Words of the Week: Ron Leshem (trans. Mitch Ginsburg)

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

Many Israeli writers petition for peace and rail against the occupation. I have added my voice to that choir, particularly in May during the government’s lethally inept handling of the Turkish flotilla that tried to break the embargo on Gaza. Yet, as I look back at 2010 and the flotilla, I deeply believe that the greatest peril is from a ruthless and implacable foe: religious fanaticism. And the people on the ship that the Israeli naval commandos boarded, the Mavi Marmara, with their motive and capacity to manipulate world opinion, were acting cynically on its behalf. The death of nine people on the Mavi Marmara was a calamity. But activists on board stabbed and shot the soldiers who sought to steer the ship to a port from which nonmilitary cargo could be trucked to Gaza.

It is simple for an author to declare: “Peace. Peace now!” But it is a hollow demand.

From “Israel’s Present Tense,” by Ron Leshem (trans. Mitch Ginsburg), The New York Times, January 2, 2011

Jewish Literary Notes from Around the Web

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

Shabbat shalom, and Happy New Year!

Friday Finds: 2011 Reading Lists

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

I’m so swamped keeping up with life and all things pre-publication that I didn’t even get around to making any “best of 2010” book lists. Now, I see, some very enterprising practicing writers have already gone ahead and provided sneak peeks into what they’re anticipating reading in 2011.

So, for this Friday’s finds, I’m going to point you to two of those writers’ blogs, where you’ll find plenty of titles to get you started with a 2011 tbr list.

First, check out The Quivering Pen, where David Abrams provides photographic evidence of just how ambitious his reading plans are.

And then, go visit Between the Lines, where Ellen Meeropol (who has a book of her own, a novel titled House Arrest, coming in February) combines reflections on 2010 and 2011 reads.

(Thanks to both David and Ellen for the shoutouts to Quiet Americans in their respective posts.)

Have a great weekend and a Happy New Year, all. See you back here on Monday.

Thursday’s Pre-Publication Post: Keeping My Promises

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

People who know me know that I am a real stickler for keeping promises. That holds both for promises I make, and promises others make to me.

Today, I want to focus on two promises that I made in last week’s pre-publication post. I’m very happy to tell you that there is major progress to report, and those promises have been kept!

First, I am delighted to announce the superb blogs where my forthcoming story collection, Quiet Americans, and I will be stopping along our upcoming Winter Blog Tour. The tour begins the week of January 17 and continues for a month. Please read all about our amazing hosts and the schedule at the Winter Blog Tour HQ.

Next, although it will still be at least a couple of days before you can order Quiet Americans on Amazon, you can now purchase an autographed copy right from this website. (At least, you can do so if you have a mailing address in the U.S. or Canada.)

So that’s the latest from here. We’ll see what gets accomplished in time for next week’s post!

The Wednesday Web Browser

by Erika Dreifus on
1
  • The New York Times Magazine remembers poet Lucille Clifton.
  • Over on her Brave New Words blog, B.J. Epstein launches a recurring “market research” feature for literary translators.
  • And speaking of literary translation: That’s what Edith Grossman and Lydia Davis recently did (speak of literary translation, that is) on NPR.
  • Here’s a blog I’ve only recently discovered but already admire: Carol Tice’s Make a Living Writing.
  • Writer Beware Blogs offers some tips on evaluating literary contests.
  • This week’s blizzard here in NYC made me especially grateful to have a warm, comfortable home. And at some point, I remembered (and looked up and reread) the classic Jack London short story, “To Build a Fire.”