimento. Oscilando entre o riso e o choro, conheci nestas páginas grandes nomes de poetas e escritores judeus e aproximei-me da história da criação de um país e do sofrimento do povo judeu (e palestiniano). As páginas onde é relatado o dia 29 de Novembro de 1947 - data em que a ONU aprova a separação do território - são tão belas que, por instantes, me senti judia.
É impossível referir as pessoas que nesta história se cruzam, desde quatro gerações da família de Oz, vizinhos, professores, políticos e intelectuais familiares e amigos. Gente muito pobre mas de uma grande riqueza cultural e consciência política e social, e para quem os objectos mais preciosos eram os livros.
Dispersos...
1. A "voz" de Fania, mãe de Amos
"...e ela disse-me que embora fosse verdade que os livros podiam mudar ao longo dos anos tal e qual como as pessoas, a diferença era que quase todas as pessoas acabavam por nos abandonar mais tarde ou mais cedo, quando já não vissem em nós qualquer utilidade, prazer, interesse ou sentimento, enquanto os livros nunca nos abandonavam. Podes esquecê-los às vezes e certamente que o farás, alguns mesmo durante muitos anos, ou mesmo para sempre. Mas os livros, esses, mesmo que os tenhas traído, nunca te voltarão as costas: lá estarão à tua espera, humildemente na estante. Dezenas de anos, se for preciso. Sem se queixarem. Até que uma noite, quando subitamente precisares de um deles, mesmo que sejam três da madrugada, ou um livro que desprezaste e quase esqueceste durante anos, ele não te desiludirá, sairá da prateleira para te acompanhar naquele momento difícil. Sem reservas, sem procurar desculpas, nem perguntar a si próprio se vale a pena, se tu o mereces ou se ainda lhe serves, não, virá ter contigo mal tu lhe peças para vir. Nunca te trairá."
2. A "voz" de Amos sobre Uma História de Amor e Trevas
3. Amos e os pais
December 20, 2017
"Justice without compassion isn't justice; it's an abattoir."
Reading A Tale of Love and Darkness is like watching tiny green shoots pop up from loamy soil. You watch them grow with anticipation, only to see them wither, and then shoot up again to reach new heights. They mature, falter again, and then finally ripen in old age.
In this spellbinding memoir, Amos Oz is one of those little shoots, growing up in the nourishing soil of books, intellectual conversation, and impromptu storytelling. At the same time, his father's disappointment and dissatisfaction, the oppressive legacy of his family's long histories of persecution in Europe and their paradoxical longing for that bygone age of cultured refinement, and his mother's crippling depression suppress him. But he rises again after every wilting, sometimes through concerted effort to erase his past, sometimes through latching on to his literary ancestry.
Born in 1939 in British Mandatory Palestine, Oz has straddled the collapse of an old order and the creation of a new one for the Jewish people. His parents were immigrants from Eastern Europe, members of the Zionist literati who dreamed of an escape from programs and persecution. They would reach the Promised Land, where the Jewish people would stand up to their oppressors, screaming "No more!" When they finally arrived, they didn't find the land of their dreams, but an impoverished backwater; They found betrayal. But after years of surviving, of love and loss, Israel's independence still brought joy to Oz's parents. Oz, the product of eternal sadness, thought he saw the light for the first time as a 9-year-old boy, when independence was marked with a "scream of horror and bewilderment" and a seemingly endless war.
But as we all know, and as Oz quickly figured out, the birth of Israel did not lead to immediate prosperity. The evolution of his political views from hard-right conservatism to prominent socialist supporter of peace and equality, his mother's suicide soon after independence, his meeting as a young man with Israel's faux-intellectual first leader David Ben-Gurion, and his decision to change his name to breaks his family's chains to Eastern Europe: Oz's early life is the story of the first years of State of Israel, warts and all (mostly warts). His story is Israel's: one of promise, defeat, victory, betrayal, hypocrisy.
Oz paints a refreshingly gray and murky picture of the 1940s and 1950s, a time when no one, Palestinians, Israelis, or the UN, knew what would happen. As discussions surrounding Israel have become dogmatically Manichean, Oz points out that neither narrative is right and neither is wrong. They're just two powerful, sympathetic narratives that capture hearts and minds and never let go. Oz weaves a story that avoids both dogma and refuses to impose one definition of reality. Each new perspective brings its own understanding of reality, its own baggage and collective memory to the present. Oz warns us that both life and history are murky. The so-called "age of polarization" in which we now live is not new; It's as old as humanity.
