בעיקר על אהבה

by Meir Shalev, מאיר שלו

בשנת 1994 היה מאיר שלו "סופר תושב" באוניברסיטה העברית והעביר שם סדרה של הרצאות שמשכו קהל רב ושודרו ב"קול ישראל". ההרצאות עסקו בביטויי האהבה והגורל, הטבע והבדיה, היופי והזכרון, בספרים שונים, ביניהם: "מטמורפוזות" של אובידיוס, "לוליטה" של נבוקוב, "ביאטריצ'ה" של נחום גוטמן, "מוות בוונציה" ו"יוסף ואחיו" של תומס מאן, סיפורים שונים מן התנ"ך ומן המיתולוגיה השומרית והיוונית ועוד. את ההרצאות ערך מאיר שלו כספר. הוא מציג כאן חלק מעולמו הספרותי, ופה ושם אף חושף את עקבותיו בכתיבתו שלו. אין זה ספר מחקר ואף לא ספר לימוד. זהו ספר אהבה לספרים, לגיבוריהם, לכותביהם ולקוראיהם.

Genres: Nonfiction

209 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Meir Shalev (Hebrew: מאיר שלו) was one of Israel’s most celebrated novelists. He received many awards for his work, including the National Jewish Book Award and Israel’s Brenner Prize, both for A Pigeon and a Boy.

A columnist for the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Shalev lived in Jerusalem and in northern Israel with his wife and children.

Reviews

[Ram · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1994, Meir Shalev gave a series of lectures on the issue of Love and fate, Nature and landscape, Beauty and memory in various books. The essence of these lectures was compiled by Meir Shalev into this extraordinary book. You can imagine it as a guided tour of Meir Shalev's book shelves , where he opens each book and shows you his favorite parts or phrases.

He states at the beginning of the book, that this is not literature research, but the impressions of a reader and sometimes of a writer.

The following books (and others) are mentioned and discussed

The book of Genesis (not in GoodReads, we should suggest that the author opens an account)

The Epic of Gilgamesh
Metamorphoses
Death in Venice
Joseph and His Brothers
Moby-Dick; or, The Whale
Far from the Madding Crowd
Lolita
The Story of San Michele
עיר קסומה BY יהושע בר יוסף
The Golden Fleece
Tracy's Tiger
The Wind in the Willows


I have always wanted to know which authors and books have inspired Meir Shalev. Some books have been mentioned in his weekly column in the newspaper, but I wanted to know more. I did not ever think what my expectations would be from this list, but if I would, I would think of a list of books/authors that have a similar style as Meir Shalev's books.
Therefore, when I discovered this book, I pounced on it immediately.
The beginning was promising, The first chapter begins by the author explaining why he did not become a biologist (as a child he was attacked by a swarm of angry wasps while observing them). The rest of the first chapter is dedicated to descriptions of nature and landscape in various books and the inspiration these descriptions gave him as a writer.
Other chapters are dedicated to Nymphs, beauty, fate, travelling , memory.
In all the book, the issue of love is combined with the narrative and well discussed.
In his deep and humoristic way, Shalev quotes from the books, compares them to other books with similar narrative and shows us the beauty of the words.

An excellent book that was a bit wasted on me.

First, I am not much into Greek or any other Mythology, and mythology has a strong presence in the book.

Second, together with this book I read another book by Meir Shalev, A book that discusses issues from the Bible. Shalev has another book about the Bible which I have read too.
Practically all the incidents that Shalev mentioned passages from the Bible in this book, I have already read his analysis in his other two books (and in some cases in his weekly column in the newspaper)

I do recommend this book to anyone who loves Meir Shalev's writing.

[Shmuel Gorelik · Rating 4 out of 5]

הספר-הרצאות הזה של מאיר שלו הוא קשה לקריאה אך נורא מסקרן. יש קטעים מאוד מעניינים והרבה קטעים מאוד משעמים...

[Arkady Boitsov · Rating 5 out of 5]

יש גרסה מורחבת שנקראת על אהבה ואחיזת עיניים.
ניתוח של ספרות על ידי סופר שהחזיר אותי לקריאה כאומנות

[Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a book about love, the pure love for books, and characters, and narrators, and stories.
About love for writing but mostly love for reading.
Meir Shalev, one of my favorite writers, talks about motifs and delicate issues in books he always loved, and demonstrates his special affection for them. With his sharp observation and his informal style, I felt like I'm listening to him giving the lecture, that I'm there with him, that I can see the characters in my own eyes. I almost could feel that I read some of those book myself, and felt like rereading them immediately.
Revisiting Greek mythology, the bible and even Lolita, books I thought I had some understanding in, made me look at everything differently. Just as Meir Shalev always do - he carries you with him until you see in his eyes and speak his words.
Not many writers have affected me this way.
And this book, is definitely one of the best books I've read, and it's recommended for anyone who loves literature, books, Meir Shalev or just having a more pleasant point of view on reality.