The Hill of Evil Counsel

by Amos Oz

The Hill of Evil Counsel is a fusion of history and imaginative narrative, re-creating the twilight world of Jerusalem during the fading days of the British Mandate. In these three closely linked stories, Oz vividly evokes the stifling atmosphere of impending crisis as real personalities rub shoulders with fictional characters whose hopes and fears are hauntingly portrayed.

Genres: Fiction, Israel, Short Stories, Historical Fiction, Middle East, Judaica, Literature

210 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Amos 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.

Reviews

[Marica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uccelli impazziti
1947. Gli Ebrei in Palestina sono stretti fra gli Inglesi, forza occupante, che forse si ritirano e i paesi arabi che forse li stritolano. Sotto una quiete apparente, gli Ebrei cercano freneticamente di organizzarsi, cercano rassicurazioni ufficiali presso il comando inglese, cercano di mettere da parte cibo, di procurarsi armi, di preparare esplosivi a partire da materiali facilmente reperibili. I tre racconti si svolgono a Gerusalemme fra la stessa gente, la scena si sposta di poco, da una casa a quella accanto, eppure la molteplicità delle vite che si agitano in quello spazio è abbagliante: donne, uomini, vecchi e bambini provenienti da Austria, Polonia, Lituania, appartenenti a ceti diversi, con vite agiate da rimpiangere o presente pragmatico costruito giorno per giorno.
Colpiscono i bambini, fra angoscia, eccitazione e incoscienza. Il racconto che mi è piaciuto di più è l'ultimo, un uomo scrive lettere all'amata partita per gli Stati Uniti e racconta di sé e degli avvenimenti: un racconto trasparente, perchè quelle lettere probabilmente non le spedirà mai.
Non è il libro che preferisco di Amos Oz, ma è bravissimo a raccontare lo stato d'animo della gente in un momento molto particolare che poteva evolvere in tragedia: la frenesia della gente si sente palpitare come una gabbia di uccelli impazziti

[987643467881 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the ninth book I've read by Amos Oz. Perhaps a few months ago, before his death, I might have asked myself at this point: haven't I had enough? And perhaps back then I might have even entertained the possibility that the answer could have potentially been a “yes” eventually. And yet now when I'm suddenly faced with a very finite number of his books, my anxiety over this fact has warped the question into: how will I ever have enough? It turns out it's an altogether different experience getting so attached to an author pre-rather-than-posthumously.

In an interview about his work, Oz apparently said his stories were about: “In one word, families, in two, sad families.” I happened to read his memoir, A Tale of Love and Darkness (2002) before reading both this book, The Hill of Evil Counsel (1976) and My Michael (1968), so to me both books seemed to be stories about his own (sad?) family, and a retelling of his childhood in different ways. I see his mother, father, grandfather and himself as a child appear as characters over and over again in his books, and particularly in those two. Sometimes they make a subtle, ambiguous appearance, sometimes they're completely recognisable underneath their new personas, and sometimes they even make appearances almost as themselves (for example Dr. Klausner in both this book and My Michael), perhaps as a hint that the story has something to do with real life?

Since both The Hill of Evil Counsel and My Michael were written quite a few years before the memoir, I'm also inclined to think of them as sort of run-ups to it. Were they written before the memoir simply because Oz didn't think anyone would be interested in a memoir from him back then? Or could it be that prior to the memoir, these 2 books served as a way for Amos Oz to work through and resolve some of his childhood issues/memories before eventually writing about them openly? If so, then perhaps the characters in the books could serve as clues and hints to the things that were left unsaid in the memoir (perhaps out of respect for different individuals and his relationships with them)?