The most remarkable quality of Oz's writing is his ability to impart endless wisdom without lecturing the reader. A Tale of Love and Darkness is a philosophical dialogue that uses a memoir as its framework. Sure, it's about Oz's childhood and the early days of Israel, but it's really about analyzing different perspectives through which we can approach living. Like all great writers, Oz provides more questions than answers: To what extent does memory empower and to what extent does it limit and oppress? Does anyone actually know what they're doing or are we all just making educated guess after educated guess? Who gets to decide what is just? What is true strength and what is weakness masquerading as strength? Oz is wise enough to only venture his own partial answers to these questions.
A Tale of Love and Darkness is an excellent book, a handbook for great writing, and a paean to literature. If you give one long book a try in the near future, consider Oz's masterpiece. I think you will be just as mesmerized as I was, watching all the little green shoots grow, falter, and grow again.
Reading A Tale of Love and Darkness is like watching tiny green shoots pop up from loamy soil. You watch them grow with anticipation, only to see them wither, and then shoot up again to reach new heights. They mature, falter again, and then finally ripen in old age.
In this spellbinding memoir, Amos Oz is one of those little shoots, growing up in the nourishing soil of books, intellectual conversation, and impromptu storytelling. At the same time, his father's disappointment and dissatisfaction, the oppressive legacy of his family's long histories of persecution in Europe and their paradoxical longing for that bygone age of cultured refinement, and his mother's crippling depression suppress him. But he rises again after every wilting, sometimes through concerted effort to erase his past, sometimes through latching on to his literary ancestry.
Born in 1939 in British Mandatory Palestine, Oz has straddled the collapse of an old order and the creation of a new one for the Jewish people. His parents were immigrants from Eastern Europe, members of the Zionist literati who dreamed of an escape from programs and persecution. They would reach the Promised Land, where the Jewish people would stand up to their oppressors, screaming "No more!" When they finally arrived, they didn't find the land of their dreams, but an impoverished backwater; They found betrayal. But after years of surviving, of love and loss, Israel's independence still brought joy to Oz's parents. Oz, the product of eternal sadness, thought he saw the light for the first time as a 9-year-old boy, when independence was marked with a "scream of horror and bewilderment" and a seemingly endless war.
But as we all know, and as Oz quickly figured out, the birth of Israel did not lead to immediate prosperity. The evolution of his political views from hard-right conservatism to prominent socialist supporter of peace and equality, his mother's suicide soon after independence, his meeting as a young man with Israel's faux-intellectual first leader David Ben-Gurion, and his decision to change his name to breaks his family's chains to Eastern Europe: Oz's early life is the story of the first years of State of Israel, warts and all (mostly warts). His story is Israel's: one of promise, defeat, victory, betrayal, hypocrisy.
Oz paints a refreshingly gray and murky picture of the 1940s and 1950s, a time when no one, Palestinians, Israelis, or the UN, knew what would happen. As discussions surrounding Israel have become dogmatically Manichean, Oz points out that neither narrative is right and neither is wrong. They're just two powerful, sympathetic narratives that capture hearts and minds and never let go. Oz weaves a story that avoids both dogma and refuses to impose one definition of reality. Each new perspective brings its own understanding of reality, its own baggage and collective memory to the present. Oz warns us that both life and history are murky. The so-called "age of polarization" in which we now live is not new; It's as old as humanity.
The most remarkable quality of Oz's writing is his ability to impart endless wisdom without lecturing the reader. A Tale of Love and Darkness is a philosophical dialogue that uses a memoir as its framework. Sure, it's about Oz's childhood and the early days of Israel, but it's really about analyzing different perspectives through which we can approach living. Like all great writers, Oz provides more questions than answers: To what extent does memory empower and to what extent does it limit and oppress? Does anyone actually know what they're doing or are we all just making educated guess after educated guess? Who gets to decide what is just? What is true strength and what is weakness masquerading as strength? Oz is wise enough to only venture his own partial answers to these questions.
A Tale of Love and Darkness is an excellent book, a handbook for great writing, and a paean to literature. If you give one long book a try in the near future, consider Oz's masterpiece. I think you will be just as mesmerized as I was, watching all the little green shoots grow, falter, and grow again.
