afield's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
marypmcg's review against another edition
3.0
It was very different. Here's a quick like/ dislike breakdown though, in case anyone is interested:
dislikes:
1. Some of the stories just ended abruptly. I think this is really Keret's style and it is intentional more than it is lazy. But a lot of times a story would be over and I would feel like, "...SO??"
2. Some of the language in the book sounds racist or homophobic. I don't think Keret himself is racist or homophobic, but he feels the need to portray a lot of "macho" guys in his stories, and it gets old.
likes:
1. The stories are very short. This makes the book go by at an enjoyable pace. It's like seeing several different snapshots. Like a frozen moment of a story, a painting of a story.
2. Keret creates some very unusual and clever situations and settings. One of my favorite stories (actually one of the longest, too) in the book is the last one, about the afterlife for people who commit suicide. It was very surreal and bizarre. And he rags on Kurt Cobain a little bit, who is a bit of a whiny bitch in the afterlife. This should surprise no one.
3. I find it interesting that Keret seems very Israeli. For example, the names he uses in his stories all sound very Israeli. And the fact that all citizens are required to spend some time in the military comes into play in almost every story. But not in a contrived way. Just as if being in the military is a fact of life. Everyone in the stories is in it or will be someday, or used to be, or knows someone who is.
other things:
1. This isn't a dislike of mine personally, but sometimes the stories seem really superficial. I think Keret has a bit of an existentialist element to his work. Some people aren't really into this, so it's more of a warning than a dislike of my own.
2. Keret's stories tend to be a bit on the dark side. Which is rather unsurprising, since the illustration on the cover shows a smiley cartoon character blowing his brains out. So, don't read this book if you're in the mood for something uplifting. It is humorous in its own way, and clever, but not exactly fun.
dislikes:
1. Some of the stories just ended abruptly. I think this is really Keret's style and it is intentional more than it is lazy. But a lot of times a story would be over and I would feel like, "...SO??"
2. Some of the language in the book sounds racist or homophobic. I don't think Keret himself is racist or homophobic, but he feels the need to portray a lot of "macho" guys in his stories, and it gets old.
likes:
1. The stories are very short. This makes the book go by at an enjoyable pace. It's like seeing several different snapshots. Like a frozen moment of a story, a painting of a story.
2. Keret creates some very unusual and clever situations and settings. One of my favorite stories (actually one of the longest, too) in the book is the last one, about the afterlife for people who commit suicide. It was very surreal and bizarre. And he rags on Kurt Cobain a little bit, who is a bit of a whiny bitch in the afterlife. This should surprise no one.
3. I find it interesting that Keret seems very Israeli. For example, the names he uses in his stories all sound very Israeli. And the fact that all citizens are required to spend some time in the military comes into play in almost every story. But not in a contrived way. Just as if being in the military is a fact of life. Everyone in the stories is in it or will be someday, or used to be, or knows someone who is.
other things:
1. This isn't a dislike of mine personally, but sometimes the stories seem really superficial. I think Keret has a bit of an existentialist element to his work. Some people aren't really into this, so it's more of a warning than a dislike of my own.
2. Keret's stories tend to be a bit on the dark side. Which is rather unsurprising, since the illustration on the cover shows a smiley cartoon character blowing his brains out. So, don't read this book if you're in the mood for something uplifting. It is humorous in its own way, and clever, but not exactly fun.
memita's review against another edition
3.0
3,5*
Li esta colectânea de mini contos em doses homeopáticas e é assim que aconselho a leitura. Não diria que o autor neste livro tem um estilo muito definido, apesar de ser muito próprio e diria até alternativo. Acho que ele junta especialmente o realismo mágico com o surreal, passando muito pela guerra e pela violência, fala sobre a normalidade escondida atrás de coisas estapafúrdias, e aborda as relações humanas de uma forma muito crua e bruta. Uma coisa que não encontrei aqui foram textos fofos, aconchegantes e nunca terminei um conto com a sensação de ter ficado mais feliz, bem pelo contrário, fiquei sempre muito reflexiva e pensativa. Por um lado, as metáforas que depreendi de alguns contos fizeram-me muito sentido e foram um murro no estômago. Mas, por outro, um outro tanto dos contos não fizeram eco na minha cabeça, ou simplesmente não compreendi o que o autor quereria dizer com aquilo. Acho que não é um livro para toda a gente, de todo. E talvez seja um bom exemplo de livro para reler mais tarde, pois acredito que estas histórias tenham várias camadas e que, à medida que vamos crescendo, vamos conseguindo retirar mais camadas e descobrindo novas coisas através delas.