And so I'm left wondering how much of Oz's father was in the patient, gentle, awkward, melancholy long-suffering father featured in the two books. And how successful this father's attempts at compensating for his beautiful wife's depression, disappointment and apathy with a weary optimism might have been in making his son's life a little happier in real life? At the end of the day does it really matter how much of it is real or not? I don't know. I gave both books 3 stars because they weren't my favourite Amos Oz books, and I have a strong suspicion that I wouldn't have had the patience to indulge any other author's fixations in this way :)

[Socrate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Era întuneric. În beznă, o femeie a spus: Nu mi-e teamă. Un bărbat i-a răspuns: Ți-e frică. Iar alt bărbat a zis: Liniște. Apoi s-au aprins luminile slabe din laturile scenei, cortina s-a deschis și s-a făcut liniște. În luna mai a anului 1946, când se împlineau douăsprezece luni de la victoria aliaților, Comitetul Național a organizat o mare petrecere în sala cinematografului Edison. Pereții erau împodobiți cu steagurile Marii Britanii și ale Mișcării Sioniste. La marginea scenei se aflau vaze pline cu gladiole. Atârnaseră și un panou pe care era scris un citat din Biblie, „Să fie pace între zidurile tale, și prosperitate în palatele tale“. Guvernatorul Ierusalimului a urcat pe scenă pășind repede, militărește, și a ținut un scurt discurs, presărat cu o glumă puțin cam rafinată și câteva citate din Byron. Apoi s-a ridicat Moshe Shertok , dând glas în ebraică și engleză sentimentelor populației evreiești. În colțul sălii, la intrare și alături de scenă se aflau soldați englezi cu berete roșii, înarmați cu puști automate, de frica grupărilor care funcționau în ilegalitate . Înaltul Comisar , sir Alan Cunningham, privea de la balcon, șezând țeapăn, cu spatele drept, însoțit de mica lui suită, alcătuită din doamne și ofițeri. Doamnele aveau binocluri mici de teatru. Un cor de pionieri îmbrăcați în cămăși albastre interpreta cântece muncitorești. Cântecele erau rusești, dar nici din ele și nici din public nu răzbătea bucurie, ci mai degrabă nostalgie. După reprezentația corului a rulat un film despre blindatele lui Montgomery înaintând prin deșert. Tancurile ridicau în urma lor trâmbe de praf, sfărâmau sub șenile tranșee și garduri din sârmă ghimpată, împungând cu vârful antenelor cerul cenușiu al deșertului.

[Rafael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Há muito tinha curiosidade sobre a literatura de Amos Oz. Ainda que já tenha lido alguns autores judeus, nunca tinha lido nada de um autor israelense. Tendo nascido e crescido em um país laico (apesar de profundamente religioso), a ideia de arte contemporânea de um país confessional me é extremamente interessante.

O livro, dividido em três histórias que se entrecruzam narra as vidas de dois jovens nascidos em Israel e a visão dos últimos dias de vida de um médico austríaco que emigrara para Israel na Jerusalém dos últimos anos do Mandato Britânico na Palestina, traçando um panorama da vida no bairro de Kerem Avraham em Jerusalém entre 1946 e 1948 onde, aliás, Amos Oz cresceu.

O meu primeiro comentário sobre o romance é estritamente formal... Fiquei muito impressionado com a capacidade do autor criar os cenários onde se passam as histórias. É quase possível sentir o cheiro das ruas, as roupas penduradas nos varais, o vento do deserto... Admiro (não sem uma ponta de inveja) os autores que conseguem criar cenários com tanta perfeição.

Mas O Monte do Mau Conselho está longe de ser um exercício formal. O livro é, na verdade, um belo e sensível painel de um país em construção. Achei muito interessante ver retratada a Jerusalém antes da independência de Israel, cidade dividida como hoje, mas onde o efetivo inimigo eram os britânicos e não os árabes (ou os judeus, a depender do olhar). Aliás, falando desse ponto de inflexão na história, o romance acaba me lembrando um pouco de As Brasas de Sándor Marai.