July 20, 2011
God there is some good writing in this. I'm obsessed with everything that's said in this description:
"In Jerusalem people always walked rather like mourners at a funeral, or latecomers at a concert. First they put down the tip of their shoe and tested the ground. Then once they had lowered their foot they were in no hurry to move it; we had waited two thousand years to gain a foothold in Jerusalem, and were unwilling to give it up. If we picked up our foot someone else might come along and snatch our little strip of land! On the other hand, once you have lifted your foot, do not be in a hurry to put it down again; who can tell what menacing nest of vipers you might step on. For thousands of years we have paid with our blood for our impetuousness, time and again we have fallen into the hands of our enemies because we put our feet down without looking where we were putting them. That is, more or less, the way people walked in Jerusalem."
"In Jerusalem people always walked rather like mourners at a funeral, or latecomers at a concert. First they put down the tip of their shoe and tested the ground. Then once they had lowered their foot they were in no hurry to move it; we had waited two thousand years to gain a foothold in Jerusalem, and were unwilling to give it up. If we picked up our foot someone else might come along and snatch our little strip of land! On the other hand, once you have lifted your foot, do not be in a hurry to put it down again; who can tell what menacing nest of vipers you might step on. For thousands of years we have paid with our blood for our impetuousness, time and again we have fallen into the hands of our enemies because we put our feet down without looking where we were putting them. That is, more or less, the way people walked in Jerusalem."
December 12, 2019
Poveste despre dragoste şi întuneric", romanul autobiografic al scriitorului israelian Amos Oz care din păcate ne-a părăsit la finalul anului trecut , este una dintre cartile mele de suflet aflate in bibliotecă.
Este o carte frumoasă și emoționantă.
Citind-o veți învăța câte ceva despre istoria poporului israelian, cu problemele, framantarile si tensiunile lui.
Recomand cu drag acest mare roman.
Este o carte frumoasă și emoționantă.
Citind-o veți învăța câte ceva despre istoria poporului israelian, cu problemele, framantarile si tensiunile lui.
Recomand cu drag acest mare roman.
May 2, 2022
Ik ben echt onder de indruk van de schrijfstijl van Amos Oz, bloemrijk en zwaar gedetailleerd. Dit maakt het niet een luchtig boek om te lezen, ik heb er toch bijna twee maanden over gedaan, maar meer omdat ik ieder detail graag bewust wou lezen, en me echt wou onderdompelen in de wereld die voor me geschapen werd.
Je volgt de jeugd van Amos Oz zelf, inclusief de verhalen van zijn familie die zijn achtergrond vormen en bijdragen aan de omgeving waarin hij opgroeit. Er komen behoorlijk wat interessante figuren voorbij waar hij met veel details en jus over weet te vertellen. Dit tegen een achtergrond van een cultuur waar in de recente geschiedenis veel is gebeurt. Dit vond ikzelf interessant om via de ogen van een jonge jongen te beleven en te voelen. Ik stond dan ook echt versteld van de details die hij uit z'n eigen jeugd nog wist te vertellen.
Ik heb even getwijfeld over welk cijfer ik dit boek zou geven, omdat het wel echt traag leest. Maar ik geef hem toch gewoon 4,5/5 sterren, omdat het eigenlijk niet beter gaat worden dan dit. Als iemand zo kan vertellen en schrijven hoor je gewoon tot de beste. En net als met een bergwandeling moet je soms even wat harder op je tanden bijten om tot de mooiste uitzichten te komen.
Je volgt de jeugd van Amos Oz zelf, inclusief de verhalen van zijn familie die zijn achtergrond vormen en bijdragen aan de omgeving waarin hij opgroeit. Er komen behoorlijk wat interessante figuren voorbij waar hij met veel details en jus over weet te vertellen. Dit tegen een achtergrond van een cultuur waar in de recente geschiedenis veel is gebeurt. Dit vond ikzelf interessant om via de ogen van een jonge jongen te beleven en te voelen. Ik stond dan ook echt versteld van de details die hij uit z'n eigen jeugd nog wist te vertellen.
Ik heb even getwijfeld over welk cijfer ik dit boek zou geven, omdat het wel echt traag leest. Maar ik geef hem toch gewoon 4,5/5 sterren, omdat het eigenlijk niet beter gaat worden dan dit. Als iemand zo kan vertellen en schrijven hoor je gewoon tot de beste. En net als met een bergwandeling moet je soms even wat harder op je tanden bijten om tot de mooiste uitzichten te komen.