Li esta colectânea de mini contos em doses homeopáticas e é assim que aconselho a leitura. Não diria que o autor neste livro tem um estilo muito definido, apesar de ser muito próprio e diria até alternativo. Acho que ele junta especialmente o realismo mágico com o surreal, passando muito pela guerra e pela violência, fala sobre a normalidade escondida atrás de coisas estapafúrdias, e aborda as relações humanas de uma forma muito crua e bruta. Uma coisa que não encontrei aqui foram textos fofos, aconchegantes e nunca terminei um conto com a sensação de ter ficado mais feliz, bem pelo contrário, fiquei sempre muito reflexiva e pensativa. Por um lado, as metáforas que depreendi de alguns contos fizeram-me muito sentido e foram um murro no estômago. Mas, por outro, um outro tanto dos contos não fizeram eco na minha cabeça, ou simplesmente não compreendi o que o autor quereria dizer com aquilo. Acho que não é um livro para toda a gente, de todo. E talvez seja um bom exemplo de livro para reler mais tarde, pois acredito que estas histórias tenham várias camadas e que, à medida que vamos crescendo, vamos conseguindo retirar mais camadas e descobrindo novas coisas através delas.
imandanial's review against another edition
3.0
Kumpulan cerpen ini dibeli di Kabo pasca Borak Karya MPR semalam. Mahal kalau nak beli versi bahasa Inggeris, jadi baik saya beli versi terjemahan (adaptasi?) bahasa Melayu.
Ini merupakan cubaan pertama saya untuk membaca karya Etgar Keret. Tak dapat dinafikan, Yahudi seorang ini sangat pandai menggeletek perut kita dengan cerita-cerita yang aneh tetapi lucu.
Ini merupakan cubaan pertama saya untuk membaca karya Etgar Keret. Tak dapat dinafikan, Yahudi seorang ini sangat pandai menggeletek perut kita dengan cerita-cerita yang aneh tetapi lucu.
worldlibraries's review against another edition
1.0
I ordered this book when I asked a friend for a recommendation of a current Jewish author who writes about something other than the Holocaust that would teach me about Jewish culture now.
Two or three stories were good, but on the whole, this book was skippable. These were stories show a militarized society, and they weren't funny. When I saw this book was by an "Israeli humorist," I thought I would be introduced to current Jewish humor that would make me laugh out loud. I didn't laugh. Sometimes, the outlook was too brutal. My incorrect expectations about the book may have contributed toward my apathy toward the title.
Here's one quote that did make me smile:
There's something nice about home cooking. I mean it's hard to explain, but there's something special about it, a feeling. As if your stomach can figure out it was food you didn't have to pay for, that someone made it out of love.
~ Page 96
Two or three stories were good, but on the whole, this book was skippable. These were stories show a militarized society, and they weren't funny. When I saw this book was by an "Israeli humorist," I thought I would be introduced to current Jewish humor that would make me laugh out loud. I didn't laugh. Sometimes, the outlook was too brutal. My incorrect expectations about the book may have contributed toward my apathy toward the title.
Here's one quote that did make me smile:
There's something nice about home cooking. I mean it's hard to explain, but there's something special about it, a feeling. As if your stomach can figure out it was food you didn't have to pay for, that someone made it out of love.
~ Page 96
andymoon's review against another edition
4.0
Compelling collection of brief stories that are just excellent... Surreal, painful, desperate, and hilarious all at the same time.
lordtrips's review against another edition
4.0
las cuatro estrellas las doy por el cuento de la Pizzería.
a los otros cuentos, les doy tres estrellas.
a los otros cuentos, les doy tres estrellas.