Fiquei, também, muito impressionado com o retrato de uma Jerusalém pobre, de forte sotaque alemão e socialista (aliás, algo muito bem retratado no filme Hannah Arendt que assisti há pouco), em que diversos grupos sionistas (intelectuais, revolucionários, estudiosos) lutam não apenas pela criação de um Estado judaico, mas também pela primazia na futura política desse Estado e nas "mentes e corações" do povo.

E é na caracterização dessas disputas e no efeito delas na população que, para mim, o livro foi mais interessante. Nas duas histórias que retratam a infância fiquei muito impressionado com a descrição do peso das expectativas depositadas naquela geração, a primeira nascida na terra de Israel. Enquanto a primeira história é o retrato da pressão que a intelectualidade sionista e socialista europeia podia exercer sobre um jovem, a segunda trata do extremo militarismo que caracteriza (ainda que por necessidade de sobrevivência) a sociedade israelense. A terceira história é, por sua vez, a visão dos mais velhos, dos imigrantes que se unem em torno da única coisa que possuem em comum (o judaísmo – e aí me lembro da referência ao emigrantes que Kundera faz no seu Insustentável Leveza do Ser), esmagados pelo peso das esperanças não realizadas, transferidas à força para os mais novos.


Como ponto fraco fica apenas aquela sensação de regionalismo extremo, de um autor mais ocupado em tratar dos dramas de sua aldeia do que das questões da humanidade. Nada, entretanto, que apague as qualidades do livro, já que todos somos homens de nossas aldeias, por maiores que elas sejam. Leitura recomendada

Resenha originalmente publicada em http://blogdorcf.blogspot.com.br/2013...

[Rafael · Rating 5 out of 5]

El libro se compone de tres partes. A saber:
La colina del mal consejo
El seńor levi
Nostalgia
La colina trata de la historia de un nińo al que sus padres son invitados a una reunión del Comisionado Británico en Jerusalem, por haber ayudado a una anciana que desfalleció por el bochorno caluroso de clima. En una presentación teatral.
La narración se sucede en el ańo de 1946, antes de la independencia de Israel donde el padre del nińo es un veterinario Hillel desea criar ganado en Galilea.
Un cuento largo mas que una novela en donde se entrecruzan el Ruso, el Idish, el alemán el ingles y el hebreo, además de citas bíblicas.
Da el cuento una buena visión de el lugar y el tiempo.
Ahora que termine el libro es el 15 de feb. Y para seguir con la reseña. Me doy cuenta que el libro aunque dividido aparente en tres , se van uniendo las historias. En la segunda historia el niño que aparece, sigue hasta la tercera parte del libro y trata de un artificio literario donde amos oz con una secuencia epistolar, un medico y químico sentenciado a muerte por un cáncer terminal , le escribe. Su amada que aparentemente se va a New York y el se queda en la Palestina gobernada por los ingleses. Viviendo la incertidumbre y la futura guerra que se destará cuando los ingleses se hallan retirado, después de la partición.
La manera magistral de como el medico describe su enfermedad a través de las cartas a su ex pareja, contando también la relación con el niño que lo atiende y al que le muestra su Laboratorio donde podrían crear explosivos para la guerra que se veía venir.
Les sugiero leer el libro y poderlo platicar

[trovateOrtensia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oz è quello che amo di più, tra gli scrittori israeliani.

1947, Gerusalemme.
Un'atmosfera sospesa, intorpidita eppure vigile, grava sulla città che vive in queste pagine: il calore insopportabile del giorno, i tramonti incendiati tra i tetti delle vecchie case, la brezza notturna sulle piantine estenuate di giardinetti ostinati, il vento notturno tra i wadi, l'eco di ululati lontani e di colpi sparati chissà dove. E da chi: gli inglesi, la resistenza e il suo mitico capo che stanno forse arrivando?
E, tra le stradine polverose illuminate da un unico stentato lampione si snodano e si legano le esistenze comuni degli abitanti del quartiere, esistenze in bilico tra banalità ed eroismo, sogno e veglia, desiderio di fuga e ostinazione di restare, di vedere finalmente la promessa realizzarsi.