August 1, 2017
magnificent
March 28, 2021
O único romance de Amos Oz que lera, até ao momento, foi “A Caixa Negra�, livro que recebeu o prémio Franz Kafka em 2013. Infelizmente, e por motivos que não consigo compreender, não escrevi nada sobre o que essa narrativa me trouxe, o que me acrescentou o que me desiludiu, o que me provocou, o que me fez refletir pese embora as quatro estrelas que achei que a narrativa merecia. A única coisa que sei é que, se não considerei um livro de cinco estrelas, foi muito por força da estrutura epistolar adotada pelo autor o que, particularmente, me aborrece (epístolas, para mim, só as de São Paulo :).
“Uma História de Amor e Trevas�, pelo contrário, agarrou-me da primeira á última página, pese embora as dificuldades que, para nós (pelo menos para mim), fomos criados numa atmosfera religiosa de influência católica, se revelem algo complexas, especialmente, na absorção de muitos dos aspetos característicos da religião judaica, seus costumes e tradições.
Mas ultrapassando esse fator, não deixa de constituir numa narrativa excelente que muito nos ensina, que muito nos faz questionar sobre a vida, os sentimentos, os danos que a existência nos traz, principalmente se tivemos a oportunidade ou o azar de viver épocas complexas na formatação e construção da história das civilizações. Trata-se, também, de um registo biográfico, extraordinariamente interessante de Oz que, desde a mais tenra idade, procurou o conhecimento, a apropriação do saber influenciado pela atmosfera sociocultural na qual vivera e proporcionada pelos seus progenitores.
Como este livro me foi emprestado por uma amiga, não quis estar a sublinhar os momentos que me marcaram (como o faria se fosse um livro meu) decidindo, então, colar post-it nas páginas que me trouxeram reflexões. Agora, ao ter terminado a leitura, vejo que colei cerca de uns 60 e que, se nesta análise, os tiver em conta, este texto deixa de ser uma review para passar a constituir um ensaio :)
Assim, achei melhor e mais consentâneo com o tempo e o espaço que aqui temos para nos dedicarmos à estrutura de uma narrativa, construir um texto por tópicos não deixando, porém, de recorrer a algumas citações que me trouxeram momentos de reflexão e aprendizagem (se um autor não é capaz de construir no nosso espírito essas mais valias, o melhor é abandonar a leitura e partir para outros destinos e objetivos de conhecimento). Tratando-se de um autor judeu � que nasceu em 1939 em Jerusalém, tendo falecido em finais de 2018 -, será perfeitamente natural estruturar este romance com as experiências antissemíticas com as quais viveu após o término da 2.ª Grande Guerra. A compilação que agora farei dos momentos que mais me tocaram, talvez seja a melhor forma de homenagear este autor que, com esta narrativa, constrói uma saga familiar de leitura obrigatória.
“Os micróbios eram um dos nossos piores pesadelos. Como o antissemitismo: mesmo que não tivéssemos visto pela frente um antissemita ou um micróbio, sabíamos que eles nos espreitavam em todos os cantos, e que viam tudo sem serem vistos�. Mas esta questão do antissemitismo, não é, nem de perto nem de longe, a pedra basilar deste romance. Todos nós conhecemos a história do povo judaico, do seu sofrimento atroz e da sua busca por um espaço geográfico, há muito esperado (The Promiss Land).
Muito pelo contrário. Amos Oz aqui nos transmite uma história de Amor � com tudo o que está implícito a nível das sensações, das emoções, das paixões, da perda (da mãe e de tudo aquilo que para si representava) das diatribes entre o bem e o mal -, e de Trevas � com tudo aquilo que está implícito nas tristezas, nas esperanças, na fé por uma conciliação com o mundo árabe, mas também com o orgulho dos familiares e sobreviventes do Shoah, mesmo depois da ONU, em 1948 ter declarado a criação de Israel dividindo o então território da Palestina em dois estados: um árabe e um judeu. Guerras sanguinárias se sucederam, situações essas que o autor também nos dá conta.
