NY Times: Three Israelis Divide Their Lives Between Literature and Life

Three Israelis Divide Their Lives Between Literature and Life

There is no word for fiction in Hebrew," said Amos Oz, one of Israel's most respected novelists. "In a bookstore or library my novels are categorized under `siporet,' or narrative prose, as opposed to what is called documentary, which is nonfiction. The word fiction implies a lie."

"In our part of the world," he continued, "the lines between fantasy, invention, documentation and confession are not necessarily as sharp," as they are in other places.

The blurred lines between fiction and nonfiction are appropriate for Israeli writers like Mr. Oz, David Grossman, and A. B. Yehoshua, who are deeply engaged peace activists as well as novelists. All three flew to Geneva two weeks ago to take part in ceremonies surrounding the signing of the Geneva Accord, a new, extragovernmental peace pact negotiated by Israeli and Palestinian civilians.

For most of their careers, including the past three years, as the second Palestinian intifada has waxed and waned, these writers have been struggling to address the problems of their country while trying to find the peace and quiet necessary for their literary work.

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Three Israelis Divide Their Lives Between Literature and Life

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I like what Grossman says at the end:

"A society in crisis," he said, "teaches itself to congeal into one story only and sees reality through very narrow glasses. But there is never only one story."