"Sulle finestre con il davanzale profondo, fra le piante di asparagina che crescevano dentro latte colme di terra, c'erano i barattoli sigillati pieni di cetrioli che si stavano salando dentro un liquido verde pallido condito di foglie di alloro, prezzemolo e spicchi di aglio. Quando finalmente sarebbe sorto lo stato ebraico, noi saremmo andati nelle valli e nei campi. Avremmo trascorso l'estate nei frutteti, dormendo nelle baracche. Avremmo galoppato con i nostri cavalli fino alle sorgenti d'acqua e ai ruscelli, guidando le mandrie al pascolo. Gerusalemme sarebbe stata abbandonata tra le mani degli ortodossi."

[La Stamberga dei Lettori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tre novelle, intrecciate tra loro in una mirabile unità spazio-temporale, caratterizzate da due figure/mondo legate, a loro volta, l’una all’altra. Per il lettore, una scoperta graduale. Una fiamma di vita che arde, senza mai spegnersi, come nell’immagine di copertina nell’edizione italiana.

La prima figura è la Città di Gerusalemme, ritratta nel biennio convulso che precede la (ri)nascita dello Stato di Israele, in un ambiente di forte tensione e di consapevolezza che qualcosa di importante stia per accadere. “Il Monte del Cattivo Consiglio” è il racconto d’apertura -il più ricco di spunti autobiografici- che dà il titolo al volume. Maggio 1946. Nella Città Santa sono in corso i festeggiamenti per il primo anniversario della vittoria alleata.

Continua su:
http://www.lastambergadeilettori.com/...

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three linked novellas, all set in a Jerusalem suburb immediately after the end of World War II, as the transition to the state of Israel was beginning to gather steam. Boys grow up, marriages continue or don't, love affairs end, people get sick and die, all against that larger background. The last story was particularly moving, written as a series of letter from a dying man to the woman he loved, who has left both him and Israel behind. He looks back at the events that brought him from Vienna to Israel, at the past of his love for this absent woman, and forward to a future he won't be alive to see, a future Israel that may or may not come into being.

[Ginny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book takes place in Jerusalem at the time of the beginning of the state of Israel. I love his writing so much. This is an earlier book, and not as well written, in my opinion, as the later ones. But still...really beautiful. Each character has a slightly different way of living within this very difficult time. Which one would I have been? My understanding of the history of the Middle East at this time feels so much deeper after reading this book and Oz's other books.

[adri patamoma · Rating 3 out of 5]

difícil avaliar este livro! o texto (que consiste em 3 contos) parece todo muito introspectivo, como se amós oz estivesse escrevendo sobre suas memórias de infância para si mesmo, o que faz com que o livro seja interessante, mas muito diferente do que estou acostumada a ler. me senti meio que uma intrusa ao ler tantas particularidades sobre a jerusalém de seus primeiros anos. por outro lado, fiquei com vontade de escrever eu também sobre os cheiros e as cores de minha infância.

[Andy Oram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed these recollections of a very tense time in Israel's history (the end of the British occupation), mixing nostalgia with tension and compassion for those trying to live and make a difference in the 1930s and 1940s in Jerusalem. At the same time, I noticed a lot of recycling of stock characters: stolid, intellectual men, flirtatious women, muddled religious mystics, etc. Still, the richness with which the period is reproduced makes this well worth a careful read.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of three interconnected stories set in Israel during the formation of the state in the 1940's after WW2. Two of the stories are those of young boys growing up in turbulent times while the final one is written as a series of letters from a dying young man to the woman he loves who has left Israel for America. The second Mr Levi, was my favourite of the three while the first was very dark.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has a great name, but is the same story as his later memoir Panther in the Basement. Personally, I preferred the later book's telling of the tale, which was more evocative, beautiful, and maybe better-aged.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline was good. It was helpful in learning more about some Israeli culture, and I thought the characters were interesting. It's a short story, so if you're in the mood for a decent coming-of-age story for a boy as well as a country, read it!