No entanto, há algo que se sente no autor e que nos passa com uma espécie de mágoa e de indiferença (pelo menos foi esse o meu entender) no suicídio (?) da sua mãe. Fiquei com a ideia de ser uma pessoa que não conseguia se adaptar a uma nova realidade vivenciada em Jerusalém. É o que basta. A falta de adaptação e a procura da fuga. Nem que seja a morte.
Muito poderia dizer sobre este livro notável. Infelizmente, não tendo a menor capacidade de síntese, deixo apenas um gostinho sabendo, porém, que esta narrativa vai muito, mas mesmo muito mais além daquilo que agora deixo exposto. Se pudesse alongar-me neste espaço, haveria muito mais a dizer.
Para concluir, deixo uns títulos retirados da narrativa e que gostaria de ler. Uma pesquisa na internet, deu-me a previsão da impossibilidade de poder adquirir esses livros, que muito me interessariam. Porque também considero de superlativa importância, todos os apports que nos possam ser facultados por um autor, dentro dos nossos interesses literários.
- “Arco de Triunfo� � Erich Maria Remarque;
- “A Cidade dos Estranhos � Sherwood Anderson;
- “O Julgamento de Nuremberga� � Pearl Buck:
- “Only Yesterday� � S. Y. Agnon
- "A Minha Prima Raquel" - Daphne du Maurier
- “Judas� � Amos Oz
É impressionante como Portugal não aposta na tradução de obras tão significativas no panorama da literatura mundial ...
Infelizmente, nenhum deles se encontram disponíveis em Portugal, excetuando o último título.
Gosto de Amos Oz e da sua luta aquando do mandato britânico na Palestina e todo o favorecimento que o Reino Unido proporcionou ao mundo árabe em detrimento das intenções de um povo que apenas procurava um espaço, uma casa, um local de acolhimento. Mas também, eles próprios, tiveram algumas responsabilidades em todo esse processo.
Fica, porém, o contributo de Oz, para a paz nesse enclave do Médio Oriente. Para quem gosta de saber mais, de conhecer todas as diatribes e intersecções que formataram a vida dos povos que residiram e residem naquele espaço geoestratégico. Porque também se trata de conhecer os caminhos da história da humanidade.
Como esta review já vai longa, deixarei ao critério daqueles que se interessarem pela leitura de “Uma História de Amor e Trevas� revelarem as citações prometidas. E há muitas que creio que poderão ajudar na nossa compreensão do mundo e dos seus inultrapassáveis antagonismos. Sejam a nível emocional, psicológico, mental, sejam a nível da compreensão de uma disputa territorial, da ideia de pertença a um lugar, de revolta e de orgulho de um povo. A descobrir quais são as diferenças.
“Uma História de Amor e Trevas�, pelo contrário, agarrou-me da primeira á última página, pese embora as dificuldades que, para nós (pelo menos para mim), fomos criados numa atmosfera religiosa de influência católica, se revelem algo complexas, especialmente, na absorção de muitos dos aspetos característicos da religião judaica, seus costumes e tradições.
Mas ultrapassando esse fator, não deixa de constituir numa narrativa excelente que muito nos ensina, que muito nos faz questionar sobre a vida, os sentimentos, os danos que a existência nos traz, principalmente se tivemos a oportunidade ou o azar de viver épocas complexas na formatação e construção da história das civilizações. Trata-se, também, de um registo biográfico, extraordinariamente interessante de Oz que, desde a mais tenra idade, procurou o conhecimento, a apropriação do saber influenciado pela atmosfera sociocultural na qual vivera e proporcionada pelos seus progenitores.
Como este livro me foi emprestado por uma amiga, não quis estar a sublinhar os momentos que me marcaram (como o faria se fosse um livro meu) decidindo, então, colar post-it nas páginas que me trouxeram reflexões. Agora, ao ter terminado a leitura, vejo que colei cerca de uns 60 e que, se nesta análise, os tiver em conta, este texto deixa de ser uma review para passar a constituir um ensaio :)
Assim, achei melhor e mais consentâneo com o tempo e o espaço que aqui temos para nos dedicarmos à estrutura de uma narrativa, construir um texto por tópicos não deixando, porém, de recorrer a algumas citações que me trouxeram momentos de reflexão e aprendizagem (se um autor não é capaz de construir no nosso espírito essas mais valias, o melhor é abandonar a leitura e partir para outros destinos e objetivos de conhecimento). Tratando-se de um autor judeu � que nasceu em 1939 em Jerusalém, tendo falecido em finais de 2018 -, será perfeitamente natural estruturar este romance com as experiências antissemíticas com as quais viveu após o término da 2.ª Grande Guerra. A compilação que agora farei dos momentos que mais me tocaram, talvez seja a melhor forma de homenagear este autor que, com esta narrativa, constrói uma saga familiar de leitura obrigatória.
“Os micróbios eram um dos nossos piores pesadelos. Como o antissemitismo: mesmo que não tivéssemos visto pela frente um antissemita ou um micróbio, sabíamos que eles nos espreitavam em todos os cantos, e que viam tudo sem serem vistos�. Mas esta questão do antissemitismo, não é, nem de perto nem de longe, a pedra basilar deste romance. Todos nós conhecemos a história do povo judaico, do seu sofrimento atroz e da sua busca por um espaço geográfico, há muito esperado (The Promiss Land).
Muito pelo contrário. Amos Oz aqui nos transmite uma história de Amor � com tudo o que está implícito a nível das sensações, das emoções, das paixões, da perda (da mãe e de tudo aquilo que para si representava) das diatribes entre o bem e o mal -, e de Trevas � com tudo aquilo que está implícito nas tristezas, nas esperanças, na fé por uma conciliação com o mundo árabe, mas também com o orgulho dos familiares e sobreviventes do Shoah, mesmo depois da ONU, em 1948 ter declarado a criação de Israel dividindo o então território da Palestina em dois estados: um árabe e um judeu. Guerras sanguinárias se sucederam, situações essas que o autor também nos dá conta.
No entanto, há algo que se sente no autor e que nos passa com uma espécie de mágoa e de indiferença (pelo menos foi esse o meu entender) no suicídio (?) da sua mãe. Fiquei com a ideia de ser uma pessoa que não conseguia se adaptar a uma nova realidade vivenciada em Jerusalém. É o que basta. A falta de adaptação e a procura da fuga. Nem que seja a morte.
Muito poderia dizer sobre este livro notável. Infelizmente, não tendo a menor capacidade de síntese, deixo apenas um gostinho sabendo, porém, que esta narrativa vai muito, mas mesmo muito mais além daquilo que agora deixo exposto. Se pudesse alongar-me neste espaço, haveria muito mais a dizer.
Para concluir, deixo uns títulos retirados da narrativa e que gostaria de ler. Uma pesquisa na internet, deu-me a previsão da impossibilidade de poder adquirir esses livros, que muito me interessariam. Porque também considero de superlativa importância, todos os apports que nos possam ser facultados por um autor, dentro dos nossos interesses literários.
- “Arco de Triunfo� � Erich Maria Remarque;
- “A Cidade dos Estranhos � Sherwood Anderson;
- “O Julgamento de Nuremberga� � Pearl Buck:
- “Only Yesterday� � S. Y. Agnon
- "A Minha Prima Raquel" - Daphne du Maurier
- “Judas� � Amos Oz
É impressionante como Portugal não aposta na tradução de obras tão significativas no panorama da literatura mundial ...
Infelizmente, nenhum deles se encontram disponíveis em Portugal, excetuando o último título.
Gosto de Amos Oz e da sua luta aquando do mandato britânico na Palestina e todo o favorecimento que o Reino Unido proporcionou ao mundo árabe em detrimento das intenções de um povo que apenas procurava um espaço, uma casa, um local de acolhimento. Mas também, eles próprios, tiveram algumas responsabilidades em todo esse processo.
Fica, porém, o contributo de Oz, para a paz nesse enclave do Médio Oriente. Para quem gosta de saber mais, de conhecer todas as diatribes e intersecções que formataram a vida dos povos que residiram e residem naquele espaço geoestratégico. Porque também se trata de conhecer os caminhos da história da humanidade.
Como esta review já vai longa, deixarei ao critério daqueles que se interessarem pela leitura de “Uma História de Amor e Trevas� revelarem as citações prometidas. E há muitas que creio que poderão ajudar na nossa compreensão do mundo e dos seus inultrapassáveis antagonismos. Sejam a nível emocional, psicológico, mental, sejam a nível da compreensão de uma disputa territorial, da ideia de pertença a um lugar, de revolta e de orgulho de um povo. A descobrir quais são as diferenças.