[Ximena · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no easy way to describe this book or what it will to do you should you choose to read it. For me, it came at exactly the right time; reminding me that literature can sometimes also offer closure.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 long stories set around the time of the birth of Israel. Beautifully written, one from a child's point of view as he tries to understand what is happening (soldiers searching houses etc)..

[Mikael Kuoppala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three interconnected novellas form a pessimistic tale colored by disappointment and grief. Has some interesting thoughts on the human need for possession and how that affects our notions of sanctity.

[Sorin Hadârcă · Rating 3 out of 5]

E o mare minune și e practic de neînțeles cum din niște frământări violente și, pe alocuri, patologice s-a născut un stat.

[Martha Rosemberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Amos' best, mainly because we know that Jerusalem wasn't freed in 1948.

[Lorri · Rating 4 out of 5]

My actual review is 3.5-stars.

[Nicolai Levin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jerusalem, kurz nach dem zweiten Weltkrieg. Auch bei den Pionieren der zionistischen Bewegung, die schon seit dreißig, vierzig, fünfzig Jahren im Land leben, hat sich die anfängliche Euphorie abgeschliffen, die Erkenntnis, dass auch das erträumte jüdische Gemeinwesen nicht perfekt sein kann, bleibt unübersehbar. Die unmittelbare und elementare Bedrohung durch die Nazis ist vorüber, aber fast jede Familie hat Angehörige aus Europa im Holocaust verloren. Das dämpft die Stimmung und die freudige Erwartung auf den jüdischen Staat, der in den Startlöchern steht. Der Staat Israel wird einhergehen mit dem Abzug der Briten. Einerseits können es die Menschen kaum erwarten, die verhasste Besatzungsmacht endlich los zu sein, andererseits weiß jeder, der ein offenes Auge hat, dass mit dem Abzug der moderierenden englischen Streitkräfte das Pulverfass hochgehen wird und ein Krieg mit den Arabern unvermeidlich scheint.

In diese Gemengelage führt uns Amos Oz mit seinen Erzählungen. In der ersten treffen wir den Tierarzt Hans Kipnis mit seiner unglücklichen Frau und dem aufgeweckten altklugen Söhnchen Hillel. Kipnis hat im Theater einer hochstehenden Engländerin, die einen Schwächeanfall erlitten hatte, das Leben gerettet und zum Dank wird er zur Feier für den Jahrestag des Sieges über die Nazis in den Palast des Hochkommissars eingeladen - eine fremde Welt für ihn, der sich den Abendanzug für diese Gelegenheit extra leihen musste. Von der Feier wird er allein zurückkommen, seine Frau brennt auf dem Fest mit dem ‚Helden von Malta‘ durch, einem hochdekorierten britischen Offizier und notorischem Frauenhelden, der das Familienvermögen durch Zahlungen an gehörnte Ehemänner verpulvert. In der zweiten Geschichte bleiben wir im selben Vorort von Jerusalem, in dem auch Amos Oz selbst aufgewachsen ist. Diesmal ist Uri der Icherzähler, ein Knabe an der Schwelle zur Pubertät, Sohn eines Druckereibesitzers - und wild entschlossen, der jüdischen Untergrundarmee im Kampf beizustehen. Er entwirft Schlachtpläne, um die Berge rund um die Stadt zu erobern und verbringt seine Tage in der Radiowerkstatt von Efraim, der dem Untergrund angehören soll, immer wieder für Tage verschwindet und per Kurzwelle Todesstrahlen aufzufangen versucht, die im Krieg eine Waffe sein könnten. Realität und Traum verschwimmen in den letzten heißen Augusttagen und der geheimnisvolle Herr Levi, der im Untergrund ein hohes Tier zu sein scheint, wird in der Höhle versteckt, deren Zugang unter der Druckerpresse verborgen ist. Aber am nächsten Tag will keiner der Erwachsenen etwas von der Existenz des geheimnisvollen Gastes wissen. Herrn Levi hat es nie gegeben. Die dritte Erzählung besteht aus den Briefen, die der todkranke Arzt Dr. Nußbaum, zuständig für die Überwachung der Trinkwasserqualität in der Gegend, an seine ehemalige Geliebte Mine schreibt. Die ist davon, erst in einen Kibbuz, aber wahrscheinlich hat sie genug von Israel und schon auf dem Weg zum Dampfer nach New York. Nußbaum schildert die Beobachtungen der Spätsommerabende auf dem Balkon und schreibt seine Lebensgeschichte auf, die ihn, den in Wien frisch approbierten Arzt, nach Palästina geführt hat, wo er als typischer „Jecke“, etwas naiver und treudoofer Jude aus Deutschland oder Österreich, zum Spottobjekt wird.

Mit starken Bildern und lebendiger Zeichnung erweckt Amos Oz diese eigentümliche kleine Welt von Kerem Avraham zum Leben. Er, der engagierte Friedensaktivist und Mann des Ausgleichs, verortet sich hier fest in den jüdischen Reihen. Die Geschichten, die Mitte der 1970-er geschrieben wurden, kurz nach dem Jom-Kippur-Krieg, zeugen von der Liebe des Autors zu dieser Stadt, zu dieser Landschaft und zu den Menschen, auch wenn er sie immer skeptisch und spöttisch beschreiben wird. Man muss die Eigentümlichkeiten von Ort und Zeit der Handlung ebenso betrachten, wie die der Entstehung, um nachzuempfinden, was uns Oz erzählen will. Wenn man sich darauf einlässt, kann man eintauchen und wird reich belohnt.

Der Text ist gut und gerne vier Sterne wert, ich habe einen abgezogen für die äußere Qualität des Buches. Bei Suhrkamp erstellt man E-Books alter Ausgaben, indem man den gedruckten Text auf den Scanner legt. Dabei unterlaufen dem Scan unweigerlich Fehler: Ein c wird zum e, ein l zum i oder gar zum !. Auf jeder dritten oder vierten Seite tritt das auf, es stört den Lesefluss und es ärgert den Käufer immens. Man hätte es leicht heilen können, indem man einmal die studentische Hilfskraft über den Text hätte schauen lassen, aber nein, das kostet ja Geld, und es geht auch ohne. Für diese Schlamperei aber den vollen Preis für ein verlagsfeines Buch zu nehmen (immerhin 16 Euro), das ist in der Tat eine bodenlose Frechheit!

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is transitory in Jerusalem, and what is permanent? Why are the colors different here? What are the intentions of the British? Is there going to be a political vacuum? What are the real limits of our power, and how much of it is simply delusion and arrogance? What is going to happen, what lies in store for us?

The Hill of Evil Counsel is a tightly-knit book that is comprised of three short stories which combine to form an extended novella. It is set in Israel/Palestine during the days of the British Mandate, pre-WWII. Because I had no prior background on the subject matter, I found the specific details of the story a bit hard to follow. Names of Israeli politicians, Middle East political movements, groups, and places were almost entirely lost on me.

However, I recognized that this book is a stunning artistic portrait of time and place, one that would be so impactful and meaningful to the people who lived through or learned about those particular events. It encompasses elements of psychology of the citizenry––the characters' angst, loves, fears, and desires. In particular, Part 2: "Mr Levi," spoke to me because it was told from the perspective of a child (I related to Uri because of his lack of knowledge of what was going on. Though, he lacked knowledge because of his age; I lacked it out of ignorance of history). If I were a more astute reader of Israeli politics/history/literature, I would likely have been able to connect the dots from one story to the next. The common threads between the three provides a thoughtful look at an unfortunate time in world history.