July 2, 2024
23/06/24
"Uma História de Amor e Trevas" é um livro de memórias, não obedecendo a uma linha cronológica, o autor conta-nos a história da sua infância e pré-adolescência e a relação com a sua família.
Nascido em 1939 num bairro de Jerusalém, filho de dois judeus oriundos da Europa do Leste, Amós Oz vivenciou, in loco, o momento da criação do estado de Israel, em 1948. Relata-nos, assim, acontecimentos bastante impactantes vividos nessa época e tece comentários pessoais muito interessantes sobre o contexto histórico, social e político de Israel.
Os seus pais eram duas pessoas muito cultas, amantes de livros, assim como ele. O pai inteligentissimo, mas uma pessoa frustrada por não ter alcançado, em termos profissionais, o desejado, e a sua mãe uma mulher bastante peculiar e interessante.
A familia é de facto o pilar que dá estrutura a este livro, o autor descreve, através de diversos episódios, alguns bastante emotivos e curiosos, outros muito engraçados, o carácter da sua mãe e do seu pai, assim como a forma como os três se relacionavam. A educação esmerada e a inteletualidade eram apanágio desta família.As histórias que a mãe lhe contava e como as contava são o resultado das suas essências: são conversas lindas, cúmplices e inspiradoras.
A morte da mãe, quando Amós tinha 12 anos, é um acontecimento que deixou marcas profundas na sua vida, porém, apesar de lhe ter causado angústia, revolta, raiva e mais tarde até mesmo culpa, nunca deixou de ser uma criança dócil e criativa, tornando-se, assim, um excelente escritor.
Após o suicídio da mãe, Amós queria mudar de vida e foi viver, com 15 anos, para um kibutz, onde conheceu a sua esposa e onde foi pai.
Um livro que só não atribuo as 5 estrelas, por ser demasiado extenso, pois há relatos que, na minha opinião, eram dispensáveis, não contribuindo em nada para o valor do livro.
De qualquer modo, não deixa de ser um livro muito tocante, com excelentes descrições.
É o livro da vida de Amós Oz enquanto criança, é quase um diário no qual estão presentes as suas vivências e impressões e no qual narra, também, as da sua familia, pais, tios, avós.
"Uma História de Amor e Trevas" é um livro de memórias, não obedecendo a uma linha cronológica, o autor conta-nos a história da sua infância e pré-adolescência e a relação com a sua família.
Nascido em 1939 num bairro de Jerusalém, filho de dois judeus oriundos da Europa do Leste, Amós Oz vivenciou, in loco, o momento da criação do estado de Israel, em 1948. Relata-nos, assim, acontecimentos bastante impactantes vividos nessa época e tece comentários pessoais muito interessantes sobre o contexto histórico, social e político de Israel.
Os seus pais eram duas pessoas muito cultas, amantes de livros, assim como ele. O pai inteligentissimo, mas uma pessoa frustrada por não ter alcançado, em termos profissionais, o desejado, e a sua mãe uma mulher bastante peculiar e interessante.
A familia é de facto o pilar que dá estrutura a este livro, o autor descreve, através de diversos episódios, alguns bastante emotivos e curiosos, outros muito engraçados, o carácter da sua mãe e do seu pai, assim como a forma como os três se relacionavam. A educação esmerada e a inteletualidade eram apanágio desta família.As histórias que a mãe lhe contava e como as contava são o resultado das suas essências: são conversas lindas, cúmplices e inspiradoras.
A morte da mãe, quando Amós tinha 12 anos, é um acontecimento que deixou marcas profundas na sua vida, porém, apesar de lhe ter causado angústia, revolta, raiva e mais tarde até mesmo culpa, nunca deixou de ser uma criança dócil e criativa, tornando-se, assim, um excelente escritor.
Após o suicídio da mãe, Amós queria mudar de vida e foi viver, com 15 anos, para um kibutz, onde conheceu a sua esposa e onde foi pai.
Um livro que só não atribuo as 5 estrelas, por ser demasiado extenso, pois há relatos que, na minha opinião, eram dispensáveis, não contribuindo em nada para o valor do livro.
De qualquer modo, não deixa de ser um livro muito tocante, com excelentes descrições.
É o livro da vida de Amós Oz enquanto criança, é quase um diário no qual estão presentes as suas vivências e impressões e no qual narra, também, as da sua familia, pais, tios, avós.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,293 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.