[Marit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy Oz but this slim novella collection was only so-so to me. His descriptive prose is magnificent, capturing sounds, colors, smells, glimpses as if someone was sweeping up all of those in one's arms. He plays with voice and perspective in this novella which I enjoyed too. But the I found myself often at arms-length with the characters, perhaps with the exception of the last character with his intimate disclosures to a lover who abandoned him, on the verge of his death.

I also was deeply uneasy at reading the multiple instances of racism/Otherism expressed by the characters, against anyone not of European descent and even occasionally against those of Eastern European descent. It's hard to say whether that was Oz trying to capture the common -ism of those days (the months, weeks, days before the end of the British Mandate in Palestine) or if that is the continuing harmful 'ism's alive and well in the 70's. Probably both. So fellow readers, be aware.

[Stephen Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars)

Oz is a talented writer and it is shown in the way he teases out on to the page like a surgeon of words and human emotion, the love, fears, lust, betrayal, anger and hope people felt and how they affected each other on the cusp of Israel gaining independence and the mood in Jerusalem at this time. Oz is aways at his best when highlighting the moods of Jerusalem and how they felt. He does this well as well.

Whilst the stories interested me, they didn't grip me and the endings often felt a bit rushed and forced. This meant to me it was a good piece of work, but nothing more.

Although I don't think it was expressing Oz's own views I found the way black people were described in this book as a bit disturbing.

This was a good but flawed book overall. Its worth reading. I don't think it's Oz best work, but not his worst either.

[Gualtiero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il libro contiene tre racconti ambientati a Gerusalemme subito dopo la fine della seconda guerra mondiale. I primi due racconti sono narrati da bambini e quindi con lo sguardo ingenuo sulla realtà che li contraddistingue. Il terzo racconto è narrato da un medico morente e quindi è narrato con la disillusione di chi sta per terminare la propria vita.
Non ho apprezzato moltissimo lo stile (storie composte da spezzoni di vita non collegati tra di loro), ma ho apprezzato molto il fatto che questi racconti mostrano come vivevano gli ebrei di Gerusalemme prima di iniziare le rivoluzioni per creare lo stato di Israele.
Penso comunque che darò un'altra opportunità a questo autore.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second book by Amos Oz that I have attempted to read. I never did make it through A Tale of Love and Darkness. I persevered through this book, but it wasn't easy. His writing, while lush and poetic, is dense. It's like reading Dostoevsky. I can appreciate the man's talent, and his subject matter, but his style is not (was not) to my taste.

[Lily Artenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the Three stories in Hebrew. The writing is Superb. The longing’s description is amazing.
The two first stories are told by a young boy, both boys are similar as each other. In their longing for Israel’s Independence and with their mother’s issue. Hillel.s mother’s unsatisfied with her life in Jerisalem, leaves the family with an English General. Hillel’s longing is heart breaking.
Ori.s mother has an affair with a neighbor. And there is a departure and longing to women in the third story. Oz Mother committed suicidal. His longing for her are sad and well expressed.

[Diane Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 intertwined stories about the time in Palestine (soon to be the State of Israel) before the War of Independence. Oz's description of the place is very evocative - almost a character.

Most of the characters were Diaspora Jews from eastern Europe - escaping the Nazis. Two of the stories are told from the point of view of young boys - would love to read what Oz thought happened to them as they grew up.

[Muccopanzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

È una serie di racconti che aiuta a capire con quale stato d'animo fu vissuto il difficile periodo precedente alla proclamazione dello stato d'Israele. È un libro che si legge tutto d'un fiato. Consigliato

[Loly De Souza · Rating 5 out of 5]

O autor conta poeticamente a vida cotidiana de habitantes de Jerusalém na década de 40. Os personagens se entrelaçam e mostram as diferentes percepções de cada um . Uma prosa escrita com maestria e que lembram um poema .